Nautica Classic vs Nautica Blue: Which is Better?

When talking about perfumes for men that fit the aquatic lifestyle, the story is not quite complete without mentioning a few fragrances from Nautica. 

Since launching their first cologne in 1992, the American company has produced some interesting perfumes that became household names. 

The most astonishing thing about Nautica colognes is the ridiculously low prices they go for. 

Despite their products being good enough to compete with some of the bigger names on the market, they have stayed true to their penchant for producing pocket-friendly colognes for men.

In this article, we’ll pit two of their more popular colognes against each other to see which one comes out on top.

Nautica Classic

If you’re a fan of vintage scents, you’re probably going to love Nautica Classic. 

Released in 1992, this perfume features an aquatic summer vibe that is hard to miss. 

Its characteristic 90s smell is a delightful blast from the past for men who grew up in the 90s. 

Classic is inspired by hardworking men who love to enjoy a good time to ease their workload a bit. 

It opens with top notes of bergamot and lemon oil before slipping to a heart of sage. 

It cools down after a while to base notes of amber, sandalwood, and musk. 

Its fresh aquatic fragrance is a cool scent to get you through a sweaty day at the gym or give you a fresh aftershave smell. 

Nautica Blue

Nautica Blue is a great option for men who have a thing for aquatic, aromatic scents.  

Released in 2005, Blue is one of the most famous colognes from Nautica. 

It combines urban vibes with an unlimited drop of freshness. 

This cologne was inspired by men who call the shots and put in 100% at work, in the gym, or on the tracks.

It opens with top notes of peach, pineapple, and bergamot before peeling off to the subtle scent of middle notes of jasmine and water lily. 

After a while, it settles down to base notes of musk and cedarwood. 

Nautica Blue is a top option for many men as its fresh aquatic flavor gives you that extra bit of sweetness without falling onto the girly side.

Nautica Classic vs Nautica Blue – Comparison

Opening 

Nautica Classic features opening notes that smell like bitter citrus that’s a little rough and like spicy dry fruit with floral and woody notes coming in later. 

On the other hand, Blue features a bold aquatic scent that is hard to miss and if you’ve got a good nose, you should smell a juicy scent that is a little faint but still noticeable. 

Like the Nautica Voyage, Classic predominantly features citrus aroma while Blue is leaning more on the aquatic side. 

You may prefer Nautica Classic’s spicy dry citrus flavor like another person may prefer Blue’s aquatic notes. 

Whatever your choice may be, there’s no doubt that both Nautica perfumes smell great.

Projection

On the grounds of projection, there’s really not much difference between the two and making a choice based on projection is more of a preference than anything else. 

Sillage

If you prefer perfumes with heavy sillage, then you may not be too happy with the performances of either of these two Nautica perfumes for men. 

However, both feature decent sillage considering their price. 

Nautica Classic features moderate sillage and should cover around two meters which is better than the soft sillage you will get from Blue. 

If you’re looking to buy the perfume with the better sillage, then you may want to invest your money on Nautica Classic. 

Longevity

None of these Nautica perfumes are strong enough to last you through the day. 

In fact, you may want to keep a bottle close if you’re hoping to keep that fresh aquatic smell all day long. 

Nautica classic performs admirably well for only an hour before moving to a skin scent so, after two hours, you may need to spray another round. 

Blue features slightly better longevity as it smells great for around 2 to 4 hours before it becomes a skin scent. 

On the grounds of longevity, Blue is certainly the winner, although not by much. 

Whether you decide to get Blue or Classic, keep in mind that they won’t offer you long hours of active performance.

Versatility

They both feature moderate versatility. 

While nothing is stopping you from wearing either of the two to work or other official engagements, they aren’t exactly the perfect options for those occasions.

They are both perfect for those hot summer days when you need to smell clean and fresh. 

Whether you’re headed for the beach or you need to smell fresh after a rewarding day at the gym, Nautica Classic and Blue have got you covered.

 On the ground of versatility, there isn’t much difference between the two.

Fragrance Line

Nautica Blue and Classic are products of Nautica.  

The fashion house was founded in America in 1983 and did not start producing fragrances until 1992. 

Since they launched their first cologne, there has been a steady production of quality perfumes for male and female consumers.

Final Verdict

As you may have noticed, there’s hardly anything between these two. 

They are both aquatic scents with Classic featuring a citrus flavor and Blue staying true to its aquatic accord. 

They both also feature similar sillage, longevity, and price. 

These Nautica colognes are quite similar in their performances, making it a hard choice to pick the better option. 

This is one of those scenarios where the choice of a winner is going to be purely subjective and on that note, Nautica Blue is the winner. 

With slightly better longevity and a fragrance that smells modish and fresh, Nautica Blue appeals more to people than the vintage citrus aroma of Nautica Classic. 

Both Nautica colognes go for a cheap price though, so you can always just buy the two to enjoy the best of both worlds.