Aquatica

There is something a bit optimistic and hopeful about fragrances like this. They evoke a summer which everyone is looking forward to in Europe and especially here in Dubai. The war will hopefully be over, the Middle East will be rebuilding trust and infrastructure, tourists will be flocking back in their droves again and the gloom and worry of the last few weeks will hopefully be a distant memory. The weather here this weekend has been cloudy, rainy, a bit chilly and a bit uncertain, mirroring the geopolitical situation and my own state of mind. So when I came across one of the most summery fragrances imaginable and spent a couple of minutes trying the tester in the shop yesterday, it hit all the right notes. Aquatica by Rayhaan evokes warm, balmy summer Caribbean nights to me. Aquatica is supposed to be a dupe of Virgin Islands Water by Creed. I've been to the British Virgin Islands and I can say the feel is definitely authentic, both the original and this bold reimagining by Rayhaan: Rum cocktails with lime and coconut. Crystal clear turquoise sea. Sensual and warm skin scents. Sun cream and tanning oils. You have to be a bit careful of the term "dupe" I think. Some dupes are shameless, artless, rather cynical moneygrab copies, whilst the other end of the scale are artistic inspirations that are similar to (but deliberately not the same as) their fragrance muses. Aquatica is a very high quality production that sits a bit more toward the latter end of the scale, for me. It is clearly based on VIW, but is stronger, lasts longer and is a bit more aggressive in the opening. There is more lime in there than the original and the coconut is deeper and more biscuity, almost like that smell you get from lime segments stuffed in the necks of cold Corona beer bottles. If you know, you know. It settles very nicely but diverges a bit more from the VIW DNA as it does so. I actually prefer it. It isn't as sweet as the original I don't think. I always found VIW to be sweet and tender but incredibly short-lived and a bit limited in its appeal because of this. Aquatica is not a 1 to 1 copy; I reckon on it being around 80% the same. It is not as refined, it smells a little more synthetic in the opening. The lime is a tiny bit screechy and harsh to begin with and the blending is nowhere near as good, but it is stronger, it does still smell great and it definitely does perform better. My bottle is a Feb 26 production and hasn't had time to mature, and it still performs better than VIW. The overall effect is akin to if Creed ever did a slightly less sweet Elixir concentration of VIW, if that makes sense. I owned and enjoyed VIW a few years ago but finished the bottle and never replaced it because I found the performance to be more style over substance. In fairness, I've almost never wished I had it to hand since it went and I didn't really miss it. It is expensive and opportunities to wear it living in rainy, cold Rotterdam were few and far between indeed. But since then I've moved back to Dubai and there are a lot more opportunities to wear a fragrance like this here. It can get as hot as 50 or even 52 degrees here in the Summer months and you want something fresh and summery for then that does perform in the heat but doesn't go sticky or cloying. Aquatica at US$25 a bottle also represents vastly better value, it must be acknowledged. I (very deliberately) have very, very few dupes in my 100+ bottle collection; literally only this, Lattafa Khamrah Qawah and Obsidian which is also by Rayhaan. But in this case I think Aquatica earns a spot for me as it is better performing and much better value. I just think it is better. Buying it now will give it five or six weeks or so to maturate properly and it'll be really good by the time the summer comes around in earnest here. There is a lot to be said for having something to look forward to and I am very much looking forward to wearing this on a night out or two here in the summer. Hopefully it will not just be the weather that is better here by then. Here's hoping. Three Word Summary - Lime Coconut Memories Scent - 7/10 Sillage - 8/10 Drydown - 7/10 Bottle/packaging - 8/10 Performance - 7/10 37/50

Rayhaan Aquatica opens with a fresh, realistic lime note that immediately stands out for its natural character. The lime is supported by a noticeable sugar accord that feels separate rather than fully blended at first, while a hint of creamy coconut begins to emerge as the fragrance settles. The overall texture is crisp, airy, and smooth without becoming overly sharp or dense. As it develops, the lime softens into a sweeter, more cohesive citrus accord while the coconut becomes increasingly noticeable. A faint boozy nuance appears in the background, adding depth without overpowering the composition. Despite the growing creaminess, the fragrance remains surprisingly airy and avoids drifting into obvious sunscreen territory early on thanks to the persistent lime and subtle boozy accent. By the middle of the wear, the fragrance transitions into a coconut and floral-centered profile with the lime serving as a bright accent. The scent becomes creamier and more tropical, taking on a coconut-lime sunscreen quality while retaining enough freshness to stay balanced. From there, the composition changes very little and instead gradually fades in intensity, lasting around five hours. Overall, I enjoyed every stage of this wear. The fragrance felt distinctive, well blended, and high quality, with the realistic lime, creamy coconut, and faint boozy nuances giving it plenty of character. I do wish the longevity were better and that the lime was toned down slightly to let the coconut shine even more, but it was still a solid wear that I appreciated for its unique profile and polished execution. Score: 8.0/10

I am also on the fence. This performs way better than most, if not all, reviewers have said. Definitely around 6–7 hours, and longer on clothing. It's nice, airy, coconut creamy lime, and it smells uplifting. Now, I've seen a lot of people say that this is like a “millionaire on a yacht” kind of scent, but it's not that. It's more of a beach type fragrance, or something you would wear when going to a resort. It is definitely summer leaning and sweet. What's weird to me, and I don't know if others have talked about it before, is that sometimes when I spray it, it’s like I can smell gasoline or something. It's not that heavy on the lime for me. I mean, there is definitely lime in there, but the coconut dominates it more, followed by the jasmine floral note, with the lime coming third. I picked it up from the package depot spot, but I was on lunch with my team, so I immediately unpacked it while eating and sprayed some. We were outside, and they all loved it. You could catch it through the air because of the wind, and it just created a nice, lovely vibe. Overall, it also got a positive reception from my colleagues. It's a unique scent. I haven't smelled something like this before, but it's nice! 8/10

As a big lover of Virgin Island Water Creed but who has never bought a bottle, because of its disastrous weak longevity, I am so happy that Rayaan Aquatica exists. In my opinion Rayhaan Aquatica legit smells 90% similar to VIW, I don’t know how they managed to nail the scent profile so precisely, but they did it. Aquatica also lasts for so much longer – on my skin it lasts between 5.5 to 6 hours which I am happy with, since VIW only lasts for maximum 2 hours on my skin. The scent profile is gorgeous and perfect for the summer. Every time I wear this, it transports me to azure blue waters, blue lagoons, tropical peaceful destinations and hidden coves. The coconut milk is creamy and realistic, not synthetic at all just like with VIW and the lime is so refreshing and goes wonderful together with the boozy white rum and hibiscus/florals. The only big difference I notice when I compare Aquatica with VIW, is that the lime is way more dominant and powerful in the scent profile, especially in the opening and first hour. Thank you Rayhaan for this absolute gem of a fragrance – I am so happy that I finally can own this amazing scent, with better longevity, and for a way better price. 10/10

Blind Buy Diaries # 20. Been on the lookout for clones for two Creeds, Viking and Virgin Island Water. Have given up hope for a Viking clone, since no on seems interested in cloning that and then this Virgin Island baby drops in. I did try Dua's dupe of VIC, called Carribean Waters, but found something off-putting in it, a bitter sweet element, which I was unable to figure out. As per the listed notes, lime and coconut milk is prominent, as well as sugar cane, rum, musk, and jasmine. This smells like a lime scented coconut candy, the sweetness courtesy of sugar cane and tonka bean. Not very sure about the patchouli note. Something refreshing to smell, amongst a plethora of clones of JPG Le Beau and Le Male Elixir and what not, albeit with the proverbial coconut note, which has been the highlight of this and the past year. This easily goes into the list of most used fragrances for me. All seasonal scent? Good for summer and spring. Unisex? Masculine IMHO Blind buy worthy? Can't comment on how close it is to the OG, but for the standalone scent, I would still go for it. Performance? Longevity, around 6 to 7 hours on skin, longer on clothes, with moderate projection and sillage.