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.

(FIRST IMPRESSIONS) I tried the original VIW (2024 batch) and I immediately got addicted, but for a fraction of the price, I decided to get this fragrance instead. The scent begins with a blast of lime for the first 5 minutes then transitions into this smooth, creamy and boozy coconut milk. It does remind me of VIW except it seems to be much more wearable with less of that rum note and it definitely lasts longer, but the projection was lacking. This might be because it was JUST out of the box, but the projection lasted 30 minutes before it immediately settled into a skin scent. Longevity is long lasting around 5-6 hours, but projection was my only issue. I tried moisturizing my skin before applying the fragrance but it managed to only squeeze in another 15 minutes before turning into a skin scent. Don't get me wrong, this fragrance is deliciously addicting, and lives up to the hype, but projection was my only issue with this fragrance. Maceration could help this problem, or maybe fragrances with these notes genuinely doesn't project, but overall a solid 8/10 fragrance.

I’m genuinely impressed with Aquatica. Another fantastic release from Rayhaan. Some time ago, I tried a decant of Malibu Party in the Bay by Simone Andreoli and absolutely loved that tropical summer vibe, but I couldn’t justify the high price. I’ve also seen many people comparing Aquatica to Virgin Island Water by Creed, and after all the hype, I decided to blind buy it because the price was still reasonable enough to take the risk. Thankfully, it was 100% worth it. This fragrance is incredibly fresh, citrusy, uplifting, and the creamy coconut in the drydown gives it that perfect vacation feeling without becoming too heavy or synthetic. What surprised me the most is the performance — for this type of fresh summer fragrance, the longevity is honestly impressive. For the price, this is an absolute steal and completely deserves the hype. Rayhaan are making seriously good fragrances.

This is such an interesting perfume that’s so weird to describe. It smells gourmand, but is perfect for summer, which is great since ive always preferred winter scents, due to most designer and middle eastern brands having lame summer options that all either smell boringly fresh or like deodorant/shower gel , which I do like but gets boring, especially with a lack of sweetness I always enjoy. This, alongside VIW which this dupes buck the trend, and I love them for it. I even slightly prefer aquatica over the batch I smelled due to the sweeter feel and the higher lime intensity, which may be a downgrade for some but for me I like. It’s just so drinkable and I can’t stop smelling it in a way I haven’t felt like since winter with liquid brun and the azzaro I had prior. It’s so fresh and sweet at the same time, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. My summer signature scent.

I really NEED to update this ,while I have already reviewed it before. Tis the season for this you guys and I cannot CANNOT stop thanking my luck for having this. It is like a portable air conditioner! Weather I dare you to get hotter cause i need to spray this like a maniac! Absolutely addictive, gourmand and even though lime is heavy, it is only during spraying the perfume that it feels like that. It quickly settles into the BEST BEST BEEEEST version of a coconut in perfumery. In the dry down there is something that I do not remember in OG...i get whiffs of something dark heavy slightly bitter sweet, not sugary, it might be the rum with some sweetness that when I get that occasionally it makes me so happy (I mean horny) ,it is so damn well paired with the coconut and the lime. I honestly can't! Getting backups! This perfume makes my summer days worth living.

Wow! I just got this stuff. I didn't know what to expect because of the negative references to cleaners. Everyone has a right to express their opinion. With that being said, the naysayers need to see an ENT. This stuff smells fantastic right out of the box!! I love that realistic lime scent. About 15 mins later, I smell coconut and rum. It litteraly smells like a mojito. It smooths out with tonka and the slight patchouli at the end. I smelled this stuff for at least 6.5hours before it faded out at about 7.5 hrs. This is not for everyday wearing although you could, but this is more of a solid weekender, vacation, outdoor party day or night stuff. Best thing is, I get virtually nothing synthetic about it at all. That lime smells fresh squeezed along with the other citrus notes in the top. This is good stuff!!

Never tried OG VIW, so I don’t have a proper reference or known knowledge of the OG, but this smells reallyyy fresh!! limey pina colada lol Just got it but it’s very fresh, I’ll update later as it cools down, worth the money!! EDIT: Okay had the chance to smell VIW at the boutique today, and let me say this; Aquatica is basically a 95% similarity minus the strong lime zest at the very start, and I’m so surprised how strong it is I’m appalled lol as someone who first smelt Aquatica and wore it almost daily since I got it and now smelt VIW, this is the best dupe of a fragrance I’ve smelt so far lol 9/10 scent 7/10 longevity, honestly it’s fine and shines during hot weather 6.5/10 Sillage is pretty average Great scent, safe blind buy, awesomeness in a bottle

Can't compare this to VIW, but wow, this is a banger! That lime, coconut, and gourmandy base are so addicting. I want to wear this everyday, but disciplining myself to rotate others in. Great performance on me, and keeps getting better as the weeks pass by since first spraying the bottle. I just got Coconut Lagoon in an hour ago, and yes, they are very similar off the rip. Coconut Lagoon is more boozy and less dense/gourmandy, but still retains that fresh lime and coconut combo that Aquatica has. Lagoon will be my beach and fishing on the boat scent, with Aquatica my more all around day/night fragrance. Can easily transition from Lagoon to Aquatica as well if no time to shower in between being worn the same day without much mixing and clashing.

This is my summer signature scent for sure, it is so, so good. I get a little bit of rum but mostly this creamy lime, as others said it is very lime forward and but I do get coconut but mostly it is a creamy coconut which makes sense, since it's coconut milk. This is the best cheap fragrance I think ever especially for someone who is trying to stand out during the summer but on a budget. This fragrance can be worn casual or dressed up for sure, it truly is the perfect vacation type scent whether you're hanging out with friends or actually on vacation. Very safe blind buy unless. you don't like lime, unisex slightly male in my opinion but this suits all ages and occasions during the summer. I wouldn't reach for this during the winter.

When i first wore this all i could smell was lime, after letting it sit for a bit and coming back my experience was completely different; still limey, but in a tropical Malibu rum sort of way, its a very very appealing dna, and the second time I wore this to work I sprayed it on at around 750 in the morning, at 3 pm when my coworker came in the first thing he said is "what are you wearing" a strong 7 hours out of a freshie thats cheap! And your not gonna be smelling like all the other ambroxan bombs walking around, it leaves you feeling unique, probably the one dupe I will certainly take over the og, and to everyone saying the projection and longetivity is non existent, yall are going noseblind!!

This has to be a top 5 dupe/arab fragrance in my opinion. This is just simply put “summer vacation in a bottle”. The lime and coconut just brings me back to happy days in the Caribbean on a cruise. It’s as close to that pina colada you can get. Performance is ok for a citrus. Not gonna blow you away but it definitely has more longevity than the Creed version. I also think this overall smells better than VIW. It just has a very sweet tropical summer vibe to it that can’t be beat. It’s absolutely a must for any beach vacation or summer cruise. Everyone is gonna think you been drinking pina coladas in the sun. Highly highly recommend this one. Prolly the best Rayhaan in their entire catalog. 9.5/10

This is first impression. 🎵 Put the lime in the coconut 🎵 https://youtu.be/TsSuueEGQSM It smells great. I guess it is inspired by VIW but doesn't smell the same to me. The OG is smoother, sweeter, and milder. This is loud and enjoyable. My first sunscreen bottle. It smells like sunscreen in a not bad coconutty way I like VIW so this was a win, blind buy wise. I would recommend if you like the OG. I read so many comments saying 90-95% accurate. I disagree. However this is louder, it's better. It probably would layer well with the original. It is pleasant and not too sweet. It is summer here and seems great for warm weather. We'll try in the cold but that's 5 months away

Bro....what in the black magic of saving me so much money is going on here?!?? I had a bottle of VIW and it broke in my suitcase 😭😭😭 so I went on to try aquatica in hopes of replacing that long lost love. Rayhaaaaaan many thanks 😻😻😻😻 to me it's a 1:1 refreshing, thirst quencher, zesty lime, creamy green coconut as I remember VIW being. You have done well. Ps. Performance is great. I sprayed it midday on my wrist, just a little spritz and next day morning I could still smell it. I can already tell it will perform great on clothes and skin alike Also people here saying it has nothing to do with VIW are lying so hard. At least make it less obvious guys 😂

Honestly one of the best summer fragrances I have tried. It opens with a fresh blast of lime and citrus, then slowly turns creamy with coconut and rum. It really gives that luxury holiday/beach feeling without smelling synthetic. It is quite sweet as well. Refreshing and easy to wear in hot weather. Perfect for daytime, vacation, gym or just smelling fresh all day. Performance is solid for a summer fragrance, but the amazing scent profile makes up for it If you like tropical fresh fragrances with coconut, citrus and a smooth creamy drydown, this is absolutely worth trying and is very affordable as well. For me, easy 9/10.

Haven't smell the original so can not compare it to that but for anyone who thinks of buying this your closest reference would be an opening similar to a sweet fizzy lemonade with the dry down swapping the fizziness with flowery (hibiscus, gardenia, jasmine) accords the coconut and rum is not dominant or distinguishable on their one at all but I think they do help balance out the citrus. Personally love lemonades so I do love this one but the sillage is very weak and though I can pick up traces of it 8 hours later it becomes skin scent in a couple of hours so definitely not a compliment magnet by any means.

I'm surprised how much this reminds me of Tommy Bahama St Barts. I think I was expecting something more, but I do like this. It's refreshing with that aquatic lime and booze smell with a bit of sweetness. It does last quite a while for me, but it's not a great performer in any way. It does smell really good, but I can't help but think it could be better. This feels kind of like the top notes of a more interesting fragrance. I like it, but I think I like the Tommy Bahama more. It just feels incomplete for some reason. Like it should have some woody notes and more musk or amber.