My man loves the beach and the vibe it flourishes. For a long time, I wanted to gift him a fragrance with a pleasing tropical touch.
Nothing could satisfy me until I sniffed a sample of the Sailing Day by Maison Martin Margiela from a perfume shop. At that moment, I knew what I was looking for.
Unfortunately, it didn’t cover my budget then. So, I started searching for substitutes for Sailing Day, and I found some amazing alternatives to it.
I will enlist them in this article.
What Does Sailing Day Maison Martin Margiela Smell Like?
Sailing Day radiates a crispy, salty, windy, and fresh oceanic vibe.
It offers a warm, ozonic, and refreshing opening followed by a green and aromatic aura in the middle. The fragrance settles on the skin with a dazzling, timbering, and aquatic sensation.
Let’s take a look at the notes pyramid of Sailing Day:
Top Notes: Sea Notes, Aldehydes, Coriander, Red Pepper
Middle Notes: Juniper, Iris, Amyl Salicylate, Rose
Base Notes: Seaweed, Ambergris, Cedar, Amberwood
In the first sniff of Sailing Day, You will receive a salty oceanic smell of the sand and algae from the sea notes. Then, aldehydes give off a clean and floral hint.
Also, you can perceive a spicy and tangy hunch of coriander and red pepper there.
After a while, Juniper infuses a warm, woody, and pungent aura into the ambiance. Plus, iris, amyl salicylate, and rose collaborate to produce a floral, powdery, and subtle earthy aroma in this phase.
In the dry down, seaweed and ambergris release a salty, marine, and aromatic whirl. Amberwood intensifies the aquatic vibe with a salty and musky hint. Later, cedar adds a timbering touch.
When I applied Sailing Day, it lasted 6 hours on my skin and slowly started disappearing.
Also, it offers arm-length sillage, and the projection comes pretty good from this clean and fresh scent.
If you ask me about its usage time, I will choose this fragrance for all my daytime activities in summer.
What Colognes Are Similar To Sailing Day Maison Martin Margiela?
Sailing Day is a refreshing cologne with a fine tropical touch. It is one of the best summer fragrances formulated with quality ingredients and comprises a unique blend of aromas.
However, this eternal cologne is often out of stock due to popular demand. In that case, you can opt for the alternatives for Sailing Day.
Here are the top 7 dupes of Sailing Day Maison Martin Margiela:
1. Aqva Pour Homme Marine Bvlgari
Top Notes: Grapefruit, Neroli, Mandarin Orange, Petitgrain
Middle Notes: Water Notes, Seaweed, Rosemary
Base Notes: Virginia Cedar, Amber
Aqva Pour Homme Marine is considered one of the best-smelling colognes for college guys. It opens with an intensely citrusy smell of grapefruit and mandarin orange. Plus, neroli and petitgrain infuse a green, citrusy, and floral hunch to it.
My younger cousin is a fan of the refreshing opening of Aqva Pour Homme Marine. It’s his favorite cologne for summer.
Upon maturing on the skin, it releases a refreshing, pungent vibe of seaweed and rosemary. And water notes produce a salty and oceanic hint.
Finally, the cologne sets in with an inviting, musky, and animalic aura of amber. Here, you will perceive a woody sensation of the Virginia cedar as well.
This light and refreshing scent provides moderate sillage and longevity. So, if you don’t want a fragrance with intense room-filling projection, then grab it.
When to Wear
Aqva Pour Homme Marine gives an intense tropical touch. Hence, the scent is suitable for the warm weather of summer and spring. In my opinion, it is a perfect piece for a beach day.
Why Should You Buy
- Refreshing and subtle.
- Classy packaging.
- Refined formula.
- Good masculine fragrance.
- Perfect for summer.
2. Fantasquatic Mugler
Top Notes: Lemon, Grapefruit
Middle Notes: Sea Notes, Cardamom, Coriander
Base Notes: Papyrus, Ambergris, Patchouli
Fantasquatic is one of the closest clones of Sailing Day. I picked this cologne for my partner and couldn’t be more satisfied with the results.
Fantasquatic Mugler comes with a tangy opening from the lemon and grapefruit.
In a few moments, sea notes from the heart flourish a salty, oceanic, and sand-like smell. Then, cardamom and coriander infuse a warm, spicy, and subtly citrusy vibe at this point.
I loved how the core is formed in this fragrance. It’s intriguing, with a fresh and lifting aroma.
It dries down with the woody, sweet, musky, and spicy sensation of the papyrus and patchouli in the base. Also, ambergris amplifies the musky aura with a bitter and earthy hint.
This summer cologne is long-lasting on the skin and radiates impressive sillage.
When to Wear
I recommend this cologne for the heated weather in summer. You can occasionally pick it up during the spring. Plus, this long-lasting formula is just perfect if you are going for a summer trip.
Why Should You Buy
- Impressive sillage & longevity.
- Both males and females can apply.
- Must-have for fresh scent lovers.
- Unique composition.
3. Clean Summer Sailing
Top Notes: Cucumber, Aldehydes, Sicilian Bergamot
Middle Notes: Sea Notes, Calone, Violet Leaf
Base Notes: Moss, Musk, White Wood
Clean Summer Sailing is another outstanding replica of Sailing Day. It was released before Sailing Day, but both fragrances have similar smells.
Clean Summer Sailing offers a refreshing and citrusy opening with the presence of cucumber, aldehydes, and Sicilian bergamot.
Hereafter, sea notes and calone infuse an intensely marine, sea sand, and algae aroma at heart. Then, violet leaf produce a soft, sweet, and floral sensation.
If you like the intense ozonic aura in your cologne, I suggest this for you.
Eventually, the cologne settles on the skin, radiating a woody and musky whirl in the atmosphere.
This warm and clean scent is worth the price. It offers massive projection and lasts for a prolonged time.
When to Wear
Clean Summer Sailing is my go-to fragrance for spring and summer. The aquatic-aromatic combo is great for a day picnic in summer. My friend prefers it on a rainy day, too.
Why Should You Buy
- True to its name.
- Affordable dupe.
- 8 hours of longevity.
- Warm & fresh vibe.
- Travel-friendly packaging.
4. Aqva Pour Homme Bvlgari
Top Notes: Mandarin Orange, Orange, Petitgrain
Middle Notes: Seaweed, Lavender, Cotton Flower
Base Notes: Virginia Cedar, Woodsy Notes, Patchouli, Clary Sage, Amber
Aqva Pour Homme is among the best-smelling Bvlgari colognes you will ever find. Plus, it is an amazing substitute for Sailing Day.
This mesmerizing scent opens with a spicy, tangy, and floral vibe of the mandarin orange, orange, and petitgrain. I use this as my summer scent because of the refreshing and inviting opening it comprises.
In the middle, a refreshing marine, breezy, and floral aroma comes from the seaweed, lavender, and cotton flower.
Ultimately, Virginia cedar and woodsy notes in the fragrance base release a woody smell. A sweet, musky, and green sensation is added by patchouli, clary sage, and amber.
The aromatic-salty masterpiece gives great projection. It is also a perfect pick for men under 30.
When to Wear
In my view, Aqva Pour Homme Bvlgari is one of the best summer fragrances. It suits the springtime as well. This dark and refreshing scent can make your summer vacation delightful. You can apply it during the day, but its dark sensation fits the night ambiance more appropriately.
Why Should You Buy
- A fine blend of aquatic and ocean notes.
- Tremendous projection.
- Compliment getter.
- Intriguing aroma.
- Greatly masculine.
5. Light Blue Eau Intense Pour Homme Dolce&Gabbana
Top Notes: Grapefruit, Mandarin Orange
Middle Notes: Sea Water, Juniper
Base Notes: Musk, Amberwood
Light Blue Eau Intense Pour Homme is one of the first fragrances with a tropical feel I used. Though it is more male-centric, I love the aquatic and regenerative vibe it offers.
Light Blue Eau Intense Pour Homme starts with a refreshing, sweet, tangy, and fruity smell of grapefruit and mandarin orange. Plus, it injects a subtle floral hunch in the beginning.
In the core, a salty and pungent beach-like sensation hits the nose. There, juniper amplifies the aromatic vibe with a woody hint.
My brother calls this the ultimate summer vacation scent because of the pleasing ozonic aroma it spreads.
Finally, amberwood in the cologne base generates a warm, aquatic, and salty twist in the atmosphere. It keeps the oceanic touch persistent in the scent. Additionally, musk adds an earthy and musky aura in this phase.
It is not easy to measure the sillage and projection in a perfume precisely. But regarding this fragrance, I am pretty confident about the massive sillage it offers, as I have been using Light Blue for a long time. And its room-filling projection will bring you lots of attention.
When to Wear
It is a good option for the summer, spring, and early fall time. Plus, this cologne goes well with daylight events. But, from my experience, it is an excellent option for night events also.
Why Should You Buy
- Decent price point.
- Over 6 feet length sillage.
- Sweet dry-down.
- Green and mystical aura.
- Eye-soothing packaging.
6. Inception Zarkoperfume
If you want a cold, windy, and fresh fragrance for daily usage, then opt for Inception by Zarkoperfume. The sea notes in it infuse a salty, ozonic, and algae smell, which gives the feel of a beach ambiance.
Green notes in the cologne create a refreshing and lively sensation.
If you must spend a prolonged amount of time outside in the sunlight, spray it and go through the entire day without thinking much.
The citruses and spicy notes collaborate to produce a tangy and spicy aura, it gives off an alluring vibe in the surroundings.
Plus, woody notes generate a timbering and aromatic hint in the scent.
I use this clean and pleasing piece of art regularly. It’s long-lasting and gives a good amount of projection.
When to Wear
Inception suits warm weather. Plus, it works great as a day perfume.
However, my friends claim they like its performance at nighttime, too. In my opinion, this cologne fits the office environment pretty well.
Why Should You Buy
- Hand-made cologne.
- Unisex.
- Moderate sillage.
- High-quality ingredients.
- Office friendly.
7. Costa Azzurra Tom Ford
Top Notes: Driftwood, Seaweed, Agarwood (Oud), Celery Seeds, Cardamom
Middle Notes: Lemon, Lavender, Juniper, Yellow Mandarin, Artemisia
Base Notes: Vetiver, Oak, Olibanum
There is a great range of best-smelling cologne by Tom Ford, but Costa Azzurra is my favorite. In fact, I think this fragrance is the underrated one.
In the opening of Costa Azzurra, driftwood and seaweed release a salty, oceanic, and aromatic smell that gives off a summer beach vibe.
Plus, celery seeds and cardamom add an intensely spicy aroma to produce a seductive touch in it.
Additionally, a floral-fruity and woody aura comes from the agarwood.
Opening of this cologne is my favorite, it offers a very rich and pleasing aroma from the first splash.
After a while, lemon and yellow mandarin at heart create a tangy aura. The lavender, artemisia, and juniper spread a floral, green, and pungent whirl into the atmosphere.
In the base, a bittersweet, earthy, and warm hunch is perceived from the vetiver and oak. Also, olibanum generates a timbering, spicy, and fruity hint in this phase.
The trendy and seductive Costa Azzurra by Tom Ford lasts quite long on the skin. In my view. This aquatic masterpiece is reasonable in price.
When to Wear
Costa Azzurra by Tom Ford is perfect for a beach day in summer. It is suitable for the springtime as well.
Why Should You Buy
- Good projection.
- Alluring tropical touch.
- Pleasing woody dry-down.
- Premium fragrance.
- Salty & Aquatic.
Final Thoughts
The formulation of Maison Martin Margiela’s perfumes is unique. Hence, finding the dupe of Sailing Day required some in-depth research.
I conquered the mission, identified some of the best alternatives for Sailing Day, and shared those with you all.
I am looking forward to hearing your feedback. Let me know about the fragrance you picked.
I will return with more exciting write-ups. Till then, take care!