Many designer and niche brands produce perfumes that gain a monumental fanbase, and it eventually leads to them producing many flankers of the original.
While some of the flankers fail to sustain, a few of them manage to gather more followers than the original.
Two, I will compare perfumes – Voyage and Voyage N-83 by Nautica, an original and its flanker- to find out which has a better scent and which has a better performance.
So, if you have been confused about which one to get between these two, then read till the end.
Clash of Scents: Nautica Voyage Vs. Nautica Voyage N-83
Nautica Voyage
Main Notes: Apple, Green Leaves, Lotus, Mimosa, Musk, Cedar, Oakmoss and Amber.
Launched in 2006, Voyage was created by Maurice Roucel. Voyage has an air of late spring and early summer. It is a perfume for the sea. However, one that has a distinct aquatic, summertime vibe.
Compared to other Nautica fragrances, it has a less oceanic aroma. Voyage is gentler and more influenced by the woods. Amber lingers in the background, adding a touch of warmth to the scent. Rather than having only an oceanic scent, Voyage has a crisp, aqueous aroma.
Nautica Voyage N-83
Main Notes: Sea Notes, Spicy Mint, Petitgrain, Lavender, Cardamom, Nutmeg, Musk, Sandalwood and Cedar
Voyage N-83 is a flanker of the popular Voyage by Nautica, and it was launched in 2013.
The “sea tones” give N-83 a distinct oceanic aroma when it first starts up. It seems less similar to the first Voyage to me. Despite having an aquatic feel, this one is sharper than the original.
N-83 is a change from the original Voyage, which included citrus fruit notes such as orange; nonetheless, it still opts to go with something that is crisp and clean, with undertones of musk and soft lavender.
Now that you know a basic summary of the scents and their main accords let’s dig into the scents and find out how they compare.
Here is my thorough comparison between Nautica Voyage and Nautica Voyage N-83:
Opening
Even though they are both aquatic fragrances, there is a notable difference between the opening of Voyage and N-83.
Apple, watery, mimosa, and some overt musk notes are present in the opening of Voyage. It has a perfume that is generally associated with cucumber or dew—a cold, watery scent. It smells faintly aquatic but not marine.
The aroma has a green/floral undertone with damp moss and lotus/mimosa underneath all of it.
On the other hand, in the case of N-83, a cold, spicy mint with a tinge of petitgrain greets you at the top. At first, it smells slightly herbal with lighter musk, and the oceanic note pervades the entire composition.
So, which one has a more appealing opening?
Simply put, Nautica Voyage is more perceptible and enjoyable. You immediately detect a crisp, watery apple aroma with a touch of sweetness.
The distinctive addition of mimosa, cedar, and musk further distinguished Voyage.
So, in terms of opening scent, Voyage is more impressive than its flanker, N-83.
Projection and Longevity
Though not particularly strong, Voyage is perceivable and projects fairly effectively.
However, the range of N-83 is somewhat constrained, and it has a tendency to be on the weaker side. It doesn’t fully fade away after five minutes, but it isn’t particularly strong either.
While not the biggest offender, N-83 falls short of what Voyage offers. So, between the two, Voyage has a better projection.
In the case of projection, I have noticed a similar trend. Voyage lasts evidently longer than N-83.
While Voyage can last anywhere between 5 to 7 hours, N-83 usually lasts for 3 to 6 hours max.
So, which one performs better?
In terms of projection and longevity, Voyage performs better than its flanker, N-83, in both cases.
Compliment Factor
Many people use fragrance to leave a positive impression on others. Some of us have an unwavering desire to spread our perfumes, hoping that others will like them as much as we do.
We all enjoy hearing about how great a perfume smells; therefore, it only makes sense to compare the compliment factors of the two perfumes, Voyage and Voyage N-83.
From what I have noticed, strangers have given both scents favorable reviews. Since they are clean and have aquatic scents, they are quite likable, especially in hot summers.
However, since Voyage has a fruity touch to it, it tends to grab people’s attention more effectively, earning you more compliments than its flanker.
Hence, when comparing how many compliments each perfume gets you, Voyage has the upper hand and is more likely to get you a lot of praise compared to N-83.
Versatility
Both of these are fantastic everyday scents that make you smell wonderful wherever you wear them. I actually wouldn’t classify either as a date-night scent, though Voyage would have somewhat of an upper hand in this case.
Since N-83 is less overpowering, it might be a marginally superior workplace fragrance. Voyage isn’t too loud and can also be worn to work.
In terms of affordable scents, both Voyage and N-83 are really useful. No, neither product is of extremely high quality, but they can be very handy.
In conclusion, both of them are equally versatile.
Value for Money
When choosing between two perfumes, comparing their prices is essential to figure out which one is giving you the best product at a cheaper price. In other words, comparing their value for the price.
Now, Nautica is known for producing great fragrances at an affordable price, and these two perfumes are no exception.
The price of Nautica Voyage Eau De Toilette is $18.90 for the size 3.4 fl oz / 100 ml. On the other hand, Voyage N-83 Eau De Toilette costs around $23.88 for the same size.
As you can see, there is no big difference between their prices, and both are quite budget-friendly. However, when compared, the price of Nautica Voyage is somewhat less than N-83.
Nonetheless, the prices of these fragrances vary quite a bit from store to store and website to website, so I suggest you list out and compare the prices on different websites and buy the one that offers the best deal.
So, which one offers the best value for the money between Voyage and N-83?
Even though both are affordable, by comparing the prices, it is evident that Voyage offers the best value for money between these two perfumes as the same size Voyage is cheaper than N-83.
Overall Scent
Finally, it’s time to compare these two perfumes’ scent profiles and overall scent. To be honest, both Voyage and N-83 have decent overall scents.
N-83 is an excellent fragrance, yet, it is quite linear in nature and lacks any truly outstanding qualities. Because of the lavender note, it has a pleasant and fresh aroma that can be described as marine, soapy, and silky.
On the other hand, Voyage is aquatic with a wonderful citrus smell; it has been a customer favorite for a very long time and continues to be our top selling.
While N-83 is most likely not even among the top Nautica colognes, Voyage is a wonderful addition to the collection of anybody who wears it because of its affordable price and a pleasant aroma.
It wouldn’t be unfair to say that Voyage is Nautica’s finest production.
Since both of these are reasonably priced, you might as well get both of them if you want some diversity in your life. If I could only choose one, it would have to be Voyage.
So, I must say that in the case of overall scent, Voyage is the winner.
Final Verdict
Both Nautica Voyage and Nautica Voyage N-83 are wonderful scents from the same line. While the flanker, N-83, is quite aromatic, the original smells much better to my nose.
The oceanic fragrance with the added citrus notes feels bright and rejuvenating. The oakmoss, amber and cedar ground the perfume and tie all the accords together, creating a fine balance.
However, which one you decide to opt for depends solely on your preferences.
Due to their affordability, if you are into marine scents, you can actually get yourself both scents.
Whichever fragrance you choose to opt for, don’t forget to let me know in the comments below!
