Cool Water Intense Davidoff 2019

Looking for a "cheap and cheerful" unisex fragrance? Cool Water Intense by Davidoff ticks that box perfectly. If you’re after a budget-friendly scent that brings tropical vibes with zero effort, this one’s a no-brainer. The 40ml version can often be found for around $20 - and trust me, don’t spend more than that!

Despite the familiar name, this isn’t just another flanker of the legendary Cool Water. Instead, perfumery veteran Annick Ménardo (the nose behind classics like Bvlgari Black and Diesel Fuel for Life) crafted a scent that takes a completely different route. Cool Water Intense (2019) ditches the original’s aquatic DNA and replaces it with something much sweeter and more playful. There's non of that GIT vibe here.

A juicy blast of green mandarin sets the stage for what’s essentially a coconut cocktail in a bottle. As the citrus fades, a creamy coconut nectar accord steps in, evoking sunscreen, beach bars, and carefree summer days... but to be truthful this isn’t a niche masterpiece. It leans "synthetic", and if you’ve ever smelled one of those coconut-scented air fresheners from the ‘90s, you’ll recognize a familiar touch of nostalgia. My father used to have one, pretty much with the exact same smell!

The dry down keeps things simple but effective. A slightly warm, ambery sweetness that continues the tropical mood going without becoming cloying. There’s no complexity here, but that’s exactly the point: it’s fun, easygoing, and effortlessly wearable.
For something this affordable, Cool Water Intense actually delivers respectable performance. Expect around 8 hours of longevity, with a noticeable presence for the first 2-3 hours before it settles closer to the skin. It won’t fill a room, but within arm’s length, it does a decent job.

If you're after a simple, budget-friendly tropical scent, Cool Water Intense is an easy grab. It shines best in warm weather and casual settings, making it perfect for vacations, beach days, or just when you want to channel summer vibes year-round. This could also be an ideal post-gym fragrance.
Yes, it’s synthetic, but for $20 or less, you’re getting a fun, relaxed fragrance that punches well above its price. For your Ryanair tropical escape, this one’s hard to beat.

I have finally order this one and I must say that I was nicely surprised.
It has nothing to do with the original cool water this being more modern and obviously more intense than the original.This reminded me of ambroxan fragrances like sauvage, dylan blue, aqva atlantiqve without being the same or with the addition of pepper. Just imagine a typical ambroxan base (like you'll find in sauvage, dylan blue or atlantiqve) and add a slight trace of coconut. Or coconut water. There you go.
Don't get me wrong, it's not very synthetic or unpleasant. To me it is pretty good for the price and that hint of coconut combined with an ambroxan feeling gives it a nice twist.
For some of you it might be boring or generic. You can also associate the smell with a nice & refreshing shower gel that you are using or used to have.
All in all, it's quite pleasant for my taste even if it's pretty linear as well.
Not much for the notes right ?
If you are not interested yet you must know that the prices are very very good.
Another strong point is the performance. I get at least 7-8 hours with a noticeable projection around me. So you will get noticed with this one.
I am quite pleased by the purchase taking in consideration the price, quality and the performance.
Give it a chance !

Overall : 7.9/10

I kinda love this! Although a part of me wishes "Cool Water Intense" shared more similarities with the DNA of Davidoff's original eau de Toilette (which is timeless), the other is just too preoccupied with it's sweet spectacle to mind much.

This is only Cool Water by name, which means yes: a darker, longer lasting Cool Water is what's expected, but not what's actually in the bottle. I'm guessing the fine folks at Davidoff were thinking mainline profits here, which I guess makes sense... but confusing people's expectations does not. Why not just conjure up a new line, or atleast a new branch of flankers?

---"TROPICAL ISLAND WATER"---

THAT IS pretty much what you get here! A burst of mandarin orange freshness accompanied by strong, sweet coconut ambroxan. Simple? Yes. Effective? Most definitely. Brash, youthful, and a bit synthetic? Sure, but in a playful, approachable, laid-back sorta way. While not as versatile as the original Cool Water, "Intense" has the potential to get copius usage all throughout the spring/summer.

Above anything else, Davidoff (thankfully) got the INTENSE part right! This is a potent, surprisingly robust formulation! I get 6-8 hours of rock-solid performance out of this bad boy, with a very noticeable sillage. Considering the strength and sweetness of this juice (that coconut...), some wearers may find it cloying and headache-inducing; especially in the high heat. Most everyone else will be basking in a sunny, absolute MAGNET of attention and compliments for most of the day. Pretty slick for such an affordable fragrance.

It's hard to compete with the lineage of Davidoff's Cool Water, and luckily "Intense" is a terrific addition to that legacy. Though the DNA has changed beyond recognition, I'd say "INTENSE" is the best flanker yet.

It's a liquid summer essential.

No intro. Getting straight to the point.

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The most important point is that Cool Water and Cool Water Intense are vastly different fragrances. The only thing similar about them is the name, and that both fragrances are affordable for anyone on a budget.

If you are looking for a summer fragrance that is light, subtle, and fresh, that gives hints of maturity, I suggest going with the original Cool Water.

However, if you want a spring fragrance that is very sweet, Cool Water Intense is worth your consideration.

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For the actual fragrance itself, artisans will be disappointed as there are only three listed notes in Cool Water Intense, and one overpowers the rest. The opening of this fragrance is like an orange, but the (light) heart note of coconut and a (very strong) unisex amber note quickly overtake the fragrance profile quickly.

Despite the lack of complexity, it is a decent sweet fragrance, at an affordable price. However, I think there are better sweet fragrances available.

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Performance-wise, Cool Water Intense is superb. It has above-average sillage and projection. It will not announce your presence as you enter the room like a superstar, but people will notice if you walk past them.

For longevity, CW: I lasts about eight hours and should get you through a work day.

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Cool Water Intense may be hard to work with socially, especially if certain cultures hate loud fragrances. I would definitely not recommend it for the office or gym.

However, this fragrance fits a leisurely vibe. Think about relaxing at home, going to a party with friends, or dancing at a nightclub.

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Overall, Cool Water Intense will disappoint people looking for a stronger version of Cool Water. Same deal for anyone that dislikes sweet or artificial fragrances.

Cool Water Intense is a solid fragrance that performs well on a budget.

However, if budget is not an issue, I recommend other available sweet options with mainstream designers as YSL's Y EDP or Jean Paul Gaultier's Ultra Male.

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Edit on 08/30/2022, as I failed to detail the strong sweetness of Cool Water Intense.
Updated on 08/12/2024, to shorten the review.

I’m going to agree with those that say this doesn’t quite fit in the “family” of the one it’s flanking... I like the scent, but everyone knows that I like the sweet fragrances.

This one becomes kind of floral as it develops... it reminds my wife and I of a Hawaiian flower named Pua Keni Keni... A very nice, very sweet, and pungent aroma. It does have a “tropical” feeling, especially in the opening. It starts with a softer feeling citrus, and as it develops I can feel the coconut WATER, and it’s a different scent than most expect... as it develops it slides out of the citrus/coconut and into the tropical flowery scent that I’m noticing.

Performance wise, it lives up to the hype it’s getting online. Projection is LOUD (an easy 4+ foot radius), and sillage lingers for a LONG time... it lasts over 8 hours easily, so you get the bang for the bucks you spend. It’s all about if you like the sweeter stuff, and if you don’t mind how different from its “fragrance family” it turns out to be.

For me? It was $40 for 100ml. I’m 100% satisfied.