While searching for Cool Water Reborn or Cool Water Parfum (and failing to find them), I found Cool Water Grapefruit and Sage. Figured I would give it a whirl and review it.
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The opening of Grapefruit and Sage is like
Cool Water Intense—citrusy and sweet. The citrus aspect is more tart, probably because Grapefruit has a stronger citrus vibe than the orange used in Intense.
However, the dry-down is where the differentiation occurs. After a few minutes, while Intense continues toward sweet and lightly fresh, Grapefruit and Sage go in the opposite direction. It leans heavily on the fresh and herbal aspect (the sage note going into effect), while the sweetness remains light.
The overall scent is linear and slightly synthetic, but it gets the job done in being a pleasant smell. I like it, but I am not in love with it either.
In addition, I will note that Cool Water Intense is nothing like the original Cool Water, and that disappointed people. The same applies with Grapefruit and Sage. Do not come in expecting a twist on the original.
That said, Cool Water Grapefruit and Sage share a profile with another fragrance. Add some ginger, and it would be almost identical to Yves Saint Laurent's Y EDT from 2017. That fragrance notably also received a mixed reception.
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For the bottle artisans, there is nothing noteworthy here unless you are a fan of Cool Water, or want this limited-edition fragrance.
The bottle uses the familiar Cool Water glass shape and plastic cap, except the glass is clear, and the liquid is a light blue color reminiscent of a clear sky. It fits in well with other Cool Water bottles.
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In terms of performance, Grapefruit and Sage is within the expectation of a warm-weather EDT.
The fragrance lasts on my skin for six hours in the summer daytime and about four hours in the cooler evenings. It is decent for a workday or an evening, but if fragrances do not last on you, be prepared to respray.
Also, keeping my nighttime test in mind, I do not expect Grapefruit and Sage to perform nearly as well in colder conditions.
Sillage and projection are average. The strong projection extends to about two feet beyond a person and lasts for about an hour before it becomes an intimate scent. However, the sillage trail it leaves lasts for several minutes before dissipating.
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In terms of social scenarios, Grapefruit and Sage, like most of the fragrances in the Cool Water line, is a summer scent.
Grapefruit and Sage can work as a sports fragrance, as the herbal notes make it palatable in the gym. Likewise, it can work as an office fragrance, as the citrusy herbal smell is likely to be inoffensive to most people.
I do not recommend Grapefruit and Sage as an evening fragrance. While it is possible to use on a night out or a date, the longevity was questionable on a summer night and is likely to be worse as the weather cools off. While the scent is pleasant and energetic, it is not exactly a smell that evokes intimate moments on a date or in the bedroom.
With that in mind, the light citrus and herbal combination shine the brightest when used as a daily fragrance in the summer.
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Overall, I think Cool Water Grapefruit and Sage is just okay. It is something I would use and reach for on a hot summer day in the office, gym, or while lounging around on a whim, but there are several fragrances I rank over it, including other Cool Water fragrances.
That said, disappointment waits for anyone expecting Grapefruit and Sage to be remotely close to the original Cool Water (it is not), or anyone looking for a fragrance to use during a summer night rendezvous. In addition, if you are expecting Grapefruit and sage to work in cold scenarios, there is nothing but disappointment waiting.
If someone is looking for a fragrance with better performance, Cool Water Intense is similar and fits those expectations better.
If someone is interested in Grapefruit and Sage, I do not recommend buying it at full retail price, and instead try to find it at rack stores such as Marshall’s and TJ Maxx, where it is a steal as an affordable fragrance.
However, because of its limited-edition status, I expect the price to increase as economic scarcity comes into effect when Grapefruit and Sage becomes more difficult to find. If that happens, I recommend passing on the fragrance to anyone that is not a Cool Water fan.
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