Fragrance comparison

Aqua Velva Ice Blue vs Explorer Deep

Notes, accords, longevity, sillage, seasons and community ratings, side by side.

Updated 14 Nov 2026 239 ratings analysed

3 wins

Aqua Velva Ice Blue

Williams

4.07236 votes

Rank #6,139 AromaticGreen

Full profile Similar & dupes

56%scent match

Closely related

Explorer Deep

Phytoderm

4.673 votes

Rank #50,001 AromaticWoody

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Aqua Velva Ice Blue takes 3 of 4 categories.

Aqua Velva Ice Blue
Choose it for a aromatic and green character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and fragranxe ranking. Best in spring.
Explorer Deep
Choose it for a aromatic and woody character. Wins on value for money. Best in spring, daytime wear.

Aqua Velva Ice Blue3/4

Explorer Deep1/4

Ratings & consensus: Not scored
Community sentiment: Not scored
Longevity: Aqua Velva Ice Blue
Sillage & projection: Aqua Velva Ice Blue
Value for money: Explorer Deep
Versatility: Not scored
Note pyramid (duration): Not scored
Fragranxe ranking: Aqua Velva Ice Blue

Head-to-head breakdown

Every category side by side, with the winner called out.

Fragrance

Aqua Velva Ice BlueWilliams

Explorer DeepPhytoderm

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

4.07/ 5 · 236 votes

Have 64%Had 36%Want 0%

4.67/ 5 · 3 votes

Have 38%Had 25%Want 38%

Category winnerNot enough dataRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

40%Love

44%Like

7%Ok

6%Dislike

2%Hate

201 votes

67%Love

33%Like

0%Ok

0%Dislike

0%Hate

3 votes · too few to score

Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity48

〰 Sillage46

♥ Love / hate79

⏱ Longevity30

〰 Sillage38

♥ Love / hate92

Category winners

LongevityAqua Velva Ice Blue

SillageAqua Velva Ice Blue

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value89

¤ Price value92

Category winnerExplorer DeepBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

aromatic100%

green92%

woody84%

citrus77%

fresh spicy69%

lavender61%

aromatic100%

woody92%

green84%

amber77%

earthy69%

citrus61%

Scent match56%Closely related · both aromatic, green and woody

Note pyramid (duration)

Top, heart and base, with how long each lasts when known · gold = shared

Notes

MintLavenderMossLemonBergamotLeatherCedarJasmineClary SagePetitgrainSandalwoodAmber

No top / heart / base split published

Top

African GingerMintMandarin Orange

Heart

Clary SageGreen TeaCedarLavender

Base

MuskVetiverMossTonka BeanCrystal Amber

InformationalShared notesMint, Lavender, Moss and Cedar. Note durations are not published for these fragrances, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring100

Summer0

Fall0

Winter60

Day–

Night–

Spring100

Summer100

Fall50

Winter50

Day100

Night33

Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men95

Unisex2

Women3

Men100

Unisex0

Women0

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#6,139

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews49

Overall rank#50,001

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews0

Category winnerAqua Velva Ice BlueHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Aqua Velva Ice Blue by Williams is a quintessential aromatic aquatic fragrance for men that has defined a generation of post-shave routines since 1935. It offers a bracing, menthol-heavy cooling sensation that settles into a clean and herbaceous scent, making it a reliable staple for warm spring mornings and casual su…

Reviews →

Explorer Deep by Phytoderm is an aromatic fougere that balances fresh ginger and mint with a sturdy, woody heart. Released in 2019, it functions as a versatile daily driver for men. On skin, it offers a crisp, green opening that transitions into a clean cedar and lavender base. It is a straightforward, reliable choice…

Reviews →

InformationalRead bothTaste is personal

How we score: ratings blend public fragrance ratings with Fragranxe member votes; longevity, sillage, value and sentiment are community vote scores, and season bars are relative to each fragrance's strongest season. Categories with too little data are shown but not scored. The scent match weighs accord overlap (60%) and shared notes (40%). More in the FAQ.

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Common questions

Straight answers from the data above.

Which is better, Aqua Velva Ice Blue or Explorer Deep?

Aqua Velva Ice Blue takes 3 of 4 categories. Aqua Velva Ice Blue is rated 4.07/5 from 236 votes; Explorer Deep is rated 4.67/5 from 3 votes. Choose Aqua Velva Ice Blue for a aromatic and green character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and fragranxe ranking. Best in spring. Choose Explorer Deep for a aromatic and woody character. Wins on value for money. Best in spring, daytime wear.

Which lasts longer, Aqua Velva Ice Blue or Explorer Deep?

Aqua Velva Ice Blue lasts longest (Aqua Velva Ice Blue 48/100, Explorer Deep 30/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Aqua Velva Ice Blue or Explorer Deep?

Aqua Velva Ice Blue projects furthest (Aqua Velva Ice Blue 46/100, Explorer Deep 38/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Aqua Velva Ice Blue and Explorer Deep smell similar?

Closely related: a 56% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share aromatic, green and woody accords. Common notes include Mint, Lavender, Moss and Cedar.

Is Aqua Velva Ice Blue or Explorer Deep better for summer or winter?

Explorer Deep suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Aqua Velva Ice Blue and Explorer Deep?

Aqua Velva Ice Blue features Mint, Lavender, Moss, Lemon and Bergamot. Explorer Deep has top notes of African Ginger, Mint and Mandarin Orange, heart notes of Clary Sage, Green Tea, Cedar and Lavender, a base of Musk, Vetiver, Moss and Tonka Bean.