I see these two compared alot and some reviewers saying that St. Barts is as good, if not better than Virgin Island Water. This is going to be a short review ( my opinion) of both of these and how they compare.

More than 30-years later, the brand continues to grow with clothing, accessories, and of course, colognes.

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Tommy Bahama is nothing if not consistent with their aim of giving a slice of paradise for the working stiff. Like Banana Republic, their clothes aim at the middle-tier entry-level white collar person that would have enough cash to take a vacation to Virginia Beach, but not an island getaway like their boss takes yearly; Tommy Bahama therefore fills the gap with aesthetic via their products. With Set Sail St. Barts for Men (2007), a part of the "Island Getaway" oeurve of fragrances, the brand seeks to go outside the usual realm of aquatics by infusing some elements of the vacation experience into the scent. This roughly translates to sand, surf, and libations infused with the aquatic DNA of the perfume itself. A lot of people online erroneously claim this to be a downmarket clone of Creed Virgin Island Water (2007), but both scents released simultaneously and don't share much in common besides a theme, so I think it's the usual "FragBro" posturing insisting that anything sharing a common thread with their revered non-plus ultra brand is somehow an imitator. Truth be told, the Creed in this instance is done better since there is a vast difference in quality of base materials between them, but I'm less a fan of the top notes in it because I don't care for coconut much in fragrances beyond a few exceptions, so the Tommy Bahama gets some kudos for not utilizing as much of it. For the price of what Tommy Bahama sells versus the Creed, I can definitely see this as a valid frugal alternative, but it is not even close to a clone in qualitative terms let alone design.

Tommy Bahama has released two new fragrances for the spring/summer 2023 season: St. BartsSeascape for Womenand St. BartsSeascape for Men. I really do like the lime note here. Yes, it is loud and bold, but that’s a part of the appeal. The tequila note is interesting and is one of the reasons it gets noted as a ‘poor man’s version’ of Creed’s Virgin Island Water, which uses rum instead.The tart lime note is huge, at first, and is paired with a salty marine note, and some guava for extra fruitiness. Everything is so citrusy and juicy at the start and I kind of don’t want it to ever end. St. Barts continues to be one of the most popular choices in the Tommy Bahama line of colognes for good reason. It’s reasonably priced, well made and affordable. If fresh, balanced and unique aquatics are your jam, you can’t afford to miss out on Tommy Bahama’s St. Barts for Men. If Tommy Bahama St. Barts just isn’t for you, but you still want a hint of summer sun and beachside fun, any of these would be great alternatives. Final Thoughts I wouldn’t wear this to work, unless it was at a more informal team event. Maybe an outdoor picnic or a friends and family day.

St Barts is definitely a summer cologne and it comes alive in the heat. It can be worn either day or night and it’s perfect when dining outside, or relaxing at the beach. Compared to Tommy Bahama for Him, which comes in a yellow, diamond-style bottle, St. Barts presents more nautical and island-themed. St. Barts has been a mainstay summer fragrance since 2007, but it remains relevant and is a great choice in the warm weather. It may not be the most versatile fragrance, since it leans so heavily towardcasual, summer days, but it’s well-liked and easy to wear. The opening lime notes are authentic and balance well with the tequila and salty sea aromas. It’s like a margarita, but not overly boozy. St. Barts never comes off synthetic or awkward, but develops nicely into a fresh beachy aquatic.

Tommy Bahama for Her

Tommy Bahama’s brand identity is 100% summer, with a focus on living the Caribbean lifestyle. Other choices in their cologne line include Tommy Bahama St. Kitts and Tommy Bahama Martinique.

The wearer of St. Barts Seascape for Women will be transported to a lushoasis in this Caribbean-inspired fragrance, lush with tangy fruits, tropicalflorals, and a comfortingand musky finish. After a few days, I took a small travel atomizer of St. Barts with me when I was going to be out all day. The top notes are so refreshing and lively that I wanted to experience the opening throughout the day. The cologne is so easygoing and balanced, you won’t have to worry much about over-spraying. Who Makes It?

St. Barts for Her

As I moved around though, I continued to notice the sillage wafting around me. I’d get these lovely notes of tequila and lime drifting off my skin. Sometimes the salty sea notes would float in, offering a refreshing bite. As far as the Tommy Bahama scents go, this is probably my second favorite. St. Kitts is still the best of the bunch, if you want to go with a more tropical fruit cologne, without the tequila.