Acqua di Gio Profumo by Giorgio Armani

So, I recently got a sample of Acqua di Gio Profumo to go along with the Armani Code Profumo vial that I really enjoyed. This is an updated and slightly altered flanker to the original and highly popular, ADG. How does this one stack up to its predecessor? Does it improve on the past or not live up to the hype?

In this post, I want to take a closer look at the Profumo version, see how it smells, how it performs, and whether or not it is worth a buy. Note: This is a continuing review, I’ve been updating since 2016.

 

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What does Acqua di Gio Profumo Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, sage, patchouli, incense, geranium, rosemary, and marine notes

Click here to try: Giorgio Armani Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Gio Profumo 75ml (2.5oz) Parfum Vapo., 2.5 Fluid Ounce

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My Full Review

Before we get into my own review, let’s see how Armani describes it: Acqua Di Giò Profumo is a sophisticated fragrance born from volcanic rock and deep ocean waters. Deeply sophisticated and intensely masculine, Acqua di Giò Profumo evokes the depth and intensity of the Mediterranean Sea.

Wow, Armani has been crushing it with these Profumo releases, at least the two I’ve tried so far. Acqua di Gio Profumo is very closely related to the original release, yet, feels somewhat more mature and sensual. This fragrance is dominated by the salty marine notes and bergamot, which gives it a wholly summery aura to it.

Think deep ocean waters, dark and mysterious. The incense and other more earthy notes adds a smokey/spicy touch, which is quite masculine. Now, this isn’t completely different from the original Acqua di Gio, just more ‘grown up’ and I think it’s even more interesting than the previous incarnation.

AdG Profumo opens up with the bright and somewhat sharp bergamot note, a nice spicy sage, and the marine notes which again, feel darker than in the original Acqua di Gio. I really like the refreshing aquatic summertime aroma of the top notes and how it starts strong, on my skin.

The juiciness of the bergamot is easy to overlook, but it really helps to capture the same sort of citrus feel as the original.

The sage and incense are really evident early on, along with the signature sea notes of the AdG lineup. 

The next layer comes from the same rosemary note from the original, plus, the incense which provides that smoky note, playing off of the marine accord. The incense comes up from the base notes earlier on than I get with the patchouli, which plays a bigger role in the dry down.

Profumo is a salty citrus with rosemary and the lovely Oriental quality of the incense note. It doesn’t have the same woody base as the original, and instead, substitutes patchouli and geranium.

During the dry down, it takes on more of a warm and slightly metallic air. When blended with the bergamot, the bit of metallic sensation from the geranium, reminds me somewhat of Hugo Red. Different scents, but have some commonalities. Way less citrus in the Armani. 

Ultimately what I get from Acqua di Gio Profumo is an oceanic bergamot with herbal spices, smokey elements, and an altering between warmth/aquatic aromas. It took me some time to truly appreciate this one, but once I was done with my sample sprayer, I was fully into wearing this stuff.

The sage and rosemary definitely tone down as you move along. It stays fairly marine with its aroma, but with more warmth and smoothness. 

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Sillage

Projection wise, it doesn’t falter. Profumo isn’t a heavy type of scent but you’ll know it’s there. It starts out strong on my skin for about an hour and then becomes much more moderate. It’ll radiate during the dry down, about 3-5 feet, but still not heavy.

Coming back to this fragrance, a few years later, and that initial sillage is quite good. I can spray AdG Profumo on a shirt and pick up the scent from across the room.

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How Long does it Last?

Also, it has really good longevity and will last throughout the day. On my skin, I’ve been able to get 8+ hours consistently, and longer on some occasions. It maxed out just under 10 hours.

With more testing, I have found Acqua di Gio Profumo, usually settles in the 9-ish hour range. Occasionally, I can squeak out some more time, but it has to be the right climate mix. 

Update: My latest bottle doesn’t seem to hit these same total number of hours. Now, it’s more like 6.5-7 hours of wear. Don’t know if that’s everyone’s experience, but my initial testing of this had a longer impact. Still, very useful and it hasn’t stopped my from enjoying my bottle.

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Versatility and When to Wear

To me, this is mainly a summer scent, as it will stand up and perform very well in the heat. However, it can honestly be used in the winter without any problem, which is a good bit of versatility.

It does have that oceanic aroma, which can be somewhat out of place. However, Profumo is pretty signature scent worthy and isn’t overly weird when it gets colder. Though, I wore it today when it was chilly out, and still enjoyed it.

Update: I usually wear this in spring and summertime. But, I do come back to it during the colder months and it’s still likeable in that environment. The smokiness and patchouli helps a lot with that.

Profumo is more mature than the original Acqua di Gio, so, if that one was more suited for teens through college age…this is for mid-20s and up.

That’s of course, not a hard rule or anything, but the vibe this one puts out. Good for casual occasions or during the night life. You could totally wear this to a bar or club, and I have gotten complements from women, while wearing this, just from the sample sprayer.

Can this one be an office scent? Yes, it can fit in nicely, if not over-sprayed. 

I was wearing this one around during the summer, fairly often. To me, that’s still when AdG Profumo is at its absolute peak. The citrus and spice, just sits beautifully in that climate. This or Profondo are well worth your consideration, if you live in a sub-tropical or tropical area. 

Update: Having worn this one a lot, Profumo has gotten me a ton of complements over the years. Maybe that’s just a factor of having worn it many times, but I think it’s sustained popularity over time speaks to its attractiveness. It’s not for everyone, but this manages to be unique, stay with the AdG DNA, and appeal to the masses simultaneously.

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Overall Impression of AdG Profumo

Overall, is is worth a buy? Yes, if you liked the original Acqua di Gio and want a new bottle this is a great scent. However, there is the matter of price, as you can get the original for cheaper, usually. Profumo isn’t so much better that you should fork out more money, unless you want to of course.

Updated note: newer bottles of the original, don’t seem to have the same staying power. Now, you can find bottles of Profumo, for below retail price. Also, along with Profondo, you can also try out the EDP version. I like that in the summer, it’s just not as good overall as Profumo. This one still ranks as my favorite of the line.

Between the two? I do like wearing this version much more personally, but some might not enjoy, the incense addition. AdG Profumo is a very good release though and a summery wear that hits the mark.

Since I first began this review years ago, I have had a few full bottles, including currently. I’m a pretty big Acqua di Gio fan and this has been my favorite. Even though, I still like wearing the others. 

I enjoy the freshness, spicy elements, the dark ocean vibe, and metallic hints. Profumo is a wonderful blend of the aromatic, aquatic, and fresh.