Dylan Blue vs Acqua Di Gio Profumo Cologne Comparison

In this post, I’m going to do another head to head comparison between two popular fragrances that have been released in the past few years. One is, Acqua Di Gio Profumo. The other, Dylan Blue by Versace. Now, ADG Profumo is obviously a flanker fragrance of the orignial Acqua Di Gio, while Dylan Blue is its own stand-alone entity. How do these two scents stack up? Which one smells better? Which has better performance?

Tale of the Tape

Dylan Blue

Notes include: black pepper, violet leaf, grapefruit, bergamot, tonka bean, ambrox, fig leaf

Click here to try: VERSACE Pour Homme Sealed Dylan Blue Eau de Toilette, 3.4 Ounce

Read my Full Review of Dylan Blue

Acqua Di Gio Profumo

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

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

Read my Full ADG Profumo Review

Opening

ADG Profumo has a lot of similarities to the original ADG but is much darker, marine, and spicier. The bergamot note is the main player as far as the summery citrus notes go. Dylan Blue starts out quite similar to Profumo but much lighter and seemingly less intense.

The incense note in Profumo gives it that smoky aroma and puts more of an edge on the spice, while the pepper note in Dylan Blue is much more subdued.

I think ADG Profumo has more character and smells distinct. Dylan Blue starts out quite like Profumo and then morphs into a Sauvage-like scent, it doesn’t seem to have an identity of its own. The one thing that I do think that gives it a boost, is the fig leaf note. That is prominent in the begining and is my favorite aspect of Dylan Blue.

Edge: Profumo

Projection

Dylan Blue is a good starter, not overly powerful, but you’ll know that it’s there. However, at around an hour or so, it gets weaker and settles into something definitively average.

Meanwhile, ADG isn’t a beast, by any means, but it is really good in this regard. The fragrance performs well, sticks around, and doesn’t nosedive into some weakened state.

Edge: Profumo

Longevity

Dylan Blue gives me 5-6 hours worth of performance, which isn’t bad. Profumo usually will go 7-9 hours depending on the weather or other circumstances.

Edge: Profumo

Versatility

Here’s where I think Dylan Blue has an edge. While Profumo can be used on many occasions, it strikes more of a summery vibe. It can be worn in the cold but it just doesn’t have the same appeal, in my opinion.

Dylan Blue is more of a spring/summer scent that can be worn casually, at school/work, and out on a date. It’s similarities with Sauvage make it more of a crowd pleaser, especially for the under 25 year old set of guys.

Edge: Dylan Blue

Overall Scent

Dylan Blue has struck me as plain generic, ever since I first sampled it at an airport. I bought a mini bottle, just to make sure I wasn’t mistaken, and my opinion didn’t change all that much. I like it, I think that it’s pleasant, and will work for plenty of guys. It’s grown on me a bit, but I don’t love it.

Acqua Di Gio Profumo is an enhanced version of the original. It’s bold, spicy, smoky while retaining a citrus/aquatic character. It’s not my favorite scent either, but it is so much more interesting to me.  It has better performance than Dylan Blue and is more unique.

If you want a citrus/aquatic that is softer and not as dark, go with Dylan Blue. If you liked the original ADG and want something more mature, go with Profumo. I’ll take the latter.

Winner: Profumo

Best Men's Colognes

Best Men’s Colognes started back in 2013, as a way to share my learning experiences with different fragrances, as I dove head first into the hobby. Since then, I have written hundreds of reviews and other pages about perfumes and colognes.