5 Fragrances Similar to Acqua di Gio

Acqua di Gio has been one of the best selling men’s fragrances, since its release back in the 1990s. That’s decades spent near the top, with men of all ages buying, and enjoying this cologne. However, sometimes buying the real thing can get expensive, and we need a cheaper alternative that can clone what we dig about a scent. As such, in this post, I am going to put forth some options for guys who want an Acqua di Gio sort of smell at a more affordable price.

What Men’s Colognes Smell Similar to Acqua di Gio?

Inspired Creation

Aquatic Lime by Dossier– The first entry is going to be from Dossier, who give their take on the AdG formula, with Aquatic Lime.

Now, this is an ‘inspired by’ cologne, and tries to mimic what you get with the Armani. It does a good job at doing so, also. This and the Dua are one’s to go with, if you want a fragrance that smells like Acqua, to a near one for one match.

The others, are designer colognes that are very similar to the style of our target.

Bergamot, lime, and watermelon are the top notes here. Not exactly the same, as AdG doesn’t have a watermelon note, but it’s not much of a factor. Also, classic Acqua di Gio had a greater floral array.

Nonetheless, this is a great option for a cheaper price.

Dua Original

Acqua di Dua– The Dossier option above, nails the smell of most modern formulations of Acqua di Gio, but this Dua comes close to perfecting the scent of the original AdG formula from the 1990s.

Clean aquatic notes, with a great lime burst up top, greater depth of floral notes (nice jasmine), and even the woodsy base notes.

With Dua’s fragrance oils, it can take some time to macerate, but it is worth it. The smell gets better and better after a few months. Still great, early on, but I’ve had a bunch of scents from this brand and the improvement is usually phenomenal. 

This seems to run $5-10 more usually than the Dossier, but it might be a better option for those who want a more of the floral influence.

Best Cheapie 

360° Red by Perry Ellis for Men, 3.4 Ounce– The closest designer scent to the smell of AdG, 360 Red is the best bet for someone looking for a really near vibe, at a very low price. Lemon and lime open up the first part of 360 Red, which are somewhat synthetic, but still very enjoyable.

It dries down with a fresh cinnamon/peppery spice, which isn’t too overpowering but does have the mimicking of the Armani cologne.

Some folks prefer this to Acqua di Gio, and honestly, it isn’t too much of a stretch. You get really good performance, a close approximation of the smell, and it’s way cheaper. 360 Red Review

A Bit Spicier, Less Floral 

ARMAF Homme Eau De Tolette Spray for Men, Blue, 3.4 oz– I’m adding Armaf Blue to the list, because it does a really good job at mostly smelling like the aroma of AdG, for a very inexpensive price. 

This one is smoother than 360, it has more of an herbal spice and less of the cinnamon of that one. However, 360 Red probably lasts a little longer.

Armaf Blue starts off with some really nice citrus notes and the neroli top. The opening act is quite a bit like what we’re after. What this one lacks is that sea breeze quality found in the Armani. Also, while it has the jasmine note, it isn’t very strong.

In the latest batches of Acqua di Gio that I’ve tried, the jasmine is prevalent for a good portion of the wear, but it isn’t here. Nonetheless, this is a nice pick up for around 30 bucks.

Slightly Different, but Very Similar

Just Me by Paris Hilton for Men – 3.4 Ounce EDT Spray– Yep, a Paris Hilton fragrance. Don’t get dismayed by the name attached, this stuff is seriously good, at this price point. Not only does it perform well and last long, it also bears a striking resemblance to our AdG.

It does have a slightly different smell, with a different blend of citrus notes, and the inclusion of blueberry at the top (which is great).

Just Me has a smokier base, with its incense, than does Acqua di Gio. Also, the amber note feels more pronounced, and it has a ‘greener’ smell at times (which I think is from the lotus). Plus, it is a bit sweeter. Nonetheless, it provides everything that AdG does, for a fraction of the price. Maybe even a bit better.

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.