Acqua di Gio EDP by Armani

Acqua di Gio keeps rolling right along with the 2022 release of the eau de parfum version. This following on the heels of the Profondo flankers. It’s finally available for purchase here in the US. How does this one smell? How does it compare? Is it actually worth a try?

What does Acqua di Gio EDP Smell Like?

Notes include: green mandarin, patchouli, sage, vetiver, geranium, lavandin, marine notes

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My Full Review

Let’s see how Armani describes it: ACQUA DI GIÒ EAU DE PARFUM encapsulates a powerful, long-lasting freshness, where innovative marine notes blend with natural green mandarin, sage, vetiver, patchouli, and a woody mineral dry-down. The infinite horizon of the sea is captured in a new innovative refill bottle.

If you’ve tried it, you can post a review and score in the comment section below.

Acqua di Gio EDP starts off much like Profondo Lights and Profondo. I’d say it’s closer to the former, with the prominent green mandarin note, but thankfully none of the cardamom. That was the note, which made me not really care for Lights.

The mandarin feels more pronounced in this eau de parfum version. It’s bright and much juicier/sweet than the Profondo colognes.

A strong citrus start, some of the blueish sea notes, sage, and geranium. Another thing that it lack is, the cypress note of the Profondo scents.

Is this similar to the EDT? Yes, but the original AdG has more of a floral feel. But, you can obviously tell that all of these fragrances are related. I always get a lot of jasmine on my skin with the original.

After a while, that top will start to burn off. EDP becomes less citrus dominant and the patchouli, sage, and geranium really start to come in stronger. During this part, the eau de parfum will start to resemble Profumo, and less of the Profondo editions.

It’s interesting, Acqua di Gio EDP will do its own thing to an extent, but it closely mimics the other releases throughout the duration of the wear.

So, during the Profumo-like part, it lacks the incense smokiness and darker feeling of that fragrance…but it’s near identical outside of that.

That too, will start to shift. This becomes a drier fragrance as it moves on. You do still get that sweetness from the mandarin note, but patchouli, the fresh mix, and a touch of the mineral note is most of the rest of the development.

The mineral note is there, like in Profumo, just toned down. Especially towards the end, its a lot of patchouli, vetiver, and that mineral note. The sage, mandarin, and geranium are basically just an impression that you can vaguely pick up on.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, this one starts off with a decent amount of power. But, it will go quickly into moderate territory, and follow that up being fairly light.

Acqua di Gio EDP isn’t a powerhouse, nor a beast performer. It’s been solid on my skin, for about two hours, then it enters its lighter phase.

How long does EDP last? In total, 6-8 hours. Keep in mind, those last hours are very much a skin scent, but I can still pick it up on me during that time period.

Update: After wearing this fragrance a large number of times, it skews much closer to the six hour range than it does the eight. It is still capable of hitting 8, EDP just isn’t consistent in this regard.

The performance here is just okay. Not going to blow the doors off or anything, just be pretty much serviceable in its wear.

Seasonally, this like the others in the series, is a spring and summertime fragrance. But, a super versatile daily wear within that timeframe. Plus, it wouldn’t be too out of place during the rest of the year, but there are better options for cold weather.

Also, the age range is wide. From younger men to older, no problems. It’s enjoyable, but not a club beast, and I’m not sure if it’d be classified as being ‘sexy’. I haven’t worn it around any women, yet, so I’m not sure.

Overall Impressions of AdG Eau de Parfum

Overall, do I like Acqua di Gio EDP? I do like it. Though, it’s not completely amazing, nor a must have. If you already have other AdG fragrances, you probably won’t need this.

I do like it more than Profondo Lights, but maybe a notch below Profondo and Profumo, during this initial testing phase.

I really like the opening act. That mandarin note is great, giving you that citrus juiciness without as much in the way, as with the Profondo scents. I also enjoy the fact that I get to experience the others in the series, all wrapped up into one bottle.

I already have my Profumo bottle and this will give me elements of the others, during this spring and summer.

I do wish that this was a stronger scent. The longevity is well enough, but if it could pack a punch for a longer time, this would be more worthwhile. Better than the EDT? Yes, but that’s been weakened over the years, and this isn’t a huge step up.

I like its aromatic freshness and the fact that it doesn’t go too heavy with the mineral note. I do kind of wish that it was more marine, adding more of that ‘sea note’ accord.

On the whole? I’m enjoying EDP thus far. Is it a buy? Sure. However, you might not need it, if you’re already someone who has bottles of the other.

Update: After almost a year of having it and using quite a bit during the last summer, I must say it still basically holds up, as far as me enjoying it. I still really like that opening hour or so way more than I do the dry down. Though, I’ve knocked a couple of points off my original score below, in this update.

Also, wearing Acqua di Gio EDP outside, it’s a much more likeable fragrance for the duration. Indoors, it starts to feel very casual and not all that compelling. I’m going to finish off this bottle and don’t think that I’m ever going to re-up.

If not? Give it a try, you might like it better than Profondo or Profumo. To me, it’s up there. Not necessarily a must have, but I don’t regret buying a full bottle, in the slightest.

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.