Acqua di Gio vs Polo Blue EDT Cologne Comparison

I am back with another entry into the head to head men’s fragrance match ups, here on the site. Today’s battle is between two aquatic type of colognes, that are both very popular best sellers, Acqua di Gio vs. Polo Blue EDT.

Which of these scents smells the best, the Giorgio Armani or the Ralph Lauren? Ultimately, which gives the best performance, and is worth a buy?

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Tale of the Tape

Polo Blue

Notes include: amber, melon, patchouli, geranium, cucumber, tangerine, moss, musk

Click here to try: Polo Blue by Ralph Lauren for Men, Eau De Toilette Natural Spray, 4.2 Ounce

Read my original review: Polo Blue Review

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Acqua di Gio

Notes include: bergamot, tangerine, neroli, jasmine, rosemary, patchouli, rock rose, hyacinth, persimmon, marine notes

Click here to try: Acqua Di Gio By Giorgio Armani For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 Ounces

Read my review: Acqua di Gio 

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Opening

Polo Blue opens with a chilled blend of melon and cucumber. It is quite crisp and joined by amber and tangerine. It’s a pleasant enough smell, but doesn’t really knock it out of the park.

Meanwhile, Acqua di Gio, starts with bergamot and a similar tangerine note to Polo Blue’s. It is a very nice citrus with a sea breeze accord and a bit of a floral aroma with jasmine.

The sea breeze and citrus is really quite nice to start things off with Acqua di Gio. I did enjoy, my last go round testing it out, the emergence of the jasmine note and how that plays off of the citrus.

Which is better? I like AdG more than Polo Blue, I enjoy the citrus notes and it has more of an aquatic feel than does Polo Blue. I just think it smells better overall.

Edge: AdG

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Projection

Polo Blue is a very solid moderate with its sillage. Not huge or beasty, but it performs well throughout. Acqua di Gio is also a moderate projecting fragrance.

It was probably stronger when it was initially released. But nowadays, these two are seemingly on par with one another. Neither of them were ever massive with the sillage level.

If you want more intensity, you’ll have to go with one of the other flanker scents in these lines. Between them? You can pick either for the same result.

Edge: Push

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Longevity

Acqua di Gio gets 6-7 hours of wear on my skin, as of the last batch I tried. Update: it can actually be 5-6 hours, now, for me.

Polo Blue does a bit better, with 7-8 hours of wear. It has always been consistent for me, at this level. I’m not sure if its lessened at all the past few years.

However, even if it isn’t a loud beast, Polo Blue EDT was always a decent performer.

Edge: Polo Blue

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Versatility

Mostly, these two colognes shine in the spring and summertime. However, they both have the capability to be worn year round.

Beyond that, each is safe for both school and work. Also, they are attractive enough to be worn on dates.

Polo Blue and Acqua di Gio, seem to have been best sellers for long periods of time, because they both are so very versatile. Again, no real separation here.

Edge: Push

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Overall Scent

I like Polo Blue EDT. It has a nice crisp and cool aroma from the tangerine and melon. The amber note is lovely and the aquatic bits, share a bit of overlap with Acqua di Gio.

That cucumber and melon do produce an interesting watery and crisp effect. I rather like it, even if it’s not amazing.

It’s a solid cologne, overall. I’m just not a huge fan of it and was never all that into it when I had it on. It does have its charm, but just doesn’t reach the same level of likeability.

Acqua di Gio, is the better smelling cologne in my opinion. To this day it still sells, it is still one of the classic aquatic fragrances on the market, and for good reason.

It’s probably a notch below, where it once was, but it still stands above Polo Blue EDT based on the scent. Polo Blue does have a bit better performance, but they are close to equal.

Honestly, I would go with Acqua di Gio Profumo first, before either of these two. I also enjoy Polo Blue EDP, more so than the EDT version.

Winner: AdG