Sauvage EDT vs Acqua di Gio Profumo Comparison

In today’s cologne comparison, we have a match up between two popular colognes: Dior Sauvage vs. Acqua di Gio Profumo. Which of these fragrances smells the best? Which performs well? Between the two which is the better buy? Dior or Armani?

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Tale of the Tape

Sauvage

Notes include: Bergamot, Ambroxan, Sichuan Pepper, lavender, pink pepper, and more

Click here to try: Sauvage by Chrisitan Dior Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce

Ready my original review here: Dior Sauvage EDT Review

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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 original review: Acqua di Gio Profumo Review

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Opening

Sauvage starts off with a sharp bergamot note, calming lavender, and a peppery kick. The first 20 minutes feel a bit too sharp for my nose, but when the ambroxan fully kicks in, it becomes much smoother.

I do enjoy the bergamot citrus note, which I think is the strength of the entire fragrance. But, the Sichuan pepper does hit pretty strongly at first.

AdG Profumo, also has that bergamot start, but is paired with a dark oceanic aroma and incense smokiness. It’s deep and has a mysterious quality to it.

The Acqua di Gio sage note is pretty prevalent at the top of the wear, along with the rosemary. It is fresh and aromatic with a distinct connection to the DNA of the original AdG.

Which do I prefer? I honestly like Profumo more, in this regard. The opening is a great blend of citrus, aquatic, and incense which is pretty unique for a marine sort of cologne. Sauvage is somewhat harsh at the jump, but is nice overall.

However, it’s got so much overlap with other fragrances like Luna Rossa Carbon, that I appreciate the unique aspect of Profumo. Plus, I think it just smells better.

You get much of the original Acqua di Gio, but more mature and with enough difference to make it stand on its own.

Edge: AdG Profumo 

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Projection

I’d call Dior Sauvage a moderate to strong fragrance, that has a potential to be heavy. Acqua di Gio Profumo is also a moderate and sometimes strong fragrance, but I don’ think it ever hits the same level as Sauvage in terms of its sillage.

Sauvage can be fairly powerful up front and maintains much of its strength. AdG Profumo, is by no means a weak scent, just a notch below the Dior.

I always expect Profumo to be a bomb, it just never was a total powerhouse.

Edge: Sauvage

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Longevity

In warmer weather, I get about 6-7 hours worth of wear from Sauvage. During winter, you can add a couple more hours out of it. The Armani fragrance, gives me around 8 hours during the warmest months of the year and will squeeze out another little bit in the cold.

Profumo has better longevity on my skin and is more consistent. This was kind of a surprise initially, given that Sauvage has the bigger sillage.

Nonetheless, wearing these two again and again, I get the same results. Profumo lasts longer than its competitor.

Update: Even with my latest bottle of Profumo here in 2021, I still get the same performance. So, to my nose it hasn’t been weakened just yet.

Edge: Profumo

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Versatility

Both of these colognes have great versatility. That’s apart of their strength and appeal. Neither is too strong that it can’t be worn at an office or school. They can both be great casual scents. Also, they are both winners in the nightlife and have really attractive qualities.

To me, there’s no clear winner, in this category. Both are Swiss Army knife fragrances, that can seemingly do almost anything, and wears well on many different occasions.

Edge: Push

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Overall Scent

Dior Sauvage has always been a nice cologne in my opinion, but never really wowed me. It is a fragrance that I can enjoy wearing, though, isn’t something that I really love.

The bergamot, ambroxan, and lavender combination is quite great at times, but not something that I desire to wear on the regular. It is a solid performer and highly popular, so, a guy can’t really ‘go wrong’ wearing this fragrance.

I still prefer the EDP version or Luna Rossa Carbon, more so than the original EDT. There are now a ton of Sauvage alternatives to choose from, as well.

I feel similarly about Acqua di Gio Profumo. The difference is, I find it slightly more appealing, and interesting. I love the dark marine aspect, smokiness, bergamot. Plus, the underlying herbal notes, just add to the essence while not over-complicating things.

Is it way better than Sauvage? I don’t think so. They are pretty much neck and neck, in my mind, just like Profumo a bit more.

Update: Here in 2021, I have an even greater preference for AdG versus the Sauvage EDT. It is a deeper and more interesting fragrance. Plus, it isn’t worn by absolutely everyone.

It might come down to which you can personally get a better deal on or if you’d prefer more of an aquatic/oceanic scent.

Winner: Acqua di Gio Profumo (Slightly)