As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that if you click on an Amazon affiliate link on my pages, I receive a commission based on that qualified purchase. It doesn't cost you any more money and it helps keep the site running.
Stronger With You is a series that I’ve been working my way through, as far as posting reviews for the site. Today’s entry is SWY Absolutely, another one of the flankers off of the main original EDT formulation. How does this one smell? When should it be worn? Is it worth a try?
What does Stronger With You Absolutely Smell Like?
Notes include: glazed chestnut, rum, lavender, cedar, vanilla, elemi
My Full Review
Here’s how Armani describes it: Stronger With You Absolutely parfum is an addictive fragrance for men, inspired by the power of absolute love. This powerful and sensual fragrance is boosted by an addictive new rum accord, while lavender, sustainably sourced in France, is irresistibly enhanced with liquorous and fruity facets. Warm vanilla, harvested in Madagascar while supporting local communities, and smoky cedar wood, carefully extracted in Virginia, USA, round up this powerful scent.
The opening spray gives me a blast of the very short-lived bergamot and some of the other fruity sweetish notes, that seem to be associated with the lavender accord.
This is met with some spice and warmth. Not overly so, however. Armani talked something about pink pepper being here, I think that may be a part of this initial mix, since that is in Stronger Intense as a note.
But, this one also strikes me as being quite resinous from the get go. Elemi or the ‘glaze’ of the chestnut note is something that really sticks out after that top blast.
The Armani website mentioned cinnamon in addition to the rum accord. Yes, there is some warm spiciness and booziness , but this is a lot smoother composition than a heavily spiced boozy rum note.
Much different than something like Man in Black or the intensity of the cinnamon in Spicebomb Infrared.
Once we’re past all of that, the chestnut will ramp up. The warmth of the blend, the woody influences from cedar (bit smoky), with the vanilla and lavender playing support. Not as boozy at this stage, at least its been drained of any spice.
I think that when the chestnut really has the lead, as the strongest note, that’s when this one is at it’s best.
Yes, later in the dry down, it’s still the strongest. However, the lavender seems to start creeping up more on my skin, for the final run.
Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility
This one has some definite strength. Though, it’s about the same as some of the others in the series. You get a few hours of a scent trail and solid projection off of the skin.
The projection is really good, able to reach pretty far across a room. Then, it’ll become a 4-5 foot scent bubble, and finally a skin scent. Not the heaviest or most beast mode projection out there, but I wasn’t disappointed.
On my skin, Absolute lasts up to 11 or 12 hours. This and Intensely are the same in terms of their performance and somewhat better than the EDT.
Like the others in the series (other than Freeze), this is an autumn and winter wear. It can probably do the early months of spring as well, particularly evening wear. Though, this isn’t one for the summer months.
This is a casual, nightlife, and date night kind of fragrance. It’s sweet, so, I’d not really wear it to the office or as a super formal cologne.
Overall Impressions of Stronger With You Absolutely
Overall, do I like this fragrance? Yes, it’s among the best of this line. Though, I personally prefer Intensely over this one a little bit more. It’s pretty neck and neck, but that gets the nod.
I do like the chestnut note, in this one, in particular. The elemi, cinnamon, and rum are all nice touches. Maybe could’ve had more of each to really distinguish and make Absolutely an even bolder scent, but it’s nice enough for what it is.
The performance here is on equal footing with Intensely and about what you get with the rest of the line. No issues there.
If you like the rest of the series, this is also one that you’ll enjoy, also. It’s not super different, but it does have its distinct qualities about it. But, if you already own other SWY fragrances, you don’t necessarily ‘need’ this one.
It’s a very good scent, on the whole. An enjoyable wear and one of the better options out of this lineup.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or its affiliates.
User Review
( votes)
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.