acqua di gio

D&G Light Blue vs Acqua di Gio Comparison

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For this edition of the head to head fragrance comparisons, I want to take a closer look at two very popular citrus based colognes, that have been best sellers for over a decade each: Light Blue Pour Homme vs. Acqua di Gio. Which smells better the Dolce & Gabbana or the Armani? Which has the better performance? Which is the better buy overall?

Quick Overview

🏆 My Verdict

Acqua di Gio wins on opening, versatility, and overall scent, while Light Blue gets the edge in longevity and projection is basically a tie.

Buy Acqua di Gio if you want the more balanced aquatic citrus fragrance with jasmine, marine freshness, and slightly better date-night appeal.

Buy Light Blue if you prefer a simpler, cleaner, spicier citrus scent that lasts a little longer on skin.

Category Light Blue Pour Homme Acqua di Gio Winner
Opening Bright bergamot, grapefruit, mandarin orange, pepper, rosemary, incense, and rosewood Bergamot, tangerine, marine notes, jasmine, and smooth floral freshness Acqua di Gio
Projection Moderate; noticeable early, then becomes more intimate Moderate; similar scent trail and strength to Light Blue Push
Longevity About 6–8 hours About 6–7 hours, with newer batches often closer to 6 Light Blue
Versatility Spring/summer focused, but works year-round for casual and office wear Spring/summer focused, year-round capable, casual, office, and slightly more date-friendly Acqua di Gio
Overall Scent Fresh, safe, simple, spicy clean citrus with some wood and herbal notes Balanced citrus, woods, jasmine, and aquatic freshness with broader appeal Acqua di Gio
Best For Guys who want a straightforward clean citrus scent with slightly better longevity Guys who want the more balanced aquatic citrus scent and better overall smell —

Tale of the Tape

Light Blue

Notes include: bergamot, grapefruit, mandarin orange, pepper, oak moss, juniper, musk, rosemary, rosewood, incense

Click here to try: Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 6.7 Ounce

My review: Light Blue

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 

Opening

Light Blue starts off with citrus fruits of bergamot, grapefruit, and mandarin orange. It immediately has a bright disposition and is joined by a spicy pepper note and rosemary.

A little beyond the initial spray, incense and rosewood emerge from the base, and a smoky wood quality.

AdG also starts off with a citrus blast of bergamot and tangerine. It has much more of an aquatic sea breeze element than does Light Blue. Plus, smooth floral notes, consisting mostly of the jasmine.

The jasmine really does help to separate these two, in my mind. The way that it plays off of that citrus mix in the beginning, has always been great.

Yes, many don’t think of floral notes within men’s fragrances, but it sets AdG apart from its competitor.

Which do I prefer? I think that Acqua di Gio has the more pleasant opening, it has the marine note, and lacks the peppery aroma that the D&G features.

The citrus notes are better, juicier, and the jasmine note ties it all together in a way nothing does in Light Blue.

It’s not a overwhelming choice, but I do prefer it.

Edge: Acqua di Gio

Projection

I consider both of these colognes to be moderate in terms of sillage. Neither is an absolute beast, nor are they weak. I actually don’t notice a difference between them.

At one time, that might have been different, but nowadays they are about the same.

Both have absolutely lost a step over the years.

You will spray them on and notice the scent of each. If sprayed enough, both will create a nice scent trail, but each will ultimately become a much more intimate fragrance.

Edge: Push

Longevity

With Light Blue, I get anywhere from 6-8 hours of solid wear, on my skin. It is slightly better than AdG, which I get 6-7 hours out of.

So, that extra hour, I can sometimes get with Light Blue gets the nod here.

Update: the 2021 batch of Acqua that I tried out usually only hits 6 hours. Seven, is more of an occasional outcome.

Update 2: 2024 batches are the same for each of these colognes. Light Blue still provides the same.

Neither is extreme. Acqua di Gio used to be better, but it doesn’t have the same power or longevity as the original bottles. Light Blue could probably pull a few more hours back in the day too, but it’s held up a tad bit better.

Edge: Light Blue

Versatility

Both of these scents sort of occupy the same space. Spring/summer wears mainly, but have the ability to go year round. Also, can go casual or office wear.

Neither are club scents, but AdG does seem to have a bit more ‘sexiness’ to it than Light Blue, and I’ve gotten more complements with that scent.

In both cases, these are highly versatile colognes, and will often be the only fragrance a guy will wear.

For younger guys and through mid-20s, either of these can be a great starter cologne, to use in most situations you’ll come across in your day to day life.

There’s very little separation in this category too, as each of them are basically ‘do it all’ sorts of perfumes.

Edge: AdG (slightly)

Overall Scent

Light Blue is a very good cologne. It’s very fresh and a nice starter scent for guys. It’s pretty straightforward, safe, and simple. Not too much development with the cologne, just a nice spicy and clean citrus fragrance.

There is some wood and herbal elements in the base, but it doesn’t reach the level of AdG, in terms of my personal enjoyment.

The winner in this head to head, is Acqua di Gio. It takes the citrus, adds wood, and has that great aquatic aroma that it has become famous for. Very pleasing to wear, balanced, and has awesome versatility.

The performance is solid, not amazing, but it is more than enough for most purposes. While I like AdG better, there are cheaper options that replicate the smell.

I will say, that I would actually either go with Light Blue Eau Intense or AdG Profumo, ahead of either of these two. Check out those reviews for further info. If I absolutely had to choose between the two in this post, I’d go with the Armani scent.

It’s not an overwhelming win, but I have come back to wearing AdG more often over the years.

Winner: Acqua di Gio

Who Should Buy Each?

Choose Light Blue Pour Homme if:

You want a simple, clean citrus fragrance
You prefer bergamot, grapefruit, mandarin orange, pepper, and rosemary
You want slightly better longevity between the two
You need an easy starter cologne for casual and office wear
You prefer something fresh, safe, and straightforward

Choose Acqua di Gio if:

You want the better overall scent between the two
You prefer aquatic citrus with marine notes and jasmine
You want something a little smoother and more balanced
You want a fresh fragrance that feels slightly more attractive for dates
You like classic spring and summer colognes with broad versatility

Light Blue vs ADG FAQ

Which is better: Light Blue or Acqua di Gio?

For me, I’ve always liked the smell of Acqua di Gio more. The line as a whole? I think that the Armani fragrances are generally better than the Light Blue flankers. AdG Parfum and Profondo are good choices.

Is Acqua di Gio more aquatic than Light Blue?

Yes. Light Blue is much more of a citrus, spice, and woods fragrance. That more aquatic smelling accord, is in the Armani cologne.

Which one is better for everyday wear?

Both of them have been used as daily wear or signature fragrances by men for decades now. It’s a matter of which you like more.

Acqua di Gio Parfum (Profumo) vs. Profondo

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Acqua di Gio Profumo has been the best release from the AdG series to me. However, 2020 saw Armani bring Profondo to the market, and it has gotten plenty of praise. Which of these two fragrances smells better? Which lasts longer? Which is the better buy? In this post, I am going to compare these scents, before declaring an ultimate winner.

Note: Profumo has since been replaced by Acqua di Gio Parfum (very little difference at all, if any, other than the bottle).

Quick Overview

My Verdict: Both of these scents are very enjoyable entries into the Acqua di Gio series. However, AdG Parfum (formerly Profumo) has a more interesting fragrance and slightly better performance versus its competitor.

 

Category Acqua di Gio Parfum Acqua di Gio Profondo Winner
Opening Bergamot, salty marine notes, incense, sage, darker and smokier Bergamot, slight mandarin, more marine, fresher and smoother Parfum
Longevity 8+ hrs, usually under 10 7–8 hrs Parfum
Projection Starts strong, then moderate; usually 3–4 ft Lighter sillage; usually 2–3 ft Parfum
Versatility Very versatile, but thicker and less ideal in extreme heat Very versatile, especially better for the hottest spring/summer days Profondo
Overall Scent More unique, smoky, herbal, mineral, better performance Smoother, cleaner, deeper marine take on the original Parfum
Best For Those who want the more distinctive scent and stronger performance Hot weather, humid climates, and fans of the original AdG DNA —

Tale of the Tape: Acqua di Gio Parfum vs. Profondo

Acqua di Gio Parfum

Notes include: bergamot, sage, patchouli, incense, geranium, rosemary, and marine notes

Click here to try: Acqua di Gio Parfum by Armani

Read my Review: AdG Profumo

 

 

Acqua di Gio Profondo

Notes include: mandarin, bergamot, lavender, marine notes, rosemary, cypress, lentisk, patchouli, musk

Click here to try: GIORGIO ARMANI Acqua Di Gio Profondo for Men Eau De Parfum Spray 4.2 Ounces, blue

Read my Review: AdG Profondo

Opening

The opening act of Parfum is laden with bergamot and the salty marine notes. It is darker and has a mysterious quality to it. Also, featuring a incense note that adds a smoky layer to it, as well as a very nice sage.

Parfum is going to develop with this smoky, herbal, and mineral smelling aroma as it develops. You’ll get plenty of the original AdG DNA, but it is much more distinct from that than is Profondo.

Meanwhile, Profondo starts off quite a bit like the original Acqua di Gio. The bergamot note takes the lead and is flanked by a slight mandarin orange note. The main difference is that Profondo is more marine, with less of a salty quality, and a resinous aroma from the lentisk. 

Profondo has the impression of water and less of an oceanic feeling. They wanted to design it to be like diving to the depths and it does have that refreshing quality…but not a salty ocean scent.

It will get smoother and a bit creamier, as it wears on. 

Which fragrance is better? Eh, it’s a close call. However, I would lean more towards Parfum, since it has more originality than does Profondo. But, I enjoy both of them.

Edge: Parfum

Projection

Parfum was never a powerhouse for me. It starts of pretty strong, but is much more moderate past the first few hours.

Not weak, but it hangs around. I do notice that it’s more of an intimate once you get past that bolder start. Usually, within a 3-4 foot radius for much of the wear.

As a parfum, it has the higher fragrance concentration between these two scents.

Profondo is an EDP and the lighter sillage of the two. Again, this one also hangs around nicely but it won’t be an in your face experience.

It’s better than the original AdG, in terms of strength, as well as Profondo Lights, but doesn’t hit that same Parfum level. Probably, 2-3 foot projection with a normal amount of sprays. You can get more from either if you start doubling up the application.

Parfum takes this category, as it was designed to do.

Edge: Parfum

Longevity

Parfum will stick around for over 8 hours on my skin. Usually, it’ll be under 10 and those last few aren’t really that strong. Not an elite fragrance, but still a nice wear. 

Update: I did notice a slight decline with Parfum, with its later bottles before it was basically rebranded as AdG Parfum. Nothing drastic, but not the same level of potency.

Profondo gives me 7-8 hours before quitting. It comes fairly close to Parfum, but still can’t get the win.

Both of these fragrances for having marine/aquatic characteristics perform well and don’t just completely evaporate off of the skin. Though, Parfum is the more intense and long lasting of the line.

Edge: Parfum

 

Versatility

Both of these colognes are very versatile spring and summer wears. That can be worn by men of all ages. Can be worn casually, lightly to the office, out on a date, etc. Since they do overlap so much, it would be easy to call this category a draw.

However, I think Profondo gets the edge, because it seems like it will hold up a bit better on the hottest days of the year.

Parfum is a bit thicker and has the incense smokiness and more of the mineral accord, so, it’s not as great at the extremes. Though, it’s not completely awful or anything, and still very much a summery type of cologne.

Edge: Parfum

Overall Scent

I really enjoy wearing Profondo. I think that it is close enough to the original, but has enough difference to stand on its own. Especially, during the dry down stages. It becomes smooth and fairly nuanced, with woody notes and a nice sweetness.

Profondo is sort of the midway between AdG and Parfum. So, if you think Parfum is a little too much, Profondo will be a better bet for you. It’s a deeper and more marine Acqua di Gio.

You don’t need both of these (though, I might personally), really, as there is overlap between them.

As such, only picking one. I’m going with Parfum. It has more of a unique vibe and gives a better performance. It is slightly better than Parfum, in my mind. 

Update: Profumo has been ‘discontinued’. Meaning, they’ve released a newer Acqua di Gio Parfum, which is basically the same thing, with maybe some slight alterations. I might now be tempted to go with Profondo, as I’ve seen a lot cheaper bottles of that floating around than either Parfum or old bottles of Profumo.

Many guys will enjoy Profondo more, however. If you weren’t sold on Parfum and liked the original AdG, I’d go with Profondo. Also, if you live in a really hot and humid region, Profondo may be a better buy.

You’ll get a smoother and a somewhat cleaner scent with Profondo. No huge herbal notes or incense. I really do like this one, just not as much.

Winner: Parfum

Who Should Buy Each?

Choose Acqua di Gio Parfum if:

You want the stronger performer with better longevity
You prefer darker, smokier, more mature fragrances
You like incense, mineral notes, and a more distinctive scent
You want something that works especially well for evenings or dressed-up occasions
You value projection and stronger presence over ultra-freshness

Choose Acqua di Gio Profondo if:

You want the fresher, cleaner everyday option
You live in a hot or humid climate and need better warm-weather versatility
You prefer brighter marine notes over smoky incense
You like the original Acqua di Gio DNA and want a modern update
You need something easier to wear casually, at the office, or during the day

Light Blue Eau Intense vs. Acqua di Gio Comparison

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Today’s fragrance comparison is going to be a battle between two popular summertime aquatic colognes: Light Blue Eau Intense vs. Acqua di Gio. Which of these scents is the better performer? The still highly popular 90s cologne or the Intense flanker to Light Blue? I will break down both by different metrics, before ultimately crowning a winner overall.

Tale of the Tape: Eau Intense vs. AdG

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 

Light Blue Eau Intense

Notes include: mandarin, frozen grapefruit, juniper, aquatic accord, amber woods, musk

Click here to try: Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Intense Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 1.6 Ounce

My review: Light Blue Eau Intense

Opening

Acqua di Gio starts off with a now famous citrus aroma of bergamot and tangerine, which is then paired with an aquatic accord, which has an oceanic quality to it.

Underneath that, there are floral notes, which consist mostly of jasmine and some neroli. It is a fresh and quite pleasant.

It’s a sea breeze of the usual citrus fruit and persimmon with the jasmine note, which sits amazingly well in that initial juicy blend

I’ve come back to AdG over the past year, while testing out the Profondo’s from Armani, and it still is absolutely pleasant. Those opening minutes take me back and are still great after however many years.

It can be difficult to find something special about it after all these years and so many wears, but AdG’s mix of citrus and jasmine with the light sea breeze manages to do it.

Light Blue Eau Intense also starts off with citrus notes, instead opting for mandarin orange and frozen grapefruit. It actually does have a great cold feeling to it, that is refreshing to wear. The aquatic note is less of a salt marine type, but is joined by a nice juniper note.

Which is better? While I quite enjoy AdG and the way that it starts off, I think that Intense, is a bit better. The cold crispness of the fruit and the smooth aquatic note is really great.

Edge: Eau Intense

Projection

Both of these fragrances are pretty moderate in their sillage. Eau Intense will leave more of a trail. They can be pretty strong for the first few hours, then, sit closer to the skin but aren’t ever weak.

I’d say that Eau Intense probably hits a higher point for a period of time, but after that they are pretty equal.

Intense can definitely feel heavier up top, than Acqua di Gio ever does. Maybe the projection hits a few feet more, but Eau Intense has never been a beast-mode fragrance for me.

Edge: Intense (slightly)

Longevity

AdG gets me 6-7 hours of wear, on my skin. It’s a solid performer, in that regard. However, Intense will go for 9 hours for me, easily.

Acqua di Gio used to be a bit better than it is now, but newer bottles don’t have the same intensity, as they did upon initial release.

Update: Testing newer samples of AdG that I received with other purchases, it seems to be in the 5-7 hour range, depending on the day. Definitely, taken a step back from the original, but not terrible.

Edge: Intense

Versatility

Both of these fragrances are pretty much equal with when and where, they can be worn. They are great for the warmer months of the year, but can actually be worn any time, without issue. Neither is a more formal cologne, but for any other purpose, they’re great.

Update: Ehhh, I think I’ll give the edge to Acqua di Gio here. It probably is better for daily wear at school or an office. Coming back to Eau Intense, it is much more of a summertime fragrance.

Edge: AdG

Overall Scent

Acqua di Gio has been a great scent for men for over two decades, at this point. It is a fresh citrus aquatic with a masculine spice and smooth floral undertones. The performance is solid, it is highly popular, and smells fantastic.

However, Light Blue Eau Intense is the better of the two. Its take on the aquatic fragrance, is awesome. The frozen grapefruit and crisp aquatic accord are wonderful to smell.

Then, the juniper berry floating around the composition, and a solid amber wood base which keeps it all together.

The performance is better than AdG’s and the fragrance is just more interesting. If the longevity of the Armani was still high level, it would be a very close consideration for me.

The D&G cologne, wins this round. I know that there are some folks who don’t like Eau Intense, so, AdG might win on mass appeal.

I would say, that in that case, you might do well with AdG Profumo or Profondo…which are both better than the original Acqua di Gio.

I think that the AdG series has better options overall in comparison than does the Dolce line of colognes. But, in this case, Light Blue Eau Intense takes it.

Winner: Eau Intense

Acqua di Gio Profondo Parfum by Armani

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Profondo Parfum was the Acqua di Gio flanker release for 2024. It is the third entry into the Profondo series, but how does it actually stack up?

I bought a sample of it and the original AdG Profondo EDP to see if there were major differences to take note of. How does this one smell? Does it last long? Is it worth a try?

AdG Profondo Parfum Overview

Notes include: lemon essence, bergamot, marine notes, mimosa (everlasting essence), patchouli, cistus, mineral accord, ambergris

Click here to try: Profondo Parfum

My Full Review

The opening of Acqua di Gio Profondo Parfum is in many ways like the original EDP. The distinctions between these two fragrances become a lot more noticeable during the dry down.

But, early on it’s a familiar scent.

Profondo Parfum is a bit sweeter in the opening and less tart. It uses more of the mandarin orange note, without the bergamot playing as large of a role.

So, it’s closer to Acqua di Gio EDP, in that regard. That one had that really powerful mandarin orange in it.

Armani lists the bergamot and a lemon essence, but it still comes across basically like mandarin. The two fragrances are quite a lot alike.

The resinous aroma that I get with EDP isn’t here early on and I do get more of the marine influence. Sort of salty, less woody, but overall a lot of the same things going on here.

The dry down is where some more differences become apparent. This is the stage where you might have a preference for one versus the other.

Profondo Parfum has more of an amber finish with a mineral accord coming through, as well. I don’t find it to be overwhelming, but it is a change of pace from the wood in the EDP.

It has a denser aroma, it’s a darker and somewhat oceanic feeling, as some of the citrus influence has burned off. The amber becomes quite noticeable and is all tied together with patchouli and metallic hints.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Profondo Parfum starts off strong within that first 30-60 minute window. Not massive mind you, but it will certainly project well and make itself known.

After that, it will moderate and still have a nice ability to leave a scent trail. However, I didn’t notice a real difference in how powerful this one is versus what I get with EDP. To me, it performs the same in this regard.

Now, the longevity is slightly better with Parfum. I get around 9 hours more or less from this cologne. So, an extra 60-90 minutes of wear versus the original AdG Profondo.

Seasonally, it’s spring and summer just like the majority of the Acqua di Gio lineup. There’s no real change in that regard.

If you’ve had one of these colognes, you know that they’re versatile daily wears. Not super formal, but are going to fit in easily, be well liked, and non-offensive. It can be worn by any age group, etc.

It’s another mass appealing blue-ish and amber fragrance. A well done example of it, but there’s nothing all that new going on here.

Overall Impressions of Profondo Parfum

Overall, do I like Profondo Parfum? Yes, but I don’t really see a point to having it.

The changes between this and the eau de parfum are there, but I don’t think the higher price tag is justified. It’s sweeter, less woody, and has more of an oceanic influence to my nose. Later it’s amber, with metallic and greenish hints.

However, the performance isn’t much better than what you get with the original. As such, I’m just sort of like, why bother? There is enough distinction to tell the difference, but not enough to really give this one a go, unless I can snag it for cheaper.

It’s certainly better than Profondo Lights, which is probably my least favorite Acqua di Gio or close to it.

Is it better than Profondo EDP? Probably not. I still prefer that formulation to this, but this also isn’t too bad. A bit lower rating for sure, but I don’t particularly have a need for this fragrance.

There’s plenty to enjoy here if you already like Profondo. If it ends up getting deeply discounted, you can probably grab a bottle and perhaps get a bit more longevity than the original.

Acqua di Gio Profondo EDP vs. Parfum

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Profondo was a hit release for Armani’s long-running Acqua di Gio line. The followed that up with the short-lived Profondo Lights, but now have brought to market Profondo Parfum.

I recently bought a sample of Parfum, along with another sample of the original EDP, in order to test them each and compare them side by side. On this page, I will relay my findings and update them, as needed over time.

Tale of the Tape: AdG Profondo vs. Profondo Parfum

Acqua di Gio Profondo

Notes include: mandarin, bergamot, lavender, marine notes, rosemary, cypress, lentisk, patchouli, musk

Click here to try: GIORGIO ARMANI Acqua Di Gio Profondo for Men Eau De Parfum Spray 4.2 Ounces, blue

Read my Review: AdG Profondo

Profondo Parfum

Notes include: lemon essence, bergamot, marine notes, mimosa (everlasting essence), patchouli, cistus

Click here to try: Profondo Parfum

Opening

Acqua di Gio Profondo begins with its citrus notes out in front, bergamot and mandarin orange. The bergamot is the more dominant of the two ingredients.

Underneath that, you get the usual Acqua di Gio marine notes and rosemary spice. The difference here is the woodiness and the resinous quality that comes with the mastic.

Nonetheless, it’s all more of an aquatic impression versus being a pure oceanic scent.

Profondo Parfum is a bit sweeter in the opening and less tart. It uses more of the mandarin orange note, without the bergamot playing as large of a role.

Armani lists the bergamot and a lemon essence, but it still comes across basically like mandarin. The two fragrances are quite a lot alike.

The resinous aroma that I get with EDP isn’t here and I do get more of the marine influence. Sort of salty, less woody, but overall a lot of the same things going on here.

Which is better? Honestly, I don’t have much of a preference between these two fragrances in the opening act. The similarities don’t really permit too much distinction here.

Edge: Push

Projection

Both of these fragrances start off strong with a normal amount of sprays. After that, they will both moderate how well they leave a scent trail and project off of the skin.

Is Profondo Parfum stronger? If it is, it’s not too noticeable. I really cannot tell the difference while wearing either or spraying each on a shirt and seeing how far away that I can detect each.

This one seems even to my nose.

Edge: Push

Longevity

With the original Profondo, I’ve always gotten 7-8 hours of wear with it, on my skin. That’s held true with this latest sample.

Profondo Parfum is close to the same. It seems like it can hit about 9 hours, but there isn’t too big of a difference here either.

Edge: Parfum (slightly)

Versatility

No real difference here either. These are both built for the spring and summer months. Not too formal with either of them. Great as daily wears or something more casual for the warmer seasons.

As to be expected with a flanker of an Acqua di Gio flanker.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

So, between these two Profondo colognes, which is better?

I’ve always liked the original EDP, didn’t care for Lights, and I do like the new Parfum.

The early stages are very similar. The latter stages there is more separation. The woodiness and herbal aromas of the original come out more.

Parfum is close to it, just sweeter and less of that woodiness. Still, they’re very close to one another. In their differences, I still like the original more.

All in all, I don’t see much of a proposition for Parfum versus EDP. I like Parfum, but the changes are pretty subtle. Less wood, some more amber, sweetness, some added aquatic infusion (not much more).

For that, a higher price tag. Performance gains? Negligible, if any.

Profondo Parfum is a good scent. I do like the somewhat mellowed vibes and the less woody presentation. And I do, like its amped up oceanic depth. Just not enough for it to make a difference in my choice.

At the same price? Sure, I might take a bottle of Parfum. Right now, the original works fine.

Winner: Profondo EDP