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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?

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

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

Stronger With You vs Intensely

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Stronger With You from Emporio Armani, has spun off more than a handful of other fragrances since its release. It’s become one of the more popular lines out there and that goes for more than just the original release.

Yet, that original EDT cologne, still obviously gets compared to those that followed. One of them is, Stronger With You Intensely. Which of these fragrances smells better? Lasts longer? Is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape: Stronger with You vs. Intensely

Stronger With You

Notes include: vanilla, mint, cardamom, chesnut, amber, pink pepper, sage, violet leaf

Click here to try: Emporio Armani Stronger With You for Men Eau de Toilette Spray, 1.7 oz

My Full Review: Stronger With You

Stronger With You Intensely

Notes include: pink pepper, cinnamon, toffee, lavender, sage, suede, amber, violet, vetiver

Click here to try: Intensely

My Full Review: Stronger with You Intensely

Opening

Stronger With You kicks things off being fully fresh and with its spicier notes out. To me, the cardamom really stands apart from the other notes, as being dominant early on.

Beyond that, it’s: pink pepper, mint, sage. The vanilla and chestnut notes are there also, but will gain strength a bit further in. Early on, it’s cardamom and the gang.

Stronger With You Intensely, also starts with its spiciness. Here, it is warmer and more short-lived. The pink pepper is now the stronger note, joined by cinnamon and sage.

I get a sweeter influence earlier with Intensely. The toffee accord with the cinnamon and caramel notes really gives Intensely a more dynamic feel.

Which do I prefer? These scents do share similarities, but I like Intensely more so, in the opening act.

I like cardamom, but the pink pepper in Intensely with the toffee, is really quite attractive. Plus, I enjoy cinnamon and caramel as notes more than the mint and sage that backs up the cardamom in the original Stronger with You.

The spice is done well in either of these Armani colognes, but I lean towards Intensely.

Edge: Intensely

Projection

The original EDT release of Stronger With You, is actually very strong. Not the most beast mode scent ever, but the projection is great for an eau de toilette, and a more mainstream type of fragrance.

It’ll venture far from the skin during opening, leave a scent trail, and then form a bubble around the wearer.

Intensely, is just a tad stronger than that. It has the same sort of powerful opening, just to a slightly higher degree.

Honestly, it isn’t a huge difference between them, and one might not even notice. But, Intensely gets the nod here. Most of the SWY line has great projection in comparison to many other scents, so, it’s not going to be a deciding factor in this case.

Edge: Intensely

Longevity

So, in either case, you’re going to get very good performance out of either of these fragrances. Both were excellent for designer scents. Again, the Stronger series is great on this front.

With the original, I seem to get just over 10 hours of wear from it. When I’ve tested out the EDT, I’ve never gotten less than 9 hours of wear on skin.

With Intensely, that gets upped to somewhere in the 11 or 12 hour range. The last couple aren’t that strong, but the flanker does stick around longer than the original.

Edge: Intensely

Versatility

I mean, there isn’t too much of a difference in this category. Both are colder weather plays. Both have power and sweetness, that might not be what you want to go with in the office. Both go great for the nightlife, especially with younger guys.

I don’t see much of a distinction. The sweetness of each, kind of precludes either from being a formal type of scent.

Ehh, basically a tie.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

In the end, which do I prefer? Intensely. I was never a huge fan of the original EDT release, but it was a solid release, just not one that I particularly wanted to wear.

The flankers to that original formulation, have surpassed that one, at least some of them have.

Intensely is one such example. Toffee, vanilla, and suede with periods of spice and lavender. Very nice, without the same chestnut note, but also the vanilla seems to be blended better.

The opening act of the original, isn’t my favorite. But, it is a fragrance that I think improves as it dries down. You get the vanilla/chestnut but also some drier and herbal aromas thrown in also.

Really, the EDT isn’t a bad scent at all. I just think that it falls somewhat short of Intensely. None of the Stronger line really towers above the others to me, there’s some separation, but I don’t dislike any. Intensely and Leather, seem to be my favorites as of publishing.

Anyway, Intensely smells better and has better performance. It gets the win here. Intensely, Leather, and Absolutely are my top three from this line. With the original coming in fourth currently.

Winner: Stronger With You Intensely

Ranking Armani Stronger with You Colognes

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Stronger with You has been a big hit under the designer’s Emporio Armani label. Since the release of the EDT, the brand has released a whole lot of flankers to this original formulation. Which, can be kind of difficult to sort through, if you haven’t come across them all.

Not to worry, as I will sort through the Stronger with You colognes and rank them in order from first to worst. Hopefully, making it easier to narrow down your search and find the right SWY fragrance for your style.

Ranking the Best Stronger with You Colognes

I do have to note that I have yet to try the Amber and Tobacco versions of this series. So, the ranking is based on all of the other current fragrances. I will update once I’ve gotten around to those newer scents.

Stronger With You Intensely– For me, Stronger with You Intensely is the best of the series so far. Not head and shoulders above the next two fragrances on the list, but it’s the one that I prefer.

Pink pepper, sage, and cinnamon really rock the opening of Intensely; helping it live up to the title. Those spicy notes contrast with the toffee accord and the sweeter use of vanilla and caramel.

There is a lavender note which has its time in the middle act. Intensely becomes less spicy over time, with the back half being very much a blend of toffee, vanilla, and amber notes.

It’s a bold fragrance that’s great for nightlife and has 11 to 12 hours worth of staying time, on the skin. Intensely review

Leather– SWY Leather is my next pick on the list. It actually shares a lot of overlap with Absolutely, but I think the leather note gives this one a slight advantage. Plus, these two are fairly different from many of the others on the list.

Chestnut, leather, and vanilla open things up in this cologne. It doesn’t have that same spice as Intensely, it’s smoother with a resinous aroma from the elemi note. Sage and some spices are here, just much softer in this mix.

The tail end will be mostly vanilla and leather. Some hints of oud, chestnut, and the remaining elemi. Really though, the first two notes will be the focus.

Update: This one seems to be discontinued, but Dua has their inspired by version: Stronger with Dua Leather still available.

Great performance, also. Leather can go well into the double digit total number of hours. Stronger Leather review

Absolutely– Stronger with You Absolutely is another edition that I really like. If you have a tough time getting a bottle of Leather or simply don’t want a leather accord, this is a great option.

This one starts off with a light citrus, but what really stands out is the glaze of the chestnut note. Very similar to SWY Leather, but here the mix is sweeter. Slight cinnamon and rum also add some warmth/spice.

But, it’s not that dominated by the boozy accord. Really, that’s what was intriguing me about Absolutely before I tested it, and I wish they had given this more of a rum kick.

Chestnut is one of the differences between this and Intensely. Here, you get a good deal of it and it is the main note for a good portion of the wear. If the chestnut is the note you really enjoy from this series, Absolutely might be your best bet.

Again, this is technically ranked third as of now. But, it’s a really tight race between Absolutely and the top spots.

SWY EDT– The EDT is the one which started the series off. Now, I’d say it’s middle of the pack among all of the releases. Still a nice fragrance, but there are better options for most people on this list.

Cardamom, pink pepper, and mint. It’s spicy and fresh up top. Still, has a nice sweetness throughout. The warmth and sweetness will grow over time, but you still have the additional sage to get through.

Vanilla and cardamom will share much of the focus, after the opening. Amber, chestnut, and woods also come through. The tail end is really dominated by the vanilla note, with some drier woody influence underneath that.

All in all, I like it. Can be a good one to pick up, especially since it seems to be the one, which can be had for a bit cheaper price than the others. Stronger with You review

Oud– To me, this one has a lot of overlap with Leather. But, it’s a mix of that one, Luminous Night, and A Midnight Stroll.

Sweetish, smoky, woods, and a rubbery tinge like in the aforementioned Gucci. Smoother in the dry down, still with a leather accord, but plenty of woods and lavender. Less sweet for sure, in the latter stages.

Between this and Leather, I prefer the leather accord to the oud. The oud isn’t even super present in the mix. It’s there for sure, but it’s a part of the mix and doesn’t have that aggressive use of the oud that some might be hoping for.

Still, this one is pretty good. I’d just prefer the others and the most closely related fragrance to wear SWY Oud. Stronger Oud review

SWY Only– The first of the lighter versions of this formula. Which, I’ll give Only a slight edge between the two.

Grapefruit, lavender, geranium, and chestnut are the main draws early. So, that bright citrus mixed with the calming lavender and the cooling freshness of geranium.

During the middle, you get vanilla and more of the chestnut. Very much in line with the original Stronger EDT. The chestnut will fade and it’s basically a lavender and vanilla cologne that is just a less heavy representation of the series.

Don’t hate it, but also don’t really see a point in having this cologne, unless you completely love the SWY series. Stronger with You Only review

Freeze– To me, Freeze at the bottom of the list. Actually, I don’t think there is much separation between it and Only. These two are the lighter offerings from the lineup, neither of which is great. It seems SWY is at its best as a more substantial cologne.

Coming into trying Freeze, I was certain that I would really like this one. Nope. It’s okay enough, but it never reaches the level of being anything all that memorable.

Frozen lime, ginger, and sage are the strongest notes up top. You get some further fruity notes with apple and orange, but they’re never as strong as that lime, which I do actually like.

It’s lighter and becomes much closer to the original in the dry down, when the citrus has faded.

Freeze isn’t bad, it’s just the worst of the line. Stronger with You Freeze review

4 Fragrances Similar to Acqua di Gioia

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Acqua di Gioia is one of Armani’s long running and still high selling fragrances from its women’s line. It’s use of citrus, mint, floral notes, and an aquatic style really help to set it apart.  However, sometimes you simply want something that’s a cheaper alternative to the original or you want a perfume that’s similar yet slightly different. On this page, I will keep track of the scents which fit the bill.

What Perfumes Smell Like Acqua di Gioia?

Aquatic Peony by Dossier– If you’re looking for a perfume that tries to match what you get with Acqua di Gioia, the best option that I can find is Dossier’s inspired take on the formula.

Here, you still get the mint, the sharpness of citrus and blackcurrant, jasmine, and the aquatic touches that shape the Armani fragrance.

The start will be bold with its surge of freshness and citrus, but that’ll settle into something that is noticeably sweeter.

For the price (currently under $30 as of posting), this is the top choice for those who want something that comes close to the aroma of Gioia.

Queen of Seduction by Antonio Banderas– Not the same as Acqua di Gioia, but that might be what you’re looking for. Queen of Seduction doesn’t have the strong mint note, which turns some people of enjoying it.

Queen of Seduction gives you a sweeter, more aquatic, and fresher take on this style. The jasmine is still here, a citrus top, and good use of cedar wood in the base.

Still quite green, just with less intensity. Suede and iris add a smoother dry down with hints of powder, that further separate it from our target. This is a really nice value by that is similar yet different to the Armani perfume.

Aqua Bella by La Rive– Aqua Bella is another cheaper option which seeks to mimic the formula of our target scent. In fact, this one is the least expensive of the choices on the list.

However, you do still get plenty of value with the La Rive, which actually doesn’t come across as being entirely the same as the Armani.

Here, the citrus is still very bold, but there doesn’t seem to be the same level of mint. At least, it’s blended into the mix more so than Acqua. Pretty sweet, a nice aquatic, and those brown sugar touches are very nice at this price point.

Perhaps this one has more of a peony weighting versus jasmine in the mix. Less of that overall fresh and greenish feeling, yet still has an aromatic vibe. Performance is solid enough, without being a top notch performer.

Aqua Celestia by Kurkdjian– Celestia is for sure not the same as Acqua di Gioia and probably the most different out of any on the list. Also, it’s more expensive.

But, I’m including it due to the similarities that it has with our target, while remaining distinct and a decent alternative option for those who want a perfume that’s different enough.

The floral notes here are mimosa and rose, which are going to be the biggest changes. Also, Aqua Celestia is a fragrance without the same level of sweetness or cedar influence. Nope, here the base is pretty much all about the musk.

Still, the citrus and blackcurrant opening alongside a fresh mint? That’s still here. Crisp and bold early on, with a softer side on the back half.