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Giorgio Armani, or Armani for short, is recognized as one of the world’s elite luxury fashion houses. The Italian brand was founded by the fashion designer Giorgio Armani, in 1975, and sells high-end fashion products, accessories, watches, and a range of cosmetics, including colognes and perfumes.
Today, Giorgio Armani cologne enjoys a great reputation, combining pleasant fragrances, with lasting performance, all at an accessible price point.
A secondary brand, Emporio Armani, also exists and is generally aimed at younger customers while placing a greater emphasis on modern fashion trends and affordable prices.
In this article, I explore what the best Armani colognes for men are, and I will discuss what makes them so appealing.
In a Rush' Round-Up
How I Tested and Selected The Best Armani Colognes
In order to determine the best Armani cologne products, I tested a range of colognes and assessed them based on some set criteria.
A crucial aspect of selecting the best colognes is assessing their longevity and projection. I wore each fragrance over an extended period to observe how it evolved on my skin and its ability to maintain its presence throughout the day.
Whether it was a fresh and invigorating scent for summer or a warm, rich fragrance for the colder months, I factored in the seasonal dynamics to offer recommendations suitable for diverse climates.
While personal experiences are invaluable, I also took into account the perspectives of other fragrance enthusiasts.
Analyzing user reviews and ratings provided additional insights into how these colognes resonated with a broader audience, helping to validate and refine my selections.
Read Our In Depth Reviews
Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Giò Eau de Toilette
Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Giò Eau de Toilette Review
Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Giò is an eau de toilette spray for men, which is marketed by L’Oréal. The fragrance was released in 1996 and can be described as a fresh-aquatic scent, with citrus qualities.
The fragrance itself is made up of notes including orange, lemon, lime, rose, amber, and musk, and is recognized as one of Armani’s classic men’s colognes, as well as one of its most popular products in general.
As a scent, I like to wear it in the spring and summer months, although it is perfectly viable all year round too.
Furthermore, it is a highly versatile cologne, which works well for everyday use, within the boardroom, for more leisure-focused applications, and even for sports use.
Top Notes: Orange, Lemon, Lime, Bergamot, Mandarin, Jasmine
Middle Notes: Sea Notes, Peach, Rose, Violet, Coriander, Freesia
Base Notes: Amber, Oakmoss, Musk, Cedar, Patchouli
What we liked
- Suitable for almost all uses
- A great spring and summer scent
- Fresh-aquatic, with citrus notes
Armani Code By Giorgio Armani For Men
Armani Code By Giorgio Armani For Men Review
Marketed by L’Oréal, Armani Code is a spicy, amber scent, with tobacco notes, and the main perfumer behind the product is Antoine Lie.
Named as the FiFi Award Fragrance Of The Year Men’s Luxe 2006, Armani Code is a very popular product, which delivers a combination of a high-quality scent and good value for money.
Although it is suitable for use all year long, its spicy quality means it is perhaps best suited to the colder fall and winter months.
The scent itself can be categorized as spicy-sweet, with a clear masculine quality, as well as a clear sense of sophistication.
It works well for men of all ages but is especially good for use by younger men, as well as men in their 30s and 40s. Among the most notable notes are lemon, leather, tonka bean and tobacco.
Top Notes: Bergamot, Lemon
Middle Notes: Olive Blossom, Star Anise
Base Notes: Tobacco, Leather, Tonka Bean
What we liked
- Great for business and evening use
- Sophisticated and masculine
- Works well in winter and fall months
Giorgio Armani Acqua di Giò Absolu
Giorgio Armani Acqua di Giò Absolu Review
Acqua di Giò Absolu is a fresh-sweet scent that was released in 2018 and is a creation from the acclaimed Spanish master perfumer, Alberto Morillas.
Marketed as a new version of the iconic and aforementioned Acqua di Giò product from 1996, this particular fragrance has woody, fruity and aquatic qualities, and is intended to serve as a celebration of the natural world.
Apple, pear, grapefruit, bergamot, lavender and tonka bean are all among the most detectable notes.
This fragrance proves to be versatile, and suitable for seasons ranging from fall to late spring. While it can be worn year-round, its woodiness might make it less ideal for the peak of summer. As for age range, I believe it’s versatile, and appealing to both younger and older individuals.
Top Notes: Bergamot, Pear, Grapefruit, Apple
Middle Notes: Lemon, Lavender, Geranium, Rosemary
Base Notes: Tonka Bean, Wood, Patchouli, Amberwood
What we liked
- Great for spring and summer
- Ideal for leisure use
- Offers good longevity
Armani Code Colonia By Giorgio Armani
Armani Code Colonia By Giorgio Armani Review
Armani Code Colonia By Giorgio Armani was released in 2017, is marketed by L’Oréal, and has fresh, sweet, and synthetic qualities.
Some of the most identifiable notes within the scent include mandarin orange, pink pepper, and tonka bean.
Despite being labeled as a spring or summer fragrance, the citrus notes, including bergamot and orange, don’t dominate the opening as expected. Instead, it leans into tonka, amber wood, and heliotrope, giving it a semi-sweet, semi-fresh cologne character.
In terms of performance, Armani Code Colonia delivers a modest projection, lingering at an arm’s length initially before settling closer to the skin. Longevity falls within the average range, around four to six hours.
While my personal preference leans toward the original Armani Code, I acknowledge that Colonia may appeal to those seeking a safe, universally pleasing scent. It’s versatile enough for various occasions, though it leans more towards casual wear.
Top Notes: Mandarin Orange, Pink Pepper, Bergamot
Middle Notes: Orange Blossom, Amyl Salicylate, Clary Sage
Base Notes: Tonka Bean, Heliotrope, Amberwood
What we liked
- Great for everyday use
- Has an understated sensual quality
- Sweet yet masculine
Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Giò Profondo
Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Giò Profondo Review
Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Giò Profondo was released in 2020, is marketed by L’Oréal, and provides an aquatic-fresh scent.
The cologne is most suitable for spring and summer use, but it will also be perfectly viable in the fall and even the winter months as well. Furthermore, the cologne is great for leisure, business and everyday use.
Some of the main notes that I detect within the scent itself include green mandarin, aquozone, rosemary, amber and musk.
Profundo offers above-average longevity, hovering around seven to eight hours, with a noteworthy projection in the initial hour and a half to two hours.
It settles into a more intimate presence in the dry down, ensuring it stays noticeable without being overwhelming.
Top Notes: Green Madarin, Bergamot, Aquozone
Middle Notes: Rosemary, Lavender, Cypress, Mastic
Base Notes: Amber, Musk, Patchouli
What we liked
- Provides good longevity
- Viable all year round
- Pleasant, aquatic-fresh scent
Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Giò Eau de Parfum
Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Giò Eau de Parfum Review
The Acqua di Giò Eau de Parfum is the newest item on this Giorgio Armani cologne list, having been released in early 2022.
As it is an EDP, it has a stronger scent but remains extremely pleasant and avoids becoming overpowering. In fact, in terms of pure scent quality, it may be the best Armani cologne currently available.
The main notes that can be detected within the fragrance after its application include green mandarin, geranium, lavender, patchouli, and sea notes.
For me, it delivers superior longevity to the eau de toilette, lasting for between six and eight hours after application.
The cologne works especially well in spring, summer, and fall, but can certainly be worn in winter too. It is ideally suited to business, leisure, and everyday use.
As for my final thoughts, I love Aqua di Gio Eau de Parfum. It brings a welcomed twist to the Aqua di Gio line, offering versatility, maturity, and a bit of class.
Top Notes: Green Mandarin, Sea Notes
Middle Notes: Geranium, Clary Sage, Lavender
Base Notes: Patchouli, Vetiver
What we liked
- A pleasant, lasting scent
- Great for everyday use
- Suitable for all year round
Armani Code Absolu By Giorgio Armani
Armani Code Absolu By Giorgio Armani Review
Armani Code Absolu By Giorgio Armani is a sweet-spicy scent, it is marketed by L’Oréal and was created by the French perfumer Antoine Maisondieu.
Delivering significant silage and projection, this scent may not be ideal for use within the office, but it is great for situations where you want to make a statement.
Some of the most significant notes that can be detected within the fragrance are apple, carrot seed, nutmeg, orange blossom, vanilla and tonka bean.
In my opinion, I prefer Armani Code Absolu over Profumo. It’s well-blended, refined, and has a richness that appeals to me. The tonka note, while present, is not as overpowering as in Profumo, making Absolu a standout choice for me.
While it can be used all year long, I would recommend it most for the colder fall and winter months of the year.
Top Notes: Apple, Green Mandarin
Middle Notes: Carrot Seed, Nutmeg, Orange Blossom
Base Notes: Tonka Bean, Suede, Vanilla
What we liked
- Combines lasting performance and scent quality
- Great for evenings and nights out
- Strong projection makes a big statement
Emporio Armani Stronger With You Intensely
Emporio Armani Stronger With You Intensely Review
Finally, Emporio Armani Stronger With You Intensely is another relatively new Giorgio Armani cologne, having been launched in 2019.
The scent, which was created by Cécile Matton, is an eau de parfum spray for men, and can be described as a sweet-gourmand fragrance, with an oriental, woody quality.
For buyers who are prioritizing longevity, I rate this the very best Armani cologne on the market.
Comparing it to the original, Stronger With You Intensely is less powdery, sweeter, better blended, and has a richer, warmer feel. It ditches the chestnut note for toffee and swaps cardamom for juniper, offering a darker, more refined take.
In my opinion, I prefer Intensely over the original. The sweet blend of toffee, vanilla, and tonka, along with the suede and hints of spice, makes it more appealing. Performance-wise, it lasts over eight hours with solid projection for the first two hours.
Top Notes: Juniper, Violet, Pink Pepper
Middle Notes: Cinnamon, Toffee, Sage, Lavender
Base Notes: Tonka Bean, Amber, Vanilla
What we liked
- A great scent, with powerful projection
- Ideal for nights out
- Long-lasting performance