Jenna Holtz
10 min
277
After 10 hours of research evaluating 18 products, we picked Acqua di Gio Profumo as our top choice.
Looking for a new Armani cologne? Excellent choice.
Armani colognes for men are among the best and most-recognized in the world (both the scents and the impactful marketing images).
Olfactory maestro Alberto Morillas created Acqua di Gio in 1996 and history was made. Since then, Armani’s cologne collection has grown greatly, with multiple versions of original classics.
To take the guess-work out of your selection process, we’ve ranked the best Armani colognes for men.
The Winner
Our top pick for the best Armani cologne is Acqua di Gio Profumo, a stronger version of the original Acqua di Gio. We love the masculine appeal with warm, woody patchouli and incense. The top notes still feature that quintessential marine appeal associated with Acqua, with sea spray and tangy bergamot. It’s the perfect fusion of fresh, woody, smoky, and sexy. While some Armani colognes are best for evening wear or during a particular season, Armani Acqua di Gio is an all-occasion, all-year cologne.
Now, as a bonus, we also made a list of the sexiest best men's cologne according to women.
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Emporio Armani eau de toilette (1998) is among the most well-known Armani fragrances. A woody fragrance with bursts of citrus, and a warm, musky dry-down. Powdery notes linger, with a hint of barbershop sharpness, too.
Longevity and projection leave a lot to be desired.
The fruity top notes include pineapple, apple, bergamot, lemon, and yuzu, bringing citrusy-sweet freshness. The heart notes add powdery florals with rose, jasmine, and cyclamen. At the base, amber, musk, sandalwood, and tonka bean bring warmth and a sexy, masculine woodiness. Emporio Armani has a soft-to-moderate sillage for most people, and a reasonably short wear-time.
Emporio Armani is an all-year, all-day fragrance thanks to the balance of fruity, woody, citrus, and floral.
At around $79 for a 3.4oz bottle, this is a reasonably affordable fragrance. However, the weak projection means you’ll need to re-spritz to get your money’s worth.
Emporio Armani Stronger with You (2017) is a romantic, sexy fragrance designed for lovers of spicy, warm, sensual aromas. Unlike the fresh, citrusy Eau Pour Homme or Acqua di Gio range, this fragrance is intoxicating and sweet from the start.
As it is primarily sweet and spicy, it’s not ideal for spring/summer, or for guys who prefer citrusy, clean scents.
The spicy warmth of cardamom and pink pepper hum in the top notes, with aromatic sage at the heart. Then, vanilla, chestnut, and amber sweeten the woody base.
Stronger With You is a perfect evening or special occasion scent, and works especially well during winter or fall. If fresh, citrusy, breezy scents are your preference, give this one a pass and check out the Acqua range.
At around $23 per ounce for a larger bottle, Stronger With You is pretty affordable. Considering the strong projection and longevity, you’ll get your money’s worth.
Armani Code for Men is one of the most well-known Armani scents, in a sleek, inky-toned bottle. The fragrance is an attractive and mass-appealing combination of citrus, spice, and leathery tobacco.
The projection is too mild for people who want that “pow” impact from their fragrance.
At first, the fragrance is crisp and energized with bergamot and lemon, perfect for morning wear. The fragrance deepens with woody, spicy notes of star anise and olive blossom. The base notes bring a masculine appeal with leather and tobacco.
The fragrance sequence seamlessly moves from morning to evening, and would best suit spring/summer. However, the leather and tobacco notes push it into fall/winter, too.
At around $22 per ounce for the largest bottle, Armani code is reasonable. However, the weak projection takes the value down a few notches.
Acqua di Gio Essenza would suit guys who like a little hint of fresh citrus with a heavier profile of sensuous spice and aromatics. It’s a long-lasting perfume with a strong sillage, ideal for special occasions, or impactful everyday wear.
Unfortunately, Armani discontinued Essenza so you won’t be able to restock once outside stockists run out.
Another version of the original Acqua di Gio, Essenza is a woodier, sexier version with a more intense profile. The top notes keep the quintessential Acqua di Gio freshness with bergamot and grapefruit, with less of a salt-spray factor. The heart notes bring sensual aromatics and sweet florals with basil, sage, and jasmine. The base notes are where the sexy masculinity really shines, with pepper, amber, cedar, patchouli, and vetiver.
Essenza is ideal for warm seasons due to the citrusy hit and warm, balmy amber. It’s fresh and clean enough for day-wear, and robust enough for evening or occasional wear.
It depends on where you can source Essenza, as it is no longer stocked on the official Armani site.
If impressing a girl is the aim of your cologne game, check out our guide to the sexiest colognes, according to women. Armani Attitude is a strong, masculine scent with strong intensity as opposed to fruitier, fresher Armani scents.
It’s a little too rich and warm for casual daily wear. Plus, Armani Attitude was discontinued, much to the protest of its fans.
The top notes start off strong with the warm aroma of coffee and a hint of sharp lemon. The heart notes add further spicy warmth with cardamom, while the base notes serve intensity with amber, patchouli, and opoponax.
Attitude is a sexy, attractive, and alluring fragrance for guys who are in touch with their masculinity and sensuality. It’s a perfect evening or date-night scent during cooler months.
It depends on where you can find one of the last bottles, as it was discontinued.
Armani Mania is a fresh, elegant, and understated cologne perfect for daily wear. It follows the fresh attitude of the Acqua and Eau ranges but is more subtle and a little woodier.
Like many other Armani favourites, Mania has been discontinued. You can still find it online, but don’t get too attached!
The top notes offer fresh citrus with mandarin for bright sharpness. The heart notes are clean and woody, with cedar and vetiver, while an amber base brings a hint of warmth.
Mania is a great everyday cologne as it is mass-appealing and not a “niche” scent. It will simply make you smell great without making a statement. The initial citrus notes are excellent for mornings, while the woody base notes transition into afternoon/evening perfectly.
Pricing will depend on where you find it, and how many bottles are left as it has been discontinued.
A more recent version of the iconic 1990s Acqua di Gio, Absolu (2018) is a richer, woodier, more aromatic reimagining.
While not necessarily a “con”, Absolu is quite different from the original Acqua di Gio. Be sure to give it the smell test if you’re expecting a heavy Acqua dose.
The marine notes are strong at the top, with a salt-and-water essence further freshened by citrus hints. Herbal notes and masculine florals such as lavender and rosemary add woody depths. Labdanum and patchouli add overwhelming warmth, spice, and woody aromatics to create a sexy, earthy scent when warmed on the skin.
Acqua di Gio Absolu is a scent for men who want to make an impact with woody, smoky, spicy scents, especially during cooler months. If you’re looking for a fresh, springy scent, opt for the original Acqua di Gio or Eau Pour Homme.
The price ranges from $25 to $40 per ounce, depending on the bottle size. This is mid-to-high range when it comes to Armani. However, considering the strong sillage and longevity, a little goes a long way.
A classic 90s Armani perfume (with a new formula), Acqua di Gio is the king of crisp, aquatic scents. The idea behind this classic cologne was salty waves crashing on rocks under the baking sun. It’s a “spritz on and feel fresh” fragrance, with a bright, awakening attitude.
Those who loved the OG 90s Acqua have found the new formulation a little weaker and not as robust.
The top notes are definitively fresh and citrusy, with bergamot and tangerine. Heart notes bring the aromatic aroma of rosemary, while the base leaves a sweet, warm patchouli essence.
Acqua di Gio is the perfect scent for Spring/Summer days and evenings, with a hint of salty sea spray. The sillage is moderate, so it won’t overpower the workplace or hang in the air after you leave.
It depends on the size you choose. The smallest bottle sets you back $50 for one oz, while the 10oz bottle comes in at only $15 per oz.
A 1984 classic, Eau Pour Homme is an Armani cornerstone. A scent for men who love refreshing, citrusy scents with woody, spicy notes beneath.
Eau Pour Homme lacks a little in the projection and longevity departments.
At first, a citrus fusion hits you with mandarin, lemon, bergamot, and citrus leaf. Then sweet, spicy jasmine, cinnamon, and clove deepen the aroma. The base notes are masculine and earthy with sandalwood, cedar, oakmoss, and patchouli.
Eau Pour Homme best suits men who love clean, fresh fragrances with a touch of sweetness. It’s a great spring and summer scent thanks to the tart citrus, but the masculine base notes make it an all-year fragrance.
At around $32 per oz, Eau pour Homme isn't cheap. However the versatile scent means it won’t go dusty on the shelf waiting for next season.
Acqua di Gio Profumo is an updated version of the original Acqua di Gio. It is a rich and masculine scent with hints of sweet, spicy, and aromatic notes. Acqua di Gio Profumo is a scent for men who enjoy an initial burst of freshness followed by deep, masculine notes and a smoky, woody impression. If you like the original Acqua di Gio but it’s not quite punchy enough, try Acqua di Gio Profumo.
It’s a little pricey, especially if it becomes your “go to” and you need to repurchase.
At the top, marine spray and bergamot bring freshness and sea-spray attitude. At the heart, sage and rosemary bring rich, aromatic, woody notes. The base leaves you with the masculine depths and mystery of patchouli and incense.
Profumo is a perfect spring/summer fragrance, but the incense tips it over into the fall category, too. The moderate sillage means it’s work-friendly and won’t overpower a room, but it is long-lasting.
At $32 per oz for the largest bottle, Profumo isn’t a cheap fragrance. However, it is long-lasting for a lower cost-per-use than other Armani fragrances.
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Jenna is an Iowa native and former Chicago resident who is currently living her best life in the Tampa Bay area with her husband and fur baby. She has a BS in Political Science from the University of Iowa, as well a JD from Chicago-Kent College of Law.
Jenna has a passion for running, brunching, home styling and, of course, her beloved Iowa Hawkeyes. When she isn’t writing, Jenna loves to read, organize, and DIY.
Jenna covers everything from health and beauty to home and lifestyle, you name the product, she’s likely tried it. So if you’re looking for ways to enhance your beauty regimen or elevate your home, Jenna is your go to girl.
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10 Best Armani Colognes for Men
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