Acqua di Giò Absolu Instinct

This stuff is just nice! There's no other way for me to describe it. It's definitely got the Acqua Di Gio DNA and takes that and adds some sweetness, a good bit of spice, a good bit of woodiness, and makes it all very modern and very versatile. It's not quite as versatile as Profumo, which is still my personal favorite in the line, though admittedly it's least like the original Acqua Di Gio. But this one would definitely be my second choice, followed by Profondo, then Absolu, then the original, and lastly would definitely be Profondo lights. That one is just a mess in the opening and it never really gets itself together, even in the drydown. And I've never tried Essenza. But back to Absolute Instinct, this one is very well done. It's well balanced, it has a nice transition from opening to mid and from mid to drydown. I'm getting really good performance as well. The longevity, projection and sillage are all well above average with me clocking in about 10hrs in longevity. I'm getting projection pushing out at least an arm length and a half, and sillage is a good 6 to 10 ft behind me when walking according to my wife. Also, it's not common for her to really thoroughly enjoy a fragrance I buy, but I can hardly keep her off of me when I'm wearing this stuff, and she says I'm not allowed to wear it anywhere but here at home!!! That's how good this one is so if you think that you might enjoy it don't go by the ratings or reviews here because they definitely do not match up with the quality, performance and smell of this awesome fragrance.

Blind bought from a retailer in Europe. Very nice! Much better than Absolu, this is what Absolu should have been as it smells more like Acqua Di Gio, And is like Profumo with Woody notes instead of the incense, while keeping the fresh signature Acqua Di Gio opening that can be found in the Original, Essenza, and Profumo (I find Absolu to be much sweeter to the point where it isn’t clear that it’s an AdG flanker, and I think Absolu should have been the flanker to this). After you spray it and as it dries down you can smell the woody notes slowly appear as if the Woods were submerged in the aquatic opening, and you get the slight touch of amber and ebony woods and patchouli fills in the scent creating a very comforting yet freshly invigorating scent. The woody scent almost makes it feel like you have the sun shining on you with the aquatic freshness making this an experience. (I can’t stop smelling myself as I’m writing this) The sillage and projection on first spray is very good, and it for me, has very good longevity. I sprayed it on my hand and arm before going to sleep and it was still there when I woke up. This is just in time for summer, and with the woody notes and in my opinion is extremely versatile (might even be more versatile than Profumo) and could be worn year round even in the winter. Highly recommended, especially if you are a fan of the Acqua Di Gio Family, and particularly Profumo. When this comes to North America go and try it and snatch it up if you can, because this fragrance is going to be huge.

I blind bought this after finding a bottle at too good of a price to pass up. I'm really glad I did. I have no idea what ebony-wood smells like, in life or in perfumery, but what I do smell here is amber wood, and lots of it. On first spray, I get hit with lemon, cinnamon, amber wood, and a slightly sweet and synthetic vanilla. All together, as other reviewers have noted, all of these notes come together to translate to something like a fizzy cola. I love cola, so I love this opening. After a few minutes, this all calms down to showcase the amber wood. It's there, front and center, but is backed up with the lemon, the vanilla, a touch of synthetic patchouli, and a small amount of the ADG dna. On my skin, after a few hours, this saline/seaweed note starts to really shine and it mixes really beautifully with the amber wood and patch. It's very refreshing, but it's also dark. This is the true dark blue of the ADG flankers, something that is still appropriate year-round but would really shine in the fall. Contrast this with Profumo, which is also year-round friendly, but shines especially in the summer because of its blue-shower-gel backbone. I'm decently impressed with the performance. This lasted about 8 hours on my skin and projected about a foot throughout its whole life. I honestly love Absolu Instinct. This could be signature-worthy for someone who wanted to stand out from the crowd but still smell crowd-pleasing.

Really nice blue/ green blend scent. I like the opening a lot like a citrus/ seaweed sucker punch to the nose. It's supposed to emulate seaside woods which I guess it does kinda bring me there mentally. Great stuff. Then it settles down to some nice woody undertones and still get some whiffs of the citrus opening. My only complaint is performance. I sprayed 5-6 times and smells absolutely amazing for the first 20 min or so until it dries down (more sprays doesn't really matter either). Becomes a skin scent shortly afterward and then almost to nothing after a few hours. Wish this had the same Parfum concentration/ performance as the Stronger with You line; one spray is plenty, I get whiffs all day and into the following day. 11/10 for the scent 3/10 for performance Update: This is very much discontinued and hard to find anywhere even on ebay. I found that Parfum Belcam makes a clone and I have to say it smells very similar to this; especially the citrusy seaweed opening which I love. It's essentially that throughout. Very pleasantly surprised. No it does not last long on skin but if you overspray your shirt, it lasts me the rest of the day. I've put on the same shirt the following morning and still got whiffs of it every now and then which is awesome.

I am surprised that this adg version has not received more love and appreciation - especially as most love the Profumo - which also differs significantly from the typical EDT version. I wasn't interested in this because of the reviews, but today I managed to trade Tom Ford Oud Minerale and I'm very pleased. Actually, this ADG could be in Tom Ford's line just as some variation of wood/ Minerale. I agree that it is a niche adg- other than the rest - 9 people votet YSL Y - it's joke nothing in common Very woody, quite strong, I wouldn't use it in the summer especially during the day, but why not in the colder evening. I don't detect strong seaweeds etc or they are hidden in the top notes - which adds a bit of freshness to the whole. The top notes are not strong, but are a fresh addition. Really interesting composition and I am pleased that finally completed the entire collection of adg. Nice bottle, box, and cap It's not for beginners but for collectors, because if you have just 5 frags and looking for somthing fresh for summer - better chose any other ADG.

Sprayed this today on my neck and wrists. Maybe 6 sprays in total and it was gone within 2 hours, maybe less than that. From what I smelled it was amazing. Citrus opening with the oceanic notes in the mid and the dry down, it was very different to anything else I have smelled, so it gets some points for that. Here lies the problem for me. I can get many beautiful scents for 30 bucks now a days that outperform commercial colognes for a quarter of the price. So in saying that; it’s hard for me to justify paying $115 bucks for a 75ml bottle that I would have to drown myself in to get any performance and if I use it with normal applications my silage trail and longevity is poss poor. I didn’t get any wood but my nose isn’t as experienced as some of you in here. I got to keep it real here, because of the performance issues, I don’t even want to rate this. This seems to be becoming a trend with many commercial brand name colognes these days anyway, another example is Calvin Klein summer 2019. Smells beautiful for 20 minutes, then gone like a fart in the wind.

I wore it last night and felt f--king fabulous. I have gotten some compliments too. It is a very mature scent and manly elegant. Absolu Instinct is a mix between Classical Acqua di Gio + Bvlgari Aqva Pour Homme + AdG Profumo, at least to my nose. In the opening, lemon comes through stronger than the bergamot does and indeed also has that AdG DNA, that aquatic DNA. Yup, Absolu Instinct it does have almost same kind of vibe as Bvlgari Aqva Pour Homme due to Seaweed note, although the seaweed that has been used in BAPH is much more bitter, like it has been extracted from deep-sea underwater, almost raw seaweed. The seaweed in Absolu Instinct definitely to me is much more pleasant smell, less bitter and raw, gives it more of an aquatic oceanic kind of feel. After 10 mins or so it starts to become woodier, the ebony wood gives a darker woody feeling and it also has this slightly, slightly smoky kind of hint to it. On my skin it really goes into a dark wood forest. Absolutely magnificent! Bravo, Armani!

I got a 10ml based on the notes as I thought they looked interesting. I used most of it during summer and it was okay overall. Has the ADG thing with the airiness and the way they develop, its just good. But it was very light and didn't last. Then the weather changed and I tried it on a 45-55 degree day, oversprayed like normal cause it never lasts more then 3-4 hours. Man... this came to life! I wouldn't say I got the citrus but I experienced the marine vibe but it has a certain sparkle that was amazing. Then the patch came in with the deep woods! 10x better than when I tested in summer heat. Also, went 8 hours, not crazy but better performance then I had gotten from this prior. The ironic thing, this was the last of my 10ml. Im debating on picking up a bottle. This is really interesting and the best Ive tested from the line, even like it over profumo. Get a sample its nice...fall and spring this shines.

Absolu Instinct still has the classic fresh smell of Armani (You can definitely smell the AdG DNA, with a twist) but lasts much, much longer than the EDT, or even than Profumo due to the ebony wood. Also, in my view the ebony wood is a big changer in this perfume, creates some sort of aroma that can be found moreover in Profumo, it has a bit of a slight smoky odor along with a smooth-dark-woody feel. Overall, It's deep, dark, woody, warm, masculine yet sensual and light. Smells elegant and confidently. It's definitely an evening scent, great for Fall / Winter, cooler weather. It's woodsy tone, and very consistent throughout, the undertones have an earthy warm scent – might get a little heavy over the summer depending on how many sprays you take. Armani did an incredible job by revealing this splendor! A darker version of Profumo, surely it is. Score: 10+/10

Bought a backup last night, wearing it today and loving it as always. This stuff is so much better than Absolu and it's not even close. Opening is pungent and almost boozy. Gorgeous fresh citrus and seawater on a woody base. One of my favorite opens. Spicy and rich but still fresh. It's almost too good. My only issue with this is it feels almost too classy sometimes. Sometimes I spray it on for casual days and immediately feel underdressed. Overwhelms me with a feeling that I smell great, more than any other. Something about it injects confidence. Dry down is woody, deep but could have a little more going on there to set it apart. I'd love some of the incense from profumo in the woody base. This really smells incredible. Deeper and spicier than Absolu (though not very similar at all) projects a few hours, and lasts a long time. One of my favorites. 9.5/10.

When I first smelled Absolu Instinct, the patchouli and seaweed note was too dominant, strong and off putting. I had to force myself to give the fragrance extra wearings to get a good feel for it. After a few wearings, my nose was able to pick out the lemon and bergamot citrusy and aqua freshness, along with the amber and ebony🪵 notes. The way how it transitions from the dominance of patchouli & seaweed, to aqua-freshness, lemon and bergamot, and to the dark ebony wood with the sweetness of amber is soo beautiful! I now Luv this scent. It’s just as what Aqua di Gio slogan describes it as “embraces the sensual relationship between man and nature, mixing the power of water with the delicate texture of wood." Sad that this gem is discontinued

ah men such an elegant fresh woody scent. if you are a men that want to smell elegant classy this is the smell. Citrusy, marine, patchouly. the quality of the ingredients is top smells super realistic not synthetic at all. refreshing and sexy, this is the fragrance you wear in a suit with a tie. 9/10 Sillage and performance are very above avrage considering the bad performers of the ADG line... i've smelled the new profondo parfum and the EDT and men this is so much better IMO better performance, better scent profile, better quality of ingredients. Also very safe blind buy, if you are into freshies give it a try.

I'm getting a bottle of this juice. It's woodier, a little saltier because of the sea water, citrus lemon and seaweed. It does have a strong blast of that AdG DNA. It just has a much more woody, seaweedy kind of vibe. In fact, it reminds me of AdG Profumo but centered on woody tones, very good and mild. It is like a deep wood smell with a tiny bit of spice at the end, very smooth smell and not too strong. A very elegant and mysterious woody scent. It's mainly ebony accord, the most precious wood giving that darker woody feeling and a little smoky flavor. Another stellar fragrance from Armani!

Needs skin to evaluate properly. Smells like Pledge on a tester strip. On my skin it smells like I just walked out of a tree that's behind the shoreline, once we get pass the lemon. The lemon is wet, it's like a like a drink you finish in 20 minutes. I like it when it has subsided. This is the first ebony wood in my collection. Wears well, dynamic even. Mahagony meets Morrilas. This is one of my colognes where I favor the dry down and entirety of the fragrance more than the opening.

Re-tested today. Is a safe buy for spring-summer night. Not boring as absolu and different to other adg flanker . An absolu less sintetic but more citrusy and Woody. don't have the quality of profumo or profumo special blend. But is very good. 8/10 Impressive performance. Less marine and more woody,quite sweet.but not sweet as invictus acqua flankers ...is a quality sweet for the Amber. Not sintetic. Good quality of patchouli. The dry down is completely citrus-sweet. Good work.

Acqua di Giò Absolu Instinct Giorgio Armani This fragrance is only about a fresh lemon and Ebony wood.it is like a fresh cutting piece of lemon tree with a small touch of the sweetness. The quality of the juice is good, but it is nothing new.longevity and projection are quite weak and it is not even a competitor for Profumo. Hoewer it smells good. LONGEVITY:4/10( 3hours) PROJECTION:3/10 UNIQUENESS:5/10 SEXY:6/10 SCENT:7/10 PRICE:5/10 VERSATILITY:9/10 OVERALL:5.5/10

Wow! This one smells much better than I thought it would be. It’s actually stunning to me when I smell it in the air - it’s aquatic, a bit fruity, sweet, thick, spicy, woodsy. I wouldn’t recommend it for working indoors as i underestimated how strong it was (a couple sprays to the wrist was enough to choke people out). Amazing scent but I don’t think it will appeal to everyone.

A hot summer day, you open up an ice cold coke, you take the first sip... woah! This is the feeling i get with Absolu Instinct, very fresh aquatic opening, then woody aromatic dry down. There's also a stingy note i really like, probably the seaweed. Classy scent, high quality, longevity is pretty high with me, i get whiffs up to ten hours when the weather is warm. Love it.

I've gotten a high partial bottle a week ago to add to my ADG collection. Absolu Instinct is less sweet than Absolu. It's opens with this citrusy woodiness that is there along with the salty marine sea notes for quite a while. I'm not sure if I get the seaweed but I do get the patchouli. Not too bad but I can see why it was discontinued and not as popular as the rest.

The best flanker of Acqua di Gio period! It's absolutely amazing! From my whole collection this is now the most appreciated scent of my wife and her female friends! Very good longevity and projection and I can see this absolutely shine in summer when you're a bit dressed up like an italian going out for dinner.Very good aromatic woody marine smell!