Acqua di Giò Absolu

This review has been a long time coming. Today, I am finally taking a look at Giorgio Armani's Acqua di Gio Absolu. I first encountered this fragrance as I was browsing my local Sephora one day. The golden, ambery color of the liquid immediately stood out from the rest of the Acqua di Gio lineup and drew me in for a closer look. When I sprayed it, I was immediately struck by how different it was from a typical ADG; it was sweeter, punchier, and simply better. In that moment, I knew I wanted it; but I had other fragrances on my radar at the time, so I had to hold off. Not long after, it was unfortunately discontinued, and I couldn't find it anywhere. That was at least a year ago. Now, after searching far and wide, I have finally managed to acquire a bottle, and I can give it the proper review I have been wanting to give it for so long. Hopefully, it was worth the wait. Let's get into it. Opening: The opening is a lively blend of aquatic freshness and bright fruitiness. The primary notes I discern are sea notes, bergamot, grapefruit, and pear, with the sea notes and bergamot being the most prominent. True to the nature of the ADG line, the aquatic character is front and center after the initial spray. It’s clean, watery, and a bit salty, calling to mind the aroma of ocean spray. It's very similar to the marine accords you'll find in other designer fragrances like Light Blue or Invictus Aqua. Trailing just behind the sea notes is the bergamot, delivering a sizable dose of citrus and fresh aromatics. Bergamot and sea notes famously work well together, and this fragrance is no exception. Next up are the grapefruit and pear. The grapefruit lends a slightly bitter, rindy accord to help bolster the bergamot and drive home the fruity citrus theme. Lastly, the pear lingers in the background as a sweet and fruity nuance; it's not too dissimilar to the pear note found in JPG’s Ultra Male, but it is much more reserved and subdued. Dry Down: The dry down transforms, taking on a more structured, woody character while retaining its aquatic and sweet core. The primary notes I get are woody notes, sea notes, tonka bean, and pear, with the strongest of these being the woods and sea notes. The non-descript "woody notes" rise to prominence in the dry down, providing a sturdy and masculine dose of woods. There's a dry and clean tone to it, so if I had to guess, I would say cedarwood is the note used here; although it lacks that "pencil shaving" accord that some stronger cedar notes have. Behind the woods, the sea notes remain a key player. They retain the same watery, salty, and fresh accord from the opening; however, it has been dialed back a fair amount to let the woods take shine through. This is followed by the tonka bean and pear. The tonka bean imbues the dry down with a warm and sweet accord to add some depth to the composition. Not so much that it takes on a vanillic character, but enough to give it some noticeable richness. Lastly, the pear does persist into the dry down, remaining a sweet and fruity background note. I also pick up on a slightly balsamic, ambery quality that I attribute to the presence of amberwood. Performance: The initial projection is very strong and can easily fill a room. Sillage matches that intensity with a heavy but clean scent trail. After about three to four hours, the projection was remarkably unchanged. At the seven to eight-hour mark, the projection was surprisingly still reaching out around four to six feet, and the scent trail was still easily noticeable. Ultimately, the fragrance lasted around twelve hours before finally fading away into a skin scent, demonstrating outstanding performance for such a fresh fragrance. When to Wear: Acqua di Gio Absolu, like the rest of the ADG line, is a spring and summer fragrance that works wonderfully in the daytime. It is, however, quite a bit sweeter than the other ADG's, and this makes it equally suitable for evening wear as well. At its core, the ADG line is a very casual fragrance line, and Absolu is no different. This would be a great choice for outdoor activities, the gym, maybe even for a night out at the clubs, but I wouldn't select it for a formal event, a special occasion, or the office. Blind Buy: If you appreciate sweet and aquatic fragrances in the style of Hawas or Invictus Aqua, Acqua di Gio Absolu is a safe blind buy for you. However, do not blind buy it just because you like the rest of the ADG line, because even though it has the same core DNA, it is quite different. Final Verdict: When I first smelled Acqua di Gio Absolu, my nose didn't have the same level of experience it does now; I just hadn't encountered as many different scents. Now that I'm trying it again, it makes sense to me that it would smell like an Invictus or Hawas flanker. Even so, that's not to diminish this fragrance at all, because I still think it smells absolutely amazing. Personally, I think this blows other similar fragrances like Invictus Aqua or Hawas out of the water (no pun intended). It expertly executes the sweet and aquatic DNA, and it packs a serious punch for a "freshie" when it comes to performance. I honestly can't understand why Armani would have discontinued this, as it was a great contender in the arena of a very popular scent profile. In any case, I'm glad I managed to acquire a bottle. I'll just have to use it sparingly, I suppose. Scent: 10/10 Longevity: 9/10 Sillage: 10/10 Versatility: Average Mass Appeal: Very high Gender: Masculine Value: Fair

Literally avoided this gem at my local Ulta for weeks because I thought it was aftershave. Because the color of the juice. I immediately thought it was going to be another old man scent because of its appearance... Boy was I wrong. So one day I was back in my local Ulta, and was checking out the Acqua Di Gio line. And finally decided to give Absolu a spray. When I tell you I froze in immediate shock, and kept looking around in disbelief. I couldn't believe that it took me so long to find out about this masterpiece. I immediately spray it on my wrist, and could not stop smelling and retesting it. After I was finally done sampling colognes, and headed home. I was so eager to see the reviews online. I immediately rushed to Fragrantica to read the reviews. And when I tell you I couldn't stop smiling ear to ear. After reading comments that encapsulated everything I was thinking and feeling. And seeing words like "Underrated" "Hidden Gem" "Masterpiece" "Perfect" "Balanced" and "Versatile". In nearly all the comments. That let me know I wasn't alone in what seemed like over zealous. Ok let's discuss the hate and comparisons. If you're new to the world of fragrances. Just know that a lot of Collectors and Enthusiasts have buyers fatigue. So anytime a new fragrance doesn't push boundaries or offer something new or unique. It's automatically put at a rating disadvantage from seasoned critics. But may be loved by the general public. And for comparisons, Absolu is what would be categorized by most as "Generic" or a "Mall Scent". Meaning its sole purpose is to be mass appealing. Which it is, but what makes Absolu so special is its balance and quality. Don't know where all the Incivtus Aqua comparisons are coming from at all. They smell completely different, barely even relatable in terms of smelling alike. There are tons of generic mall scents that are in a similar vien as Absolu. Like YSL Y EDP, Jimmy Choo Man Intense, Invictus Aqua, and Coach for Men. But all these smell extremely synthetic and artificial. And work better for younger crowds like teenagers and young college students. Meanwhile Acqua Di Gio Absolu can work on people age 5 to age 50. Absolu's balance, quality, and versatility is bar none! There's just no comparisons. I don't think I ever used this word to describe a fragrance before, but Acqua Di Gio Absolu is Perfect! From its note balance, breakdown, and year round versatility. Never smelt something so good from beginning to end. Absolu reminds me of a sunset at the end of a perfect day growing up in the Summer time. Absolu is such a timeless masterpiece. If you know about Alberto Morillas then you know he's like the Michael Jordan of Perfumers. He has legendary fragrances under his belt. And will probably go down as the Greatest Perfumer of all time. And in my personal and honest opinion Absolu is his Crowning Jewel. I don't care what anybody else says. Is Absolu blind buy worthy? 100% Yes! If you don't initially love it, trust me it will grow on you! A 10 out of 10 Masterspiece and a must own in my humble opinion.

This will be my favorite review to write. This was one of the first bottles I bought when I started collecting. A couple years back I scooped up one of the last bottles of Absolu that would be at discount value through blind luck. A few days after I bought it I found out of the recent discontinuation, and I went back to buy another bottle, only to find that everywhere was suddenly out of stock. When I was 18 my parents bought me an Acqua Di Gio sample set with 10ml vials of Absolu, Profumo, and the EDT. My Lord. Absolu was my clear winner, along with my girlfriend’s favorite. Every time I wore it I felt so happy. This is one of the only scents even to this day that I truly love. I think about the original gift my parents got me (the most memorable gift I have ever received, and what silently started my love of fragrance) every time I get a whiff of this. Backstory aside- it opens up very sweet with the ADG dna in the background. Pear and bergamot jump out for the first hour or so. Then the sweetness starts to turn into a cedar-tonka-citrus blend, and more of the ADG marine vibe with the water and sea notes come out. Performance on this is great. I get easily 8-10 hours of projection ~4ft and it stays pumping the whole time. Towards the end of its lifecycle, the sweetness drastically fades and it very closely resembles Profondo. Such a strange thing but I feel like the fragrance does a 180 degree turn right before it starts to fade, and I love it! It almost restarts the smell of the scent because I think it’s amazing how perfumery can do such a thing, so I always keep smelling my clothes and waiting for it to make that turn at the end. This is my favorite of all time for good reason. Performance is great. It is mass appealing. Spray and go type fragrance for me- dress down, dress up, doesn’t matter. It is 100% worth the money even with the current markup after discontinuation. Do not settle for an Invictus or Hawas release that people compare this to. They are liars. The sweetness in the opening is the only thing similar between these fragrances. Very quickly, Absolu takes a stronger marine accord with the sea/water notes that the other two are not as prominent in, and it stands apart big time. I am writing this tonight as my 4.2oz backup bottle for life just arrived. I hope to never run out of this stuff. So much so that I may go order another bottle right after posting this.

******************************************* Stop the jumping on the HATE TRAIN ******************************************* Like most people, I listen to the negative Youtuber review by Jermy Fragrance, MyMickery, Kelvin Samuel and completely dismiss ADG-Absolu. Thus, I was completely caught off guard when I finally sample it @local Macy. I am lost for words how Amazing it smell. ABSOLU is better than 2016 + 2018 Invictus Aqua; its even better than the overhyped ADG-Profumo which is saturated with too much INCENSE that turn off women around me with a strong distaste. Girls say I smell like 1990 douche bag smoking a cigarette then spray ADG to cover the smoke. After sampling various cologne from Sauvage, Versace Dylan Blue, every Invictus, and every PB 1 Million, I keep coming back to ADG-Absolu. It is Fresh...yet Sweet. This is the Aqua Di Gio for the NEW GENERATION without smelling like a cheap lemon furniture polish that the original 90's ADG does on me. I agree with(bsimps) review. You can't trust Youtuber reviews, trust your NOSE instead. Don't let the blind-hate-train deter you from this fantastic release. 2 spray of ADG-Absolu sample lasted 8 hours on my skin. Wow, that is 3 hours longer than the 2016 Invictus Aqua on me. Performance - for a freshie - is nothing less than AMAZING. My only criticism is the rather HIGH price of most Armani Fragrances. If price isn't a concern, ADG-Absolu is my #1 choice for Spring/Summer fragrance, and it managed to knocked off my old favorite Chanel Allure Homme eau Extreme and as of now, it is my Top 5 best smelling fragrance I'd ever smell!

I may have reviewed this before but I've grown to really love this and changed my like to love. The pear and apple in the beginning keep it lightly sweet and fresh in the opening with the amber wood and patchouli in the background keeping it balanced with a little darkness and depth. Dries down more woody with the marine notes coming in giving you a driftwood type feel with remnants of the fruits in the background keeping it slightly sweet. This has become my favorite ADG for daily wear scenario while Profumo is still the pinnacle of the line but is more situational for me. Sillage and projection are decent with a nice scent bubble around you but not a room filler. I usually go six sprays in cooler weather (70 degrees and below) and four when warmer (70-85 degrees). Not quite light and fresh enough for South Louisiana in the middle of summer but perfect for 85 degrees and under. Absolu is clean, fruity and fresh with a slight dark and woody edge Scent: 8.75 Enjoyability to wear: 9.5 Longevity: 7-8 hours Projection: arms length

So I sprayed Acqua Di Gio Absolu yesterday and WOW it's amazing! To my nose and on my female skin, ADG Absolu is a blend of the original ADG and Stronger With You, so it's got that aquatic watery vibe from ADG, plus a weaker, less sweet Stronger With You vibe. Absolu is discontinued and I wondered if they would bring out something similar in their newer refillable bottles (like the new Parfum is a remake of the discontinued Promumo), but given Stronger with you Only is a weaker, less sweet version of SWY for warmer weather, I figure SWY Only is taking the place of ADG Absolu, particularly because many people in the fragrance world thought the Absolu flanker should have been in the SWY line.... I'll take ADG Absolu over SWYO any day, and I can totally smell the original ADG DNA in this fragrance, it was a perfect flanker in this line and I'll be getting a back up bottle. Great for a mid to late teen and up to 25 years old, or even up to mid 30's depending on the type of man wearing it and his personality.

We gravitate to the trends of our teenage years, and for me this is no exception - the AdG DNA makes me wanna act tf UP. It's primal and hormonal and nostalgic all at once. I can still throw down, I still got it *sob* My husband was fine with the OG EdT, and wore it throughout last summer, but it lacks the darkness/depth that he prefers. After sampling Absolu, he has a new favorite, I do too. It has everything I love about the original: the aquatic clarity, the aromatic edge, the citrus is now fruity instead of floral. The addition of more wood matures it and the creaminess smoothes it out, more fitting in our old age 😋 Like most of our fragrances, it behaves differently on each of us. On him, it's closer to original, on me the AdG DNA is more obscured by woodiness. Y'all say the other versions have more prominent patchouli, and that's the opposite of what I look for in a fragrance, so I'm happy to end my search here. I think we found the version of AdG that's right for us 🤎

I love this cologne with all my heart. It's definitely in my BFs top three. This is bold and breathtaking. It's Lori Fosters FOREVER BUCKHORN. I can't exactly put it into words. But know this, I spray it on my BFs dressy long sleeves and wear them to bed. I love smelling like him, specially in the morning when he leaves for work. I feel like his arms are still around me.. As if he never left. Crisp apples, glazed pears, bougie baby lavender lotion, beach house bonfire & the smell of the ocean at night. This is super long lasting, don't pay any attention to those who say they have to spray it multiple times to get an actual scent out of it. Those are the same ones that drive girls CRAZY, and NOT in a good way, but in a "I'm getting a headache" kinda way. It's sexy, clean and mysterious. Losers won't like it, ONE spray is more than enough, unless you're FUGLY and need tons of it to get some attention. Cowboy approved. Buckhorn brothers approved. Best if worn at night. BISOUS

This is by far the best fragrance I've ever had. It's my first fragrance, I've tried everything possible since then, but nothing ever compares to this fragrance. It's so sophisticated, obtrusive, expressive, sexy and yet so soft, unpretentious and gorgeous. From the first moment you smell this fragrance, you imagine yourself in a summer shirt with a drink in your hand at a beach bar with a gentle breeze in your hair, surrounded by attractive women or men (according to your taste). Morning relaxation on a sunrise lounger with the soft sound of sea waves, but also an evening party in the club. This fragrance will bring back memories of what never happened. It will engage your imagination in all your senses, it is up to you when, where, with whom and how you want to be. The best fragrance you can buy... I will never change this fragrance for anything else, it is a jackpot for me.

It is a shame to see so many people hating a fragrance for whatever reason and giving an absolutely incorrect picture of what it is. Let me tell you this. I own 53 fragrances at the time of writing this review. This fragrance got me the most compliments I ever got for wearing any scent. People walking into my office used to say: something smells really nice in here, without even knowing it was me or this juice. I got compliments in an open space on a windy day 7 hours after application. Comments saying that it lasts 2 hrs and has weak projection should be ignored. Is it similar to Invictus? Perhaps. Is it a crowd pleaser? Very likely. Is it easy to wear? Yes it is. It has got some DNA of the original, but quite far in the background. So yes, it is very versatile, loved by women, well performing modern scent. If you find any of that to be a problem, dont buy it.

Wow, just wow. I've had this for 5 months and I'm in love, I'm ADDICTED to labdanum in this, it just fits so well in and binds everything, just incredible. The opening of this juice is just a mind blowing experience, citruses and fruits then the ocean notes, makes you feel like you're at the beach drinking some lemonade and having some fruit. After the top notes fade, the rosemary just swings a haymaker at your nose making it even more fresh. And as I said, the labdanum is highly addictive in this. Easily descriptive as a candy smelling frag. Even tho it's an ADG it can be used in winter but quite hard to pull off. Taking in account that this is a ADG flanker it has amazing performance (8+ on my skin) and great projection (arm length). A compliment getter and a grab and go scent, DEFINITELY not a blind buy, try before you buy, it won't work on everybody's skin.

Revisiting this fragrance five years later and I’m really disappointed with myself. When I first blind bought this, I was really let down. To me, it was just a likeable scent that didn’t blow me away or didn’t fall in love with like I wanted to. It wasn’t what I expected from a fragrance from the Acqua di Gió line. I only wore it to work because I didn’t want to lament over wasting money and hoped to one day grow to like it more than I did. Well, that day is five years later. One thing I remembered when wearing it to work years ago, was the amount of compliments I received but I never understood it. Even being always complimented when I wore it, I eventually put my 75ml bottle on the back shelf when I got half through. Now, I love this. Somehow my taste changed and will be sure to finish the rest of my bottle by the end of this summer.

I get a "sandy" vibe from this fragrance, I'm not entirely sure why, but I don't mean it in a negative way. It's perfect to wear to the office, especially when it's not too hot outside, but you can also wear it casually for summer outings. This fragrance has a mood-lifting effect that is sure to put you in a good mood. It's the type of scent that a "nice guy" would wear. What else can I say? I absolutely adore it. underrated. EDIT: At first, when I tried a decant, the fragrance was fantastic. However, upon purchasing the full bottle and applying it to my skin, I noticed an unusual, almost "eggy" scent, as though it had gone past its expiration date. I believe it has to do with the oceanic notes, and This led me to eventually sell my full bottle. Nonetheless, it might just work wonders for you.

During Black Friday of 2023, Macy’s had a 75ml bottle of this fragrance on sale, and I bought it without ever smelling it before. It ended up becoming one of my favorite summer fragrances. I would wear it anywhere. The bottle is almost done, and I’m sad to see it discontinued. It’s citrusy, fresh, and sweet, and it got me a lot of compliments whenever I wore it. This fragrance projects extremely well. I remember wearing it on the NYC subway on a hot day, and the AC in the train was carrying the scent so well that a lady sitting next to me asked for the name of it. Moments like that say everything about a fragrance. I’ll definitely be wearing it more this upcoming summer, and I’m already dreading the day the bottle runs out. I rate it ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5).

I happen to love this fragrance. Although it is discontinued, my local Sephora still has it on display, but none in stock. When I started this, I didn't really consider myself an Acqua Di Gio guy, but I have really come around to what this line does. Also, I see(smell) the connection to Rasasi Hawas. Hawas being more bubblegum with middle Eastern notes. Absolu is a little more clean and classy to me. Sweeter, woodier take on the line and I am here for it. You may be able to find it on display at a Sephora. Right now, my go-to daily fragrance. It's perfect for a signature. I love it more and more! 2/24/25 I ended up getting 4 bottles on sale. Covered for life!😃

I tested the new EDP Intense at Macys last week. ....And the new one sucks. It smells too close to the normal EDP after like 30 to 60 minutes once the sweetness dies down. It is also very weak. Anyway, after that test, I came home and ordered Absolu from Jomashop. Remarkable they still have it in stock. I've had it for a few days now. It is sweet but with a small amount of that ADG dna. So very unique in the line. It is a monster performer too. I sprayed one spray on my arm, took a shower two hours later, and it was still projecting hours after showering. I just ordered a second bottle a few minutes ago. That's all I need to say...

Absolutely love this fragrance. It smells natural, sophisticated, friendly, and manly. The fruity sweetness is tamed by a woody, aquatic, and earthy undertone. Can definitely smell the ADG DNA underneath but this one shines on its own. There are two main advantages of this scent. 1) It smells 100% natural. I don’t get any synthetic vibes like so many other sweet scents. 2) It is versatile. Can be worn in any setting. Personally I wear it to the office and going out to informal events. You could wear this in the winter but you’d have to spray heavy. This one really shines in the warmer months.

I will be honest and tell you that I am not a fan of the ADG DNA.. As it was wafting in the high school I went to for 4 years.. Heck, my step brother wore the EDT religiously and yeah I got a bottle back then to stick with the crowd.. This is different then the original.. I get a slight whiff of Bvlgari Aqua Amara in the opening but its much more smooth.. I love Aqua Amara so that's a compliment.. the dry down becomes very woody.. I pick up some cedar in the dry down which becomes really nice.. Overall this is a strong like for me.. This could grow on me as I wear it more.. Rating 8.4/10

A gift from my (now second-favourite) ex: what I at first foolishly dismissed as mere serviceable 'designer' frag-fare—a critique which could fairly be levelled at the, quite frankly generic and forgettable ADG Parfum—revealed itself in the dry-down to be nothing less than, for want of more elegant phrasing, the "Potpourri of the Gods". Alas, now discontinued at the capricious celestial whim of Giorgio Himself; I can only hope to have secured a lifetime supply when this, too inevitably goes the way of Narciso Rodriguez Pour Homme (2007), and Rive Gauche Pour Homme (2003) before it.

Understand, that while this is compared to Hawas and Invictus, this is quite a bit less brash and infinitely classier than those. I like to call this the Silver Fox Invictus and that this is what the successful father of the “Chads” that would rock Hawas or Invictus would wear. Chad grown up if you will. Still great smelling and playful (and VERY attractive females from my experience) but slightly more reserved. A crying shame it’s discontinued but best believe me there will be a 200ml next to my half used bottle in the near future. Criminally underrated compliment puller!

Nose Note #208 I don't remember Invictus very well, but this does remind me of the OG AdG DNA despite the opinion of the most, apparently. It's definitely sweeter. Very hard to describe. It's just sweet and really pleasant. The "dumb reach" type of scent done very nicely. Nothing is "dumb" about it expect for the price. If it is like Invictus, then I will have to try Rasasi Hawas and Lattafa Hayaati... Upd.: bought Fragrance World Hayaati and I've changed my mind. It's still awesome and I love it, but it's definately like AdG the original + Invictus. 9/10, long lasting

An absolutely beautiful rounded out fragrance it has the original ADG sea notes that makes it aquatic through the life of the fragrance. It also has classy elegance to it with the emphasis being on woods. Fresh and woody with a little sweetness from the fruits. It’s definitely a versatile fragrance that can be dressed up or dressed down. The lavender note makes it a more mature masculine fragrnace as it provides a cleanliness like an old school fragrance. However it’s a solid 8/10. Performance is amazing as well and it’s suited for all seasons.

I got this from the official Armani website and I can say this is really good stuff. I was surprised by the longevity and projection and really did exceed my expectations. (maybe I am lucky with my batch) it does really last all day long and for the projection it is really stroong for the first two hours and then it start to weaken down but never disappears I still smell this when I move around. make sure you over spray a bit to get extra of the performance. Rich Aquatic citrusy scent This thing is addicting! + It's my favorite in the line :)

This cologne projects and sneaks up on you with an inviting bubblegum sweet smell. Even hours after putting it on ill get a random whiff of this sweet slightly woody smell. Edit: might change to love I continue to like this the more I wear it. I also like it more than Rasasi Hawas and Invictus Aqua. Edit 2: Switched from like to love because I love the way the bubble gum sweetness and slight aquatic smell projects hours after spraying. Its not cloying but subtle and inviting making you want to get another smell of the sweetness.

I blind bought myself a 200ml bottle maybe a month ago (big bottles were 50% off, ended up costing the same as a small bottle) and even though it’s not most suitable for winter i wore it a couple of times already and i have to say i like it a lot. To me it smells fresh, light, fruity with a sweet ending, not offensive and mass pleasing for sure. It’s quite versatile in warmer weather as well.. i will be using it as one of my daily scents, but i can imagine it works on a night out just as well. Would recommend you give it a try!

Not sure what is up with all the hate, this is one of my most complemented fragrances that I own. Every time I wear this, at least one of the females from school mentions how good I smell. Anyways, don't care what others here got to say when it come mass appealing scents since most people out there don't even wear fragrances. If you in med/dental school, most of the dudes here smell. Anything too "unique" that niche snobs like might scare the hoes. Something like this is perfect for someone in their 20s to early 30s. 8.5/10

One of the best openings moments out of anything I have. Reading the comments below it seems quite mixed. Lot of love's, tons of likes, plenty hate. I can't speak for everyone, but I absolu love this scent (😊).. Seeing the level of polarizing reviews, definitely get a sample or decant to try out on you. I love all that fruit right when you spray it, you can smell each and every fruit note on the top. I can't think of any other scent that the notes are so clear to the nose. Summer buddy for me. 💜❤️

Bought a sample...Loved it Bought a 125ml bottle, seemed...different. A couple years later I realize the bottle I bought was the earliest formulation of this dating Dec 2017. I believe a year or so after initial release they tweaked the formula, and I think this is one of the rare instances where a reform actually improved the fragrance. This fragrance is the absolute definition of "under the radar" fragrance. Simply fantastic, yet overshadowed by nearly everything. Those of us who know...cheers!!

My daily go-to fragrance whenever I don’t have any special event for the day and just want an appealing “smooth” fragrance that is subtle and lasts the whole day. It lasts on me much longer than the original ADG or the ADG Parfum and my friends have all commented similarly: smells really nice though it does not really convey any feeling of “rich” or “special” which is what I find is perfect for a day-to-day fragrance that still works if going out after work.

Grabbed another bottle of this (my old one ran out a year or two back) so I could remind myself of what it's like before it becomes impossible to get. It's fantastic, and just like Profumo I didn't fully appreciate it until a couple of years later. My tastes have changed a lot (for the best in my opinion) a lot in this time. I echo the thoughts of others - fruity, classy, unique. Perfect summer night scent. An absolute crying shame it's been discontinued!

This is officially Discontinued, Armani moved it to the discontinued section in their site. It is still available to buy in the 4.2 oz size as last chance. It’s still widely available in other stores but once it sells out it’s gone for good. It’s one of Armani’s most underrated fragrances. It’s a solid 9/10 for me on e of my favorites. Profondo will definetly be next there trying to simplify the line only the EDT,EDP and the newer Parfum will remain.

This is a great addition to the Acqua Di Gio line and the Invictus genre. This is about 40% ADG, 30% Invictus, and 30% it's own thing to me. It does remind me of Invictus, but the sweetness is very much toned down, making this the fragrance with the largest audience within this genre of fragrance. If you want a solid summer fragrance to wear in the high heat at the beach, at the pool, at a baseball game, at a carnival, wherever, check this out.

This fragrance has an inviting warmth coupled with boldly fresh and subtly aquatic notes that make it very versatile. The wood is not overpoweringly potent as in other wood based fragrance, and blends very well with all other notes, making it very balanced. Overall, this fragrance has given me up to 10 hours of longevity and will fill up a room if you aren't careful with the number of sprays used, complement magnet.

This is my favorite flanker of the ADG line. Yes it’s another fresh, woody, aquatic scent that’s been done many times before but his one is a step or two above your standard fresh fragrance. Longevity is great on my skin (10 hours) and it projects for 5. Such a shame that it’s been discontinued. Definitely get your hands on this if you happen to find a real bottle. There are some still floating around on EBay.

One of the best Acqua Di Gios. The fruity notes give it a nice sweetness its not overly sweet at all and still very very fresh. I always get in a great mood when I smell & wear this one shame it’s discontinued because its probably my favourite ADG not that similar to Hawas or Invictus TBH besides the fact its fresh & sweet but this has its own unique facets love that pear & apple note

I don't know which AdG I like better, this or AdG Parfum but both are outstanding! I live in Texas and Absolu is the perfect date-night scent for hot, humid nights. Has the clean, fresh AdG DNA with a seductive woody sweetness that isn't cloying. One of my absolute fav frags and I'm so disappointed to hear that it's discontinued. Will definitely be on the lookout for a backup bottle.

Discontinued? I don't get it. It's by far the number one compliment pulling fragrance in my collection. I've literally never worn it without receiving a compliment. It's incredibly fresh and classy, with a bit of sweetness that is so pleasant to the nose. The performance is great. The best of the ADG line by far. Armani, why do you always kill a good thing?

As an acqua di gio fan I have quite a few. This one is the latest I have added to the collection. It still has its fresh aquatic DNA making it a true acqua di gio, but as the cap would suggest, it also adds a classic woodiness to it. More mature and gentlemanly than the original. I'm ranking it 2nd in my line up, right behind Profumo.

I’m confused about the low ratings and hate on this one. I think it’s a hidden gem. Here’s how I’ll put it: it’s Hawas (which is great/ fresh/ safe and gets a ton of compliments) except costs more for higher quality. That’s how I see it. My higher quality Hawas. Safe for everything, have already gotten a ton of compliments. 9.5/10

Perfect all year wear as the price has gone down,thought it was discontinued.... Sweet and woody with just a touch of the marine vibe of the OG. A lot stronger and deeper with added notes of tonka bean and amberwood. If you are the Average Joe type and wear Chanel Bleu or Dior Sauvage mostly then do yourself a favor and try this.

I do love this, but it's a strictly "summertime" only type of scent. Quite a bit in the sweet side and melon-like, but that's very welcome in summer for me. This will probably end up in my pool bag this year. Very good pool/beach party style fragrance. 99 percent of people will definitely like how you smell wearing this.

Where did y’all get the impression that this is discontinued!? I just contacted Armani and it’s still in production. Anyways, the best summer fragrance I’ve smelled. Exudes an effortless aquatic and exotic sexiness. Projection and longevity are incredible. Nothing but compliments and questions about what I’m wearing.

This is surprisingly good. I wasn't sure if I liked it or not at first because it wasn't the normal ADG profile but after wearing it a couple times, I really got to appreciate it. I actually love it. It's a great daily wear, office, school, family night, basically anything for a middle aged white guy like myself.

I've been wearing this at work lately and it is a proper head turner. Not overpowering, but just strong enough that it arrives a second or two after you do. So sad it's been discontinued so purchases are going to increase in values, I may have to look at dupe brands to keep me smelling even close to this good.

This stuff is amazing. Masculine, mature, overall a gorgeous scent and compliment magnet. You will have haters and you will have lovers of course, but to me, I love it. If you're a fan of the original profondo dna but with just a slightly more woodier, amber scent profile, Id say definitely go for it.

I will say that the opening wasn't my favorite at first. But really enjoy the drydown... after wearing it a couple times it's definitely grown on me. I can smell this on my shirt 12 hours later, on skin I still had a nice scent bubble first 5 hours and sat close to skin around 9 hours after spraying.

This is one of the most versatile fragrance among my collection. Lasts about 8-10 hours easily on me and projects really good in first 2-3 hours. I don’t know why it is hated the most among the fragrance community as it resembles of Invictus but in my opinion it smells much better than it.

Don't really understand the hate it gets! This one is much better than the colognes it gets compared to like hawas and Invictus Aqua. This one is much refined than Invictus Aqua and Hawas and is definitely an underrated one in the line. You should totally get this one if you can.

My favorite ADG and my favorite all time fragrance. Everyone talks about its “bubblegumy” sweet scent but no one talks about how beautifully the woody notes complement it, to my nose it’s more woody than sweet or fresh. One of the most versatile scents, can’t go wrong with it.

My favorite all time daily driver. I'm one of the guys buying this when it comes up. I have plenty now, and wear it often. My wife's favorite Aqua Di Gio. Sweet woodiness is what I like in this. I understand it's not everyone's thing, but people will tell you, you smell nice.