Giorgio Armani - Acqua di Gio (1996)

"The ones produced in the last 5-6 years are surely worse in quality, feeling a bit synthetic and unsatisfactory products.."
 

Surely there isn't much people who don't know Gio yet. But I wanted to write a review of it nevertheless. It's a well known aromatic fresh type aquatic fragrance, was created in 1996 by succesful nose Alberto Morillas. Acqua di Gio is one of the most popular and loved fragrances of modern fragrance history. A great success, no doubt, but it's quite outmoded nowadays.

Acqua di Gios blend consist of:

top notes:orange, lime, mandarin orange, jasmine, bergamot, lemon, neroli

middle notes: cyclamen, nutmeg, mignonette, coriander, violet, freesia, sea notes, peach, hyacinth, rose, jasmine, rosemary, calone

basenotes: amber, patchouli, oakmoss, cedar, white musk

As it is seen, this is a nice, fresh and cheerful blend. Smells like that too. To shortly describe Gio is a very light and fresh fragrance. Kinda like a fahrenheit watered down many times. In a clearer phrase it's scent can be roughly described as a very well watered down melony scent. This is mostly because of calone aldehyde. You don't gent much of the notes, not much detail, everything is blended down very stronly and smells as one scent. As it smells nice, I don't think its a special or so. A lighly/melony sweet aquatic/sea watery scent with the touch of soft lemony and jasminey notes. Quite satisfactory as summer scent, but not to be exaggerated. But this is the problem, gio is a very hyped fragrance still in most countries, but in reality it's not that special. Thereby, realize that; if you haven't tried it yet, it's a nice, light and very clean fragrance can satisfy most unexperienced fragrance users, that's all. Blend was much better in it's early years, modern copies are quite mediocre.

Now, my comment may look harsh, but this is how it is. Especially the modern versions of it, thanks to IFRA. Today, most of good natural essences can't be used as before, modern bottles of the older fragrances, which were launched in 80s or 90's are becoming worse and worse. Like musk, like oakmoss, you can't find the real essences of these anymore of todays fragrances. They try to imitate those notes and fail. In Gio's way you can't find the richness, quality, and deepness of the blend of the first bottles in 90's. Now when you buy a new fresh bottle of it, if you had known adg well before, then you will see the differences, mediocrity. It now just smell as a soft, melony, sweet aquatic. Bland. You can't sense all those aromatic notes in the middle, as you could do in 90's. There is not much is going at the opening despite all the citrus notes given. Still I cannot say it's a bad fragrance, but it became quite regular for me.  

Silage is quite good but for a very short time. It's biggest disadventage is the worse quality of the modern versions in my opinion. The ones produced in the last 5-6 years are surely worse in quality, feeling a bit synthetic and unsatisfactory products. So in summary, because of the lower quality of the modern versions, regular bland scent and being a bit cliche right now, its not a fragrance to be chosen anymore. Bad? No, but not as nice as like it was 10 years ago. The current one is just a shadow of what it used to be. And it's sad, because Gio was one of the best aquatic scents known and accepted worldwide in it's period.  If Armani had discontinued it before ruining it, it could stand as a respected cult fragrance. Not now. Still usable for inexperienced young users though.

Olfactory group: Aromatic aquatic

Scent: above average  6/10

Silage: very good  8/10

Longevity: average  5/10

Quality feel: average (modern versions)  5/10

Recommended:Yes, if you love soft aquatic fragrances and haven't tried it yet, no, if you are looking for some special product from Giorgio Armani.

Sonia Rykiel - Rykiel Homme (1999)

"despite classified as an aromatic, it has rather a fruity citrussy scent. Or maybe a fruity aromatic shall I say.."

 

Rykiel is a bit less known successful brand in the community. The Rykiel Homme fragrance I'm reviewing was launched in 1999. It's a fresh aromatic.

Rykiel Hommes blend consist of:

top notes: mandarin, yuzu, grapefruit, mint
middle notes: nutmeg, fig leaf, jasmine, violet leaf
base notes: sandalwood, vanilla, vetiver, styrax (benzoin)

Rykiel homme is a light and fresh fragrance that can be easily liked and used by anybody. Despite being classified as an aromatic, it has rather a fruity citrussy scent. Or maybe a fruity aromatic shall I say. Opens with soft citrusses and a very soft and light mint, following them nutmeg and jasmine softens the scent even more. Base notes were not distinctive on me. But with all this mix, to me, the scent has a main theme of very little violet, a bit melon and peach. At least that's how it was smelling on my skin. The blend is quite nice, homogeneous, easy going and not annoying. This is one of those fragrances that leaves a scent track behind you when you walk away. There is not much, -if any- greenness in it, and as it's quite light and velvety, so it can be easily used 4 seasons.

Silage is good but, the longevity is a tad under average. I'd suggest this to users between 16-30. With its fruity, soft and velvety scent, it can be used anytime a year and day. Can suit casual or formal situations, indoors and outdoors. Just know that, it's a gentle, soft fragrance. If you are looking for a screamer this is not the fragrance you're looking for. I can't say it's a fully mainstream or monotone fragrance but it's not a signature fragrance either.

Olfactory group: Aromatic

Scent: good  7/10

Silage: good  7/10

Longevity: under average  4/10

Quality feel: average  5/10

Recommended: Not specially recommended, but if you like soft and light fruity aromatic fragrances, then you may give this a try.

Giorgio Armani - Emporio Armani He (1998)

"I can say it's a variant of 212, except with the bitter orange notes with a duller in character.." 

 

He; also known as Lui, is one of the better fragrances Giorgio Armani had produced lately. It was launched in 1998 and a citrus aromatic type scent. Although being heavier on the woods.

Emporio Armani He's blend consist of:

top notes: pineapple, mandarin orange, apple, sage, yuzu, bergamot, cardamom, lemon

middle notes: cyclamen, nutmeg, orris root, jasmine, rose

base notes: sandalwood, tonka bean, amber, musk, oak moss, cedar

I said it's one of the better fragrances armani launched lately because, either giorgio or emporio had been launching very mediocre, even low quality synthetic fragrances, produced with economical concerns. He or Lui in this respect, a better fragrance, though not being as high quality as say an armani eau pour homme, but still close to that familiar quality of older Armani fragrances. Syntheticness is limited, not too generic. Has some problems with strong notes like sage. Those sometimes can be too dominant over the whole scent. So it's kinda a pointy blend rather that a homogeneous, smooth one. Thus blend is barely satisfactory.

How's the scent? Despite it's being a lighter fragrance, you don't get fresh and acidic scents like lemon, apple much. Rather that bitter scents of sage, nutmeg, cyclamen and orris dominates the opening at first. But no need to worry all the mix of these kinda smells like a nice black pepper tree. After some time passes, nice woody notes arise from the bottom, mellowing the scent thus making it a bit more likable. But because of the potent sage note, notes like tonka beans and flowers are being outdone. Personally I don't like strong sage note in my fragrances, as it's generally very potent and can easily dominate the whole scent. So this fragrance kinda has two characters, one wants to smells like a clean, smooth woody scent with a bit fresh citrus opening, the other with potent aromatics with the leadership of sage. I'd really like that lemon and yuzu notes to be stronger at the opening. They smell quite fresh and bright, but diminish very quickly.

In summary, scentwise I can say it's a variant of 212, except with the bitter orange notes with a duller in character. Sometimes, in cooler hours that nice lemon and yuzu notes appear clearer, then fragrance turns something more likable. But this is rare, as sage always wants to be the dominant note. I really wish this fragrance would be produced more dampy, with stronger citrus, pepper and moss notes. Then it could be a really successful one. Still, not too bad as it is, but just a mediocre, modern woody scent.

Silage and longevity are both good. I'd suggest this to users between 18-22. With its peppery, slightly darker woody but not heavy character it can be used anytime in the year. Both indoors or outdoors. I suggest using in second half of the day, especially night time. Maybe in clubs or so.

Olfactory group: Citrus Aromatic

Scent: good  7/10

Silage: good  7/10

Longevity: good  7/10

Quality feel: average  5/10

Recommended: Not so much, as there are much better balanced fragrances out there in the same style. But if you can keep your expectations low, you can give it a try.