Armani Cologne has notes that are hard to ignore and satisfying to behold. The colognes in my collection allow me to stand out without bringing too much attention to myself. How does Armani do it? I will give you the best Armani colognes to get you started and share my top-secret tips on cologne etiquette for the best outcome.
While searching for the killer fragrance, I encountered certain memorable colognes. My favorite scent is the Acqua Di Gio profondo, refined to my liking with a delicate balance of exotic notes. My next go-to cologne is the Acqua Di Gio Absolu, which is inviting and sophisticated. Stronger With You keeps me smelling good during winter and colder nights, keeping my charm consistent.
Welcome to my Giorgio Armani ultimate cologne collection.
Best Giorgio Armani Cologne for Men
1) Acqua di Gio Eau De Toilette– Best Giorgio Armani Cologne for Summer
- This item is not a Tester
- Packaging may slightly vary
- Beauty product
The Acqua Di Gio profondo is a refined, elegant, classic cologne that has become the quintessential Armani cologne. The cologne has an alluring fragrance with a crisp and lively aquatic splash, filled with a woody, marine freshness.
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The Acqua Di Gio Eau De Toilette is a limited edition cologne, which is why I prefer it because it makes me stand out. The cologne is pure, sensual, exotic, and stimulating, combining just the things I love.
2) Acqua Di Gio Absolu
- A refined cologne for men combining fresh aquatics with the ambery wood scent of patchouli
- Crisp, sweet, spicy, creamy, sophisticated & inviting
- Top notes are fruity accord, bergamot & sea tones
- Middle notes are geranium, lavender & rosemary
- Base notes are patchouli, woody accord, labdanum & tonka bean
Acqua Di Gio Absolu is a 110ml of crispness and sweetness as a cologne. The cologne is inviting and sophisticated, with fruity top notes and woody base notes. The middle notes are made of rosemary, geranium, and lavender.
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Giorgio Armani Absolu is a one-of-a-kind cologne that has me covered for spring or summer. I can keep the cologne until next summer without losing its potency.
3) Stronger With You – Best Giorgio Armani Cologne for Winter
- Top Note: Pink Pepper Middle Note: Sage Base Note: Cedarwood.
- 3.4 oz Eau de Toilette Spray
- Giorgio Armani
- Apply on pulse point: wrist, inner elbow and neck
Stronger With You has pink pepper as its first note, meaning you will love it from the first few minutes of application. A sage middle note transitions you to a cedarwood that grounds the fragrance for hours on end. The cologne further has a violet leaf fragrance, making it an exciting option to warm up the cold winter days.
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Stronger with you has an aromatic heart that radiates from the pulse points to the rest of the body.
4) Armani Code Eau de Toilette – Best Giorgio Armani Cologne for Date Night
- Fragrance Family: Amber Woody
- Scent Type: Citrus & Woods
- Top Note: Olive Flower
- Middle Note: Guaiac Wood
- Bottom Note: Tonka Bean
Whenever I want to feel charismatic and in control, the Armani Code Eau de Toilette is the cologne I will grab. The cologne has a mysterious and irresistible feel and a modern vibe that is great for a first impression.
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The Armani Code Eau de Toilette has memorable notes, including bergamot, lemon, olive tree blossom, Tonka bean, and guaiac wood base notes.
5) Emporio Armani Diamonds
- Bergamot And Guaiac Wood
- Vetiver, Cedar And Sichuan Pepper
- Cacao And Amber
- Product Packaging May Vary
- Packaging for this product may vary from that shown in the image above
Emporio Armani Diamonds is an Eau de Toilette great for everyday wear because of its well-thought-out notes. The cologne has bergamot and guaiac wood as parts of its first notes and robust second and base notes that will make you unforgettable with everyone you interact with. The cologne is affordable and sustainable for daily use.
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Things to Consider When Choosing the Right Cologne
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a) Understand the Families
If you want to wear Giorgio Armani colognes, knowing about cologne families is vital. Knowing the different families gives you the confidence to wear the right cologne depending on the outcome you want to achieve. I will break down the different cologne families to help you choose from the many options presented to you.
Scents belong to the following main families;
- Fresh scent
- Woody notes
- Spicy/ Oriental scents
- Floral notes
- Citrus notes
- Aromatic scent
- Gourmand
- Chypre notes
- Leather scents
i) Fresh Scents
Fresh scents from aquatic and citrus notes bring a vibrant vibe. I want you to picture a leafy scene with basil, lavender leaves and perhaps bergamot. Now imagine this field leading to an Italian cliff with a view of Lake Garda on a clear sky day with a slight breeze. That is the energy you ooze when wearing a fresh cologne.
ii) Woody Scent
Whenever I am in calm spirits and reminiscent of days when I enjoy siestas more, I go for a woody scent. Woody colognes include sandalwood, oakmoss, vetiver, cedarwood, and more woods and have an earthy or smoky scent. I like using woody-scented colognes as an aftershave, but they can work for an easy evening when I need not bring too much attention to myself.
Oriental Scent
Wearing a spicy scent is like standing in front of a Jean Léon Gérôme painting, or better yet, posing for it. An oriental fragrance has warm and sensual exotic spices. You can expect fragrances like vanilla, patchouli, cinnamon, amber, and other spices. Other oriental scents include an orange blossom, cardamom, jasmine, orchid, and other interesting notes.
Oriental scents are more luxurious and range from floral notes to woody or soft oriental scents.
iii) Floral Notes
Floral notes are the fragrance you would give if you were Heliogabalus' rose flower supplier. The scent has fragrances based on different flowers, including lilies, roses, jasmine, iris, and lavender. Floral notes can range from very subtle and delicate to strong and bright. This range makes the floral notes one of the most popular and explored perfumes. If you know what jasmine smells like, you will agree with me.
iv) Citrus Notes
If a Mediterranean spirit existed, it would probably wear a citrus cologne. Citrus colognes contain lemons, grapes, lime, oranges, bergamot, and grapefruit. These scents are warm and light, great for warm weather days.
v) Aromatic Scent
An aromatic scent is what I will wear to a wedding or a Saturday afternoon tennis match because of the fresh and clean vibe it gives. The aromatic scent consists of herbs, aromatic plants, and spices. The fragrances are those of plants like lavender, basil, sage, and rosemary, among other fresh ingredients.
vi) Gourmand
My girlfriend calls me a snack because of my gourmand collection. The fragrance contains edible scents like caramel, chocolate, vanilla, coffee, and other delicacies.
vii) Chypre Notes
Chypre is timeless and combines woody, citrus, and mossy notes to create a sophisticated mix. Ingredients in a Chypre cologne include bergamot, labdanum, oakmoss, and patchouli.
viii) Leather Fragrance
Leather scents give a suede and leather feel mixed with floral, smoky, spicy, and earthy tones.
To understand the fragrance families more, you need to be familiar with the fragrance wheel that visually represents how the fragrances relate and helps you know where to place fragrances like the marine notes.
Below is an example of a fragrance wheel.
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More Things to Consider when Buying a Cologne
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1) Occasion
Wearing strong scents to official appointments may seem slightly out of place compared to wearing softer and better-grounded scents. Conversely, wearing a non-memorable cologne to a first date will not do justice to your efforts. I try to know where I am and what to wear to make the most out of my colognes.
Please note that wearing cologne is not only for occasions. I wear colognes in the house, too, and when I do so, I try to go for the softest and freshest ones in my collection.
2) Budget
You can buy the most expensive cologne. However, budget becomes a consideration when you have to buy multiple colognes to make a complete set or appropriate options for different occasions. Generally, perfumes are more expensive than colognes, and you will not spend too much compared to your female counterparts.
A good place to start is to have colognes for three general occasions. The first is for daily use, like work, which you would consider your signature scent. The other cologne would be for special occasions, and the last one is for home use when you need to feel different and escape the daily hassle.
3) Male, Female and Unisex
I have colognes that I can share with my girlfriend because they are unisex. However, some colognes with a more masculine fragrance are inappropriate for a female. Consider whether the cologne you are getting will suit your energy.
4) Capacity
The cologne I use daily will not be as much as those I use on special occasions. Furthermore, I get exotic colognes from dealers who have to measure the capacity down to drops. The best Giorgio Armani colognes are in sizeable bottles and generous capacities.
5) Allergies
I have a hard time with strong perfumes and colognes. If the immediate people around you have allergies, you can opt for softer colognes. It would be a waste to use a lot of money to buy cologne you will not use.
6) Cologne Type
Other than the families I discussed above, there are types of colognes based on their strengths that you should know. Here are the different cologne concentrations;
a) Eau de Parfum
The strongest cologne you can find, with concentrations between 15% and 20%. Also called EPD, the perfume is the highest in the category for men. Note that women's perfumes have a higher concentration than this.
The EPD cologne lasts about 6 hours and requires reapplication after 4 hours.
b) Eau de Toilette
Also referred to as EDT, the colognes in this category have a concentration ranging from 10% to 15% and are subtler than EDP. I do not go below the EDT when buying my colognes.
c) Eau de Cologne
Known as EDC, this category is between 3% and 8%. These concentrations are too low and will not last up to 4 hours.
d) Aftershave/ Splash
These are colognes with the weakest scent of between 1% and 3% and are used after a shave when you do not necessarily want to wear a cologne.
Tips When Applying a Cologne for Men
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i) Know the Cologne Points
When applying the cologne, there are certain spots on your body where you need to focus on the cologne to get the best out of it. Here are the cologne points, also known as pulse points;
1) Neck and Base of Throat
If you are going out for a date, you know the wonders this cologne point will do for a lasting impression. The neck area is one of the mandatory cologne points for me. Furthermore, the neck area is warm, helping disperse the cologne better.
2) Wrist
With Armani fragrances on your wrist, everything you touch will turn to gold. Remember to avoid rubbing your wrists together, as this might alter the versatile scent of your cologne.
3) Chest
Most people will experience your cologne, even without close contact in the chest area below the neckline.
4) Behind the Ears
This spot is a must when applying cologne. If you have a seductive scent, here is where it goes.
5) Back of Knees
Applying the cologne at the back of the knees helps it radiate to other lower body parts.
6) Ankles and Calves
Applying cologne around the ankles and calves is great for my days off.
7) Inner Elbow
The inner elbow emits heat and helps transfer the cologne to the upper and lower arms.
ii) Test on Skin, Not Paper
We are often tempted not to try the perfume on our skin when testing. However, that is the best place to try on the perfume. When testing the perfume on your wrist, you will see what the cologne will smell on you.
iii) Less is More
You are a man, and you need to hold back on things such as fragrances and colors. There is a reason why cologne for men ends at 20% while parfum for women starts at 20% concentration. Furthermore, you do not want to bring too much attention to yourself through the scent. Being manly has other attributes, such as how you dress, your killer shave, your wise and contained words, and your grounded yet easy movement. You do not want the cologne to shadow all this if you have the Armani code collection with options that will give you a masculine scent.
iv) Avoid Applying Cologne on Your Clothes
Cologne and perfumes are made of ingredients and parts that may contain oils and alcohol. Such substances can damage the fabric and lead to staining.
v) Know the Occasion
If you are going for a date night, you can experiment with a stronger scent. However, whenever I go out with my girlfriend, I must let her have the stronger scent. Sometimes, I avoid wearing one because hers will naturally rub onto me. I would not want a cocktail of different fragrances being all over the place.
I maintain mild scents for office days.
vi) Seasonal Colognes
The cologne I will use during winter differs from the one during summertime. I will go for the warm spices during winter and the olive blossom and citrus options for summer and warmer seasons.
vii) Allow for Scent Development
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The cologne is made of different parts and ingredients. When you apply cologne, some parts will present immediately, and some will take time. Using a scent pyramid is the best way to know how your cologne will behave. The scent pyramid is made of three parts;
- The top notes- Smell felt immediately after you apply cologne. Often made up of citrus ingredients like lemon, bergamot, green mandarin, pineapples, nutmeg spice, coriander, and more.
- Middle notes- Emerge after the harsh and unpleasant top notes have dissipated and are made of ingredients such as thyme, sage, cassis, ginger, star anise, lavender, honey, cinnamon, cloves, and more.
- Base notes- These notes are the fragrance parts that last longer and are the theme scents of the cologne. The notes can include tobacco, amber, patchouli, woody scents, vanilla, tonka bean, vetiver, oud, Olibanum, and more.
viii) Respray After 4 Hours
How long will the scent last on your skin? I have the best Armani colognes and know I must reapply after four hours. While most colognes will continue to last longer, I know the scent disappears after six hours.
ix) Apply on Clean, Dry Skin
This does not mean that you should not apply oil on your skin when preparing. You are good to go as long as you are clean and your skin has no water on it.
x) Buy Sample Size Online
You do not want to be stuck with a lot of cologne you do not like. Most colognes sell sample sizes online if you cannot access the cologne to test it. Buy the sample size before settling on one.
xi) Trust Your Nose
If you do not like a scent, do not buy it.
xii) Buy in Small Quantities
I carry my cologne for the day in my car or briefcase. Therefore, it has to be appropriate in size.
xiii) Proper Storage
Keep the cologne in a dark, cool place and nowhere near direct sunlight.
xiv) Proper Application
Avoid misting when applying cologne. Misting is one technique I see most people doing, yet it is wrong because it does not pay attention to the pulse points when applying the cologne. Avoid dabbing the cologne and then applying it as it interferes with the delicate structure of the cologne.
xv) When Buying Cologne in a Mall
When buying cologne in a mall, it is tempting to spray it on your wrist to test it and see whether it smells good. However, earlier, we learned about the fragrance pyramid and saw that it takes time to show certain scents. Therefore, when shopping in a mall, practice patience and walk around to let the cologne reveal itself. I do this even with the best Armani cologne.
Frequently Asked Questions About Giorgio Armani Cologne
1) Which Giorgio Armani is best for men?
Aqua Di Gio Eau de Toilette is a highly-reviewed cologne with a robust and unique fragrance. The cologne is a limited edition product with natural and authentic woody, marine freshness.
2) Does Giorgio Armani Smell Good?
Armani colognes use exotic and unique fragrances in their products, making them one of a kind. The best thing about the colognes is how distinctive the notes are, with a clear separation between the top and base notes.
3) How long does Giorgio Armani last?
Like any other cologne or perfume, Giorgio Armani colognes will last between 2 and 6 hours, with an additional spray needed after 6 hours to keep a consistent scent.
Final Thoughts
From zesty marine fragrance to salty marine notes, Giorgio Armani colognes never go wrong for any man who wants to leave a good impression. The Italian fashion house has mastered creating a versatile fragrance for each product. The creativity in the opening notes to the base notes makes Armani cologne the most inviting blend you will encounter.
