Acqua di Giò has been the smell of summer since 1996. Sea notes, bergamot and rosemary over a clean woody base. It is the easiest compliment in perfumery and it suits our heat better than almost anything else on the shelf.
The range has grown. Profumo added incense. Profondo went deeper and more mineral. The dupes follow the flankers, so each card says which version it copies.
The best Acqua di Giò alternatives share these key notes:
| Fragrance | Brand | Price | Match | Longevity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acqua di Giò (original) | Giorgio Armani | R2 000 | — | — |
| Tres Nuit Lyric | Armaf | R599 | 82% | 4-6 hours |
| Jorge di Profumo | Maison Alhambra | R350 | 85% | 4-6 hours |
| Jorge di Profondo | Maison Alhambra | R350 | 75% | 2-3 hours |
Copies Acqua di Giò Profondo. Watery bergamot, rosemary and cypress. Reviewers put it at 85 to 90% of Profondo, a little less mineral and a little more powdery. Some noses pick up a muddy note up close on a fresh bottle. It clears with a few weeks of airing.
Copies Acqua di Giò Profumo. Sits between the original and Profumo — citrus, lavender and vetiver, with less incense than Armani's. Reviewers call it near-identical in the air. It needs 6 to 8 sprays to perform.
Copies Acqua di Giò Profondo. The right aquatic-mineral shape and the weakest performer on this page. Most wearers get 2 to 3 hours before it is a skin scent. Fine for a gym bag. Not for a full day.
Looking for the original? View all Giorgio Armani fragrances in our database, or explore our full collection of 530+ perfumes.
Armaf Tres Nuit Lyric at R599 if you like Profondo. Maison Alhambra Jorge di Profumo at R350 if you want the classic Profumo style.
Around R2 000 for 100ml at the major retailers. The dupes here run from R350 to R599.
No. Aquatics fade fast at any price and the dupes fade faster. Expect 4 to 6 hours from the best of them.