Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gio Profondo
The original Acqua di Gio grew up, ditched the beach towel, and went deep-sea diving. Aquatic freshness with genuine depth — this is the one for blokes who've outgrown the original.
★★★★½ 4.4 / 5
The original Acqua di Gio grew up, ditched the beach towel, and went deep-sea diving. Aquatic freshness with genuine depth — this is the one for blokes who've outgrown the original.
Acqua di Gio Profondo launched in 2020 as the "deeper" sibling in the AdG lineup — and it genuinely delivers on that promise. Where the original is a breezy Mediterranean afternoon, Profondo is that same coast at dusk. Deeper blue, cooler air, a bit more going on beneath the surface.
The opening hits you with green mandarin and aquatic notes — fresh and ozonic, but not in that "I've just mopped the floor" way some aquatics have. There's a mineral edge, almost like wet rock, that gives it a natural feel. After 20 minutes or so, it settles into a gorgeous heart of rosemary, lavender, and cypress. This is where Profondo separates itself from the original — there's a herbal, almost aromatic quality that adds real complexity.
The dry-down is the star, though. Patchouli, musk, incense, and amber create a warm, slightly woody base that sticks around for hours. It's still recognisably an Acqua di Gio — you're not going to confuse anyone — but it's got layers the original never had.
Profondo is for the bloke who liked the original but felt he'd outgrown it. It's more sophisticated, more office-appropriate, and less likely to remind people of every lad on a Malia strip in 2005. That said, it's still very much a crowd-pleaser — no one's going to object to this in any setting.
It works year-round, which is a massive selling point. The freshness makes it bang-on for spring and summer, but the amber and patchouli base gives it enough weight for cooler months too. Properly versatile.
As an Eau de Parfum, Profondo has a clear edge over the original EDT in terms of staying power. You're looking at 6 to 8 hours on skin, with the base notes lingering on clothes even longer. Projection is moderate — it's not going to fill a room like Sauvage, but people within arm's reach will absolutely notice it.
For the first couple of hours, it projects nicely. After that, it pulls in closer and becomes more of a skin scent. That's not a criticism — it means you can wear it to work without gassing out your desk neighbours, and your date can still catch it when they lean in. Win-win.
At around £97 for 125ml, it's mid-range designer pricing. Not cheap, but you're getting a genuinely well-constructed fragrance that competes with bottles costing twice as much. The 75ml runs about £72 if you want to try before committing to the big bottle.
In the aquatic fragrance space, Profondo sits between the original Acqua di Gio (lighter, more casual) and Acqua di Gio Profumo (darker, more intense). If the original is a 3/10 on the depth scale and Profumo is a 7, Profondo's sitting at about a 5 — the sweet spot for most people.
Against competitors: Bleu de Chanel is drier and more citrusy. Dior Sauvage is louder and more peppery. Versace Dylan Blue is sweeter and cheaper. Profondo is the most refined of the lot — the one you'd pick when you want to smell expensive without shouting about it.
Acqua di Gio Profondo is quietly brilliant. It takes everything people loved about the original — that clean, aquatic DNA — and adds genuine depth and longevity. It's the kind of fragrance that makes people lean in rather than step back. Perfect everyday scent, excellent for the office, and enough character for a date night. If you want one bottle that does everything, this is a seriously strong contender.