My instinct told me: "You absolutely have to have this!". My head said: "Is this really what distinguishes Acqua di Gio?".
I longed for Armani's Acqua di Gio Absolu Instinct after watching numerous videos from American perfume YouTubers. The initial impressions and tests back then were all positive, so my expectations for this release were correspondingly high. Dark woody notes paired with the AdG DNA was mentioned in the videos more or less - that sounds like a fragrance for the evening. Ultimately, I also see it as an evening scent for cooler days.
The bottle is really beautifully designed, next to the Profumo bottle, it is the most elegant for me, especially the golden lettering on dark brown glass.
The opening is really good citrusy, in my nose a hint more mandarin/orange than lemon. Honestly, I find the opening of Absolu Instinct the best among all AdG perfumes. I just wish that these citrus fruits lasted longer; more than 5 minutes is not in the cards.
Quickly, a subtle sweetness with a woody character joins in. It may smell a bit synthetic but is definitely mass-appealing. "Ebony" is mentioned in the base. Whether it really is ebony, I will leave open. I don’t have comparisons with other fragrances containing ebony, and I’m not familiar enough with the various wood types to distinguish them all individually. The dry down is darker and more mature than its predecessor and I like it very much despite its straightforwardness!
Now the question remains: Has Armani done himself a favor by expanding his Acqua di Gio line with Absolu Instinct? With the predecessor Absolu, they already launched a product extension that aims to attract a broader customer base with its sweet-woody character. Absolu Instinct continues this but, in my opinion, is more refined and elegant. And still, I’m not really sure if the word "Acqua" fits so well. Both Absolus are not aquatic-fresh enough for me. I miss the maritime classic AdG DNA. It only flashes briefly at the opening. I really hope for Armani that they don’t overdo it with (potential) future product extensions of their Acqua di Gio line, otherwise, I fear the AdG line will soon be exhausted.
The longevity of the perfume was about 8 hours at room temperature, and in the warmth outside, rather around 5.5 hours. The sillage is unfortunately a bit restrained; it could be stronger.
I am not surprised by the better ratings compared to the predecessor Absolu. However, I consider the predecessor to be rated too poorly. But tastes are particularly subjective, especially when it comes to perfumes!
I would definitely recommend testing it, as I believe most people will like it.
