Affordable Luxury
"Celebrity" scents are always a bit of a gamble, but Shaq usually delivers, whether it's backboards or bottles. Honestly, finding a fragrance that passes the "wife and daughter test" is the ultimate win. If they're on board, you've definitely found a keeper for the rotation, which I did. That "fraîche" citrus and bergamot and some black pepper opening is a classic crowd-pleaser for a reason; it's clean, energetic, and hard to dislike. I really don't understand why people hate this fragrance. I mean, go try it out for yourselves and see, this thing punches way above its price point. You'd expect to pay, I don't know, maybe $150 for scents like this. It's not a bad fragrance; it deserves a shot. Stop hating on it, go put your nose on it. The dry down is pretty nice on this thing too, it has some solid base notes like sandalwood or musk that give it that "pretty good" depth.
Sometimes we overthink because it's not high-end perfumery. If it smells good and the family likes it, it's doing its job.
Post-Gym Funk in a Bottle
I really don’t get the obsession with this DNA. After hearing the fragrance community rave about how Lattafa Suqraat brought the legendary Acqua di Giò Profumo back from the dead, I had to try it. If this is what everyone was mourning, I think it should have stayed buried.
I’m a huge fan of the original Acqua di Giò. The OG is a masterpiece because it’s clean, airy, and smells like a fresh Mediterranean breeze. But this? To my nose, this is just a musty mess. Instead of smelling "deep" or "masculine," it smells like a group of guys who just finished a heavy gym session and tried to cover it up with an old-school herbal spray.
There is a damp, heavy quality here likely the mix of incense and patchouli that feels dated and "sweaty" rather than fresh. It lacks all the transparency and "sparkle" that makes the original ADG so good. If you want to smell like a damp locker room, the hype is real. But if you actually want to smell clean and pleasant, stick to the original or move on to something modern like Profondo.
Don't believe the hype if you hate "musty" scents"
Fresh Citrus Meets Buttery Caramel Tonka
Honestly, I don’t know why people keep calling this a woody or green scent just because of the bottle. I just picked this up and the "bait and switch" is real. When you first spray it, you definitely get a hit of fresh citrus and some sage, but that only lasts a few minutes.
The real star here is the dry down. It turns into this thick, buttery caramel and tonka bean vibe that reminds me a ton of JPG Scandal. It’s not a 1-1 clone by any means, this fragrance it has its own character and for the price point? It punches way above its weight class. It’s sweet, it’s loud, and it’s a total compliment getter. If you're expecting a forest, you'll be disappointed, but if you want a high quality gourmand on a budget, this is a steal. Perfect for a night out.
I would rate this a 9/10
Better With Age: A Non-Snob’s Review
Disclaimer:
I’m not a professional influencer or a "fragrance snob." I’m just someone who loves fragrances and fell for the hype on this one. This is my honest experience as a regular guy.
The Initial Letdown
I’ll be honest:
when I first got this, I hated it. I had seen every influencer hyping it up, and since I love the DNA that this is inspired by, I jumped the gun and bought it for $27 at a discounter. Which isn't a bad price compared to the inspired by price.
When it arrived, it was a massive disappointment. The opening was harsh, synthetic, and smelled exactly like a bad lemon floor cleaner. It actually messed with my sinuses and was genuinely unpleasant to wear. Gave me headache I was ready to get rid of it and felt like I’d been tricked by the hype and the influencers hyping this up.
But I came across a bunch of reddit posts and others said to let it sit for awhile.
The "Miracle" of Letting it Sit
Before giving up, I sprayed it about 15–20 times and let some air into the bottle, then I tucked it back in its box for about a month.
I recently pulled it out to give it one last chance before decluttering it, and I was shocked. The transformation is real.
The Opening: That "lemon pledge" chemical blast has calmed down significantly. It’s much smoother now and resembles that famous DNA way more than it did on day one.
Performance: This stuff is still a beast. It’s easily a 7+ hour fragrance.
Projection: It’s very potent. It takes about 30+ minutes to really settle into the dry down, so you have to be careful with the sprays.
The Verdict
I do wish the pineapple note was louder; for me, it’s very subtle and light. I’m still on the hunt for a version with a juicier fruit note, as there are other houses that do "better" interpretations of this scent profile.
However, for $27 out the door, you really can’t complain about the value here.
Once you get past the initial "new bottle" harshness, it’s a very solid, high-performing fragrance.
Final Advice:
If you just bought this and hate it, don't throw it away! Spray it a bunch, put it in a dark closet for a month, and come back to it. You might be as surprised as I was.
A Budget Gem with Dior Homme Intense Vibes
Was recommended by someone and ordered this since it wasn't to expensive and I like dior homme intense. This thing opens with a fresh mix of bergamot, lavender, and sage. The opening projection is moderate not to strong but then the Then cacao, soft leather, and orris add a smooth, powdery touch that feels similar to Dior Homme and mix Homme Intense. It dries down to patchouli, cedarwood, and vetiver,this is strong at first but subtle and easy to wear. Definitely recommend .
