StevK

Armani Code has always interested me. Pretty much the most famous perfume line and by no means one-sided. From Armani Code Colonia for the warm season to Armani Code A-List as an all-rounder to the newer Armani Code Profumo for the noisy youthful chatacter, everything is included! But none of them really knocked me off my feet and even the original I found a bit too replaceable. When last year this fragrance was released, I was very curious to see how it would perform.
But first of all, where does the Armani Code Absolu even exist?
To be honest, he's better prof... i know of a bold statement that I'm probably treading on some people's toes with, but let me explain it:
He has the unmistakable sweet presence of the Profumo and thus gives off a loud youthful masculinity that fits perfectly into the club and causes a sensation there. But much more important for me is the difference that results from a better balanced tonka and that is nicely surrounded by a lively fruitiness. This does not make the fragrance seem as linear as I felt with the Profumo, but in my opinion makes ACA more exciting and gives it much more room to unfold. In addition, he makes a more "grown-up", means more experienced impression, which makes him much more suitable for everyday life besides his role as for me still bombastic party scent.
But by far the hottest thing I find is the quality the fragrance displays. It's a designer fragrance no question, but the notes are neatly balanced and don't smell as synthetic as I'm often used to, especially when I read "apple" in Pyramid. Whoever knows Yves Saint Laurent Y EdP should know what I mean! The apple top note in YSL Y smells anything but natural and not that I have a problem with it, but there I find the smell very unpleasant especially when worn for a long time. Another perhaps less common example would be Gisada's Ambassador for Men.
I wouldn't say that the apple in Code Absolu smells natural, but it comes much closer than I'm used to.

All in all I can only say that Armani Code Absolu is the first fragrance in the line that I REALLY like. I wouldn't say I love him, but I'm sure I will. Which I can say for sure: Never before has a fragrance brought me compliments so quickly. Already on the first day I wore it (by the way, on the way to the club) I was told that I didn't save any money, but I smell good. And surprisingly, in the queue in front of the club, another one after it. Well, he certainly mastered that point! So if you are looking for a perfume that fits into the colder season, can be worn during the day and at night, has a certain "uniqueness factor" with compliment potential and also performs above average to prove itself as a "fun scent", you should definitely consider Armani Code Absolu!

Unfortunately my nose is not yet trained enough to smell and describe every single scent, but at least I want to convey the effect of the scent as good as possible! I hope that the commentary was quite good and that I could bring it closer to you :)

To answer the question briefly and succinctly: No way!
I smelled Creed Aventus for the first time only 2 months ago and got a sample and was damned impressed by the smell! I was really carried away. Wearable all year round and everywhere and that packed in a fruity, masculine and clean natural smelling fragrance. For me even if I do not yet own it one of my absolute favorite fragrances regardless of how widespread it is
However, it is now known that every second fragrance is felt to be a clone of Creed Aventus or very strongly inspired by him. So I was wondering if there is anything that comes very close to that but might even save me 200 quid... yes yes I know you should get the original and not a cheap copy, even if you want to smell like the original And up until a certain point, I understand that. However, after 10 years on the market, the fragrance loses its originality, which is a pity, but it is increasingly difficult to justify such a price. Everyone has to decide for himself... anyway, this is about Armaf's Club de Nuit Intense and it definitely belongs to the fragrances inspired by Creed Aventus, but...

Club de Nuit Intense is NOT Creed Aventus and as many have said, you notice that especially in the opening. The citrus note comes out much too strong and more importantly, much too synthetically pungent and in my nose very badly balanced compared to the other notes. This is what immediately stands out and, according to my experience, is also permanently preserved. After some time this arrogant citrus evaporates, but is still perceptible and the main point of the CdN does not make the perfect Creed Aventus clone. In dry down, the fragrance also appears sharper and heavier than Aventus, which I personally wouldn't consider to be generally negative, but on the other hand it doesn't make me love it anymore. Where the scent surprised me positively was with the pineapple note, which I found to be very naturally fruity, even though the lemon never really brings it to the fore.

Now all this doesn't sound as rosy as I describe it, but that is grumbling on a high level. In terms of price they are in a ratio of 1 : 6 compared to what you can clearly see but to get away from the comparison a little bit...

Club de Nuit Intense is NOT A BAD SUMMER. With its fresh fruitiness it fits perfectly into spring and autumn. For the summer I find it too penetrating and for the winter there are much better competitors, even on a fruity basis. For collections that should generally not be too large and also not too expensive, he makes a good job and can be considered.

Nevertheless, he only strengthened me in the thought that sooner or later I MUST get the original ;)
I hope that the commentary is not too one-sided, even if these are the main thoughts that have stuck in my head, and I hope that I could help some of them to some extent

I was looking for a fragrance for the winter, which perfectly reflects the season with a concise yet beautifully rounded sweetness, provides for conversation at evenings out and can accompany me gracefully yet dominantly throughout the day.
I found him in the TF Noir Extreme! ... Or?

Sweet, creamy, vanilla is the good one, especially the first application. It shows itself immediately from its best side, smells delicious and attractive. It is by no means "over-sweetened" and this does not take the upper hand at any time, but allows the interplay with a definitely profound, yet perceptible fruitiness.

Once it begins to breathe properly in the air, it takes on elegant and slightly powdery nuances that give it a graceful fragrance character. It changes... the fruitiness remains, but is muffled by an uplifting smoky chord that I know all too well from the original. The woody, spicy notes shine out more and more and further dampen the sweetness. Here he shows his best side, becomes darker and heavier, and lives up to his name. This is exactly what really sets him apart from his competitors.

But that's the end of it, I'm afraid. way too fast... way too fast. "Hey, what do you think of that smell?" "Wow, great, but it's kind of lame, right?" It made me look stupid: Is it my skin? Me them too dry? Now in the cold certainly not the best, but the other fragrances work too! Could it be a fake? I can hardly imagine with my trusted dealer.
So what is it? Reformulated? I can't figure it out. But as good as he smells, he is as weak from my skin as he is from paper. Tested in 4 other shops and everywhere the same result: Smells fantastic but only if I stick to my skin with my nose :/
If I love him very much, he doesn't return the love and sends me directly to the Friendzone!

An honestly delicious and exciting fragrance that I was willing to pay more money for if it would deliver. Now he is there and I am just disappointed and don't even understand where the mistake lies!
I use it, but each time with the knowledge that it does not project for 15 minutes and after no 2 hours it just sits completely on the skin