Armani Code Colonia by Giorgio Armani

Salvia, banana, and pink pepper at the start. It’s a bizarre plastic-fruit sensation but executed brilliantly. The dry-down is sweet yet not heavy. Quite good for its uniqueness and decent longevity for such a fresh scent. I wouldn’t recommend it because you’ll fall in love with it and then it will be discontinued. Despite that, it’s very good.

The DNA of the original Code is clearly there, but the Cologne is different. The balsamic and spicy accords are balanced, with a heliotrope giving it a notable talc-like touch. While the original is sensual for night, this is sweet and fresh for day. Its key is the persistence and the sweet-amber contrast. I wished the bergamot freshness lasted longer, but on my skin it lasts 6-7 hours. Ideal for a well-dressed, elegant man. If you like the Code, it’s a safe bet, much better than the absurd resale prices. PS: It carries the name Cologne but is really an EDT.

White floral, citrusy, and sweet, without being cloying. A generic proposal, fitting the line of a Lacoste Blanc, yet not synthetic.

A total discovery for me. An absolute wonder without holding back. A fragrance with the DNA of Armani Code boosted by a fresh, citrusy touch that turns it into an elegant, subtle, and clean juice. This is class, sobriety, and seduction on all sides; women love it. It adds fantastic performance: projects clearly for 3 hours and lasts over 8 hours without effort. Ideal all year round except extreme heat for that small touch of sweetness. If you have the chance, don’t hesitate. Armani Code Cologne is one of those undervalued perfumes because it’s a bit away from the masses.

I bought it this afternoon after testing it several times. It reminds me a lot of the original Code but is a few points fresher, ideal for summer nights rather than day, though that’s relative. I was surprised that the longevity seems like an EDP and not an EDT. I would buy it again when these 125ml run out.

Not particularly spectacular. It smells citrusy with a mentholated, spicy twist, yet very clean, almost soapy. It’s super fresh; I think that blend of soft menthol, banana, pepper, and soap is what makes it special. There’s not much more to say. Scent: 7.5/10. Longevity: 6/10. Projection: 4/10. Sillage: 5/10. Value for money: 5/10. Blind buy: 6.5/10. Season: warm climates/summer.

After trying it over several days and at different times… here’s my verdict. Opening: Citrusy and potent, with a bergamot that takes the lead and a background pepper giving it a spicy touch; for me, this is a success because, being a summer scent, it needs a strong opening projection. Heart: A white floral note becomes clear, namely neroli and salicylate, which give a distinct twist to the ripe fruit like banana, yet blend well with the base of tonka bean. Base: Perfect sweet notes between tonka bean and heliotrope, giving it a powdery floral touch that’s very noticeable on summer nights. For me, it’s exactly what I was looking for: a summer perfume that lasts into the evening and fits any occasion without being intrusive, suitable for both formal and informal settings. Code Colonia brings it all together, though it can be a bit heavy for daytime activities.

Wow! This is the only one in my collection that my girlfriend absolutely loves. On my skin, it lasts seven hours and projects like a bomb in summer, so I’d recommend a maximum of four sprays during this season. For spring, six sprays are ideal, especially for formal or semi-formal events; it leaves an incredible and striking trail. I’ve received so many compliments, so it truly deserves the ten.

I’m a fan of the Code line and this flanker also hooks me. It feels a bit ‘plastic’ and isn’t a journey into originality, but it has the DNA of the original with the tonka bean as a base, and I like it. The cool thing is that, although they say it’s a cologne, it’s an EDT that performs better than the original: 6-7 hours, with moderate projection for the first 2.5 hours. It loses a bit on elegance compared to the absolute, but gains in versatility for almost every situation, except late autumn and winter. Scent: 7.75 | Versatility: 8.5 | Longevity: 8 | Sillage: 8.

An exquisite delight, pure beauty. It doesn’t resemble Versace’s Eros at all. It’s a super psycho scent, ideal for spring and summer, and could even work in autumn as it doesn’t smell like a cologne, but rather a very rich parfum. Highly recommended 10 for Armani.

It’s a very rich fragrance… Although it’s labelled as a cologne, its performance is superior, akin to an EDP. It lasts about 8 hours on my skin and projects well for 2 or 3 hours; afterwards, the projection fades but the scent remains noticeable until almost the end. Good performance. I’ve read that it’s identical to Versace Eros, but I own both (the 2015 Eros) and can’t find any similarity. In my opinion, Armani Code Cologne is more subtle and versatile than Eros. I recommend it.

Armani Code Cologne tried to fight Sauvage, but to me it smells like cheap white musk that gives me a headache. It’s as if the creator ignored the penal code by using it with premeditation and malice. Although I can tolerate ambroxan with baking soda, this scent is beyond my understanding: neither refined nor tempting. Everything else in the brief dries up due to that olfactory storm no one mentions, making it seem like a failure of taste compared to Profumo.

It is exactly the same as Versace Eros; I cannot distinguish them at all. I cannot judge its trail because I tried it on a very small sample, but honestly, I have noticed no difference whatsoever from Eros.

Colognes usually evoke the moment of showering, but this simulates fresh breath after brushing your teeth. At first, I was scared by that mouthwash hit, looking for another Armani fragrance, and I started playing around with the tester. Suddenly, I remembered when at school the teacher made us throw away our Boomer mint chewing gum, and I would stick it under the desk to smell it afterwards. That texture of sweet mint with the aftertaste of diluted SevenUP by saliva is what the synthetic notes of this strange flanker in the Code line do. Its projection and longevity are as firm as its bottle, which is rare for a cologne. Ideal for those of us who are Boomer junkies.

Don’t be fooled by the word ‘Colonia’, as it doesn’t perform like a true cologne. It lasts around eight hours without over-applying, projects well, and has a fantastic trail. The opening is typical, but the development reveals lovely nuances. It recalls the first Code and finishes with an excellent dry-down. It doesn’t lose its freshness or sweetness. It’s very modern, born of current trends, but well executed. It feels like a refined Invictus, without harsh notes, more elegant and of better quality. Perfect for spring and summer evenings. 7.5/10.