Emporio Armani Stronger With You Absolutely by Giorgio Armani

To be honest, I bought it with great excitement because I’ve always loved chestnut notes, LOL. But sincerely, I was surprised by how delicious it smells. It wasn’t a blind buy, though I could easily recommend it for that. The rum is exquisite and doesn’t feel like you’ve poured a glass of Bacardi over yourself; it’s superbly blended, adding warmth and depth without being intrusive. The vanilla is spectacular: sweet, creamy, and enveloping, yet nothing artificial or cloying. It feels elegant, well-integrated with the chestnut and amber base, making everything smell soft, warm, and addictive. I don’t know much about reformulations and all that, but if the batch I have (08-2024) smells this good, I can’t imagine what it was like before. It projects and lasts quite a bit, though it doesn’t shout; it’s more of a ‘I’m here’ vibe: strong presence without raising its voice. It’s a mature, warm scent with great presence. My dad says it’s a gentleman’s perfume, LOL. Highly recommended… SPECTACULAR.

SWY Absolutely is, basically, an improved SWY Intensely. They keep the same sweet, warm, and addictive DNA, but here it feels a bit more polished and rounded. If someone doesn’t know which one to choose within the line, I’d go for Absolutely without thinking twice. Armani went for the safe option, and while that might sound conservative, in this case, it’s a good thing because that DNA already works and I love it. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it perfects a winning formula, which is why it remains one of my favourite perfumes. Rating: 10/10. For whom: men looking for a sweet, masculine, and reliable fragrance.

Spectacular. I previously tested the EDT version and Intensely, and there’s no comparison; Absolutely was the best for me. The rum touch is exquisite; I tested other perfumes with that note and it felt like pouring a glass of rum over yourself, but in this perfume, it doesn’t. That said, don’t abuse the spray because it’s strong; the last few times I sprayed more than I should have and ended up losing my sense of smell for a few hours.

An excellent dark fragrance for me, suitable for almost any age, and even unisex; the opening is simply perfect, the combination of rum and bergamot with that woody touch drives anyone crazy, simply a masterpiece by Armani.

I bought it blind due to the hype, and to be honest, I thought it would be redundant given I already have SWY. However, although they are similar in the opening, SWYA distinguishes itself notably a few minutes after application and presents its own credentials. I find it more versatile and wearable, and so far it has produced an incredible amount of compliments.

One of my favourites, perhaps the best. What makes it unique is that blend of rum, vanilla and cedar. The rum is a top ingredient, just like whisky in desserts, and add the sweet touch of vanilla and you have a walking dessert. The wood adds seriousness and personality. The rest varies according to pH, but on my skin it is among the best. A similar alternative is Valentino Uomo Born in Roma Intense, although this one is less sweet.

Marvel! That defines it. Elegant and refined, it adds a serious touch to the whole line. Each has its nuances, and this one fits my age and style perfectly. It’s true that the longevity on first trial felt a bit short, but it is undoubtedly a brilliant perfume. 9.5/10.

Recently I picked up a batch that made me think it was pirate-quality; I noticed differences from the times I tested it in perfumeries, especially in intensity and longevity. Once I read the reviews, I think I got one without that initial intensity punch of the first batches. The box and bottle are totally original; it arrived sealed with a regulatory entity stamp in Argentina. I will let it rest to see if that intensity I remember returns.

From the first spray, it smells like an intense blend of vanilla, rum and woods. It is very sweet, yes, but the rum gives it a masculine and mature twist that makes it special. It is a warm, dense and extremely enveloping fragrance; I would say addictive. It is perfect for real cold. When it is very cold, this perfume becomes a genuine warm embrace. It envelops you brutally, almost emotionally. It is one of those scents that makes you want to approach, hug and keep smelling it. The sensation is incredible. I imagine it on a young man on a winter night, not for a party, but for intimate moments: a date, a movie on the sofa, a shared blanket. It has a very romantic and close air. On my skin, the longevity is brutal: more than 12 hours, and when I spray it on my jacket, the scent lasts for days. The projection is also beastly. Undoubtedly, a fragrance that makes a mark.

If you want compliments, use this.

Correction is the sign of a wise man. After letting it mature for a month, it has gone from ugly duckling to white swan. I cannot describe the pleasant surprise of spraying Absolutely yesterday and realising, from the very first moment, that it had nothing to do with what I had bought, but in a positive way. I don’t know if batches come weak and then take shape, but from 7:15 PM until bedtime it projected and projected, and upon waking today it still smelled wonderful. And the opening is now truly distillery and spice. Bravo.

It is a genuine shame how they have ruined this cologne. I had the first batch and it was a beast mode: it projected for hours, cut through the cold, and only 3 or 4 sprays were needed. The scent has also changed; previously the alcohol would truly intoxicate you at the start. My summary is that it still smells good, but I don’t know if it is worth it for those of us who had the first one, because every time I use the current version I am unable to enjoy it without looking for faults. I still don’t understand why they ruin this and so many others.

A beast. It lasted 4 days on my skin and weeks on clothes. It is the last batch, projection is excellent, it was still projecting 3-4 hours later. It is a true beast mode, my unique favourite, it has no replacement.

Hello, I have tried this and the Intensely. Sincerely, I expected more; it is very hyped with a great reputation, but I think they have put too much into it for what it is. It smells delicious and is purely for winter. A sweet aroma with marked vanilla that lingers, lavender that gives freshness (sometimes I confused it with spicy, although I think there is a warm spice note present). What I noticed most from the start is that rum note, clear from the first spray, like a brandy or cognac, but to my surprise (negative) it evaporates quickly, it doesn’t have much longevity. It is rich and gets compliments, but longevity is borderline poor and projection is good only for the first 30 minutes. Perhaps it is due to reformulations, a pity that for the price and scent it offers so little. I was disappointed, I intended to buy it but decided not to. Also, it smells VERY similar to Lattafa Khamra Qhawa, which is more enduring, cheaper, and has better projection. In summary: rich scent, for winter, high price, better options available, very overrated, smells like Khamra (this one sweeter). In terms of performance, I think Intensely is better.

It must have been a great perfume when they first released it and the whole bottle was perfume. Now it is 10% perfume and 90% water, so any imitation will project and last longer than the ‘original’. If you still feel it half an hour after applying it, congratulations, you got a bottle with more than 10% concentration.