Official verified review(s) from happy buyers who purchased
vintage GIORGIO ARMANI ACQUA DI GIO fragrances
from Guardian of the Fragrances!:
"Item came packaged very well! Seller was very communicative!! Item is authentic!! I was skeptical but glad I took the chance. I would recommend this seller."
2001 50ML VINTAGE ACQUA AQUA DI GIO ARMANI COSMAIR BEAST *FIRST* FORMULATION! (#175645866195)
"Great seller fast shipping will buy again Love the fragrances thanks again my friend trustworthy can’t go wrong with this seller he’s legit"
2000 100ML VINTAGE VTG ACQUA AQUA DI GIO ARMANI COSMAIR *FIRST* FORMULATION! (#174955754833)
"The best water scent ever made with beast mode projection, big big love on this.."
2004 90ML VINTAGE VTG ACQUA AQUA DI GIO ARMANI COSMAIR *FIRST* FORMULATION! (#174758557955)
"All went well very happy with my purchase. The seller is fantastic and truthful."
2000 60ML VINTAGE ACQUA DI GIO POUR HOMME ARMANI COSMAIR BEAST FORMULATION (#174684845724)
"I'm so happy with my Vintage Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Gio. Exactly as Nathan described. Packaged very well and extremely fast shipping. Best Vintage Fragrance seller on eBay by a mile. I will continue to keep buying off this great man. I'm so happy again with my purchase. 1OO% Thank you so much."
2004 85ML/2.8OZ VINTAGE ARMANI ACQUA AQUA DI GIO GRAIL COSMAIR *FIRST* FORMULA! (#175867797695)
"This is my eighth (8th) vintage fragrance purchase from this trusted seller. He always provides extremely fast shipping, a fair price for rare vintage fragrances, excellent communication, and secure packaging! Free bonuses included in the packages. As before, the package arrived ahead of schedule. I will definitely be doing business with you again in the future!! A+"
2004 38ML VINTAGE ACQUA AQUA DI GIO GIORGIO ARMANI COSMAIR *FIRST* FORMULATION! (#175402188848)
(ALL ABOUT ARMANI ACQUA DI GIO ESSENZA EDP)
Wardrobe category is!;
Shirtless garden attire mowing the grass at the cougars mansion,
Jennifer Coolidge is mandatory.
The relevancy of this 14 year old ADG fragrance continues in the fragrance community to this day.
Still No designer fragrance on the shelves today compares to the king of the Essenza EDP.
Hand down one of the best grassy aquatics ever composed.
Acqua Di Gio is officially the best selling men's fragrance of all time.
Up for buy it now is the best ADG flanker of all time!
Despite all it's flankers- The vintage EDP version still has its own vibe.
My take on the flankers;
Original ADG PH: Floral, mystical, sweet, and mossy
Absolu: Invictus dna with ADG label slapped on it.
Profumo: Dark incense-y ADG DNA.
Profondo: Aromatic metallic beach air.
EDP: An earthier and more balanced Profondo
Essenza:
grassier woodier spring like ADG DNA.
High quality niche ingredients used with a new take on the original composed into an EDP strength.
The result; a very professional, masculine, grassy aquatic you'll have to smell to understand.
My Favorite in the ENTIRE line.
But unfortunately -
Corporate decisions were made, and this flanker was retired.
Resulting in countless wanna be reformulated flankers that never came close to what was Essenza.
Acqua Di Gio's note composition is nostalgic to this day.
Something about the mix of fresh laundry, citrus, sea air, and earthiness.
The best way I can describe this; is the original ADG...
but further off the beach into the island forest, fresh grass, spice, and wafts of the ocean close by.
Masterpiece.
Fresh citrus, grassy vetiver, aquatic BOMB!
Flanker to:
1996 Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Gio Pour Homme EDT
Launch year:
2012
Production status:
Fully discontinued
Perfumer:
Alberto Morillas
(Same composer as the original ADG)
Presentation designer:
Fabien Baron
Face of the campaign:
Simon Nessman
Campaign Character:
The shirtless man on the beach rocks
Scent style:
Citrus grassy aquatic
Color family:
Blonde scent
(White but slightly yellowed for an aged timeless nuance)
Mood/Season/Time/Occasion:
Uplifting, professional, gentlemanly / Spring, summer, fall / All day / Casual, professional, signature scent
Note breakdown
Top: Water notes/ cascalone, bergamot, grapefruit, calone
Mid: Basil, floral notes, jasmine, sage, paradisone
Base: Pepper, Atlas cedar, musk, vetiver, ambergris/ ambroxan, clary sage, amber, patchouli
(SPECIFIC LISTING DETAILS - WHAT YOU ARE BUYING)
Batch: 38PN00
Batch year / 'era' : 2017
Production status: Discontinued collectible
Batch confirmed by: Batch run on Cosmetic check dot app, perfumery collector expertise, expert appraisal process, backwards skip tracing, & owning & selling multiple bottles of this formula.
I research extensively spending days-months-years of personal research as a vintage perfume hobbyist & passionate fragrance seller only to bring you nothing but accurate details & the most helpful information to make your final purchase.
Send me an email if you have additional questions about my dating process.
Vintage formula condition grade:
A+++
Designer Perfumery House Tier: High end designer tier with vintage Armani's matching quality of CHANEL & DIOR.
Maceration time: 9 years! A richened watery grapefruit, aquatic, grassy vetiver, woody cedarwood BOMB. That reimagined ADG DNA made into a rich ultra masculine EDP just seeps into your pores with lasting quality and uniqueness. Ultra perfected ADG DNA and so much more richer, and of higher quality and not synthetic smelling like all the modern flankers.
Performs as / concentration rating: A modern day EDP
Authenticity?: 100% authentic.
Properly stored?: Yes
Well preserved?: Yes
Sour notes?: Nope!
Life of the fragrance?: 8-10-12 hour + strength/ silage.
(LITERALLY over a FIVE hour BOOST of performance compared to modern day ADG PH EDT releases!)
Why this formula?:
-Formula now discontinued, & no longer available.
-Rich in naturals, quality, strength, & better base fixatives prior to European IFRA bans.
- Performance relative to a modern EDP concentration - concentrated ml. means less sprays.
-Spent 9 years macerating - allowing its ingredients to blend & mature for an enhanced, smoother, more complex, & longer lasting scent.
Presentation condition grade:
A
Bottle age: 9 years
Full?: Fill as shown
Cosmetic flaws on bottle: Bottle in absolute mint condition, one of the most stunning presentations in designer perfumer. Box is excellent with vintage charms.
Atomizer & Cap condition: Magnetic cap & atomizer is mint. 'G A' magnetically snaps back onto the neck even and vertical giving extra authenticity assurance.
Bottom bottle sticker & batch code: Bottom etching excellent, batch is legible on lower back of bottle.
Signs of atomizer leaking: None
Glass chips: None
Scuffs: None
Cracks: None
Missing: Original box/ packaging, a few sprays to test, & a good home :)
(COLLECTOR 1 ON 1 - FINAL THOUGHTS)
This discontinued 2017 first formula just keeps getting more rare as we now move farther into the 2020's & into a generation of more severe IFRA regulations.
Mix that with the incredible 9 year maceration time in the divine Italian house quality of Giorgio Armani pre major IFRA regulations and it's now virtually impossible to be able to replicate this juice again. Armani continues to prove this by its countless synthetic flankers.
Now dare I say it's one of a kind.
This is one of (if not the best) Acqua Di Gio flankers in existence and now discontinued and a highly collectible item.
I cannot emphasize how rare this juice is now and will be in the future.
Just holding this observing it you can feel its vintage charm.
Bottle looks as if they just left the factory in 2017 so it is a time capsule from 9 years ago.
Great collector's piece!
1 decade of maceration pre-IFRA regulations with Giorgio Armani quality results in a performance that resembles a modern intense EDP.
This in the end means less sprays - & less use out of this precious bottle. Literally 2-3 sprays & you're good.
What's even more splendid is this DNA is STILL MODERN - This is the aquatic flanker that started it all.
Stand out from the rest wearing modern aquatics!
Decent price for a collector to try this iconic original well preserved formulation!
These haven't inflated in price per ml. comparable to some other vintage perfumes out there... at least not yet.
ULTRA rare collectors item.
Iconic grail 2017 batch check.
Free shipping - check.
Bonus gift on top of it - check.
Can't go wrong with this one!
Buy this ultra rare collectible & piece of history for your collection!
Experience the discontinued formulation of Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Gio Essenza Eau de Parfum - it's well worth it.
Item comes from my own private collection.
This is a hard sell - if you are a fragrance collector like me - you know the inner battle.
Grab it before I change my mind.
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This historic vintage formula is a long-lasting investment in your personal grooming arsenal, ensuring that you'll always be prepared to make a lasting impression.
PLEASE NOTE:
-75 ml. / 2.5 fl. oz. bottle is filled as shown.
-Juice properly tested for well preservation & authenticity.
-Cosmetic Check dot app appropriately skip traces this back to launch year 2017.
-I list year-round fragrance DNA's no matter the current season - if you are blind buying this aquatic fragrance and expecting it to fully deliver miracles in the deepest of brisk winters - I ask you to step back and take time with a fragrance with the season it was intended for before judging its quality, richness, and performance. Despite the richness, depth and strength of this - citruses & floral molecules expand in heat & humidity.
-Bottle is in MINT condition preserved by box - box is excellent with vintage quirks.
- Listing does with original packaging with matching batch code. No cellophane included.
-Listing is tested, 100% authentic, properly stored, well preserved, & suited to personal taste and memory.
-Satisfaction guaranteed of your money back within 30 days purchased within the USA.
-With a 1-3-day handling time to curate your order & using USPS Ground Advantage shipping as a standard shipping option (estimated by USPS within 2-5 business days); all US customers should anticipate a maximum of *10 days* to receive your order. Please contact me if you are in a 'must have by this day' situation and I'd be happy to discuss your options!
Please be aware of these quirks prior to purchasing.
✅WHY YOU SHOULD PURCHASE THROUGH GUARDIAN OF THE FRAGRANCES & NOT OTHER VENDORS…
✓ Gold standard service
Highly praised vintage fragrance vendor & longtime eBay member since 2004! Over 20 years of reliable gold standard service with satisfied customers leaving literal paragraphs on their positive feedback ratings. Your positive experience with me comes before the profit I make in my shop - & my enthusiastic service & money back guarantee surely reflects that. There's a deep sense of accomplishment that comes with being of purpose for your community. Allow me the opportunity to provide this to you & be your lifelong fragrance vendor.
✓ FREE extra goodies with purchase
Other sellers send you the item you paid for with a sad invoice slip - feels so cold & impersonal. I go beyond that with sending you a goodie bag with purchase to make your fragrance investment more worthwhile. YOU even chose the free gift! A hand written thank you note for supporting my shop included. All items in my shop are accurately & fairly priced to reflect the value of the vintage fragrance. Special goodie bag/bonus gift are never factored into the pricing. It's truly a thank you gift.
✓ One-category shop
I’m not selling a mess of random various thrift items that I know nothing about. At Guardianofthefragrances; you are shopping at a niche market that specializes solely on discontinued perfumery formulations. ‘One category shops’ like mine provide customers with a unique shopping experience that is backed with knowledge & experience within that category as well as shows I have a deep passion in what I am selling. Buying from fine-tuned one category shops like mine makes all the difference in a rewarding shopping experience. That seller who has listed some sneakers, baseball cards, hoodies, & that cologne you want - he may know its authentic & well preserved, OR he may not.
✓ Counterfeit Investigation process
With over a decade of professional Revenue Protection expertise investigating fraud & theft for my state of WI utility provider; all vintage fragrances in my shop are expertly ran through a process of deep research which involves but is not limited to; batch runs, listing dating, differentiating formula differences, production quirk studies, listing & cap weighing, taking hardware off to investigate inner details, fragrance strength & quality vetting - how long it lasts on skin & the quality of that experience, ect. Anything that falls into my hands that doesn't pass this process never reaches my shop.
✓ Quality appraisal process
I am college board certified in the state of WI in Sales & Design with over 20+ years of professional practice in appraising personal property & merchandise. At guardianofthefragrances; rest assured I am expertly skilled in determining whether your vintage formula has been well preserved by previous handlers. I find the counterfeit investigation process & quality appraisal the most 2 important things in my shop to gain customer trust & I am on a mission to not let you down.
✓ Mutual perfumery hobbyist & collector
Most importantly, I myself am a vintage fragrance hobbyist & collector. In fact, many listings come from my own personal collection after years of collecting back-up products as a hobby. As a hobbyist myself, I know exactly what my shoppers are looking for & what is sorely lacking in this sector. Studying & shopping for rare fragrances for my own collection has taught me the majority of the population are NOT experts in fragrances. Its a language many don't speak like ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics. In fact; the fragrance industry is the only billion dollar industry where the customer knows the least about what they are buying. Just that it 'smells good'. You even go on a forum discussion with hobbyist's & there's more questions than answers. This phenomenon is truly astonishing to me - as I am a personality type that demands answers. At guardianofthefragrances - I have those answers for you. It’s a passion of mine to go above & beyond the ‘indifferent’ lazy fragrance knowledge on vlogger videos & forums to give you real common-sense truths that Designer brands & retails hold back from us. In fact it was poor aloof information provided to the public about fragrances that gave me the drive to launch my business in the first place.
Why should you spend SO much on a fragrance?
(I know you are asking yourself this if you are new to all this).
✅UNLOCKS STORED MEMORIES IN THE BRAINS HIPPOCAMPUS
Fragrances have an olfactory fingerprint. The brain is so intelligently designed - that it stores a fragrance DNA's composition precisely to the very last ingredient utilized at that time. Try to smell a modern formula & see what happens - it's like your brain gets low key upset.
Only that special formula composed 10-20-30-40 years ago is the key to unlock vivid feelings of nostalgia.
✅BETTER QUALITY, INGREDIENTS, PERFORMANCE, & ARTISTRY
Made in times prior to culture regulations, production politics, corporate greed, & making man made chemicals for profit; you get the authentic formula(s) the perfumery artist(s) intended from that time resulting in more naturals, less synthetic/cheap aroma chemical alternatives, richer compositions, bolder presence, more layers/less linear, & made in times where smoking was indoors- you get NUCLEAR performance.
✅SMELL BETTER & OR HIGHER QUALITY THEN OTHER MEN AROUND YOU.
In a mass society unaware of vintage fragrances - you will absolutely without a doubt outshine whatever they are wearing. Gain respect, stand out, be the most attractive smelling in the room. In general this is what makes the male gender so enthralled with colognes but vintage amplifies this to the next level. Stop endless influencer searches seeing if something modern performs - just buy vintage.
✅INVEST MORE IN VINTAGE TO SPEND LESS OVER TIME ON MODERN
Vintage fragrances are stronger & need less applications due to concentration. It's not a coincidence they are removing oils in colognes nowadays - they don't want us to know how weakened they are. Many collectors go niche & get into strange off-putting DNAs not realizing they may simply go designer vintage. Beautiful mass pleasing DNA's in the best quality & strength possible. The best way to go forward in perfumery is to go backwards.
If you buy a vintage- You will realize a product that would have lasted you a year is now lasting you over 2+ years. Think about it- you are going from essentially a modern day EDC (Modern edt) to a powerful parfum strength niche like formula. Once you go vintage it's illogical to go back.
✅VINTAGE FRAGRANCES ARE AN INVESTMENT THAT *INCREASE* IN VALUE
Due to the mass, devoted, & awakening population of the vintage fragrance community; vintage fragrances are a collectible commodity matching similar value in precious paintings, antiques, jewelry, gemstones, diamonds, & gold! Unlike most things you 'drive' off the lot; this fragrance will likely be MORE in 2-5-10-15 years. This is my favorite thing about being a collector; my purchase investments lack buyers remorse on as I am buying an investment for the future/ & or discreet savings to liquidate as needed. It's as easy to trade fragrances for cash as it is to liquidate your cash for gold.
✅OVERALL ENHANCEMENT OF THE ATTRIBUTES BELOW VS BUYING MODERN FORMULAS
✓Positive mood enhancer
✓Confidence booster
✓Alluring attractiveness
✓Triggers memories
✓Aromatherapy
✓Makes you more attractive
✓Great impressions
✓Describes your personality
✓Attract other people
(Reformulation talk...)
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Unfortunately,
In a modern era's effort to make the small allergen pool of the population safe for the bigger masses
(essentially a 'Safe than sorry' approach for everyone);
Harsh fragrance regulations came into effect within the last 20 years in the EU (United Nations) where nearly all fragrances are still composed.
The SCCS (Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety), IFRA (International Fragrance Association) & the ECHA (European Chemicals Agency) banded together to axe many precious naturals, & unique aroma chemicals in perfumery that have irritants to a small pool of the population.
To this day every year it seems another ingredient is banned as these chemical giants are auditing Chemistry materials on what seems like an unnecessary 'Woke movement' retirement parade. To play nice & to still get credibility for selling 'Safe' fragrances; all Designer perfumery brands have played with these giants to get full EU support of their product(s).
Between 2010-2022;
The EU has now banned over 2,000 chemicals in the body, skin, hair, & fragrance industry.
This massive chemical ban in body products is more than any other world region in history!
In comparison, the United States has banned only 17 ingredients from body products made in the USA.
Unfortunately for fragrance enthusiasts, a VERY small percentage of designers make their fragrances in America.
By 2030; the EEB (European Environmental Bureau) anticipates over 5,000-7,000 ingredients to be banned in total.
Rules, reformulations, synthetic ingredients, cost-cutting, & keeping up with modern scent trends have altered, & reduced the performance of many popular favorites from the past.
This is not a theory or paranoia, this is becoming more evident & informative in the fragrance community since the rise of fragrance communities & fragrance Vloggers.
Since this rise; vintage formulas are hunted & highly sought after by hobby-ists.
Many are so accustomed to newer compositions they have no idea what they are not experiencing.
vintage EDT formulas are well known to perform more like intense concentrated essential oil strength NICHE EDP's.
Newer formulations of the modern age are said to perform like a end body spr@y with average performance but no character development.
DET Vs. DPG:
A chemist in Germany did a gas chromatogram composition breakdown on a vintage & modern day version.
It was found that companies utilized a solvent Diethyl Phthalate (DET) on vintage versions which was known to have a stronger bonding fixative effect on the skin. Modern day fragrances are replaced with Dipropylene Glycol (DPG).
DPG is commonly utilized in lightly fragrance'd shampoos & DET is in home fragrances. Home fragrance companies don't utilize DPG as the fragrance would immediately leave the base.
Makes you think.
The death of Oakmoss:
By far one of the most controversial & damaging IFRA regulations was the ban/limitations in natural Oakmoss. This popular ingredient is in near every legendary cologne; Davidoff Cool Water (Also reformulated), Aqua Di Gio (Also reformulated) Versace Eros (Also reformulated). Many are utilized with weaker synthetics. Since Oakmoss rests in the base & has fixative effects fragrances also don't perform as well without it.
2022 Lilial ban:
& if you thought your top / mid notes were safe. You're wrong. In 2021 The Scientific committee on consumer safety (SCCS) & the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) banned the note of lilial due to its reaction to sensitive skin (That's it?).
They simply stated "It may sometimes act as an allergen." SOMETIMES?
Lilial was a common note in modern perfumery. Lilial being a synthetic aromatic soapy aldehyde; it gave the self titled signature Versace PH it's sweet yet refreshing intense floral green odor.
I don't understand this obsession with making sure the skin doesn't react to materials. Practically every face mask on the market 'Reacts' to your skin & in the long run - improves it's appearance.
Doesn't skin strength train like muscles do?
Fragrance shelf life scam:
Reformulations are one thing, it's something unable to be avoided.
One of the biggest gaslighting scams on the otherhand that may easily be avoided is the myth fragrances naturally 'Expire/go bad' due to time alone.
Fragrances are not your local produce guys, they are a balanced chemist composition of naturals and fragrant chemical aromas full of preservatives.
If that alone wasn't enough; that recipe is then preserved in a percentage average of 80 per ALCOHOL. resulting in 'maybe' 10 per natural ingredients to think 10 per natural ingredients are up against and a threat against 90 per chemical aromas, preservatives, and alcohol is a HUGE stretch.
Alcohol based fragrances should be compared to 50-100 year old products of preserved & cherished wine. Like wine, fragrances in fact get better with age from the process of maceration; when naturals soak in chemicals for extended periods of time making the formula richer & full of character. Fragrances are not fresh hand made cosmetics with no preservatives - quite the opposite.
Fragrances were even recovered from the 1912 Titanic wreck with no sign of expiring.
A perfumer salesman perished in the wreck resulting in an artifact from this person found on the BOTTOM of the ocean preserved for over 100 years.
This artifact was indeed perfumery. In an artifact examination room upon recovery, amongst the death, muck, tragedy, & solemn sorrow of decomposing materials the perfumery was presented to the room & by surprise brought the room to LIFE again, aromas of beautiful fruits, florals, resins, & woods sourced from so long ago.
The experience was so powerful to the scientist- it made a grown man cry.
Fragrances may face neglectful extremes...but most certainly don't go bad from just the passing of time.
I guess any myth works for these fragrance industries that want you coming in to buy their 'fresh' products.
The modern day scent:
I say all that to say; modern day fragrances as a whole - are complete & utter trash...
whether that be a brand new composed scent or a reformulation of a classic.
The modern recipe:
Fake citrusy c@ndy-like tops to lock you in, aromatic-mids to give you masculinity & bare minimal classic nostalgia, then a base gob-smacked with scratchy ambroxan / synthetic molecules completed with cloying sweetness to ultimately gaslight you so don't notice how 'fake' the entire composition smells.
It's truly depressing what they release nowadays.
You might as well wear your home cleaner.
fortunately,
In every generation...
...A guardian is born.
A guardian to make the world a better place.
Now, our memories are under siege.
You may wonder..."What is happening to my cologne, & why?"
"Is it all in my head?"...It's not.
Designer brands are gaslighting you.
Retail associates are lying to you.
They don't want you to know about me...
the Guardian of the Fragrances.
Vintage formulas taking asylum & preserved under my guardianship.
The awakening is growing, don't be excluded.
Be a member of the fragrance houടe & houടe a refugee today.
(End of listing)
