ARMANI
CODE
2004
PERFUMER
Antoine Lie
Lemon
Bergamot
Star Anise
Olive Blossom
Guaiac Wood
Leather
Tonka Bean
Tobacco
Armani Code was my signature scent for over 10 years, before getting into the fragrance hobby. I started wearing it around the age of 18 I think (when it was still called Code Black) and wore it pretty much every day or every other day until I was 29.
I still consider Code one of the best designer lines and one that, despite its popularity, feels underrated. The main issue I had with it when I started looking for something different, was the performance. My older bottles seemed to last literally twice as long as the last ones that I bought.
Anyway, Code is a nice, gentlemen’s designer with hints of leather and tobacco, but mostly I get a powdery spiciness from it. In the opening it’s invigorating with the citrus, but it gets heavier, sensual and darker, ending in a much sweeter, tonka bean-heavy drydown. I mostly wore this during the evening and on days out, while I wore the original Acqua Di Gio EDT to work and in high heat.
Sidenote: After this review, Armani released Code Parfum, which I have also reviewed.