Armani Code Cologne

A code, by definition, hides something, and Armani Code Cologne plays that idea out across its whole structure. Lemon and bergamot open this Eau de Toilette with deceptive simplicity, the kind of citrus start that gives no hint of what follows. Olive blossom, star anise and guaiac wood move through the middle, an unusual, slightly savory combination for a men's fragrance. Tobacco, leather and tonka bean close it out, dark and resinous, a serious departure from the light citrus opening. Giorgio Armani classifies this Armani Code Eau de Toilette as oriental woody, and the gap between that first spray and the eventual drydown is the whole point: a code that discloses its true message slowly. The olive blossom is a rare inclusion in mainstream men's perfumery, lending a faintly green, slightly bitter Mediterranean quality that keeps the star anise from turning too sweet and sets the stage for the tobacco-leather base that eventually takes over. Built for evening, it's designed for a man who prefers his fragrance to unfold in layers rather than announce itself all at once, and the black, dagger-shaped bottle cap reinforces that same air of concealment the name promises from the outset.