Armani Code

Armani places the eau de toilette among ambery woody scents and describes it in three stages. At the top, the citrus comes through a green mandarin superessence from Calabria, extracted by molecular distillation for a sparkling freshness.

A lavandin heart

The heart rests on a lavandin from Provence, steam-distilled and fractionated to strengthen its aromatic power and floral facets. The house credits it with modern accents and great magnetism.

A roasted tonka base

The base brings together tonka bean absolute and a cedar accord, which the house considers the signature of the Armani Code fragrances: the tonka, warm and sensual, and the woody power of the cedar form a trail it wants intense and comforting.

The 2004 notes

The original descriptions offered a different breakdown: bergamot and lemon at the top, olive blossom and star anise at the heart, guaiac wood, tonka bean, leather and tobacco at the base. The house still publishes this version on a page for its classic eau de toilette.

What stays out

The cumin, hedione, benzoin, white musks, vanilla and dihydromyrcenol of older listings appear in no Armani description. The label declares coumarin, a molecule found in tonka bean, which does not count as a note.