Giorgio Armani I WILL Eau de Parfum Review: A New Statement in Modern Masculinity

There are fragrances that simply smell good, and then there are fragrances designed to represent something. Giorgio Armani I WILL Eau de Parfum very much falls into the latter category.

Built around confidence, ambition and quiet strength, I WILL feels like a fragrance for the modern man who knows where he is going without needing to tell everyone about it. It combines fresh Italian bergamot and aromatic lavender with addictive Madagascan vanilla and an innovative woody leather accord, resulting in something that feels contemporary, masculine and incredibly easy to wear.

You can discover Giorgio Armani I WILL Eau de Parfum at Boots.

The Scent

It is a scent that is familiar, almost like you’ve smelt a similar one, hundreds of times. But that familiarity is comforting to many. The opening is immediately fresh and energising. Calabrian bergamot provides that unmistakable citrus brightness, complemented by aromatic lavender and vibrant violet leaf accords. It's clean and sophisticated, but importantly, it doesn't feel like another generic fresh men's fragrance.

As I WILL begins to develop, the composition becomes considerably warmer. At its heart is Madagascan vanilla absolute, bringing richness and an addictive sweetness without pushing the fragrance too far into gourmand territory. It's this transition from the bright opening into the warmer heart that gives I WILL much of its character.

Then comes perhaps the most interesting element of the fragrance: Wood Leather. This captive molecule creates a smooth woody leather effect designed to amplify the vanilla while adding depth, power and longevity. Rather than a particularly smoky or animalic leather, the overall impression is polished and modern, giving the fragrance a more sensual character as it settles onto the skin.

Freshness Meets Warmth

What I particularly like about I WILL is the contrast. You've got bergamot, lavender and violet leaf providing brightness at the beginning, but underneath sits this much warmer combination of vanilla, woods and leather. That makes it extremely versatile.

There are plenty of fragrances I would categorise immediately as either daytime or evening scents. I WILL doesn't fit quite so neatly into either camp. It's fresh and polished enough for work or daytime meetings, but the vanilla and woody leather give it enough presence for dinner or an evening out.

The Bottle

The presentation deserves a mention too.

The architectural black and gold bottle immediately communicates what I WILL is trying to be: strong, sophisticated and contemporary. There's a simplicity to the design, but enough detail to make it feel substantial and luxurious sitting amongst a fragrance collection.

When to Wear Giorgio Armani I WILL

For me, this is a genuine day to night fragrance. I'd wear it throughout autumn & winter, although its fresh opening should make it versatile enough for cooler spring evenings too.

It's equally at home with tailoring as it is with jeans, a T-shirt and jacket, which is often the sign of a very good everyday fragrance.