Clean Shaven 22
Brand: Clean Shaven
Masculine · EDP · £12.3
Inspired by Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gio.
Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gio vs Clean Shaven 22
Description
22 is Clean Shaven's aftershave interpretation of Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gio, the 1996 release widely credited with launching the entire modern aquatic fragrance genre. Product Overview Available as 50ml at 25% EDP concentration for 12.30 pounds, against an original that retails from around 65 pounds for a comparable size and remains one of the best selling masculine fragrances in the world nearly three decades after launch. The bottle carries only the Clean Shaven name and the number 22, with the inspiration stated on the product listing. Scent Profile Opens with an unusually wide citrus spread of bergamot, jasmine, lemon, lime, mandarin orange, neroli and orange, an immediately bright, sparkling entrance. The heart is built around calone, the marine molecule that defined the entire aquatic genre, alongside coriander, cyclamen, freesia, hyacinth, jasmine, mignonette, nutmeg, peach, rose, rosemary, sea notes and violet, a genuinely complex floral-marine accord. It dries into amber, cedar, oakmoss, patchouli and white musk, a warm, slightly mossy base that grounds the marine freshness. Technical Structure and Development Composed by Alberto Morillas together with Annick Menardo and Christian Dussoulier, Acqua di Gio's calone-driven heart was genuinely groundbreaking in 1996 and has been imitated more than almost any other masculine fragrance since. Calone itself is a comparatively accessible and inexpensive ingredient, which is exactly why aquatic dupes and interpretations across the entire industry, including this one, can get reasonably close to the original's marine signature even at low price points. Performance At 25 percent EDP concentration, expect moderate longevity around 4 to 6 hours with soft to moderate projection, fair for a scent whose original is famous chiefly for its opening freshness rather than raw longevity. Wear Scenarios - Summer and warm weather daytime wear, where the marine freshness performs best - Office and everyday wear across most of the year - A safe, universally recognised choice for someone new to fragrance - Beach, holiday and outdoor settings Scent Family Positioning Sits in the aromatic aquatic family, the genre Acqua di Gio is most responsible for creating and popularising across the entire fragrance industry. Inspired By and Style Comparisons Direct interpretation of Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gio. Within Clean Shaven's own range, closest in spirit to 16, the brand's Issey Miyake L'Eau d'Issey interpretation, since both belong to the woody-aquatic lineage the 1990s made famous, though 22 stays brighter and more purely marine throughout. Flankers and Variations One of the most extended fragrance lines in modern perfumery, spanning Acqua di Gio Profumo, Essenza, Parfum and numerous limited editions since 1996; 22 is built around the original 1996 Eau de Toilette formula. Market and Community Reception Acqua di Gio remains one of the single most recognised and most searched masculine fragrances in the world, and correspondingly one of the most duplicated and interpreted scents across the entire budget fragrance market. Clean Shaven's own customer reviews for 22 describe the citrus-marine opening as a close match, with the mossy base fading faster than the true Armani original.
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Atlas Match
Best Notes Match
Armaf Private Key To My Life
Shared notes: Bergamot, Jasmine
See Armaf Private Key To My Life →
From This Brand
Clean Shaven 09
Same DNA Style
Nusuk Ajwaa Turquoise
Inspired by Giorgio Armani Acqua di Giò Profondo
Community Reviews
1 review with an average rating of 7.3 out of 10.
Compare 22
- 22 vs Alexandria Fragrances Afternoon Splash
- 22 vs Dossier Aquatic Lime
- 22 vs Armaf Blue Homme
- 22 vs Zara Lisboa
- 22 vs Street Origins Oars and Yours Venice
- 22 vs Marks & Spencer Ocean Musk
Community Ratings
- Overall: 7.3/10
- Scent Accuracy: 8.0/10
- Longevity: 6.5/10
- Projection: 6.0/10
- Value: 8.5/10
What Reviewers Say
Atlas AI Analysis — 7.3/10
Clean Shaven 22 presents a high-fidelity interpretation of the 1996 aromatic aquatic archetype, leveraging a complex multi-citrus opening to lead into a heart defined by the calone molecule. The composition successfully balances a dense floral-marine core—comprising sea notes, jasmine, and rosemary—against a traditional mossy and musky base. The result is a profile that prioritizes bright, sparkling freshness and transparency over deep, resinous complexity, remaining faithful to the original's mass-appeal structure without introducing unnecessary deviations. Performance remains consistent with the technical constraints of the aquatic genre. Despite the 25 percent Eau de Parfum concentration, the volatile nature of the citrus and marine ingredients results in a realistic lifespan of approximately four to six hours. Projection is moderate during the initial hour before settling into a soft scent trail. This behavior mirrors the original inspiration's performance profile, where the emphasis is placed on the initial olfactory impact rather than extended dry-down presence. Positioned within the budget-tier clone market, 22 offers a significant value proposition for consumers seeking the Acqua di Gio DNA at a fraction of the retail cost. Because the key ingredients of the original's profile are widely accessible in modern perfumery, this interpretation achieves high technical accuracy in its scent profile. It serves as a functional daily driver, particularly suited for high-heat environments, office settings, and casual daytime wear, catering to an audience that values classic versatility over niche experimentation.
Where to Buy
Check current price and availability on Amazon.co.uk
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the signature scent profile of the Clean Shaven brand?
Clean Shaven focuses on the "Barbershop" and "Grooming" aesthetic, specializing in scents that are fresh, crisp, and undeniably clean. Their DNA is built around the idea of a fresh-out-of-the-shower experience, focusing on high-quality citrus, cooling mint, and traditional aromatic herbs like lavender and rosemary.
Can Clean Shaven fragrances be used as aftershaves and perfumes?
While the brand has its roots in traditional grooming, their fragrances are formulated as Eau de Parfums to ensure they last far longer than a standard aftershave. They are designed to be "skin-friendly" while providing enough punch to work as a daily-wear fragrance that stays noticeable throughout the workday.
Is Clean Shaven a good brand for the office or gym?
Yes, Clean Shaven is arguably the best "utilitarian" fragrance house for those who want to smell fresh without being overwhelming. Their profiles are non-offensive, uplifting, and professional, making them a top choice for office environments, gym bags, and warm weather where heavy ouds or ambers might be too cloying.
What is Clean Shaven 22 a dupe of?
Clean Shaven 22 is a dupe of Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gio. It interprets the original scent profile using high quality alternative ingredients at a fraction of the price.
What does Clean Shaven 22 smell like?
Clean Shaven 22 opens with Bergamot, Jasmine, Lemon, Lime, Mandarin Orange, Neroli, Orange, moves into Calone, Coriander, Cyclamen, Freesia, Hyacinth, Jasmine, Mignonette, Nutmeg, Peach, Rose, Rosemary, Sea Notes, Violet, and settles on a base of Amber, Cedar, Oakmoss, Patchouli, White Musk. It is built to capture the character of Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gio.
Is Clean Shaven 22 long lasting?
Clean Shaven 22 is EDP with a community longevity score of 6.5 out of 10 and a scent accuracy score of 8 out of 10. It offers a budget friendly alternative to the original.
What does EDP mean?
EDP stands for Eau de Parfum. It typically contains 15 to 20 percent fragrance concentration, giving stronger performance and longer longevity than EDT. Most Middle Eastern clone brands release their fragrances as EDP, which is a significant reason they tend to outperform designer equivalents in longevity and projection at a lower price point.
What is an extrait de parfum?
Extrait de parfum, also called pure parfum, contains the highest fragrance concentration, typically 20 to 40 percent. It lasts the longest, projects most richly, and develops the most complex dry-down. Bujairami releases all its fragrances as extraits, which is a significant part of why the brand has developed such a strong reputation for performance.
What is maceration and should I let my new fragrance macerate?
Maceration is the process of fragrance molecules fully integrating and settling after production. A newly bottled fragrance can smell sharp, synthetic, or unbalanced because the individual ingredients have not yet harmonised. Leaving a bottle to settle for two to four weeks is standard practice in the fragrance community. Remove the cap and let the bottle breathe overnight to accelerate the process. Most heavy Middle Eastern releases benefit significantly from maceration.
What is a blind buy in the fragrance community?
A blind buy is purchasing a fragrance without having smelled it first, based on notes, reviews, community consensus, and comparisons to fragrances you already know. The Atlas compare tool, scent accuracy scores, and community reviews are specifically designed to reduce the risk of a disappointing blind buy by giving you data before you spend money.