XS vs Acqua di Gio

The r/fragrance community views XS (2018) very positively as a solid designer fragrance offering excellent value. While it doesn't quite match the original 1990s vintage, the reformulation is close enough that most community members don't feel compelled to hunt down older bottles, praising its fresh, green citric opening and woody dry down with good performance for the price point.

The r/fragrance community views Acqua di Gio as a classic, well-regarded fragrance with fresh and clean characteristics that appeal to both men and women. While the original is beloved for its versatility, flanker versions (especially Absolu) are polarizing, with some praising their unique qualities while others find them harsh or unnecessarily different from the original DNA. Performance is consistently noted as a strength of the reformulations.