Eau de Nuit Giorgio Armani

Eau de Nuit Giorgio Armani announces itself as a fragrance of deliberate restraint—a whisper rather than a declaration. Marie Salamagne has constructed something deceptively simple that reveals considerable sophistication on closer inspection. The opening gesture of bergamot and pink pepper suggests brightness, but this is swiftly undermined by the cardamom and nutmeg emerging from the heart, which transform the composition into something distinctly spiced and slightly austere. There's an almost medicinal quality to the way the iris sits within this framework, rendered powdery and slightly chalky rather than the typical creamy interpretation—it's as if the floral note has been stripped of sentimentality and dressed instead in linen.

The tonka bean and amber in the base provide sweetness, though it's the cedar that dominates the architecture, contributing a dry, slightly resinous quality that prevents the composition from becoming cloying. This is where the woody accord (88%) truly flexes, creating a framework that feels masculine despite the fragrance's unisex classification. The heliotrope adds a subtle almond-like whisper, harmonising with the tonka to create a powdery sweetness that feels almost creamy—but the cedar refuses to let it settle into pure comfort.