SOTD: SWY Powerfully by Armani 25/01/2026

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Hot of the shelves, the newest 2026 release from one of my personal favourite lines and the first of two flanker releases in the SWY lineup. Powerfully is designed to be the "final boss" of the collection, taking the signature DNA and injecting it with a darker, fruitier, and more tenacious profile. I was pleasantly surprised to see it, and the female release Power with You was also available, the weekend manager was telling me how she liked to layer the two, maybe I'll try that in the future, but for now, let's see if this is worth the upgrade. There are some very bold statements regarding this release. Armani markets this as having 24-hour longevity,, so does it live up to these claims. While previous versions like Intensely focused on toffee and Absolutely focused on rum, Powerfully introduces a prominent Cherry Accord that shifts the vibe from sweet baked goods to darkly seductive.

The opening explodes with a juicy, tart burst of Cherry and Mandarin. Unlike a medicinal cherry, this feels like a dark maraschino or a "cherry coke" vibe. It comes across as more playful than Absolutely. As the fragrance moves into the heart, that fruitiness settles to reveal the classic SWY Lavender and Sage, but they are wrapped in a new Spicy Accord, a combination of warm cinnamon and cardamom that keeps it from becoming too floral. As you get to the dry down it's easy to see where the Powerfully name comes from. They have used a duo of Smoked Chestnut and Sugared Chestnut, paired with Vanilla Bourbon. Resulting in a deep, woody, almost incenselike sweetness that feels heavier and more "mature" than the original EDT. Initially I thought they had taken the Parfum formula and laced it with a touch of cherry. But there is actually a lot more going on here, if you take the time to enjoy the complexities of this fragrance.

Whilst I hate to slate Armani's marketing dept, a 24hr fragrance this is not. I can confirm that it's borderline 10hrs on my skin so far. Perhaps If it gets on your clothes, you might achieve the 24hrs mark. Projection wise just a few sprays will fill a room for the first few hours. It leaves a dense, sweet and smokey scent trail. This is good, dare I say a great addition to an amazing line, so how does it stack up against the others? Vs. Intensely: Powerfully is less "creamy/toffee" and more dark/fruity. It feels more complex and slightly less cloying in the heat. Vs. Absolutely: Absolutely is boozier (rum); Powerfully is smokier and sweeter (cherry/chestnut). Powerfully generally wins on raw projection. Vs. The Original (EDT): There is no contest—Powerfully is significantly denser, longer-lasting, and better suited for winter. This is a loud, unapologetic cold-weather fragrance.. ideal for those cold Winter nights, outdoor dates, clubbing, and cold late-autumn days. Word of warning, this is a beast so I would recommend starting with two sprays and gently find your sweet spot. I still regard Intensely as my favourite in the line, but this sure does give it a run for its money, Armani did well with this release and now I'm really looking forward to the Spice release.

My Rating 9/10

Scent 2.5

Longevity 3

Sillage

2.5

Y/N 1

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