Get Cologne On A Budget: Smart Shopping Tips

There are many ways to get cologne for cheap. Firstly, you can try shopping at discount fragrance retailers, such as FragranceX.com, FragranceNet.com, or Fragrance Outlet, which offer significant discounts of up to 80% on designer and niche brands. Alternatively, you can shop at stores like Ross, TJ Maxx, or Burlington Coat Factory, which offer low prices on name-brand colognes. Buying directly from the manufacturer on Amazon or eBay can also yield good deals, especially if you're willing to buy an unboxed bottle. Finally, you can take advantage of sales and promotions, such as those during Black Friday or the January sales, or use cashback websites and student discounts to maximise your savings.

Discount retailers

One of the most popular discount fragrance retailers is FragranceX.com. FragranceX offers a large selection of over 9,500 brands of perfume, cologne, body lotion, and aftershave, including discontinued perfumes and colognes. They offer popular designer brands such as Calvin Klein, Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, and Gucci, with discounts of up to 80% off. FragranceX provides free and fast shipping, guaranteeing the authenticity and quality of their products.

Another option is Perfumania, which offers discounted fragrances from top designer brands. They have a wide variety of perfumes and colognes available online and in over 100 physical store locations.

Fragrance Outlet is another popular choice, with over 100 stores across the US. They offer a range of discounted fragrances, including well-known brands such as Guess, Tommy Bahama, and Christian Audigier, with frequent promotions and discounts.

For those in the US, stores like Ross, TJ Maxx, and Burlington Coat Factory are known for offering low prices on name-brand colognes, often at half the price of department stores.

Finally, online retailers like Amazon and eBay are also great places to find discounted cologne. Amazon offers a wide selection of fragrances at discounted prices, while eBay allows you to find unboxed bottles at even lower prices. However, be cautious of potential knock-offs or fake products when shopping on these sites.

Online marketplaces

Amazon

Amazon is the world's largest online retailer and sells a huge range of colognes from various brands and categories, as well as its own private label products. Amazon offers next-day delivery for those with a Prime membership, making it ideal for those in need of a last-minute gift.

Fragrance X

Fragrance X is a dedicated fragrance retailer with a wide range of colognes and perfumes. The website is well-designed and easy to navigate, and they always seem to have some kind of sale or discount offer on. Fragrance X also offers free delivery on all items.

Perfume.com

Perfume.com is a trusted fragrance retailer that has been operating since 1995. They offer a wide range of affordable men's colognes and women's perfumes, as well as a fragrance of the month scheme, where you can try a range of new scents for a small monthly fee. Perfume.com also offers free shipping on all products.

Overstock

Overstock is an online retailer that offers some of the best prices on premium and cheaper fragrances. They have almost 2000 results for men's cologne, making it easy to find something that suits your budget and preference. However, Overstock does not offer free shipping, and rates will vary depending on the item and shipping destination.

FragranceNet

FragranceNet is a trusted online fragrance retailer that has been operating since 1997 and has shipped over 30 million orders. They offer discounted colognes and perfumes, as well as gift certificates. FragranceNet offers free delivery on orders over $100.

Other Online Marketplaces

Other notable online marketplaces for cologne include Fragrance Market, Fragrance Direct, Luckyscent, Notino, Strawberrynet, and Scentbird. These sites offer a range of designer and niche fragrances, often at discounted prices, and many provide free shipping.

Department stores

If you're in the US, Ross and TJ Maxx are known for their low prices. You can usually find name-brand colognes for at least half the price. For example, one person found Mont Blanc Legend for $30 at Ross, whereas it would have been $93 at Dillard's. Burlington Coat Factory is another option in the same vein, where you can find $40 bottles for only $15.

If you're in the UK, try the fragrance department at Next, where you can find nice colognes for £8-12.

Subscription services

ScentBox

For $9.72 for the first month and $16.95 per month thereafter, ScentBox offers a monthly supply of fragrances with the option to cancel anytime. You can choose from over 1000 designer fragrances for men and women, including premium high-end designers. The cologne is delivered in a signature keepsake box with a full atomizer case, and you can even purchase other fragrance products such as bath and body items, candles, skincare, and more.

Scentbird

Scentbird offers a similar service with over 700 designer scents to choose from for $16.95 per month, with the first month available at a discounted rate of $8.47. You can take a quiz to find your scent profile, and new arrivals are added every month. The 8ml vial is delivered straight to your door, and you can skip a month or cancel anytime.

Luxury Scent Box (LUXSB)

LUXSB offers a single monthly plan with the option to pre-pay and receive credit. Premium and Ultra-Premium fragrances charge extra on the months you receive them. You can take a fragrance survey to get tailored recommendations, and as a member, you can add to your fragrance calendar to control which fragrances you receive. They offer some of the largest sizes available in a perfume subscription and ship for free.

Samples and testers

Many online retailers, such as Scentbird, offer samples or small-sized bottles for a low price. Scentbird, for example, is a subscription service where, for $17 a month, you receive an 8ml spray of your chosen fragrance, lasting about a month. This is a great way to try out different colognes without breaking the bank.

If you're looking for free samples, fashion magazines such as Vogue and Elle often include fragrance samples. These are usually single-use, but you may get lucky and receive a miniature bottle that will last longer.

You can also order free samples online from certain retailers, such as The Perfume Shop, which offers a 'Try Me' option for some fragrances. You can receive a sample, as well as a full bottle, and if you decide you don't like it, you can return the unopened bottle for a full refund.

Another way to get discounted cologne is to buy "testers". These are bottles targeted at stores to spray on customers rather than being packaged for individual sale. You can often find testers for sale on eBay from reputable sellers, and they are almost never watered down or fake.

Finally, if you're looking to buy in-store, head to shops like Sephora or Ulta. They will usually give you free samples of any scent they sell, allowing you to try before you buy.

Frequently asked questions