Affordable, Great-Smelling Men's Colognes: A Guide

There are a plethora of great-smelling, low-cost colognes for men. The price of a cologne does not always correlate to how good it smells or performs. Some inexpensive options outperform niche designer wears in terms of utility and wear experience.

Some of the best options for low-cost colognes for men include Nautica Voyage, Guess 1981 Los Angeles, and Spice & Black Vanilla by Cremo. Nautica Voyage has an aquatic aroma with musky undertones and crisp, fruity notes. Guess 1981 Los Angeles is a high-quality fragrance with fresh spices and masculine base notes, available at a much more affordable price than expected. Spice & Black Vanilla by Cremo is a warm, spicy fragrance with surprising staying power, and can be found for around $20.

Woody fragrances

Terre d’Hermes Parfum by Hermes

This cologne has a strong initial projection, so a little goes a long way. It has an addictive woody, spicy, and earthy scent with notes of grapefruit, vetiver, and oak moss. It offers good longevity, typically lasting 4-6 hours on the skin. It's a great value for money and has a cult-like following among fragrance collectors.

Masculin Pluriel by Maison Francis Kurkdjian

This cologne combines fresh and woody notes, a challenging feat achieved by the renowned fragrance house. It has a soft yet long-lasting performance, with a scent that lasts up to 6 hours on the skin. The top notes include lavender, followed by patchouli and vetiver, and base notes of cedar and leather. It's an expensive fragrance, but it smells luxurious and is perfect for everyday wear.

Gentleman Society by Givenchy

Gentleman Society is a creamy, vanilla-scented cologne with a touch of mint and sage to balance the sweetness. It has a unique, woody, and aromatic scent with cardamom, sage, vetiver, and vanilla notes. It's a versatile fragrance that can be worn every day and is perfect for those seeking something mature yet not overly complex.

Endymion by Penhaligon’s

Endymion is a well-rounded fragrance with excellent projection and silage. It has a unique, fresh scent that combines lavender, coffee, and woody base notes. It performs well, lasting around 4-6 hours on the skin. This cologne is ideal for mature gentlemen who prefer a non-citrusy, sophisticated fragrance.

Bleu de Chanel

Bleu de Chanel is a masterpiece in a bottle. It is a well-balanced fragrance with notes of grapefruit, lemon, mint, pink pepper, ginger, nutmeg, jasmine, cedar, and sandalwood. It is a versatile scent that can be worn by older and younger men alike.

Tom Ford Grey Vetiver

This cologne is supremely masculine with excellent longevity, lasting 6-8 hours. It features three types of vetiver, creating a luxurious and refined scent. With its bold balance of orange blossom and saffron, it is perfect for special occasions and evening events.

Encre Noire by Lalique

Encre Noire is a masculine woody fragrance with spicy top notes of cypress and base notes of cashmere wood and musk. It is an affordable option, offering excellent value for money.

Bleu Noir for Him Parfum by Narciso Rodriguez

This cologne is uncomplicated and subtle, with a sexy, sensual scent. It has excellent performance, lasting over 8 hours with good projection. The scent features Narciso Rodriguez's signature musk, vetiver, amber, cardamom, and citrus notes.

These woody fragrances offer a range of options to suit different preferences and occasions, providing a balanced and warm scent that is perfect for the cooler seasons.

Citrus fragrances

Dior Homme Cologne Eau de Toilette by Dior

This cologne is regarded as one of the greatest scents and is well-priced with a fresh citrus smell. It has top notes of Calabrian bergamot, a grapefruit blossom heart, and a white musk base. While it may not be the best choice for formal occasions, it is perfect for wearing around the house, to the office, and on weekends.

MYSLF Eau de Parfum by Yves Saint Laurent

This addictive scent could become your new signature. It has bergamot top notes, Tunisian orange blossom middle notes, and a patchouli and ambrofix base. It is a great staple citrus cologne that is perfect for spring and summer. While some critics noted a heavy amount of vanilla and floral notes in the dry-down, our tests found it to be balanced.

Pacific Chill by Louis Vuitton

This cologne is like a mojito in a bottle, with coriander, lemon, mint, citron, orange, and an overarching cucumber scent. It is long-lasting, with 5-6 hours of projection on the skin, and is perfect for the office, date nights, and cocktail evenings in the warmer months.

Perseus by Parfums de Marly

A unique scent that turns the idea of a typical citrus fragrance on its head. It has grapefruit, bergamot, and black currant top notes, green mandarin and vetiver middle notes, and a base of dry wood, ambergris, cashmere wood, balsam fir, cedar, and tonka bean. While it may not be for everyone's taste, it is memorable and performs well for a fresh scent.

Bohemian Lime by Goldfield & Banks

A niche, unique, and colourful fragrance with finger lime and coriander top notes and a woody base of vetiver, cedarwood, and sandalwood. It is perfect for daily wear during the warmer months and has solid longevity, with 4-6 hours of projection on the skin.

Acqua di Giò Profondo Eau De Parfum by Giorgio Armani

A fresh marine scent with hints of aromatics, perfect for sitting by the seaside on a warm day. It has notes of Aquozone, bergamot, green mandarin, rosemary, lavender, cypress, and amber. While it is fresher than it is citrus, it is a well-balanced, neutral scent that would work for everyone.

Colonia Futura by Acqua di Parma

A great niche citrus scent for men that is bitter, masculine, and zesty. It has strong opening notes of grapefruit and lemon and a bitterness that makes it stand out. It is a little old-school but is a good option for daily wear as it leans more professional and mature.

Timeless by Clive Christian

A timeless and unique fragrance that is comfortable to wear without being boring. It has top notes of lime, bitter orange, and ginger, middle notes of mint, lavender, coriander, and nutmeg, and a base of vetiver, musk, amber, and leather. It is very long-lasting, with projection beyond 6 hours, and is perfect for the office, dinner parties, cocktail events, and awards ceremonies.

Neroli Sauvage by Creed

A pink lemonade smell that is perfect for warmer days. It has bergamot and grapefruit top notes, verbena and neroli middle notes, and an ambergris base. While it has good longevity, with 4-6 hours of projection on the skin, the longevity is not as good as expected for the high price point.

Ani X by Nishane

The longest-lasting citrus scent for men, with projection beyond 10 hours on the skin. It has top notes of lemon, bergamot, melon, ginger, cardamom, water notes, and pink pepper, middle notes of green apple, patchouli, black currant, lavender, sage, and rose, and a base of vanilla, sandalwood, cashmere wood, ambergris, white musk, and cedar. It is a versatile, fresh, and sporty scent.

Drakkar Noir by Guy Laroche

A long-lasting, iconic fragrance that has been around since the 1980s. It has top notes of lemon, bergamot, and lavender, middle notes of juniper, cinnamon, and coriander, and a base of cedar, vetiver, and leather. It is a timeless style that will keep you smelling great all day and is ideal for work, the office, or a night out.

CK One by Calvin Klein

A unique gender-neutral scent with bold citrusy accents and crisp wood notes. It has top notes of lemon, mandarin orange, and papaya, middle notes of violet, nutmeg, and freesia, and a base of musk, cedar, and green tea. It is not too overpowering and can be worn every day without becoming too much, making it a classic scent.

Touch by Burberry

A beautiful blend of citrus and spice, with notes of mandarin, cedarwood, nutmeg, and white pepper. It is light and refreshing, making it perfect for warmer days. It is versatile and can be worn for any occasion, whether heading to the office or out for a weekend brunch.

Eau Sauvage by Christian Dior

A great option for a fall cologne with a balance of freshness and depth. The citrus notes give it a light and refreshing quality, while the woodsy and spicy notes make it warm and cozy. It has been a staple of the Dior fragrance catalog since the 1960s and is popular among men under 50.

Longevity

When it comes to making your cologne last longer, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, check the concentration level of your cologne. The higher the concentration, the longer the scent will last. For example, perfumes have the highest concentration level, ranging from 15 to 40 percent, and can last up to 8 hours.

Another important factor is when you choose to apply your cologne. Rather than applying it right before you head out, it's best to apply it right after you shower. This is because your pores are still open, allowing the cologne to seep into your skin and giving it a longer-lasting aroma. Additionally, applying cologne to hydrated skin will help it last longer, so consider moisturising your skin or using petroleum jelly on your pulse points before spraying your cologne.

The way you store your cologne can also affect its longevity. Avoid storing it in the bathroom, as heat, humidity, and light can speed up the breakdown of the scent. Instead, keep it in a cool, dark, and dry place, like your bedroom drawer or closet.

To make your cologne last longer throughout the day, apply it to your pulse points, including your neck, wrists, chest, lower jaw, forearms, inside of your elbows, and behind your knees. These areas are warmer, which will help the scent develop and linger. However, avoid rubbing your wrists together after applying cologne, as this can break down the molecules of the scent, making it disappear faster.

If you want to freshen up your scent during the day, consider reapplying it discreetly. Carrying a full-size bottle of cologne with you isn't practical, but you can use cotton swabs to dab some cologne on, which can easily be carried around in a plastic bag.

Finally, layering your fragrance can also help it last longer. Many fragrance companies offer complementary products like soaps, deodorants, and body creams that have the same scent as your cologne. Using these products together will strengthen the fragrance and make it last longer.

Price

The good news is that price doesn't always correlate to how good a fragrance smells or performs. In fact, there are some inexpensive options that outperform niche designer wears in terms of utility and wear experience.

When it comes to cheap colognes, you can find some great options in the $20-40 range, and even cheaper if you shop online, where brands like Calvin Klein and Tommy Bahama often have heavy discounts.

• Nautica Voyage EDT Spray: A 3.4 oz bottle can be purchased for under $30, and it has an aquatic aroma with musky and fruity undertones.
• Antonio Banderas Blue Seduction for Men Eau De Toilette Spray: Priced at around $30, this cologne has a warm, watery, fruity aroma with a crisp, cold fruit top note.
• Bogart Pour Homme: At around $20-25, this cologne offers a light citrus and floral top note, with hints of rose and a creamy vanilla and tonka bean base.
• Guess 1981 Los Angeles: This cologne, priced at around $30, starts off with bergamot and plum, followed by an aromatic blend of ginger and pepper, and dries down to an herbal and warm scent.
• Spice & Black Vanilla by Cremo: Available for around $20, this cologne offers a blend of cardamom, tobacco, and black vanilla, with hints of cinnamon and a woody dry-down.
• Jaguar Classic Gold Eau de Toilette Spray: This cologne, usually priced at around $20, features a blast of citrus and apple, with floral and vanilla notes, and a woody base.

So, if you're looking for a great-smelling cologne that won't break the bank, these options are definitely worth considering.

Application

When applying cologne, it's important to consider the following factors: the type of cologne, the amount applied, and the areas of application.

Firstly, different types of colognes have varying concentrations of fragrance oils, which affect their intensity and longevity. Eau de Cologne, for instance, typically has a lower concentration of 2-4% fragrance oil, resulting in a more subtle scent that lasts for around two hours. On the other hand, Eau de Parfum, with a higher concentration of 15-20% fragrance oil, offers a stronger and longer-lasting fragrance, usually lasting up to six hours. Understanding these differences will help you choose the right cologne for your desired level of scent projection and duration.

Secondly, the amount of cologne applied plays a crucial role in its overall impact. It's generally recommended to apply cologne sparingly, as less is often more when it comes to fragrances. Overapplication can lead to an overpowering scent that may be unpleasant for both the wearer and those around them. A light application, on the other hand, allows the fragrance to unfold more subtly and naturally.

Lastly, knowing where to apply cologne can make a significant difference in its effectiveness. Pulse points, such as the neck, wrists, and behind the ears, are ideal locations as these areas generate heat, which helps to activate and diffuse the fragrance. Additionally, applying cologne to moisturized skin can enhance its longevity, as the moisture helps the scent cling to the skin for a more enduring aroma.

• Eau Fraiche: With a very low concentration of fragrance oil (1-3%), eau fraiche typically lasts for about one to two hours. Apply it directly to your pulse points, such as your neck, wrists, or behind your ears, for optimal projection.
• Eau de Cologne: As this type of cologne has a slightly higher concentration (3-5%), it will last a bit longer, up to two to three hours. Again, focus on pulse points for the best scent projection.
• Eau de Toilette: With a concentration of 5-15% fragrance oil, eau de toilette will last you through the workday, typically lasting for two to three hours. Apply it to your pulse points, and consider reapplying once or twice throughout the day if needed.
• Eau de Parfum: Due to its higher concentration of fragrance oil (15-20%), eau de parfum will provide the longest-lasting scent, typically four to six hours. Apply it to your pulse points, and you may find that a single application is sufficient for the entire day.
• Parfum: As the most concentrated type of cologne (20-30% fragrance oil), parfum will give you the strongest and longest-lasting scent, up to eight hours or more. A little goes a long way, so apply sparingly to your pulse points, and you may only need a single application for the entire day.

Remember, when applying cologne, always consider the strength of the fragrance and adjust the amount and frequency of application accordingly. Less is often more when it comes to cologne, and you can always reapply if needed. Additionally, storing your cologne in a cool, dry place will help maintain its quality and longevity over time.

Frequently asked questions