We are fast approaching the holiday season once again and so I thought that I’d do another post about inexpensive options in men’s fragrances. This time around I’m going to concentrate on those colognes that are available for under $20 but above $10.
(Note: Updating this post 7 years later, some of them are now slightly above $20, but it can depend on which bottle size you opt for. But, I’ve added other perfumes that stick to the original $10-20 range).
I ended up with numerous types of selections on this list, so there is basically something for everybody on here. However, if you want even more options (or you searched for scents in the 20 pound or euro range) also check out: Best for under $10, Best other cheapies Part 1 and Part 2
Quick Takeaways
I go further in depth into each of these and other picks below, but here’s a quick look for those in a hurry.
It’s a citrusy aquatic scent with good longevity and an attractive aroma. It has been a best-seller for years and Nautica has spun off the name into numerous flanker colognes, almost all of which, aren’t nearly as good as this original.
Voyage opens up with a cooling scent that is unique and attractive. Apple, musk, and mimosa. This is a floral fragrance in its middle act, still with an aquatic and dewy aroma throughout. My Full Review of Voyage Cologne
Spiced Delight
Spice & Black Vanilla– You could honestly go with numerous options from Cremo (like Blue Cedar & Cypress or Palo Santo), as they all smell really good and the price is right around $20.
The spice mix seems to be a cardamom and cinnamon blend, with the latter being weaker, and not to the same extent as the Viktor & Rolf cologne, Spicebomb. That top is spicier, but the dry down is vanilla based and quite woody.
The longevity is actually decent, but the sillage here isn’t overly powerful. It seemed to hit that 5-7 hour mark of wear, just mostly sitting close to the skin. For the price? Great quality and aroma. Also, available at Target and Wal-Mart currently.
But, what you end up with is a good deal of the vanilla note, with woody notes and that peppery kick. Early, you get a light apple scent which adds a fruity sweetness to the overall composition.
A bit floral with neroli and the lavender which blends with the vanilla late. Yet, it never felt all that heavy to me.
Penguin is blended well and also smells pretty good. Not my first pick, but it can do the job for a truly low price (under $15, at times). A good mix between work and casual wear.
The citrus opening, prominent orange blossom and floral notes, and at times bitter herbal qualities. Light with a clean and somewhat powdery finish in the latter stages. This one routinely goes for under $20 per bottle.
Wouldn’t be my first pick with an unlimited budge, but for cheap, Sculpture does a good job at providing value. The brand has a few other options, as well, if this style doesn’t do it for you.
The Seduction of Guess
Guess Seductive Men Edt Spray, 3.4 Ounce– Warm, sweet, and with a bit of spice. Guess Seductive Homme is an all-around good performer but really shines in the colder months of the year.
I still have a bottle of this one (update: finished it off) and it’s my go to from the Guess lineup. Seductive Blue also smells really good but it doesn’t have the same longevity as the original. You could also go with Los Angeles 1981, which is another great cheapie from the brand. My Original Guess Seductive Review
A Clean Hei
Hei by Alfred Sung for Men, Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.4-Ounce– Alfred Sung’s Hei is a staple for those who need a cheaply priced scent that does a fantastic job at delivering the goods. It is a really clean and fresh scent with a bit of powdery aroma to it.
Longevity and projection are good but not amazing, which is to be expected in this class of scents.
Watery notes and violet leaf give this an aquatic feel, but you also have a great bamboo note, and citrus top that energize the blend. This one is unique because you dry down into something woodier and greener with less of the aquatic start.
The Hilton Options
Paris Hilton for Men– The Paris Hilton line of colognes for men are very nice for the price point. Nowadays, they tend to go for around $25, but I’ve seen them recently for under $20 as well.
Really, you have multiple options from this brand beyond the listed Paris Hilton for Men. Gold Rush, Just Me, and Heir are all worth checking out. Depending on what kind of style of scent you’re looking for. For example, Just Me, is an Acqua di Gio styled fragrance.
Interesting mix of apple and pineapple notes to go along with some woodsy ones. That start can really explode off the skin. Pineapple and bergamot citrus together, are quite sharp.
It stays sweet, but follows things up with musk, woods, and lavender. I do have to say this doesn’t have a naturalistic smell at all, with its notes. So, it absolutely won’t appeal to everyone. If you like bold and sweet fragrances, this might be the one for you.
Best Men’s Colognes started back in 2013, as a way to share my learning experiences with different fragrances, as I dove head first into the hobby. Since then, I have written hundreds of reviews and other pages about perfumes and colognes.
This is going to serve as my inaugural review of a Bond No. 9 fragrance and I hope to cover them all in the future. However, since I’ve gotten a new vial of Riverside Drive wrapped in the bon-bon style this house’s samples are famous for, and it is fresh on my mind after wearing around…it’s time to write this out.
Riverside Drive is classified as unisex but it is slightly more towards the masculine side of things, though not overly so. In this post, I want to give my impressions of this scent, what it smells like, how it performs, and whether or not it is worth a buy.
Update:This is an older review from many years back. I’ve come back and made changes to it since. Also, Riverside Drive is now back in stock, after being gone from Bond’s lineup for a time.
What does Riverside Drive Smell Like?
Notes include: oakmoss, basil, pineapple, sandalwood, and violet
On the Creed side of things, it’s the violet note and pineapple (GIT has lemon), which gives it a similar vibe…it also sort of seems like an Aventus style fragrance. Not the same, just a comparison.
So, off the bat, if you like any of those scents, you’ll probably like Riverside Drive. The basil note is quite prevalent as well, which is why Libre comes to mind.
I’d say it’s most similar to those fragrances in the initial phase of wear, the basil/woodsy/floral notes hit pretty hard at first, and then this Bond cologne mellows out into something fruitier. It does have a slight vegetal aroma, in the early stages before it dries out completely.
The oakmoss is more at play from the start and then becomes more of a background player. Riverside Drive just comes off as a very dry smelling fragrance (ala Azzaro Homme, which shares the oakmoss note), as the pineapple isn’t a ‘juicy’ scent when combined with the other notes.
A fresh and still somewhat mossy sandalwood with a light patchouli and violet earthiness underneath. The basil isn’t too prevalent, towards the end, but the pineapple’s effect does seem to stick around.
Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility
Projection wise, it strikes me as a moderate. It isn’t a heavy fragrance, more than intimate though, and definitely noticeable. Maybe a 3-4 foot radius around you, after it has settled down.
It also has very good longevity and sticks with me as the day wears on. Maybe 8-9 hours of wear, in total. Not completely amazing, but I wasn’t disappointed with how Riverside performs, as you’ll get plenty of time with it.
Riverside Drive is a good scent for the warmer months, it really doesn’t have that nightlife appeal, however. I like it as a daily wear option for spring, mainly. Maybe the early part of the autumn too.
It is an attractive scent and girls seem to enjoy it. Again, I’d wear it during the daytime in more casual situations or for work, versus it being something to wear out on a date.
Overall Impressions of Riverside Drive
Overall, is Riverside Drive, worth a buy? That depends. I enjoy the scent but much like GIT, it isn’t really my style. As such, I don’t want to pay for a full bottle.
However, plenty of people would really like this stuff. It is a fine fragrance in my opinion and if any of the aforementioned colognes are one’s you really enjoy, I’d say go for it.
The smell itself is nice and if this is your style, you should at least like it a lot, if not love. The performance is good and this can easily become a signature fragrance for the right guy.
Best Men’s Colognes started back in 2013, as a way to share my learning experiences with different fragrances, as I dove head first into the hobby. Since then, I have written hundreds of reviews and other pages about perfumes and colognes.
Versace fragrances are known for being stylish, masculine, and unique. Not too many design houses have a roster of fragrances that are this deep and deliver the goods each time. Versace has plenty to offer men of different tastes and while it isn’t an inexpensive brand, it isn’t obscenely expensive for most people.
For this list, I have selected7 fragrances from Versace which I feel are the best. I have also added a few honorable mentions. Check out: Best Smelling Versace Perfumes for Women
What Are the Best Versace Perfumes for Him?
Tobacco Floral 90s Classic
DREAMER by Versace Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 oz– Not an overpowering fragrance but one that is highly memorable and sexy. It is sweet with enough spice to reel in the ladies and having them ask what it is you are wearing? Notes include: wild flowers, linen, amber and tobacco.
Update: They’ve reformulated and re-released this one. So, the notes and aroma are fairly different from this older version now.
Dreamer dates back to the mid-1990s and as such is now available at a great price. It opens up with a very fresh and smooth green tobacco note.
It’s uncured and more floral than the heavier pipe tobacco found in many other fragrances. This is paired with lavender to give it a floral and powdery heart.
However, its base is woody, herbal, and masculine. It’s dry with notes of fir and cedar. Then, an herbal spice of sage. Dreamer is a low key fragrance that is good for daily wear and is safe for the office. Dreamer Full Review
Pros
Clean and versatile fragrance
Inexpensive
Not overly powerful
Cons
May be to green/floral for some men’s tastes.
Best Selling Versace
Versace Eros Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Fluid Ounce– A deep and energetic cologne that projects an air of confidence and sensuality. Eros is the God of Love and this one is great for romantic wear. Notes include: mint, green apple, tonka bean, madagascar vanilla, vetiver.
This is now probably the most popular Versace cologne, since its release in 2012. It has now spawned a flanker called Eros Flame, which has now been released. Anyway, the original Versace Eros is bold and striking.
It opens with mint, apple, citrus, and vanilla. It’s got gourmand qualities, slight spice, and a cedar/woodsy base.
Eros is my favorite from the Versace lineup, I’d have to say. despite its extreme popularity, I still enjoy wearing this fragrance on a regular basis. Read my full review of Eros.
Note:The EDP version and the current version of the EDT rank about the same to me. The EDP has a better opening act, in my mind, however.
Pros
Sweet and bold profile
Great option for younger men
Performance
Cons
Not great in warmer weather
Can be too strong for office wear or school
The Other Eros
Versace Eros Parfum– Eros Parfum is the latest edition in the series, but is better than both the EDP and Flame, to my mind.
Eros Parfum obviously has plenty of overlap with the EDT and EDP. But, it does stand alone in how it presents itself.
Noticeably, the lemon note is toned down versus the original. Initially, the citrus is quite present, but it will fade.
You still get the lemon, apple, and mint notes but the weighting is different. Mint probably takes the biggest hit in the Parfum version. It does have a slight fresh spiciness early on from black pepper and sage, not too much.
The dry down goes vanilla, woods, benzoin and amber with the remaining fruity notes hanging around. Resinous and creamy to some extent. Nice strong sillage and will last a long while.
Dry, Rich, and Spicy
Versace Man by Versace 3.4oz 100ml EDT Spray– Versace Man is all about masculinity. It is rich and complex with spicy notes that deliver a beautiful aroma. The tobacco note leads the way and is a cured sort of tobacco aroma as opposed to the aforementioned Dreamer.
There is also pepper and cardamom giving Man a spice. Then, things shift a bit more towards a warmer floral blend of amber and saffron.
The end result is a refined, dry, and richly appointed fragrance which has good sillage and will last on one’s skin for quite a while. Update: This has been discontinued as of 2018, but you can still grab bottles online.
Eau Fraiche opens up with a crisp, cold, and refreshing lemon note and starfruit. It’s got an icy quality to it at first, which is really interesting, and great to spray on during the summer heat.
Then, Versace Man Eau Fraiche, warms up a bit. It becomes much woodier than just a straight citrus bomb and I think that’s when the fragrance really comes into its own. It’s all very light, clean, and super attractive.
The longevity is pretty good, I’ve gotten a little bit more than 6 hours of wear out of it, but this is a fantastic option for warmer climates or just as a strictly summertime wear.
It’s actually quite an intense fragrance, to my nose, for the first 30 minutes or so of wear. It mellows out a great deal afterwards, but that citrus opening is a bomb.
As it dries down, I get a lot more of the tonka bean and floral notes poking through, to give Versace Pour Homme much more depth of character. It is still a pretty straightforward cologne, which also provides some sage and cedar at the base.
I like Versace Signature but it was never my favorite from the line. It’s another one that is a great daily wear option for men who live in those warm climates, as it performs amazingly well in the heat. Notes include: Jasmine, Moroccan cedar wood, musk, kashmir wood, azalea. My review of Versace
Pros
Nice smelling option for guys who want a daily wear
Fresh and can hold up in the hotter climates
Cons
The opening act, can be overwhelming, at times
Solid, but not amazing performance
The Original
Versace L’Homme by Versace for Men – 3.4 Ounce EDT Spray– Admittedly, I overlooked this 1980s classic, the first go round with this list of top Versace colognes. L’Homme really is a fantastic scent and is now available at a great price.
Beyond that, it has so much depth, and a varied character. It opens up with a bold blend of citrus notes, headlined by lemon, and supported by bergamot.
Then, it dries down with leather, a cinnamon spice, and a mix of floral/woodsy notes. It’s got a clean aroma, with the citrus and leather. But then, the patchouli and other dry earthy elements come in, and dirty things up a tad.
It ends, as a smooth and dry citrus, with an air of absolute fresh spiciness. The longevity is good and the sillage can be pretty powerful, especially in the opening half hour or so. Very masculine and not really a teenager type of fragrance, at all.
Pros
Attractive price point
It’s classic style, stands out versus most modern scents
Wonderfully rich and masculine smell
Cons
Not for most younger guys
Honorable Mentions
The main seven listed here, are the best of the lot, and should be enough for anyone looking to get into Versace fragrances. However, there are other really nice options, that some would argue deserve a spot. To me, though, they are the best of the rest.
Then, there is the addition of a lovely fig. The dry down is more about the ambroxan and light spiciness. This one has lots to like, but overall, it just never stays at those heights in my opinion.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s a very nice cologne and a best seller, but doesn’t make the cut among the Versace elite. Dylan Blue Review
That’s a heck of a deal, even when compared to the better smelling fragrances from this list.
Blue Jeans, nonetheless, smells great. It’s simple and fresh, one that would be a great option, for younger man. You get some sweetness, with fresh notes such as lavender, and some underlying woods.
There is also some citrus in the opening. Very pleasant and a cologne, which is good for daily wear.
I do however, especially enjoy the tangerine and lemon top notes, the are juicy and beautiful.
The performance on this one, is also fantastic. I have a full bottle, and Eros Flame, will hit double digit hours on my skin without a problem. This one is warmer, spicier, and drier than the original.
The differences really show in the latter stages. Nonetheless, Eros Flame is a likeable fragrance, and I still wear it from time to time. Eros Flame Review
Best Men’s Colognes started back in 2013, as a way to share my learning experiences with different fragrances, as I dove head first into the hobby. Since then, I have written hundreds of reviews and other pages about perfumes and colognes.
Men’s colognes are available at a wide range of price points, from the insanely expensive, to the super cheap. The thing is, the price doesn’t necessarily correlate to how good a fragrance smells or performs.
In fact, there are some inexpensive options which blow niche designer wears, out of the water. Not always in terms of the quality of ingredients used, but utility and a more pleasant wear experience.
In this post, I want to explore some of the best options, of budget perfumes for him. I want to give a fairly large array of different styles, so that, one could hone in one a particular fragrance or pick up a few to cover all occasions. These are in the $20-40 range, max.
What are the Best Affordable Fragrances for Men?
Most Popular Inexpensive Fragrance
Nautica Voyage 3.4 oz., EDT Spray- A 3.4 oz bottle can be purchased for under $30 and a 1.7 oz for under $20. This is a really great fragrance and is affordable for just about any budget.
Nautica Voyage has an aquatic aroma with musky undertones. However, the main attraction is the fruit which is listed as apple, and has a cold crispness to it. Very fresh with additional floral notes.
This one has a cold aroma, with the crisp cucumber-like juiciness. It’s aquatic but not oceanic or marine, meaning, it doesn’t have that heavy sea salt note as others do.
Floral and green undertones provided by oak moss, mimosa, and lotus. Voyage is one for daytime use and will usually go for about 7 hours on my skin, when wearing it.
Voyage is a constant best-seller because it delivers that bright and sunny aroma with nice performance. It has that usual Nautica marine/aquatic profile with a cedarwood base holding it all together.
Blue Seduction is a warm weather fruity aquatic cologne, that is both familiar to other colognes on the market, yet does its own thing.
It is led by a phenomenal melon note compared to how much this costs. The base is watery aquatic with that crisp and cold fruit on top. This is all further chilled/freshened by a dose of mint.
The Bogart
Bogart Pour Homme– I’m actually going to give you two options from the Jacques Bogart line. Pour Homme and Riviera Nights. Both are around $20-25 and are appropriate for grown men, rather than teens.
With Pour Homme, you get a light citrus and floral top. Hints of rose, but it’s mostly about the lavender for much of the wear.
Then comes, the vanilla and tonka bean creaminess paired with musk and woods. It’s sweet, but dry, especially with the oak moss and cedar notes coming in strong at times. Solid performance. Clean and a classic style.
Riviera Nights is the more interesting of the two. Actually, it has a very nice mature profile, great for a multitude of occasions.
The opening has a blast of grapefruit citrus and dried fruits, which provides the sweetness of the scent, that will play a background role for much of the wear. But, that fruitiness will meet the spice of nutmeg and cardamom, creating a good balance.
Dry, hints of tobacco, floral, but those dried fruits add a great element to this one, as well.
Nice Newer Guess
Guess 1981 Los Angeles, 3.4 Oz– Guess has some nice cheapies, on the whole. I don’t know if any of their fragrances are terrible, so you’ll get a decent value with any.
But, 1981 Los Angeles is the latest best addition to the line, following the Seductive series. It starts off with bergamot and plum, a bit sweet and tart. Then, an aromatic blend of ginger and pepper.
It’s fresh and cold at first with a pretty big dose of mint outshining the spices and geranium note. As it dries down, it will feel herbal and warm with an amber base.
It retains its fresh spices, gains woodiness (vetiver and sandalwood), loses much of the fruity sweetness, then comes with an attractive powdery finish.
A Plethora of Picks
#Imagine by The Dua Brand– This entry to the list is actually a lot more than just one. I’m listing one of my favorite fragrances of this type, but Dua has hundreds of more.
The Dua Brand specializes in not only creating their own unique perfumes, but also scents which are ‘inspired by’ popular designer fragrances…at a much cheaper price.
So, I’ve bought 10+ bottles from them of different kinds. Listed above, is their version of the Imagination by LV formula.
This can give you the opportunity to get high quality near matches of some of the more expensive designer and niche perfumes. They usually have discount codes to knock prices back within our range, also.
A Linear Spicebomb
Spice & Black Vanilla by Cremo– Cremo has a few very nice fragrances for around $20. Spice & Black Vanilla is a popular one because it pretty closely mimics the popular Spicebomb.
I for sure see the connection, between the two. To me, it’s sort of like Spicebomb with touches of Spicebomb Extreme, but simplified. Sweeter, too.
The spice mix seems to be a cardamom and cinnamon blend, with the latter being weaker, and not to the same extent as the Viktor & Rolf cologne. That top is spicier, but the dry down is vanilla based and quite woody.
Maybe a hint of tobacco here? Not sure, as I tried this once a while ago. But, again not to the same extent as Spicebomb. Very smooth and pleasant wear.
The longevity is actually decent, but the sillage here isn’t overly powerful. It seemed to hit that 5-7 hour mark of wear, just mostly sitting close to the skin. For the price? Great quality and aroma. Also, available at Target and Wal-Mart currently.
The name indicates its spicy profile, but that belies its rather unique profile overall. Basil and paprika are two prominent notes, which just doesn’t happen all that often in the world of men’s fragrances.
But, it’s not just a hot mess. It has sweetness and a smooth warmth provided by the amber. Moderate sillage and rather fresh as a cologne. Once the paprika has fallen into the background Hot Water becomes more herbal, with a touch of that sweetness.
Golden Performance
Jaguar Classic Gold Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce– Jaguar is a brand that I’ve overlooked for a long time, with their fragrances. Classic Gold from their line, really is a nice cologne, and usually only runs about $20 per bottle.
It’s mostly a big blast of citrus and apple, other floral notes, and vanilla to round things out. Sweet and sharp up top, but settles down to unveil the light floral aroma. The woodsy base gives this one a more substantial composition, than the early stages might indicate.
Smells nice. The real prize is the performance, though. This one lasts on the skin as long as many higher end designer fragrances, even if it’s not to the same quality with the ingredients.
Cheap Daily Wear for Younger Guys
Tommy by Tommy Hilfiger for Men – 3.4 oz EDT Spray– Tommy is the perfect simple blend of sweet and fresh. Tommy gives you a clean, crisp, and sort of aquatic blast of citrus notes and apple.
That sliced juicy apple is met by a cool batch of mint, which intermingle among the grapefruit and bergamot.
I think one of the reasons that this caught on so well, is that, Tommy has the familiar young men’s fragrance ingredients while adding notes such as cranberry and cactus.
This allows the fragrance to be distinct, as these unusual notes beautifully play a support role within the composition. Very clean and juicy. Tommy Full Review
Best Affordable Woody Fragrance
Encre Noire– A very popular scent that is inexpensive but provides a lot of bang for your buck. Encre Noire is a wood based cologne with cypress, vetiver, and cashmere being the main attractions here.
Of course as the name suggests, it is a dark scent with an air of mystery, and a nice dash of smokiness.
It is dry and features a vetiver note that feels a bit unique than some of the others on the market. Encre Noire is a fragrance for guys who want a woody/earthy sort of scent, at a very fair price. It’s not always on sale, but it can still be found within our range.
The Acqua Alternative
Just Me by Paris Hilton for Men – 3.4 Ounce EDT Spray– The Paris Hilton line of colognes sort of flies under the radar compared to the ladies’ perfumes. However, that’s a mistake, because she put out some very enjoyable fragrances for around $20.
Just Me, often gets compared to the famous Acqua di Gio. The similarities are definitely there, and nowadays, the performance is pretty much on equal footing. This one opens sweeter with a blueberry note, that is paired with citrus.
Add to that hints of spice, smokiness, sea breeze, grass, and floral notes. It’s a citrus aquatic with hints of woods and incense smoke, at the end. Just Me Review
Lavender and vanilla are probably the two most noticeable of the notes, though, it’s a well blended scent. As such, you’ll detect slight whiffs of different floral, citrus, and woody notes. Blue Jeans has a classic clean powdery/shaving cream aroma.
During the dry down, this one gets a bit sweeter, as the vanilla seems to be draped over the sandalwood, rosewood, and cedar notes. It’s not too heavy but has a nice longevity. Blue Jeans works well in a variety of situations from casual to more formal wear.
The New Nautica
Nautica Midnight Voyage– The massive continued success of the original Voyage, has led Nautica to keep trying their hand at making another scent under this banner a hit. Most of them, have been pretty much forgettable.
However, that changed with the more recent Midnight Voyage. Amber, mint, and pink peppercorn blend with seemingly a bit of the original Voyage DNA.
It has that amber/ambroxan sort of aroma, like found in the popular Dior Sauvage. It’s not the same, but you get that kind of vibe.
Midnight Voyage is a bit spicy, but in a fresh and cooling way, while retaining its nautical and summery mystique. I think there is a hint of citrus in here, also, but I haven’t seen it listed. This is worth a try and the large bottles are starting to go on sale for cheap.
The citrus opening, prominent orange blossom and floral notes, and at times bitter herbal qualities. Light with a clean and somewhat powdery finish in the latter stages. This one routinely goes for under $20 per bottle.
Maybe not the best formal wear, but as an all-around scent, this has got plenty to recommend about it.
Another Greek Legend
Ulysse by Vicky Tiel– Ulysse is a really nice and rather unique cologne to wear for around $20. Up top it’s green, fresh, and citrusy. With some musk added. Yet, it will dry down softer with lavender led floral and some powdery vanilla.
Light and the greenish notes have a dewy, almost aquatic aroma in the early stages. That lime note really stands out in the early sprays. It’s a refreshing fragrance for the daytime, while not being weak and having great longevity for this price point.
Sweeter and floral as it dries down. Super sophisticated? No, but pleasant and a fun wear for chill days.
The Celebrity Cologne for Cheap
David Beckham Instinct EDT Spray For Men, 2.5 Ounce– One of the fragrances from the athlete’s line of colognes, all of which are very affordable. Instinct is citrusy with notes of orange and bergamot which are paired with a slightly spicy anise note.
It is fresh and warm when it dries down with a vetiver and amber blend.
Instinct opens up with those citrus top notes leading the way. Bergamot and orange are the main attraction but you get some rugged and earthy notes playing supporting roles, here.
Not too spicy but there’s enough of a kick to make this one distinct. It becomes warmer and drier as the fragrance plays itself out.
You’re left with something that is citrus, woodsy, and with an anise spice. Very nice at this price point. It’s been a top seller in this dollar range, for many years now Instinct Review
Designer Style for a Low Cost
Ferrari Scuderia Black Eau De Toilette Spray For Men- Scuderia Black opens with red apple, plum, and bergamot leading the way. This fruity aroma is warm and spicy with the added notes of cinnamon and cardamom.
This Ferrari scent is like a cheaper version of Boss Bottled. It dries down with woods, vanilla, and amber. A very nice buy for under $20.
I like the plum note in here, which while not too heavy, does add tart aroma to the composition. This gives Scuderia Black a more unique feel than just being a Boss Bottled clone.
The Ferrari line does produce a lot of scents that provide a great bang for your buck and Scuderia Black is among my favorites. Sweet/warm/slight spice/woodsy. It hits so many different check marks and is something that will work well for lots of guys. Ferrari Scuderia Black Review
L’Homme has depth and style. It opens up with that signature Versace Italian citrus, this time, lemon and bergamot.
The next level is cinnamon, leather, and a woodsy floral mix. Clean citrus and leather, with a rough finish from the dry earthy notes in the base. Smooth, dry, and fresh spice. Versace L’Homme is still one of their best and most affordable parfums.
Best Clean Crowd Pleaser
Curve by Liz Claiborne for Men – 4.2 Ounce Cologne Spray– Curve is a wildly popular fragrance for men because it smells so great, even after a few decades of being for sale. It’s not a heavy or any overpowering scent but one that is fresh and memorable.
People always react positively to this one it seems, as Curve’s unique blend of notes, just draws people in. For an inexpensive cologne, this is a complement machine.
There are fruity elements such as pineapple, citrus, and juniper berries which play off a calm and clean lavender note. It is super fresh with a slight spice provided by pepper and ginger. However, the outdoorsy elements really set this Liz Claiborne creation apart.
It’s got a floral charm while being masculine and uses mahogany and cactus as a part of its base. An almost perfect choice for the younger guy, as it is non-offensive, doesn’t cost much, and is quite versatile in a number of situations. My review of Curve
Woody Inexpensive Masterpiece
Zino Davidoff by Zino Davidoff for Men Eau De Toilette Spray, 4.2 Ounce– Yes, yes, another one from Davidoff. What can I say? The older classics stick around at a lower price. Not as big of a seller as Cool Water, but does it’s own thing with notes of sandalwood and patchouli as the main attractions.
Masculine with enough sweetness in vanilla and floral notes. Yet, it is mainly a deep woody/patchouli fragrance that sits beautifully in the colder air of late autumn and winter. Very well done. Smooth and not too heavy, but with enough performance to get through a standard work day.
Earthy with a dry woods, it comes together as clean, but definitely has an underlying dirtiness. 80s fragrance, that gives you something different from most modern colognes.
Masculine, Designer Style
Ferragamo Black– Ferragamo Black is a very popular option for guys, who want something awesome for under $30. This is probably because of its similarities to La Nuit by YSL which it does share plenty of overlap with, but it isn’t an exact clone.
It features a very prominent lavender note, which is paired with crisp apple from the opening, this is a familiar aroma in a lot of men’s scents.
Later, the creamy tonka bean comes out with a sharp black pepper note, to give it a great masculine blend. For the price, this has to be included in a list of the best cheapies for men.
Unique and Attractive for a Small Price
Guess Seductive Men Edt Spray, 3.4 Ounce– I came across this cologne 8+ years ago. I discovered it while shopping at Target, and my initial reaction was, that it was a wonderful and unique smelling fragrance.
Guess Seductive begins with mandarin orange and a wonderful cardamom milk, which gives it a blend of fruity sweetness and warm spice. Then, the pink pepper comes in, and begins its strengthening from there.
It’s all wrapped up together with musk and amber, with some orchid bringing a floral vibe underneath the main notes. The performance has always been solid for me, with a decent sillage, that can get noticed.
Notes include: Cardamom Milk, Pink Pepper, Patchouli, Sandalwood, And Musk. Read my review here!
Best Men’s Colognes started back in 2013, as a way to share my learning experiences with different fragrances, as I dove head first into the hobby. Since then, I have written hundreds of reviews and other pages about perfumes and colognes.
Yves Saint Laurent is a French fashion company which produces among other things, fantastic scents. YSL is honestly one of my favorite fragrance designers, as I know I’ll always get both unique and masculine scents to wear.
YSL has produced fantastic colognes since the 1970s and many of them are not even included on this list as they are either no longer produced or just really hard to find (scents such as: YSL Pour Homme, Live Jazz, M7, and Kouros Tattoo). All worthy of a spot, just too far in the past.
For this list, I have chosen what I consider to be the twelve best smelling Yves Saint Laurent colognes for men currently available (at least online). Each of them represents a different style and situation to which to wear them in.
Note: I have updated this page from the original, to expand further, and make necessary edits. Mainly, add new one’s to the list and move discontinued fragrances towards the bottom. Also See: Best YSL Perfumes for Ladies
What Are the Top Smelling Men’s Fragrances from Saint Laurent?
Classy Event
Tuxedo by YSL– I was late to the party with this one, but man, is this a great juice. Tuxedo is one of their more expensive offerings, but is an absolute gem.
It opens up with its spicy kick of cardamom and black pepper. It’s not super massive with that spice, as it is subdued by the sweeter notes and the fact that they are swimming in a sea of warm amber.
The other layer up top is greenish, a little earthy, watery, and smoky. Mostly, patchouli and violet leaf. After that, we will transition away from the spice to a sweeter floral with notes of vanilla and rose.
It all comes together with a great balance and stylish feeling that begs to be worn while dressed up. It may not be for everyone or one specifically for daily wear, but Tuxedo is one to try and one of YSL’s best. Tuxedo Review
Vestiaire Des Parfums Pick
6 Place Saint Sulpice by YSL– So, like the other major designers, YSL has its own higher end unisex blends available under the Vestiaire des Parfums banner. 6 Place Saint Sulpice is one such offering and it is really darn good.
This one is deep and rich, more niche than the best sellers on this list. Leather, saffron, lavender, labdanum, and tonka bean.
At times it’s creamy. Then, it’ll be smoky and very woody while sitting on top of the ever-present leather note. I’ve only come across this scent once, the leather almost felt more of a suede to me. But, I’d need to spend more time with Sulpice.
This isn’t going to one for most folks. It’s warm, spice, nutty, woody, smoky. and has a lot of depth. But, for the right person, this is gold.
Now, this is going to run you in the $250 per bottle range. Also, while there are still bottles available as of posting, I’m not sure how long that is going to be the case. I believe it is now discontinued.
Best New Cologne Release and Daily Wear Pick
Yves Saint Laurent Y Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 3.3 Ounce– The newest release from YSL, that makes the list of its best. Y EDP, was released after the very nice Y EDT, but surpassed it in every way. Not only that, it was one of the best releases of 2018, and a top offering from Yves Saint Laurent.
Y EDP opens up with a crisp freshness provided by a blend of: bergamot, apple, and ginger. It is blended perfectly and grabs one’s attention, from the start. After that, comes the warmth and creaminess of tonka bean and amberwood, which is further freshened by juniper.
This one has outstanding longevity of over 10 hours, on my skin, and a solid but not overly loud sillage. It is clean, with moments of sweetness, herbal aromas, and underlying woodiness. I had to update this list, to include Y EDP. It seems like it’s catching on now and getting its just due.
Y EDP is their best current release, in my opinion (vintage bottles of other entries notwithstanding). Y EDP Review
Flanker L’Homme
L’Homme EDP– There’s been a long list of flankers stemming from the original L’homme release by YSL. Some, were really good and sadly long gone. Others, not so much.
Eau de Parfum was released from the brand in 2022 and is one of the better colognes to be under the L’Homme banner.
Bergamot and bitter orange open things up. It’s sweet, juicy, feels ambery, and you get the oak and cognac combination also coming through. It’ll dry down into something that is more woody, earthy, with notes of geranium and lavender also making an appearance.
The performance is just okay. I wish it was beefed up more and I got more time with the opening act. Still, this is a release from the line worth trying. L’Homme EDP Review
Most Popular Cologne
Yves Saint Laurent La Nuit De L’homme Eau de Toilette Spray, 3.3-Ounce
A soft, casual, long-lasting, and fantastic smelling cologne from Yves Saint Laurent. This is another one that turns the heads of the ladies and it is masculine without being in your face about it. Cardamom provides a warm spice, which is then met with a calming lavender note.
The composition is also quite woody with a dry freshness from the combo of cedar and vetiver. This has been a best seller for a decade, at this point.
Simple, straight to the point. I will say, that recent bottles, have seemed weaker than in the past. Yet, La Nuit is still among YSL’s best men’s perfumes.
Update: I’ve got a full bottle of this and L’Homme from 2021 and the longevity has gotten really bad for both. Like, 2-3 hours. They can be had for a lower price usually, but just be prepared to reapply, if you decide to go this route. Still smells great, just weak.
La Nuit de L’Homme Bleu Électrique– This is a newer release for 2021, that I only tried once, but it’s a worthwhile addition to the list. I still do need to spend more time with Bleu and give it a full and proper review.
It is pretty close to the one above, but with a noticeably fresher opening act with the ginger note and a greater use of the lavender note versus the very cardamom focused original La Nuit. The citrus up top also seemed stronger to me, but it’s been a while since I’ve had a bottle of the old stuff.
Performance was much better, but again I need to test it out more. One noticeable difference is the tonka bean in the base, similar to that found in Eau Electrique (listed below).
Top Herbal/Woods Fragrance Pick
Jazz By Yves Saint Laurent For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.3 Ounces
A harder to find classic from the late 1980s. Jazz is a spicy floral based cologne that has a knack for attracting women. Jazz is a throwback fragrance, to a time before you had a bunch of aquatics, and the same ambroxan-laden colognes that you have today.
It is green, herbal, spicy, fresh, and captivating. Masculine and mature, not overpowering, but subtle in its confidence. Jazz has a slightly soapy aroma, but with more woods and spice. There are still bottles floating around of Jazz.
Live Jazz was also another awesome scent, but I haven’t seen that one in quite a while, and they never re-released it. Notes include: sandalwood, rose, spices, and amber. Jazz EDT Full Review
Top Classic Masculine Laurent Scent
Kouros by Yves Saint Laurent for Men – 3.3 Ounce EDT Spray
Another very attractive scent from YSL. Like Jazz, it has a blend of floral notes and spicy one too but Kouros adds undertones of woods to give it that extra depth. This one is intense. This dates back to the early 1980s, and as such, has been reformulated and changed with time.
I can’t say what it originally was like, but from all accounts, it was an absolute bomb. I know it from mid-2000s onward. Kouros is not one for everybody, some will love it, while others will detest it. At times it is clean and bright, at others, dirty and rough.
Today, it really doesn’t strike me as being all that dirty. Early stages of spice, aldehydes giving it a fresh brightness, and an ever-present musk. Later, it’s sweeter, has leather, and a classic floral finish.
This is going to come across as completely different from other parfums pour homme, that are usually released nowadays. The 80s, was a time of lots of super bold and masculine scents. and Kouros was absolutely one of them. Kouros Full Review
Honorable Mentions
Best YSL Winter Perfume Pour Homme
Yves Saint Laurent Body Kouros for Men, Eau De Toilette, 3.3 Fluid Ounce
Great casual cologne which is a favorite of mine in the winter months. It blends eucalyptus, incense, and woods for a candy sweet fragrance with a bit of spice. Kouros Body, is a very unique fragrance, that was released by YSL back in 2000.
Really, there’s nothing else that smells quite like it, due to the ingredients it used. It’s actually one of my favorites from YSL, but it’s not really produced anymore, so it’ll go in this section.
The main note is bezoin that is paired with a smokey incense note and a somewhat medicinal eucalyptus. It is very smooth, with an enveloping warmth, and a light spice within the sweetness powered by sage. It is very simple and super fresh.
The sillage was always pretty moderate, but it has a solid wear time. However, when women got close to me while I was wearing this, it usually got me complements. Not too many guys wear this and I was glad to stand out. I reviewed Kouros Body here
This gets moved to the honorable mentions now, since it’s been discontinued for a long time and those last bottles that YSL did produce, kind of lost a step with the quality/performance.
A rather warm and soft cologne that is great for fall and winter. Opium is an exotic and spicy scent with notes of vanilla which help to mellow it out. It opens up with that warm spice and a black currant note, that can be quite tart/sharp, however it is subdued in this one.
Balsam is highly present within the composition and creates a warm cloud, and to me, gives Opium its exotic and dream-like quality.
As the black currant settles, the spice from the anise and pepper take center stage, and boost the freshness of this cologne. Next, it turns sweeter, due to the familiar scent of vanilla which is sitting on top of a cedar base.
My bottle of Opium EDT, always gave me awesome performance, with a bold sillage and over 10 hours of wear. It is another cold weather fragrance and one that has always gone underappreciated. Notes include: vanilla, ginger, pepper, cedar, balsam. I reviewed Opium here
Electrique is creamy and smooth, with a powdery finish. Lots of tonka bean, geranium, crisp apple, vanilla and a fresh woody base featuring cedar. The performance is good, not overpowering, but quite a great wear in the autumn and winter months.
Not a ground breaking cologne, but this is really a pleasant fragrance to wear, and one which gets noticed. I’ve been hoping that this one would get cheap, so I could scoop up a really inexpensive bottle, but that hasn’t come to pass as of yet. Nevertheless, I think it’s a very worth perfume for men. Eau Electrique Review.
Ultime is super fresh and has a cold feeling aroma. It kicks off with a bright grapefruit, ginger, and Damascus rose. As it moves forward, it becomes drier, spicier, and woodier with notes such as cedar and sage.
I actually really enjoy the rose in here, it only really sticks around for the start, but it fits perfectly with the rest of the composition. The performance is good, but not elite, with 6-7 hours of wear coming from Ultime. Plus, you get something that stands out quite a bit from the usual popular men’s fragrances. L’Homme Ultime Review
Best Men’s Colognes started back in 2013, as a way to share my learning experiences with different fragrances, as I dove head first into the hobby. Since then, I have written hundreds of reviews and other pages about perfumes and colognes.
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