Men’s Fashion

6 Best Cheap Men’s Fragrances for Summer 2020

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I want to continue on with the summertime posts, on the site. We’re about to enter the full swing of things soon, as such, I figured I should post a list of some great budget colognes for men. I ended up picking six options for guys who want something cheap and that actually smells great.

I have linked my full reviews of each choice, as well as, linking them out to Amazon for further info and purchase. By no means is the a complete list, but it definitely has enough to get someone through the heat this summer.

What are the Top Inexpensive Pour Homme Perfumes for Summertime?

Fresh Citrus Fragrance for Summer

Zegna Uomo By Ermenegildo Zegna 3.4 Oz/100ml Eau De Toilette Spray– For whatever reason, this one has come way down in price, over the past few years. You can, as of writing, pick up a bottle for between $15-30 depending on the size. This is a really great deal, at that price point, as this is a legitimately good designer cologne.

Uomo starts off with a fresh and slightly aquatic blend of citrus notes and violet leaf. The violet leaf, will become the main ingredient, as things move along. It also has a cedar base which lends to the super fresh aroma.

Uomo has excellent performance and a nice overall scent. I thought that it was a good option, at its old price, but heavily discounted…this is a steal. Uomo Full Review

Inexpensive Designer Pick

Fendi Fan Di Acqua Pour Homme EDT Spray for Men, 1.7 Ounce– Fan di Fendi Acqua is another designer scent, that has been heavily discounted. I think this will be cheap, until the current overstock gets scarce, and then might go back up.

In the mean time, guys have a chance to pick a bottle of this summertime aquatic, for super cheap. I bought a full bottle for $20, a few months ago.

Acqua opens up with bergamot, cedar and aquatic notes which are surrounded by a warm spiciness of peppercorn and pink pepper. While it starts off fairly spicy, it settles down into a uniquely smooth aquatic, with a great leather note.

Is this the most amazing fragrance? No, but it is quite underrated. When compared with the usual scents at this price, the quality and overall experience is much better. Fan di Fendi Acqua Review

Sporty Aquatic

Calvin Klein ETERNITY AQUA Eau de Parfum– Eternity Aqua is one that you may need to shop around for, in order to find a more affordable price. At some places, it is still selling for full retail, while others have stock that is way discounted.

This one has a striking resemblance to Polo Blue, but a bit different, and I find it more enjoyable. It’s a very nice and crisp aquatic scent with decent but not great longevity.

I wouldn’t pay full retail for it, but I did pick up a small travel sprayer for around $10, to use during the summer. I have actually been spraying it a lot, since Aqua is an attractive daytime wear, for that crazy low price. Eternity Aqua Review

Most Popular Cheap Cologne

Nautica Voyage Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 oz– Still one of the most popular fragrances on the market and an ideal cheapie for the summer months. Voyage starts off with apple and mimosa.

It is crisp and watery, Voyage has a much more green/floral profile than many other scents, in this category. This is routinely a best seller, as people seem to really go for that musky and green aroma, with a vague notion of being aquatic. It actually doesn’t have any oceanic notes, but the crisp apple and dewy ingredients, makes it seem like it does.

The price will be somewhere in the $12-20 range, the performance is quite good, and it has been a well-regarded cologne for over a decade now. Nautica Voyage Review

The Cheap Designer Smell Alike

Perry Ellis 360 Red for Men, 3.4 fl oz EDT– 360 Red is pretty famous for being a very similar fragrance to the best-selling Acqua di Gio. Red features a blend of lemon, lime, and orange that is flanked by cinnamon and other spices.

Also, it has the floral undertones of jasmine, like AdG. It’s not an exact copy, but close, enough, and has its own distinct personality. Beyond that, this Perry Ellis fragrance, gives a very good performance at a great price. 360 Red Review

Throwback for High School Guys

Tommy by Tommy Hilfiger for Men – 3.4 oz EDC Spray– A very popular cologne for younger men back in the 1990s, Tommy, retains its classic status at an affordable price. Tommy starts off with a crisp and tart blend of fruits: apple, cranberry, and grapefruit. It is bright and upbeat.

The fragrance is fresh, later warms up with some sweetness and cinnamon spice, similar to an apple pie’s aroma. Tommy cologne is such a delicious scent, a great pick for the high school set, and is unique versus most of today’s market.

Its sillage starts off with a strong projecting ability, before settling into a moderate, that will last a full work day. Tommy Hilfiger Review

Best Vanilla Scented Colognes for Men

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Vanilla is a popular note used in fragrances for both men and women. Frankly, I love the way it can add a sweet smoothness when used correctly in scents. Vanilla can be a very seasonal type of note when it is predominately featured in a fragrance and I think you’ll find most of the colognes on this list would probably best serve you during the cooler months of the year.  I have included 8 selections on this list and of course there are more out there but I feel that these are the best of the bunch.

Vanilla Colognes: What are the Best Perfumes for Men?

Top Luxury Vanilla Fragrance

Creed Sublime Vanille Cologne for Men 8.4 oz Eau De Parfum– So, let’s start out with this hyper-expensive entry from Creed. Sublime Vanille has one of, if not, the best vanilla notes that I have ever smelled in a fragrance. It’s fantastic.

It’s sweet and creamy, mixed with tonka bean during the dry down period. Sublime Vanille opens with citrus notes, which gives it a nice orange creamsicle vibe.

The citrus note fades a bit as it moves on and there is an emergence of a soft musk note which adds depth to the composition. Sublime Vanille is more of a unisex scent and once it gets going, it’s pretty linear in its aroma throughout the rest of the wear.

This Creed is soft and airy, good for casual or dressed up styles. Again, this one is a high end scent, but the vanilla doesn’t get much better (if at all) than what’s in here. Here is my full wear review.

Best Overall Cologne with a Vanilla Led Blend

Giorgio Armani Code Absolu EDP Eau de Parfum For Men 3.7oz– Code Absolu has become my favorite issuance from this Armani line. The vanilla, comes along heavier later in the wear, and is joined by a host of smooth and spicy ingredients. 

Code Absolu opens up with nutmeg, rum, suede, and tonka bean. There is also a hint of citrus and crisp apple, in the background. The spice of the nutmeg is dominant for a few minutes, before the suede and tonka bean really take over.

The fresh spice here is great, nutmeg and rum, are surprisingly great together. The fruit notes, are also just strong enough, to prevent it being a completely dark fragrance.

This one is fresh, warm, with a nice sweetness from vanilla and tonka bean. The projection is strong, but not absurdly so, and the longevity consistently hits 10+ hours, on my skin. Code Absolu Full Review

Top Nightlife/Youthful Vanilla Blend

Jean Paul Gaultier Ultra Male Eau de Toilette Intense 40ml Spray– Originally, I had Le Male, on this list. However, that was before the release of Ultra Male by Jean Paul Gaultier. This flanker fragrance to the original, takes what was great about it, and does it even better.

A warm and spicy aroma highlighted by vanilla and pear notes, which gives it a sweet and candy-like edge. I have a full bottle of Ultra Male and it is a fragrance that I wore pretty much all winter in 2018.

The mint and cinnamon combination adds a very nice spice to the uber sweet arrangement. This JPG scent delivers very good sillage and I’ve always gotten around 9 hours of solid wear from it. This is a colder weather scent, that is sexy, and built for the nightlife. Ultra Male is great, upbeat, and a worthy successor to the original Le Male. Ultra Male Full Review

Best Vanilla and Tobacco Blend

TOM FORD Tobacco Vanille Eau de Parfum 50 ML(1.7 OZ)– A high performing giant in the world of fragrance. Tobacco Vanille is obviously highlighted by those two notes, but it’s excellent blend of sweetness and spiciness is what really sets it apart.

Expensive? Yes, but it delivers an experience that is all its own. This is masculine, refined, and a fragrance that really shines in the winter time.

This is another one, like Sublime Vanille, that features an absolutely divine vanilla note. It’s very realistic and smells utterly perfect to my nose. Add to the two main notes, you get a lovely cacao, fruits, and creamy tonka bean.

The scent is also quite dry and doesn’t have a ‘juicy’ fruit sensation. Overall, it is super sweet and spicy, while being a performance scent that will last and project for ages. Tobacco Vanille Review

Best Daily Wear Designer Vanilla

Pi By Givenchy For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.3 Ounces– A sweet yet woody fragrance with vanilla and almond notes. It has a fresh and somewhat powdery dry down with the tonka bean note and a resinous benzoin.

Pi can be a great go to fragrance for a guy who wants something affordable that can be worn every day (outside of the hottest months). What I really like about this Givenchy cologne, is it’s subtle earthiness and herbal qualities that lie just underneath the vanilla sweetness.

Pi is a rich and very cozy scent to wear on the coldest days. It’s sensual powdered dry down and that great little almond addition, always seem to draw complements. It has been around for a few decades at this point and still has legions of fans, who swear by the power of Pi.

pi

Great Exotic Use of Vanilla

Opium By Yves Saint Laurent For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.3 Ounces
A spicy and oriental type of fragrance which is soothed by the vanilla note that plays a supporting role to the anise and peppery elements. Solid performer and one of the first colognes I ever bought.

There are those warm sort of smoky elements that create an interesting take on the usual, sugary kind of vanilla colognes.

It’s profile overall, is that of the orient. Opium is mysterious and has a sort of ancient charm to the aroma, its resinous and spicy. The whole thing envelopes you skin and the vanilla note is in the heart of it all. I wish that I had more of my vintage bottle of this Yves Saint Laurent classic. My Opium Pour Homme Review

opium

The Easy to Wear, Crowd Pleaser

Hugo Boss Men’s Boss No. 6 Eau de Toilette Natural Spray, 3.3 fl. oz.

A moderate fragrance with woodsy notes that is great for casual wear. The apple, cinnamon, and vanilla give Boss No. 6 a sweet yet crisp aroma. This is a good one for those who want a vanilla based scent that is blended with other notes and can be worn as an everyday sort of cologne.

Boss No. 6 is a fairly inexpensive choice and has a gourmand sensability. Its sweetness is like that of baked goods: warm and tasty. The wood notes emerge led by sandalwood and mahogany to give this Hugo Boss scent, more masculine depth.

It all comes together as light, a bit powdery, and spicy cologne with that lovable vanilla note sitting in the thick of it. Boss No. 6 Review

Awesome Sweet Smelling Vanilla Perfume

Acqua Di Parma Blue Mediterraneo Mandorlo Di Sicilia Eau de Toilette Spray, 5 Ounce–  Almond and vanilla are paired to create a warm and lightly enveloping aroma, that has a sweet candy-like quality. Mandorlo di Sicilia is a unisex scent, but can be a great colder weather wear for men.

This one reminds me of these little root beer candies, that I ate sometimes, as a child. Orange, almond, and the vanilla come together to give it a sweet, somewhat nutty, fizziness.

Akin to carbonation. Mandorlo is fresh and dries down, mostly as vanilla, with a powdered sugar quality. The sillage is fairly light, but it can last for 6-7 hours, on my skin.  My Full Review is Here

5 Best Smelling Thierry Mugler Colognes for Men

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Thierry Mugler has been a best selling designer in women’s fragrances for a long time with such hits as Alien and Angel. However, the design house’s men’s fragrance line also has some gems in its midst, that seem to go unappreciated sometimes. For this post, I want to take a look at some of these Thierry Mugler colognes to represent what I feel are the best options for guys out of the bunch. Best Men’s Colognes Homepage

 

What are the Best Smelling Mugler Fragrances for Men?

Angel By Thierry Mugler For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray Rubber Bottle 3.4 OZ– This one is sweet. Like, really sweet, long lasting, and heavy. However, it is also a very great fragrance if you like gourmand notes such as caramel, coffee, honey, etc.

A*Men has more patchouli, early on than the other entries on this list. It is paired with those sweet notes, to create a wonderful and masculine gourmand. The patchouli is there for the entire wear and is fantastic within this framework. Coffee and caramel are the longer term sweet notes, which stick around, and this all sits on top of a woody base of sandalwood and cedar. A*Men is, I believe, the most popular and best selling of the men’s Mugler line. 

angelm

 

Thierry Mugler A Men Ultra Zest Eau de Toilette Spray, 3.4 Ounce– This Mugler scent is really underrated. It opens with a great mix of orange and tangerine. It’s juicy with an underlying blend of patchouli and coffee, pulling it all together.

The secondary wave is of mint, tonka bean, and vanilla. This allows for a sweet, fresh, and creamy aroma that is downright delicious. I get about 7 hours of wear with moderate sillage. It’s good to wear in either the summer or winter. It’s not being made anymore, but Ultra Zest is still available online, for a decent price. I really enjoyed this one. Ultra Zest Review

 

Angel Men Pure Malt by Thierry Mugler Eau De Toilette Spray (Limited Edition) for Men, 3.40 Ounce– Fruity, malt, and woodsy notes make for an interesting fragrance. It doesn’t come across nearly as strong as the original Angel but that is a good thing for some people. The whiskey note gives it a warmth that is absolutely beautiful in the winter.

This smoky and boozy blend, is possibly my favorite Mugler scent to wear. It’s somewhat limited to the colder weather, but it is utterly great, during that time frame.  Fruits, vanilla, malt, and patchouli kick this one off. Later it gets fruitier, boozier, creamy, and woody. Strong sillage, but not overbearing with a good performance in terms of longevity. Pure Malt Full Review

pure

Angel B Men By Thierry Mugler For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray Rubber Bottle 1.7 Ounce
I have softened on my stance of not liking this cologne very much, from my original review. Since then, I have come to appreciate its dark spiciness, even if I still don’t like licorice notes. Overall, it’s a very good masculine scent for the right guy.

B Men has been discontinued, but it is still underrated, and not well know. Though, it is still available. The spices remind me of Pure Malt’s in a lot of ways, but B Men doesn’t have the booziness or same level of sweetness. I really dig the dry down, where you get a great earthy/woody group of notes, which pairs amazingly with the spices. Well worth a try, if you can pick up a bottle for a decent price. 

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Thierry Mugler Eau de Toilette Spray, Angel Men Pure Havane, 3.4 Ounce– A good tobacco based scent that is softened by the honey, cocoa, and vanilla notes. The tobacco itself is a sweeter kind while remaining masculine. Pure Havane is a fantastic fall/winter cologne.

This is another one of my personal favorites. Usually, I am back and forth between this and Pure Malt. It is like rolled tobacco dipped in honey and vanilla. Sweet, warm, with that light honey stickiness.  The patchouli adds a little bit more depth, but Pure Havane is pretty straightforward. Again, it is pretty limited and not for those in a hot climate, but it is an outstanding perfume. Read my full Review

havane

 

Dior Homme vs Dior Homme Intense Cologne Comparison

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Yes, it’s time for another cologne comparison. Today’s head to head match up is between two Christian Dior scents: Homme and Homme Intense. Is the flanker Intense version better than the original? How does each hold up? Does one of these scents smell better than the other?

Tale of the Tape

Dior Homme

Notes include: vetiver, iris, cacao, bergamot, amber, leather, sage, and lavender

Click here to try: Dior Homme By Christian Dior For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 Ounces

Read my Full Review: Dior Homme Review

Dior Homme Intense

Notes include: pear, iris, vetiver, ambrette, lavender, cedar

Click here to try: Christian Dior Dior Men Intense Eau de Parfum Spray, 3.4 Ounce

Read My Full Review: Dior Homme Intense Review

Opening

The opening of Dior Homme is more of a floral with the introduction of iris and an underlying sweetness provided by the cacao. It sets the stage for the magnificence, that is to come with this fragrance.

The note that stands out, up top is bergamot. This juicy citrus, pairs very well with the powdery iris, clean lavender, and sweet cacao. Not to mention the sage and dry vetiver.

Homme Intense has an amazing opening act. I absolutely love it. It’s warm and woody with the cedar, vetiver, and amber joining forces to create an aroma that is absolutely divine, in my opinion. This is also paired with the same lavender, as Homme.

I really enjoy the smell of Dior Homme at the start, but I once again, love the way Homme Intense opens. Both are extremely good, but Intense takes it to another level.

Edge: Homme Intense

Projection

Dior Homme is a softer/moderate kind of scent. Obviously, Dior Intense was made to be stronger, as it’s in the name. So, Intense is the winner here because it is strong (but not overpowering).

I will however say that, if you double spray Dior Homme, you get much better sillage and longevity. Like two sprays to each side of my neck, worked wonders. This isn’t always the case with weaker colognes, because you can get fragrances that are so weak, that even tripling up doesn’t really help.

It still won’t be as strong as Homme Intense, but it gets close.

Edge: Homme Intense

Longevity

Homme Intense wins. It lasts all day. In the 9 to 11 hour range.

My full bottle of Dior Homme, with the large sprayer, can get me 8-9 hours of wear out of this cologne. Which is great because you can buy large bottles for under $100, so you don’t really have to conserve the sprays anymore.

Nonetheless, it doesn’t go quite as long as Intense.

Edge: Homme Intense

Versatility

Both of these scents are mature, refined, and work well in the colder weather. I could wear either one casually or for a night out. These are the kind of fragrances you dress up for while wearing.

Dior Homme is more versatile, due to the prominence of the floral notes, in its composition. This allows it to be worn further into the springtime and it holds up better in heat. Not extreme heat, but a nice warm day.

Edge: Dior Homme

Overall Scent

This is honestly a tough one. They are of course similar fragrances but they have enough differences to be distinct. I really do go back and forth between the two…and feel like I now need to purchase full bottles of both again.

However, I do seem to prefer Dior Homme overall when compared to Homme Intense. While the opening of Intense is better, it dries down into more of a chocolate powdery sort of aroma, that simply isn’t as pleasing to me as is the entire life cycle of Dior Homme.

Homme Intense gives better performance, though, that gap can mostly be closed by spraying a bit more Dior Homme. Dior Homme is so subtle, refined, and layered. It’s almost a perfect fragrance in my mind.

I love both of these scents and will gladly wear either one, based on my mood that day. Also, I’ll use both at the same time. In the end though, if I had to choose one, I’d pick Dior Homme.

Dior Homme is my main daily wear, on the off days, when I’m not doing reviews for the site. A lot of folks seem to prefer Intense, but I don’t think it’s a strong throughout, as Dior Homme is.

Winner: Dior Homme (slightly)

Valentino Uomo vs. Dior Homme

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Dior Homme has been a very successful fragrance over the past 15 years or so. Yes, it has now (as of 2020) undergone 3 iterations, under the name Dior Homme. In this post, I am going to be comparing the 2011 version, and not the newest release which is just coming to market.

Anyway, one very similar cologne series to the Dior line, is Valentino’s Uomo series. In this post, I want to compare Uomo vs. Dior Homme. Which smells better? Which lasts longer? Which is the best buy?

Tale of the Tape

Valentino Uomo

Notes include: myrtle, bergamot, leather, coffee, cedar, gianduja cream

Click here to try: Valentino Uomo FOR MEN by Valentino – 3.4 oz EDT Spray

My review: Uomo EDT

Dior Homme

Notes include: vetiver, iris, cacao, bergamot, amber, leather, sage, and lavender

Click here to try: Dior Homme By Christian Dior For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 Ounces

Read my Full Review: Dior Homme Review

Opening

Dior Homme opens up with its iris note, cacao, and a juicy bergamot. The bergamot is a really nice touch up top, to give it a different feel, from the rest of the wear. It is smooth and floral with some underlying dry elements of sage and vetiver.

Valentino Uomo starts of with gianduja cream, bergamot, and myrtle. Obviously, the floral and bergamot aspects, give a very similar impression as Dior Homme. However, the nutty gianduja blends insanely well with the citrus, and the result is an utterly divine smell.

Which is better? I love both. However, Uomo, has one of the best opening acts ever…to my nose, anyway. It’s so good, I cannot get enough of that first 30 minutes or so.

Edge: Uomo

Projection

The sillage of each, can start off pretty strong, but quickly venture into the moderate part of the spectrum. Neither is going to blow the doors off and I don’t particularly notice much of a difference.

Edge: Push

Longevity

Just about every time that I wear Valentino Uomo, I get 7 hours of wear. When I initially tested Dior Homme, it was a 5-7 hour fragrance. However, when I got my full bottle, it would hit 8-9.

Dior Homme has a bit better staying power. Not a crazy amount, but can reach for those extra two hours.

Edge: Dior

Versatility

These are both very versatile fragrances during the autumn through mid-spring (in most places). You can wear them formally, casually, on a date, or out into the nightlife.

Both are probably best worn by men in their mid-20s and up. These scents are so similar, that there really isn’t a distinction, in this category.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Which of these two colognes is the better wear? This is indeed a tough call, because I will gladly wear either of them, without hesitation.

The strengths of Uomo are its great opening act. The hazelnut like smell, with coffee undertones, and bergamot is just so enjoyable. Add to that the floral notes, leathery smoothness, and woodsy base. The latter parts, are basically a close kin to Dior Homme, in every way.

Dior Homme is my personal go-to. It’s one of my daily wears, when I’m not testing out fragrances, for this site. Iris and leather are the pairing, that ultimately have the most influence. With cacao and lavender taking the secondary level.

Some guys don’t like the iris in Dior Homme, I personally really dig it in this composition, because the leather and woody base keep it masculine. If that’s not your thing, go with Uomo, as it doesn’t have that iris note.

Overall, I’m still riding with Dior Homme, most of the time. I think that it’s slightly better as a whole. If Uomo smelled like the opening act, during the entire wear…it’d be the winner. It doesn’t and most of the rest of it, is a less interesting rehash of Dior.

Winner: Dior Homme