Best men's frags under $25

Use the search function. I've seen a couple recent topics about cheap drugstore type frags. From what I've tried, Cuba Gold is a $4 substitute for Le Male, Adidas Victory League is good, depends on what you like really. Check your local Marshall's/TJ Maxx/ Ross for cheap frags.

Generally it's best to find bargains in this range through online shopping, which might mean blind buying for you (which I enjoy but many others here think is too risky).

Since your location indicates you're in the United States you can make regular visits to the shelves of Marshall's or TJ Maxx stores, and follow the "spotted at Marshall's" thread here.

Otherwise, you might run a search for "inexpensive scents" "drug store scents" "cheapos" or other terms like this--we've had several threads on the idea and many members have offered their thoughts on these. Maybe some other members can remember good search terms to pull up these threads.

To give a quick answer, I think Quorum by Antonio Puig is a fantastic scent and is about $10 for a 100ml bottle, but many members dislike it.

If you're going to check online sellers I'd say take a look at Molinard products for men, they're of superior quality, reliably good and long lasting, and not risky. Rafale, Madrigal, and the Homme I, II, and III series are worth looking into. I think they all still come cheap online.

You can find Rive Gauche pour Homme online for < $25.

Dirty English is available at Marshall's for $20. It's pretty good.

That's just bad form. ..

Why do people, especially newbies, have the need to tell others to use the search function? Granted there are other threads that mention inexpensive fragrances, but the turnover on BN is high enough where if you rely solely on the archived threads you might miss out on some good advice.

This is a good suggestion, but only if you live in a bigger city. The closest Marshall's, TJ Maxx or Ross, for me, is over 200 miles away, and is the case for many of us who don't live on the coasts.

That's certainly true. I was just trying to help out.

If there's a shopping mall you can visit you might find a Perfumania shop, which often has scents cheaper than elsewhere and has further sales on their supply too.

Also some shopping malls have L'Occitane stores too, and their prices can sometimes be under $25. I can't remember for certain though.

My advise is:
First you go to your Macy's, Sephora or Nordstorm or some mall that sell fragraces at your place to try out some fragrances (try on the test strip first, then try the ones that you think you might like on your skin, maximum 3 fragrances each time, wait at least 8 hours to get the whole experience/development of the fragrances) - trust me this will take weeks to find out which ones you really like.

So let's say you find the particular fragrance that you like then go to your local TJMAXX, Marshall or go to online dealer (I only trust Amazon.com, the ones that "shipped by and sold by Amazon.com") to see if it's available at your affortable price.

Personally I never pay full price for a fragrance (about $75 I think). I did get the Hugo Energise for $23 or Lolita Lempicka au Masculine Fraicheur for $26. With a budget around $25, you can get a lot of designer stuff like Calvin Klein, Hugo Boss, etc.

And one more thing, there's no best fragrance out there. There is only the one that suit you best and you feel good wearing it. I encounter many fragrances that too expensive and considered a masterpiece by many people but to me they're just a waste of time and money. So IMO, in the fragrance world, especially for you or me - 3 months ago, I say new comers, your opinion is the most important opinion . But do consider the fragrance reviews here though, they'll help you spot out which one you should try first.

Ah, do not buy blind (buy without trying on your skin and let the fragrance develop for at least 8hrs) or you'll regret it, big time.

Hope you'll find your fragrance soon

I shit you not....Perfumania in my town (Eugene, OR), has been trying to unload Rive Gauche PH Gift sets (Case, 4.2 Oz, and body gel) for $15 bucks! The gift sets were recently on sale and went down to $12 for everything.

The girls who work at my Perfumania dont seem to like Rive Gauche PH, and dont sell it very hard. I know them pretty well and they offered me the gift sets at $12 for the first one, and $6 for the seccond.

I now proudly own 8.4 Oz. of RG (and a rapidly shrinking 2.5 oz bottle), purchased for $18....DAMN!

Will I ever use it? No, but for $18 bucks I still feel like a winner.....

this site offers free shipping...

Azzaro Chrome - http://www.fragrancex.com/products/_..._products.html

Lalique Ph - http://www.fragrancex.com/products/_..._products.html

Moschino Uomo or Freinds : link to uomo http://www.fragrancex.com/products/_..._products.html

Ungaro III - http://www.fragrancex.com/products/_..._products.html

+ many more....

the best way is to browse thru such web-sites and then cross check on basenotes for feedbacks..least thts wht i used to do and am doing and will keep on doing

If you have time, you can try to get a partially used bottle really cheap on ebay. I got a 90% 4.2 ounce L'Instant for men for $19 total, for example.

Old Spice and Tabac Original

For a fragrance that actually retails for $25 or less, I would suggest Mustang. Its citrus and lavender over tobacco and woods, and it really is lovely. Its my favorite inexpensive fragrance, to the point that when deciding what to wear on a day, I come back to it again and again. You can readily find it at discount stores such as Target and Walmart. Target stores often have a tester of it, so you can try it out.

Note that there are apparently two fragrances named Mustang by two different companies. The one Im talking about is made by a company called Blossom Concepts and comes in a little metal box with the Ford Mustang horse on it. I have read that the fragrance was created by Estee Lauder, but I cant vouch for that. There is also a companion fragrance by the same company named Mustang Blue, but I havent tried that one.

Rive Gauche
Body Kouros
Gai Mattiolo Uomo
Moschino Uomo?
Armand Basi Homme

I second the idea of being patient and buying on ebay. I've bought the following for under $30 on ebay:

Guerlain Habit Rouge, Heritage, Shalimar and Vetiver

Dior Homme, Dolce Vita and Eau Fraiche

Hermes Bel Ami, Equipage and Orange Verte

Plus as many have said, Rive Gauche is very inexpensive and pretty darn good.

Royal Copenhagen, Tabac, and mmm mmm...Canoe

Beat me to it!

Grey Flannel, Azzaro PH, and Escada PH are wonderful frags that are widely available for under $25. So is Cabochard, if you're willing to wear a very unisex perfume originally marketed to women.

Among the somewhat more difficult to find, wonderful frags I've picked up (on non-auction sites) online for < $25: Witness, Dunhill for Men, Moustache

Really? Holy cow, Rive Gauche is one of my favorites. I can wear that any day of the year.

Want to go back and pick one up for me?

ebay ebay ebay, thats all I gotta say, oh and #2 be patient with it. Almost all of my colognes were bought on eBay and I have gotten sick sick deals through it

Welcome bro. www.scentiments.com is a great place online with super cheap prices and excellent customer service, trusted site, too. I use their services all the time.

You could build a wardrobe of 5 or more brilliant 5 star frags under $25:

Work

1. YSL Rive Gauche or Azzaro PH (a fougere)
2. Guerlain Vetiver (a vetiver)
3. Caron Third Man (a lavender)

Casual

4. Bvlgari Aqua (aquatic)

Romantic / Clubbing

5. YSL Opium or Body Kouros or Carven Homme or Guerlain L'Instant or Michael Kors (oriental)

plus there's:

Baldessarini
Burberry London
Montana Parfum d'Homme (red box)
Ungaro III

Really it is crazy how many great frags are cheap. Don't go for the drugstore stuff. I've bought all of these on ebay for <$25. Just buy from a rpeutable seller with high positive feedback and over 200 sales.

Ged

I picked up a 100 mL of Azzaro Pour Homme at TJ Maxx for less than $20. Great stuff - very good take on the lavender / oakmoss style.

I agree on all of these. Especially Canoe - it is WONDERFUL.

As some BNers already stated, do not go for cheap/drug store fragrances with their full price, it's not worth it. And if you decide to go online then be really careful and search for the sellers' reputations before buying anything especially those from Ebay. The market place on this site is also a good place to collect good fragrances for cheap prices but once again pay close attention to the seller's reputation.

From Finland to Sicily, and to the best of my knowledge:
We can only dream of such low prices as we have to pay almost twice as much for those perfumes mentioned. !n Europe resale price maintenance still rules for brand items, including perfumes, books, and automobiles.

This thread has brought some of our most celebrated veteran recluses out of their spider holes! Welcome to The Surface gentlemen, good to see you! Shower, spritz up, and please take a seat at the bar.
My two bits:
Carven Homme, a tarragon and floral take on the fougere. Late Reagan as reimagined by late Clinton. Givenchy Gentleman, um, what is this stuff? Some say a patch-heavy leather.
Aramis, a wonderful citrus leather, very of-its-time. Flashback in a bottle for anyone my age with a wild uncle.
Aramis Tuscany, very wearable rosemary fougere, great bargain.
Guerlain Coriolan, a green floral masculine with a great immortelle note if you get lucky on the vintage.
Ralph Lauren Chaps, sort of love this stuff. A natural-smelling patch/kitchen sink fougere. If you love it all your financial worries are over.

Basile Uomo
Yatagan
Ungaro III
Maxim's PH
Chevignon
Carven Homme
Carlo Corinto

My favorite scent that I've been able to find for such a price is Canali for Men. It has great sunny and warm citrus topnotes, followed by a subtle amber and woods base. Its not overpowering, and its great for someone like me who wears a suit to work everyday and wants something that smells good and is noticeable, but at the same time is sophisticated, subtle, and liked by most of the females with whom I come into contact. I think it pretty much exudes quiet, classy, confidence.,,,,,often much moreso than many more expensive scents.