The Best Cheap Fragrances Ever?

[BeenThereSmeltThat]

NO CREEDS ALOUD!!

Now, we are all currently on a site dedicated to fragrances.
So be default we are not the most common of noses to even start.
This means that of course we are mostly here for the nitty gritty,
The Creeds, Amouges Bond No. 9s Frederic Malle etc.

but what are the best CHEAP fragrances on the market today? stuff that is preferably under $30 - $50

stuff that even though they can be considered cheap most definitely go over and above what they should be
whether it be in performance practically or just the other all smell.

the obvious one is Cool Water however for me it would be "Pole Position - David Coulthard":

http://www.amazon.com/David-Coulthar...avid+coulthard

Honestly i would love to see this fragrance get more praise. i'm sure it's a rip off of something but i haven't smelt what the inspiration to this fragrance is if you know, please tell. but it has a very special place in my heart and i am absolutely not ashamed to have it standing side by side a niche fragrance. It is very unique as a cheapy and is rather boosy (think whisky and gin) easily a perfect signature scent for winter and i feel uite daring for a cheap scent as i could see people not liking it. I think it's got enough sweetness to keep everybody happy but i think it truly has a charm which alot of other cheap fragrances lack greatly. the projection and longevity are above average for a cheapy i'd say a good 5 -6 hours on longev. and a pretty nice scent cloud with proj. It certainly does not stick to the skin.

So are there any cheap fragrances that you are not ashamed to stick your hands up and declare your admiration for it?

thanks, George

[JON RODGERS]

Giorgio for Men has unbeatable bang for buck - a timeless masterpiece for a pittance AND they even managed a decent reformulation.

[mihailo]

That's an illusive category. In my humble opinion, it is all about finding a fragrance you like at a good price. I found 'Rive Gauche' for $42 today, Jil Sander is $33, Boadicea 'Reviving' $63 etc.

A fragrance that's always cheap, but admirable... ...let's see... 'Body Kouros' is almost always under $35 (1.7oz ) and the scent is phenomenal.

[imLouAlvaro]

Encre Noire

[Leora1987]

Christian lacroix Tumulte. This fragrance is a sheer masterpiece of floral, powdery, spices. It's gorgeous!!

[hedonist222]

Encre Noire

The YSL Pour Homme.

[Foustie]

Yardley Citrus and Wood.

[döfä91]

Halston Z-14
Many of Jaques Bogart line
Quorum
Salvador Dali Pour Homme
Zino Davidoff

[Ken_Russell]

Another vote for Rive Gauche, Z14 and Zino - for certain reasons, these scents are always giving the best "bang for the buck"

[drseid]

Giorgio for Men has unbeatable bang for buck - a timeless masterpiece for a pittance AND they even managed a decent reformulation.

Absolutely agree! The only caveat is that some of the most recent of the reformulation bottles (that have light green juice) are not quite as good as the vintage and slightly older reissue bottles that have mossy green colored juice.

[noirdrakkar]

rive gauche

[VanAllan]

Another vote for Davidoff Zino.
Adding:
Versace L'Homme
Salvatore Ferragamo F Black
A. Puig Quorum Silver
Pal Zileri Sartoriale
J.C. Dirty English

[nightcutter]

Diesel Plus Plus
Diesel Zero Plus
Lanvin Arpege (Femme).
Jesus Del Pozo In White.

[anomie et ivoire]

For men:

Puig Agua Lavanda, very cheap. Absolutely sparkling, energizing yet calming, old-fashioned yet unique enough to be novel, lavender classic cologne. Re-bottled and sold at a higher price, few would object to paying extra in a blind smell test.

Some would snobbishly disagree or perhaps just don't like the style, but most of the classic Aramis line is inexpensive but with enigmatic blends. Perfumer Bernard Chant's work for the brand is not to be missed! Aramis has been disserviced by associations with people's fathers and grandfathers and by it being a very strong fragrance. If one has no preconcieved notions and wears a late 70s Aramis comp applied sparingly (and that someone has style and confidence) hmm, worn in leather jacket perfection could result. Tougher and less nonsense than most niches that aspire to similar, and this one did it first!

For women (comps men can also wear):

Dana Tabu, pre-rootbeer reform: archtypal oriental with heady patchouli drydown that avoids the hippie cliche with a rebel booziness yet still in possession of a romantic floral intimation of desire.

Gres Cabaret, rose and incense softer scent but with a very slight darkness: to me, close to a cheaper but longer lasting Voleur de Roses. There's a lightly paint-like opening to sit through, but the drydown is lightly woodsy and romantic.

Repackage any of these, call them niche, and people would be raving. Their slight imperfections would be seen as daring quirks (Cabaret's paint opening, Aramis' roughness, Tabu's booze and sluttiness, Lavanda's fleeting linearity). I love and wear all of these often, except for the Aramis, whose feminine counterparts--the 70s Estee line I wear instead. Men could rock those too (Aliage, Azuree! Sorry but not so into White Linen, Pleasures, all of that stuff).

[alfarom]

Agree on the Aramis (and Estee Lauder)...I'll add Comme Des Garcons Cologne Series (Vettiveru and Anbar being the standouts). Dirty by Lush (the body spry sells for something like 20 bucks and comes in a 300ml format)...Knize Ten sells around here for 50 euros (just saying...).Last but not least, at Mekkanische Rose in Berlin they sell most of their fragrances for ridiculously cheap and they're incredibly well done and natural smelling.

[d4N13L]

Under 40usd: Rive Gauche Pour Homme
Under 30usd: Azzaro Pour Homme
Under 20usd: Brut
Under 10usd: Cuba Gold

[Rüssel]

NO CREEDS ALOUD!!

How about some Girls Aloud though?

[BeenThereSmeltThat]

Diesel Plus Plus

ahhh yes, this is an absolutely mighty fine fragrance!

[Jim Raynor]

Tabac Eau De Cologne (or After Shave) is pretty nice. Denim is decent too. Maybe Paco Rabanne pour homme?

[BeenThereSmeltThat]

How about some Girls Aloud though?

ahhhhh yes!

Dyslexia caught me off guard there!

[tristan1973]

Fragonard

[timmy-j]

Nautica Voyage, I realize that almost anything Nautica is widely despised on BN, but I love the clean,fresh scent of Voyage. One of my most complimented colognes. And for like $20.

Can't forget Azzaro Chrome. Another big compliment grabber.

[spcmiller]

I'm gonna go with two recent finds that are spectacular:

Lolita Lempicka's Au Masculin
L'Essence de Cerruti

Both can be had for less that $20 shipped and they both smell fantastic!

[>BOOMER<]

Versace “The Dreamer”
Comme des Garcons Series 4: Cologne Vettiveru
Encre Noire
Bogart Pour Homme
Yardley Citrus and Wood
Live Jazz
Lolita Lempicka Au Masculin
Hugh Parsons Traditional (EDP)
Rive Gauche
Iceberg Twice
Burberry Brit
Burberry London
Nautica Voyage
24 Gold by Scent Story
Zino Davidoff

[Hammy01]

Tattoo - can be had for 9.99$ for a 3.3oz bottle, it is a very nice sweet spicy scent an absolute steal at that price.

Cerruti Pour Homme - a fresh spicy citrus that can be found for 7$ (1.7oz), this one is also a steal.

I also think the Mont Blanc house puts out some really nice fragrances for a rather cheap price.

[Diamondflame]

This list will never be complete without these 2 stalwarts:

Azzaro pour Homme
Grey Flannel

[frug]

Nautica Voyage
Tommy Bahama
Fragonard: Beau Gosse, Concerto, Desert

[SpicyPepper]

hugo by hugo boss

[Tropics]

How about some Girls Aloud though?

I would

[dougczar]

Kenneth Cole Black
Habit Rogue
Nautica Voyage
Perry Ellis 360 Red
Dirty English
Bvlgari Pour Homme
Hugo Boss Element

- - - Updated - - -

How about some Girls Aloud though?

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

[El_Guapo]

Mont Blanc Individuel - 1.7oz $24.99 @ Ross right now
+1 JC Dirty English - 3.3oz $19.99 @ Ross right now

[Tropics]

Paul Smith by Paul Smith. Has a Melon/Violet leaf vibe, very clean and fresh. This one is never mentioned on BN and smells 1000X better than many of those thats do. Costs a few bucks a gallon.

[Roper-Hall]

Another vote for Azzaro and Nautica Voyage.

[Nemanja]

Lucky You by Lucky Brand

[hednic]

Carlo by Carlo Corinto. Paid 8$ New. 100ml

[Oupavoc]

This one is an easy choice for me...YSL Rive Gauche. Pure and simple.

[2ndBakeryAttack]

Murray & Lanman's Florida Water. Eau de cologne that only costs about a dollar an ounce at your local Mexican grocer. One of the best woody citrus scents ever created. Unfortunately it only lasts about an hour on the skin and then it's gone.

Honorable Mention: Animale Animale

[1280adam]

My answer to this question this week is Curve.

[thatsmr2usir]

Habanita of course! Even its reformulations are good. Priced $20-30

[Fraghead]

I'll add two from the house of Al Rehab. Both available in the UK for around £3.00

Khaliji: Rose/spice/oud combo, some say similar to Rose 31.
Silver: Very much like Silver Mountain Water.

Much of the Burberry line is also available in high street pharmacies for under £20 as well.

[Shaka]

Lapidus PH
Quorum

[Nersh]

Come on, no one for Givenchy Gentleman ?

[MFfan310]

X Rocawear (an excellent Francis Kurkdjian-created SMW clone that's $30 at Walgreens)
Giorgio for Men and Red for Men (great leather powerhouses that can easily be found for less than $30)
Azzaro Pour Homme (Walmart sells travel sprays of this classic for $15, and full bottles can be had for a few bucks more)
Azzaro Chrome Legend (another great Azzaro: under $30 at Perfumania, and a very good fresh scent)
YSL L'Homme, La Nuit de L'Homme, and L'Homme Libre (Surprise! 1.3 oz bottles of each can be found at your local Sephora for under $45)

Below the price range, but still as good as ever:
Old Spice (as the package says, if your grandfather didn't wear this, you wouldn't exist... and $5 a bottle to boot)

[skism]

lanvin l'homme sport

[Tropics]

Old Spice (as the package says, if your grandfather didn't wear this, you wouldn't exist... and $5 a bottle to boot)

Post of the day

[awilson529]

hugo by hugo boss

I was going to say this. Also, dare I say Aqua De Gio?

[SpicyPepper]

Finally Someone who shares the love of this great frag Called Hugo by hugo boss

[Tucansam]

Original penguin
Dirty English

[awilson529]

Finally Someone who shares the love of this great frag Called Hugo by hugo boss

It is very nice for a cheap fragrance. I admit, I don't have any and have only had a sample from a friend. But I'd buy it if I wanted to pick up something cheap.

[tehtimmeh]

My favorites in this price range:

Azzaro PH
Kouros
Zino

[change1]

Pecker!!!

How about some Girls Aloud though?

[Pegasus]

Rive Gauche
Giorgio for men by Giorgio Beverly Hills
Animale Animale
Body Kouros
Encre Nior

[EncreNous]

I'm gonna go ahead and say the Caron triumvirate of Pour un Homme, Le 3eme and Yatagan are great buys for about 30 bucks for a 4.2 oz. bottle.

[SpicyPepper]

It is very nice for a cheap fragrance. I admit, I don't have any and have only had a sample from a friend. But I'd buy it if I wanted to pick up something cheap.

I always get complimented on it

[L'Homme Blanc Individuel]

Pecker!!!

I don't even know her!!!

+1 for these, all priced at $25 or less:
- Dirty English. It's a steal at $20.
- Nautica Voyage. Excellent summer bargain at $20.
- Curve. It's a huge compliment getter for as little as $15!
- Michel Germain Tattoo. $10!
- Ed Hardy Love And Luck. Can be had for $20 to $25 in bargain bins. Villain is worth checking out too.

[MonkeyBars]

Yatagan is the best, cheapest masterpiece imo

way below are these great values:
Zirh Ikon
Lomani pH
Halston Z-14 (pre-2011)
Tsar

[Alvus]

Vanderbilt.

[rbaker]

Aramis, Pinaud Clubman Special Reserve (now that is brilliant value).

[Marais]

My best 'cheapy' is L'Occitane's Eau des Baux, hands down.

[rynegne]

Hugo Boss Bottled and Givenchy Play Intense 3.3 fl oz. I acquired both (separately) on Amazon for under $46.