More Affordable Fragrances for Men

If you read my previous article on affordable cologne, you know that I'm a proponent of balancing price and quality. Blow you will find more options for those who want a lot of variety in their fragrance wardrobe. These are not the best out there, but they are decent products at low prices.

FCUK ($10-15)

This is one that created a lot of controversy a while back. The name stands for French Connection UK. The resulting anagram, however, was very offensive to a lot of people. The name is an obvious marketing ploy combined with their slogan "scent to bed." FCUK is pitched as a very sexy seductive scent, and it comes in male and female versions FCUK him, and FCUK her respectively. I'm not sure that it lives up to the promise of sexiness, but some people really like it, and it gets points for uniqueness. This one doesn't smell like any other cologne and if you're worried about smelling like every other guy, this will definitely set you apart. Beware, however, that this is a very strong scent and very little is needed. At first spray, it's very strong, and a little obnoxious. After several minutes of drydown, the scent softens to a more clean smell while still keeping its unique spice. If used properly (very lightly) this will provide a clean, fresh, long lasting smell with a little something extra. This scent is not for everyone, but if you want something different, give it a try.

Lucky you ($15)

Lucky you was the Liz Claiborne/ lucky brand scent that was a predecessor to the great Lucky Number six. The latter is the superior fragrance, however Lucky you is quite popular and for good reason. This is a very clean refreshing scent with good longevity; it gives you the crisp, clean, fresh out of the shower smell all day. This one is perfect for a light everyday wear.

Escape ($25-$35)

Released by Calvin Klein in the early 90's, this scent has become a favorite of many people, but it never reached the popularity of other Klein fragrances. The lower popularity means lower price, and if you want something of good designer quality at a reasonable price, Escape is an option. This one has a strong but pleasant scent that dries down to a soft sandalwood tone. Some might feel that it has too much of a perfume smell and lacks masculinity. The fact is that it does have a significant floral note but still remains a very male scent. Perhaps it would do better with additional musk or wood notes, but overall, Escape is a good fragrance for occasional wear.

Remember that high quality does not necessarily mean high price, and an expensive price tag does not guarantee quality. You can find success while spending less, and I hope this guide helps.