The Best Affordable Fragrances for Men

One of the most important investments a man should make is also one of the most frequently overlooked and misused. Men will spend a good amount of time and money on their clothes and hair in an attempt to look good, because as visual creatures, we think visually. We tend to think about our look much more than our scent, but neglecting the other senses in favor of the visual, is a huge mistake. Whether it's a date or a job interview, any time you want to make an impression, a good cologne is imperative.

Your scent tells people a story; it tells people something about you. A good scent will tell people that you are accomplished, energetic, and confident. A bad scent will say that you're cheap, desperate, and probably trying to cover something up with some dollar store cologne that smells like mouthwash. The problem for many of us, is that we don't want to be the guy wearing the terrible cheap cologne that smells awful, but at the same time, a couple hundred dollars for a popular designer fragrance is kind of outside the budget. If you're a normal person with a normal income, there are several options for cologne that ranks high in quality while not being too high in price. Below are three of the best fragrances out there that balance excellent quality with moderate price.

Lucky number 6

Price: $25-$35 3.4 oz bottle

Scent: (Mild) Musk/spice/floral

Longevity: Excellent

This is cologne that doesn't seem like cologne. This is a good thing. You don't want someone to think you smell like a good cologne, you just want them to think you smell good. Lucky number six has a soft smell that is sweet yet musky and features a unique scent unlike what you would expect from traditional male colognes. A blend of vanilla, plum, and Asian spices, the smell really stands out in a crowd but in a subtle way. It separates you from the pack, while not being overpowering. Another important note on this one is that it is definitely the longest lasting fragrance I have personally tried; apply it in the morning and you'll be set for the day.

Cool Water

Price: $20-$30 4.2 oz bottle

Scent: Fresh/Aquatic/green

Longevity: Fair

One of the most popular brands to come out in the last few decades, cool water from Davidoff changed the game in men's fragrances. In 1988 cool water came out and popularized the clean fresh aquatic smell that is popular today. Consider that Armani's Aqua Di Gio has been the top seller for the past couple of years and a top ranked fragrance, but had it not been for the influence of Davidoff's aquatic scent, Gio among many other colognes would never have become popular. Cool water is a classic and garners many compliments from women as it creates a clean sexy scent that gets a lot of attention. Probably the biggest downside is that it doesn't last very long. Some cologne will make you smell pretty good all day; Cool Water will make you smell great for a few of hours.

Curve

Price: $20-$30 4.2oz bottle

Scent: (Mild) Floral/musk/spice

Longevity: Very Good

There's something special about this one. I don't know what it is, but there's some secret in the blend of scents in curve that really stands out as something very unique and very appealing to many women. It's kind of odd because it's a very mild scent but also very noticeable. Also, it is a scent that several men are not personally fond of, but women seem drawn to. I did not particularly like the smell of curve when I first tried it; I wondered what the big deal was, I wondered what all the hype was about. I thought the smell was too light to notice much, and what I could notice, I didn't like. My opinion changed a little as the scent grew on me; it changed a lot when I started hearing female responses. Whatever the secret is in the scent, curve seems to strike a definite chord with women and bring favorable attention to the wearer.

Whether you want the calm, casual, laid back scent of curve, the mysterious spice of Lucky Number Six, or the crisp fresh smell of Cool Water, any of these great products can offer great results without breaking your bank.