Inflation Busting Fragrances: it's still perfectly possible to have great fragrances without spending crazy money. Isn't it?

[Janjanjan]

Casbah by Robert Piguet
Prix: € 60
2012 release by parfumeur Aurelien Guichard. Spicy, amber, incense.

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I love Casbah! It's a great incense.

 

[DeathArrow]

Casbah might be great but I can't find it below €123, so not really cheap.

 

[WarmJewel]

Great list, and I have at least half of what's on it. I usually bang the Avon gong in threads like these, but for folks outside the US, that can be difficult to find.

Please feel free to bang that gong. I'd be fascinated to hear what Avon fragrances you consider are worth looking at. I know your views on Mesmerize and I'm currently eyeing up a bottle of that, any others?

 

[WarmJewel]

Whenever I see threads such as this, one fragrance always springs to mind—Grey Flannel, Geoffrey Beene. This is a cracking fragrance at any price level but at the rediculously low price its currently sold for it's an absolute bargain. Proof positive you can still smell fabulous on a very low budget.

Also agree with the Floris's. I think Floris fragrances generally are very under-rated and at the prices extremely competitive for the quality you're getting.

 

[Pippin06]

One of favorites is Pinaud Clubman after shave. Amazing scent with surprisingly good longevity. At about $8 for a 6oz bottle, it's hard to pass up.

 

[Varanis Ridari]

Please feel free to bang that gong. I'd be fascinated to hear what Avon fragrances you consider are worth looking at. I know your views on Mesmerize and I'm currently eyeing up a bottle of that, any others?

Mesmerize any bottle will do, but try to get older bottles for Black Suede (1980) because the price is negligible and there was a small tweak. My favorite is the 1999 bottle with the rounded buckle design and script font on bottle.

I wouldn't recommend Wild Country (1967) unless you like classic musky/powdery fougères, and you will stick out like a sore thumb wearing it.

Others being:


Avon Leather (1966)
Avon Windjammer (1968) - Not an aquatic
Avon Öland (1970)
Avon Blend 7 (1973)
Avon Everest (1975) - Looks blue, but is a floral leather.
Avon Clint! (1976)
Avon Rugger (1982)
Avon Cordovan (1983)
Avon Musk for Men (1983)
Féraud pour Homme by Louis Féraud (1985) - via Avon
Avon Signet (1987)
Avon Cavalier (1989)
Avon Undeniable by Billy Dee Williams for Men (1989)
Avon Everafter for Men (1990)
Avon Seazone (1992) - Not an aquatic as you think. Tobacco base.
Avon Trailblazer (1994)
Avon Maxx (1996)
Avon Starring for Men (1997)
Avon Far Away for Men (1998)
Avon Friktion for Men (1999)
Avon Uomo (2000)
Avon Modern Balance (2001)
Avon Intrigue (2001)
Avon Paradigm (2002)
Avon Individual Blue for Him (2002) -not a "blue" fragrance
Avon HisStory (2003)
Avon Signature (2008)
Avon Jet Homme (2009)
Avon Hérve Léger Homme (2010)
Avon Premiere Luxe (2016)
Avon Premiere Luxe Oud (2017)

 

[WarmJewel]

Mesmerize any bottle will do, but try to get older bottles for Black Suede (1980) because the price is negligible and there was a small tweak. My favorite is the 1999 bottle with the rounded buckle design and script font on bottle.

Thank you, much appreciated. I recently saw a bottle of Black Suede, I'll have to check it out!

 

[milkbaby]

Nice list, but Vera Wang for Men may be my least favorite scent of all time.

"Great" is in the nose of the beholder as the very first reply ^above makes obvious... 🥲😂🤣

Personally there's a bunch that I feel are great under the $1 per ml threshold:
Elizabeth Taylor Passion for Men
Ted Lapidus pour Homme
Ungaro pour Homme III
Lalique Le Parfum
Burberry London
Lattafa Raghba Wood Intense
Rochas Moustache EDP
Mugler A*Men
Ferragamo Uomo Signature
Carolina Herrera CH Men Prive
Cartier Declaration d'un Soir
Cartier Declaration d'un Soir Intense
Dior Fahrenheit
Dior Fahrenheit Cologne
Paco Rabanne 1 Million Cologne
Guerlain Shalimar EDP
YSL M7
Houbigant Fougere Royale

I feel that one can smell great for less than $1/ml and without resorting to clones.

 

[WarmJewel]

Mesmerize any bottle will do, but try to get older bottles for Black Suede (1980) because the price is negligible and there was a small tweak. My favorite is the 1999 bottle with the rounded buckle design and script font on bottle.

I've seen the buckle design ones but not with a script font. Do you have an image?

 

[Varanis Ridari]

I've seen the buckle design ones but not with a script font. Do you have an image?

When I say script, I mean "Black Suede" spelled out. The old deep vintage ones have just an "S" on them. They're good, but soapier/cleaner than the 90's one, which got a big kick of spice and orris in the middle.

 

[RCavs]

Of course It's not as It used to be, but GB's Bowling Green is nice at bargain prices!

 

[DeathArrow]

Of course It's not as It used to be, but GB's Bowling Green is nice at bargain prices!

A month ago it was $100 on ebay.

 

[LL Cool Spray]

A month ago it was $100 on ebay.

You need to dig a little deeper sometimes. It's still a $20 fragrance. I think I'll wear it today.

 

[WarmJewel]

When I say script, I mean "Black Suede" spelled out. The old deep vintage ones have just an "S" on them. They're good, but soapier/cleaner than the 90's one, which got a big kick of spice and orris in the middle.

That now makes perfect sense, thank you for the clarification. Now you mention it I have seen bottles with just the S on them. I also came across a vintage Avon Paros which I've not seen before. Any thoughts on that one?

 

[Varanis Ridari]

That now makes perfect sense, thank you for the clarification. Now you mention it I have seen bottles with just the S on them. I also came across a vintage Avon Paros which I've not seen before. Any thoughts on that one?

Paros is European-only, and a renaming of something we got in the US. Check vintage SOTD thread for the bottle of Black Suede I mean.
I decided to wear it today just to show you.

 

[WarmJewel]

Check vintage SOTD thread for the bottle of Black Suede I mean. I decided to wear it today just to show you.

Very kind thank you. It's helpful because there is more than one in that 'belt buckle' style and one is clearly a lot more recent than the other. I also saw an aftershave in exactly that style of lettering and striped box but not in the belt buckle style bottle but in a more conventional bottle. Am I right to assume that would be from the same period?

 

[Varanis Ridari]

Very kind thank you. It's helpful because there is more than one in that 'belt buckle' style and one is clearly a lot more recent than the other. I also saw an aftershave in exactly that style of lettering and striped box but not in the belt buckle style bottle but in a more conventional bottle. Am I right to assume that would be from the same period?

If it looks like my bottle, it's a safe bet. There's no batch code minutiae with Avon.

 

[DeathArrow]

You need to dig a little deeper sometimes. It's still a $20 fragrance. I think I'll wear it today.

Now that you've said that, I found something. Not sure if stock is updated or not. But I'll try to get some. Oscillating between 10 or 20 bottles as I've finished a bottle of Bowling Greene in about 6 months.

 

[smellyjarhead]

The original poster did not specify a mL level. As a collector, I avoid 100mL bottles and buy small whenever I can, I think this is a strategy a lot of collectors follow. Also, Jorum's full sized bottles only come in 30mL. Hope that clarifies my intent for you, and as I said in my post, I did make the disclaimer that this may not meet everyone's specifications of affordable.

My apologies if you thought I was being argumentative, that was not my intention. I was just trying to state that I believe "most" people when referencing fragrance use 100ml as the basic standard size, not everyone will think in this manner but I believe this to be typical. I do agree with the theory of buying smaller bottles until you find something you love, this eliminates a lot of waste over time for sure. I have just noticed in the past when people ask for recommendations under a certain dollar amount there are always the few that recommend fragrances in very small sizes to get under the amount ask for. As an extreme example someone may ask for recommendations under $50, the person replying may recommend something that's only $45 but that's for only 10ml. Obviously this is an extreme example but it regularly happens to some degree. The normal/typical size of a fragrance bottle in most cases is 100ml in size in most peoples minds, that is the typical size you see in retail stores. Just trying to think in the way of the masses, although some may disagree. Again, not trying to start an argument. Have a great one.

 

[lfc1892]

Bois imperial is an absolute bargain for me.
Great quality perfume at a steal of a price and performs amazingly well so a bottle will go for ages

 

[Janjanjan]

My apologies if you thought I was being argumentative, that was not my intention. I was just trying to state that I believe "most" people when referencing fragrance use 100ml as the basic standard size, not everyone will think in this manner but I believe this to be typical. I do agree with the theory of buying smaller bottles until you find something you love, this eliminates a lot of waste over time for sure. I have just noticed in the past when people ask for recommendations under a certain dollar amount there are always the few that recommend fragrances in very small sizes to get under the amount ask for. As an extreme example someone may ask for recommendations under $50, the person replying may recommend something that's only $45 but that's for only 10ml. Obviously this is an extreme example but it regularly happens to some degree. The normal/typical size of a fragrance bottle in most cases is 100ml in size in most peoples minds, that is the typical size you see in retail stores. Just trying to think in the way of the masses, although some may disagree. Again, not trying to start an argument. Have a great one.

No worries! I appreciate your message. And I thought of this recommendation in the meantime - Essential Parfums has 100ml niche bottles by top notch perfumers at only $78 a pop. I love their rose scent, Rose Magnetic, and Orange x Santal - but the whole line is great.

 

[Stinky_Pete]

Picked up DV and White in Black and can say that I'm very happy with both, thanks for shedding light on these two gems!

 

[slpfrsly]

Great stuff. Skimming through the comments, there are a lot of good interesting recommendations, many I would not have thought of myself.

 

[slpfrsly]

Nice list, but Vera Wang for Men may be my least favorite scent of all time.

Shocked and appalled!

In all fairness I can see why someone could dislike it - but least favourite? That surprises me tbf. Is it the warm florals? Just too synthetic, cloying?

I have a bad love for this annoying yet tantalizing soapy wood. I refuse to satisfy it, until I find it at under $20 for 3.4 oz. with cap and box.

Absolutely horrifying news, but Vera Wang for Men is now an expensive fragrance. I can't believe it, it must have been discontinued?


Which means I am going to have to replace VW from my list with something else as well. But that's disappointing, I had a soft spot for VW for Men and always thought of it as a sort of back up plan fragrance, if ever I wanted a cheap daily scent with that ambery 2000s smell to it. At £80+ it's a bit of a non-starter. You may as well get Creed Tabarome.

 

[emtee]

Just ordered Encre Noir Sport 100ml for £23 delivered so I think that counts. Blind buy and excited to try this one

 

[slpfrsly]

I tried thinking of a like for like replacement and frankly couldn't do it. So instead, I've decided to do another 10 instead! 😃

1. Eau de Givenchy
2. Versace Eau Fraiche
3. Salvatore Ferragamo Urban Feel
4. Michael Kors for Men
5. Ted by Ted Lapidus
6. Ralph Lauren Safari
7. Azzaro Wanted by Night
8. Armani Eau de Cedre
9. Carven L'Eau Intense
10. Gucci Guilty Absolute

 

[Alex]

I might jump on this and add a few that have not been mentioned before:
Horizon by Guy Laroche
Quorum Aqua
Bulgari pour Homme and Extreme
Zegna Uomo
Great post regardless.

 

[pirop]

That's why I like to come back to this forum sometimes. Great thread "sipfrsly", although I don't fully share your choice of fragrances .You are all great and I especially want to thank to ''the_good_life" for the depth and scope of the speech.
To the already good suggestions I want to add just one-Quorum Silver. Find it if you can, because it may have been discontinued.

 

[Stinky_Pete]

I've added a few from this thread to my collection so I think it's best that I add some content of my own. I'll add Vetiver Pamplemousse by Zara and Zara for Men Red.

 

[slpfrsly]

That's why I like to come back to this forum sometimes. Great thread "sipfrsly", although I don't fully share your choice of fragrances .You are all great and I especially want to thank to ''the_good_life" for the depth and scope of the speech.
To the already good suggestions I want to add just one-Quorum Silver. Find it if you can, because it may have been discontinued.

 

[Greasetrap]

Pushing it just under the $100 limit for a 30ml, so may not be considered affordable to all - but Euan McCall at Jorum Studios puts out some of the most inventive fragrances around for $95 a pop.

Also I am a big fan of the Elizabeth & James Nirvana Rose fragrance that runs around $16 when you find it at TJ Maxx (arguably unisex from the dark vetiver note and geranium nuances).

I'd add Rogue Perfumery and Imaginary Authors in with Jorum Studio.