/frag/ guide to budget fragrance 6/2018 (bottles under $40 USD)
by anti-samplesperg

This is just one Anon's personal recommendations for beginners or for those looking to expand their collection with decent quality
scents for a relatively small investment. Suggestions and notes are based on my personal experiences. Cross reference my capsule
reviews with others at http://fragrantica.com and http://basenotes.com.

Prices are listed in USD, and represent normal pricing from "gray market" sources. If you are unfamiliar with how the perfume gray
market works: http://bfy.tw/IpuB

Buying tester bottles can save you $5-$15 or more. Testers come in a plain box, sometimes without a cap. They are marked "tester"
somewhere on the bottle and occasionally also imprinted with a basic note list. The perfume itself is identical to that in a retail
bottle.

Americans / Canadians, buy from fragrancenet or fragrancebuy. To get the best "discount coupon" on fragrancenet (37%), visit the
site via a Google shopping search result.

Europeans, notino offers good prices. If there are better discount sites that I should add, please mention them in the general and
I will keep them in mind for future revisions.

Ebay is generally fine, but check seller feedback carefully. 10k+ positive feedback should be legit.


== Green-Woody-Herbal ==

Aramis Havana - $17 / 100 ml
A kaleidoscope of tobacco, fougere notes, and spice. Bay rum? It's from the 90's, reminds me of the 80's, but is still great in
2018. Not an everyday casual scent, but not overly formal. Commands respect in an office.

Azzaro Pour Homme L'Eau - $17 / 100 ml
A lightweight barbershop style aromatic fougere available for a song. Like a fresher version YSL Rive Gauche. Absolutely not
fancy, but perfectly, assertively, fresh-masculine. Even cheaper if you can find a tester.

Guerlain Vetiver - $25-$30 / 100 ml
Earthy woods and tobacco; a classic for all seasons and all ages.

Lalique Encre Noire Sport - $25-$30 / 100 ml
Encre Noire is a distinctive cypress and vetiver bomb with supporting woody aromachemicals. Sport adds citrus and aquatic notes
while retaining the core cypress-vetiver focus of the original. Sport is much more versatile and just as satisfying for a vetiver
mood, so it gets the nod.

Rasasi Egra - $20 / 100 ml @fragrancebuy
A great affordable clone of Creed Green Irish Tweed. Strong resemblance to the original with solid performance.

Javanol (generic Molecule 04) - $25 / 120 ml @ebay
Molecule 04 is a single note perfume composed of Javanol, or synthetic sandalwood. It is an enjoyable, lightweight woody scent with
real presence and solid longevity. You might not always smell it on yourself, but it will draw many compliments. Because there is
only one aromachemical, this is an easy fragrance for amateurs to create clones of (Just ask Dale). Find Javanol on ebay and choose
a reputable seller based on reviews and account history.


== Aquatic-Fresh-Blue ==

Armaf Voyage Bleu - $25 / 100 ml
The best clone of Bleu de Chanel EdP out there. Smooth and lively with longevity comparable to Bleu EdP.

Bentley for men Azure - $30-$35 / 100 ml
A modern summertime ambrox-aquatic with strong performance. Not a Sauvage-like. All Bentley fragrances are produced by Lalique.

Benneton United Dreams Aim High - $14 / 100 ml @fragrancenet
A solid value version of Bleu de Chanel EdT. Not nearly as refined as Bleu, but still enjoyable in warm weather and long lasting.
Produced by Puig in Spain.

Bvlgari Aqva (series) - $35 / 100 ml
All are great for spring through fall. Aqva Amara can be used as a winter aquatic with its bitter orange and cedar base. Aqva
Atlantiqve is my only recommended Sauvage-like and gets me many compliments.


== Woody-Spicy-Sweet ==

Azzaro Wanted - $35 / 100 ml
Best budget club scent / youthful date fragrance. Not a clone, but a PdM Layton-like on a budget. Apple, lavender, cardamom, tonka,
amberwood, ginger. Projects strongly and lasts, still not well known.

Bentley for men Absolute - $35-$40 / 100 ml
Dry incensed resins and wood. I prefer it to CDG 2 Man, which is similar and about 3x the price.

Calvin Klein CK One Shock - $18 / 100 ml
Energy drink with swisher cigar accord, 6-7 hour performance, good for fall through early spring

Charriol Royal Gold - $37 / 100 ml @fragrancenet
Tom Ford Black Orchid at 1/3 price and 5/4 potency.

Salvatore Ferragamo Uomo Casual Life - $39 / 100 ml
Surprisingly addictive "fresh gourmand" for warm weather. How do you manage to include coffee and cashmerean in a summer fragrance
and get away with it? Alberto Morillas.

Zara Gourmand Leather - $29 / 100 ml, cheaper in Europe
Almost perfect copy of JPG Ultra Male, manufactured by the same company (Puig again). Very good performance and longevity, easily
lasting through an evening, overnight, and through your morning shower if you're not careful.


Other notes:

Amazon is generally to be avoided unless items are sold directly by Amazon. Overstock and Jet can sometimes yield a good deal.
Armaf Tres Nuit and Club de Nuit Man Intense are poorly executed fragrances and are not recommended.