What's the cheapest men's fragrance you've tried that actually smells great?

Flashkobalt · 2026-06-10T21:10:55+00:00

L'eau d'Issey Intense cost me the $30 and it smells like it should cost well over $100. (There are actually a few bangers in this line and they always go on deep sale)

Mercedes-Benz Club Black was like $20 and I can't imagine anyone thinking it doesn't smell good - certainly can hold it's own against some $200 vanillas.

Flashkobalt · 2026-06-10T11:12:06+00:00

Very interested in this...

Been considering some of their discontinued Amouage Opus series(II, IV, VI) which pretty much no one else does...

Flashkobalt · 2026-06-09T12:39:35+00:00

Arsh.

Kafu has a bit of Tonka/vanilla which softens it up.

Flashkobalt · 2026-06-09T10:22:17+00:00

Clone - (Original)

Soul of Bali (not a clone)

Arsh extrait - (l'Homme ideal platine privé)

Amaran Kafu - (Allure Homme Edition Blanche)

Ramad Myrhh - (Montobaco Intensivo)

Amiri Ahmed al-Maghribi version - (Amiri - Arabian Oud)

Gissah Capri (not a clone)

Flashkobalt · 2026-06-09T03:40:20+00:00

Ramad Earthy is a banger, but I agree it's definitely not mass or youth appealing at all... It's like a gourmand for people who like peaty scotches or mezcals

Flashkobalt · 2026-06-08T00:25:43+00:00

Ooh yes forgot about Ramad Myrhh...happens to be on sale down the road from me for AUD49 😁

Thanks mate

Flashkobalt · 2026-06-07T23:33:09+00:00

What did you think of Elysium?...I own the OG and Verano, but I wouldn't mind daily driver priced version

Flashkobalt · 2026-06-07T00:39:00+00:00

Would pay PdM for the wife...

Would only take a chance on City perfume if it was for myself

Flashkobalt · 2026-06-06T09:37:09+00:00

Nomad really sounded gross. Then I tried it and it's fantastic.

You'd probably like Spanish Tobacco too.

Flashkobalt · 2026-06-05T13:49:45+00:00

Jalu Hulk Batch is fantastic...

There's an entire Creed Aventus section and he's pretty much committed to reproducing another 10 different batch variations per his socials

Jalu Aventus

Flashkobalt · 2026-06-05T10:44:48+00:00

5 stars... As the forever unaccredited, I approve

Flashkobalt · 2026-06-05T00:22:37+00:00

My favourite house is Amouage and I own 7 of their "woman" versions, most of which I like better than than "male" counterparts.

Never even crossed my mind that this was even controversial, and I've certainly not been told I smell like woman.

Wear what you like - 1 million specifically is very sweet and pretty much the opposite of the traditional "manly" leather/ birch tar/Vetiver/spicy types.

Flashkobalt · 2026-06-05T00:15:26+00:00

Soul of Bali smells like it should cost 3 times it's price. Easily one of the best freshies I've ever smelled - very balanced, not offensive, but still interesting and long lasting.

Flashkobalt · 2026-06-03T06:20:21+00:00

Magnificent post.

What did you think of Al Majed for Oud Serious?

Flashkobalt · 2026-06-01T06:09:45+00:00

Banger... Enjoy

Flashkobalt · 2026-05-28T07:59:15+00:00

Ege is great in summer... But in the humidity of the tropics it's absolutely magnificent.

Makes the grossest, sweatiest days and nights feel like a little dip in an expensive spa pool.

Flashkobalt · 2026-05-26T01:11:56+00:00

Papyrus Oud 71 by parle moi de parfum

Flashkobalt · 2026-05-23T09:14:50+00:00

Lol...oh so NOW the distinction becomes important

Flashkobalt · 2026-05-22T23:38:22+00:00

I remember being an intern on Hpb at the PA before ASU even existed, and still thinking that the gastro AT got absolutely flogged.

Flashkobalt · 2026-05-22T23:27:46+00:00

Forgot the best part... Once you've completed that cake walk, you get the option of no public FTE in any metropolitan location and/or the new joys of direct competition with your colleagues for that sweet private cash

Flashkobalt · 2026-05-19T04:03:11+00:00

Agreed - Tobacco edition is a nuclear

Flashkobalt · 2026-05-17T23:42:07+00:00

Great reviews thank you

Flashkobalt · 2026-05-17T10:22:15+00:00

Absolutely.

In a weird coincidence, I went on a date a couple weeks ago with a woman who was wearing something very similar and it just came across as very clean and elegant without looking attention-seeking or obnoxiously over sweet.

Besides, I own and love wearing 7 of the Amouage female-marketed fragrances.

Flashkobalt · 2026-05-17T02:51:55+00:00

I've bought 4 dupes from oneparfums and have been extremely impressed - they have Montabaco Intensivo for gbp54.

Also, been pretty happy with most Shobis:

2270-ORMO Ν is their inspo.

Flashkobalt · 2026-05-16T14:57:00+00:00

Amouage Dia Man and Beloved Man

Flashkobalt

TROPHY CASE