Winter is the season of layering, family reunions, warm beverages, and finding the perfect fragrance to complete your outfit. Great-smelling cheap winter fragrances can boost your confidence, but finding a scent that fits your style can be a challenge with everything available on the market.
If you are anything like me, you are aware of the fact that fall and winter are the time of the year we fragrance enthusiasts eagerly wait for.
As these are the seasons when we wipe the dust off our “heavy hitters“, and want to smell rich, daring, and even provocative. A common mistake one can make when entering this hobby is to think that spending more will result in a better fragrance and overall experience.
With everything I’ve been through with this best hobby in the world, my conclusion is that even with restraining your budget up to $60 USD, the experience will either be the same or in some cases, you’ll smell better than opting for a more expensive designer or niche perfumes.
Sometimes, we just don’t want to spend Xerjoff or Roja Parfums money to get as close as possible to smell equally great. This is where I get into the picture to make sure that you smell fabulous, and make the right and proper decision.
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This list includes some of the most beloved cheap winter fragrances and some you may not have heard about until now with additional information about winter fragrances, and how to choose the best one from the bunch. Let’s go.
Best Cheap Winter Fragrances: The List
Before we get with the list, let’s go through a couple of checkpoints to understand why each of these scents has been included here.
Firstly, all of us come from different countries, and traditions, have different jobs, and live widely different lifestyles. That’s why when I took everything into consideration, the price point is around $60 USD, regardless of the bottle size.
This feels right, and shouldn’t be higher than that, even if some of us would consider a fragrance costing $150 USD and more, cheap.
The second point would be geolocation, and while I’m blessed with normal fall and winter seasons each year in the northern hemisphere, a lot of Scent Grail’s readers also live in tropical countries where temperatures never get below 10 degrees Celsius which means, some of these perfumes could be worn in warmer weather as well.
The third and final point is on the topic of how to choose a winter fragrance, and here are some important factors to take into consideration:
- Personal preference – depending on which kind of fragrances you already wear and your personal style will narrow down what to look for. For example, some men like fragrances based on warm, spicy, and oriental notes, while others are perfectly fine wearing aquatics, herbal and fresh fragrances during the winter.
- Skin type – take your skin type into consideration when selecting a perfume. Some fragrances may rarely skin irritation, so test a small area like on the hands first before applying it all over.
- Fragrance notes – as mentioned above, it is best to consider the notes of each fragrance and how they work together to create the overall scent profile. Look for fragrances with top, middle, and base notes that appeal to your personal taste. Some brands like Dior and Chanel give a full list of notes included in each composition.
- Strength and longevity – take into account the strength and longevity of the fragrance. Stronger fragrances will last longer but may be more overpowering, whereas lighter fragrances will not last as long but are more appropriate for everyday wear.
I have additionally included general information about the winter fragrances at the end of this list which is also something I recommend reading as well.
Here are my top recommendations.
10. Jesus del Pozo Halloween Man
A note from the brand: “I am able to see the world from a different point of view. I know who I am, but I also know that I can be someone else. Sometimes I do not understand myself, but I like myself. I do not fit into any stereotype. I fear nothing… except myself sometimes. Beware of yourself.
Night has its own scent. Can you smell it? It is a second skin. Or is it the first? Apple Martini comes out followed by an aphrodisiac ginger heart, finishing with sexy leather. No, do not open your eyes, yet. The night also conceals deeper aromas of musks, woods and cinnamon.”
Why is Jesus del Pozo Halloween Man one of the best cheap winter fragrances for men: Halloween Man is one of the most famous budget Paco Rabanne 1 Million Eau de Toilette clones on the market, and no more, and no less.
Depending on your fragrance taste, this may be a good thing, or not, but for what it is, Halloween Man does a great job, and while smelling it from the air, no one will know which one you are actually wearing.
A great clubbing fragrance for younger generations that will appreciate a step up from the generic ultra basic cheap perfumes, and a good entry point to designer perfumery.
And as for the price, it is unbeatable for what you get.
Buy at Amazon
- Perfumer: n/a
- Perfume Oil Concentration: Eau de Toilette
- Fragrance Type: Spicy Oriental
- Release Date: 2012
- Target Audience: Men
- Masculine/Feminine: 70% – 30%
- Most dominant notes: Cinnamon, Martini, and Vanilla
- Age Group: 20+
- Seasons: Fall and Winter
- Occasions: Night Out and Leisure
- Longevity and Sillage: 8 – 10 hours with great projection
- Compliments: High
- Likeability: Medium
- Uniqueness: 3/5
- Value for money: 9/10
- Accords: Warm, Spicy, Oriental
- Holy Grail Scent Rating: B
9. Versace Dreamer
A note from the brand: “Perfume created for the romantic soul. Its beginning is sweet, the end quite aromatic living a warm woody trail. Top notes include Clary sage, Lavender and Mandarin. Geranium, Rose and Tobacco are in its heart ending with a trail of cedar and Tonka Bean.”
Why is Versace Dreamer one of the best cheap winter fragrances for men: Dreamer by Versace was one of my first big perfume darlings I wore everywhere I went during a couple of winters when I was still new in this hobby.
An addictive composition of aromatic and powdery lavender, woody tobacco with a base dominated by sweet and nutty tonka beans.
One thing about Dreamer is how it still smells pretty original more than 25 years after its release, and one of the rare fragrances that will grow on you even if the first impressions might not be that great.
A more than solid release and the last Versace released under the creative hand of the late Gianni Versace.
- Perfumer: Jean-Pierre Bethouart
- Perfume Oil Concentration: Eau de Toilette
- Fragrance Type: Woody Aromatic
- Release Date: 1996
- Target Audience: Men
- Masculine/Feminine: 80% – 20%
- Most dominant notes: Lavender, Tobacco, and Tonka Bean
- Age Group: 25+
- Seasons: Spring, Fall, and Winter
- Occasions: Business, Leisure, and Night Out
- Longevity and Sillage: 5 – 7 hours with moderate projection
- Compliments: Medium
- Likeability: Medium
- Uniqueness: 4/5
- Value for money: 9/10
- Accords: Aromatic, Sweet, Woody
- Holy Grail Scent Rating: B+
8. Salvatore Ferragamo Uomo Signature
A note from the brand: “The perfect balance between untamed masculinity and Italian elegance. Quintessence of the UOMO man, an edgier and darker chapter for a rich and bold lingering sensation. Deeper and more magnetic, a new composition diving a step further into audacity without betraying Ferragamo’s Italian craftsmanship and legacy.”
Why is Salvatore Ferragamo Uomo Signature one of the best cheap winter fragrances for men: Uomo Signature already made a couple of my previous lists of the best cheap fall and sexiest men’s perfumes for a reason.
That reason is that just as the original Uomo is a great cheap coffee perfume, Uomo Signature takes the original formula and makes it even better. The fragrance is composed of signature Ferragamo tiramisu accord enveloped in leather, and warm tonka beans.
The addition of citruses and spices during the opening and middle stages provides interesting development. A pleasant fragrance with a mass appeal factor.
- Perfumer: Alberto Morillas
- Perfume Oil Concentration: Eau de Parfum
- Fragrance Type: Spicy Oriental
- Release Date: 2018
- Target Audience: Men
- Masculine/Feminine: 60% – 40%
- Most dominant notes: Tonka Beans, Leather, and Coffee
- Age Group: 20+
- Seasons: Fall and Winter
- Occasions: Night Out, and Leisure
- Longevity and Sillage: 10 – 12 hours with great projection
- Compliments: High
- Likeability: High
- Uniqueness: 3/5
- Value for money: 8/10
- Accords: Spicy, Leather, Oriental
- Holy Grail Scent Rating: A
7. Joop! Wow!
A note from the brand: “Joop! Wow! is an eau de toilette that emphasizes your presence in a masculine way. The avant-garde fragrance follows a free spirit and is powerful and elegant. Exquisite ingredients such as bergamot, cardamom and violet unfold a subtly captivating effect. Fir balsam, tonka bean and vanilla form the sensual component, while the base note rounds off the character with distinctive wood scents. A provocative fragrance for men who dare.
Why is Joop! Wow! one of the best cheap winter fragrances for men: A highly underrated fragrance best suitable for consumers who live in warmer parts of the world.
Opens up with a nice boozy and warm aroma which transitions into a woody/spicy heart with a nice touch of vanillic/cashmeran in the dry down.
The greatest thing about Wow! is remarkable to the two other popular fragrances on the market. One is CH Men from Carolina Herrera, and another is now a long-discontinued Gucci Pour Homme 2. Joop! is a house that rarely discontinues its perfumes, so this is an ideal time to try something new and under the radar in the fragrance community.
- Perfumer: Christophe Raynaud
- Perfume Oil Concentration: Eau de Toilette
- Fragrance Type: Aromatic Woody
- Release Date: 2017
- Target Audience: Men
- Masculine/Feminine: 80% – 20%
- Most dominant notes: Cardamom, Balsam Fir, and Cashmere Wood
- Age Group: 20+
- Seasons: Spring, Fall, and Winter
- Occasions: Business, Leisure, and Night Out
- Longevity and Sillage: 4 – 6 hours with moderate projection
- Compliments: High
- Likeability: High
- Uniqueness: 3/5
- Value for money: 8/10
- Accords: Aromatic, Spicy, Woody
- Holy Grail Scent Rating: B
6. Givenchy Pi
A note from the band: “PI marks the trail of new conquerors seeking thrills. An intense and magnetic scent where the strength of a Woody accord and the sensuality of Benzoin collide. A woody and magnetic fragrance for a man who aims to exceed his own limits.”
Why is Givenchy Pi one of the best cheap winter fragrances for men: Givenchy is one of the top-tier designer fragrance brands that exploded on the market with the rebranding of the classic Gentleman line, but with every successful line of perfume, there is another one, previously dominating the market, now being left behind.
Truth be told, I love Pi more than any Gentleman release, and if I wanted to smell like makeup, I would always go with the Dior Homme line rather than Givenchy or Valentino.
A stunning release from Givenchy before the Guerlain L’homme line even existed. This is a unique and gentle vanilla/almond fragrance that works like a second skin.
Even with the reformulations and changes to the fragrance, it still smells inviting, well-blended, and with a smooth dry down. Timeless for a good reason, and an olfactive time machine to transport you to the more relaxing times in the 90s when everything was still carefree, and easy-going.
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- Perfumer: Alberto Morillas
- Perfume Oil Concentration: Eau de Toilette
- Fragrance Type: Oriental
- Release Date: 1998
- Target Audience: Men
- Masculine/Feminine: 50% – 50%
- Most dominant notes: Vanilla, Almonds, and Tonka Beans
- Age Group: 30+
- Seasons: Fall, and Winter
- Occasions: Business, Leisure, and Night Out
- Longevity and Sillage: 6 – 8 hours with moderate projection
- Compliments: High
- Likeability: High
- Uniqueness: 4/5
- Value for money: 10/10
- Accords: Sweet, Oriental, Aromatic
- Holy Grail Scent Rating: A
5. Narciso Rodriguez for Him Bleu Noir
A note from the brand: “Refined and pure, for him bleu noir is an elegant and mysterious eau de toilette. The distinctive musk at its core is intensified with hints of nutmeg and a touch of blue cedar. A seductively smart scent, this eau de toilette will always be timeless.”
Why is Narciso Rodriguez for Him Bleu Noir one of the best cheap winter fragrances for men: To my nose, Blue Noir represents a “blue” version of Terre d’Hermes and Cartier Declaration.
Not smelling aquatic or like a shower gel, Blue Noir takes the best of what makes classic “blue” fragrances but envelops them into a musky, warm, and a tad sweeter aroma.
Along with Joop! Wow!, Blue Noir is another fragrance on the list that is equally suitable to be worn in warmer, and colder weather as well.
Cardamom and vetiver are quite strong here with woods and musk getting dark and more pronounced in the dry down. Last, but not least, there is also a bit of similarity to Dior Homme 2020, and getting a fragrance in the similar fragrance family for half a price, is a great deal.
- Perfumer: Sonia Constant
- Perfume Oil Concentration: Eau de Toilette
- Fragrance Type: Woody Spicy
- Release Date: 2015
- Target Audience: Men
- Masculine/Feminine: 90% – 10%
- Most dominant notes: Cardamom, Musk, and Vetiver
- Age Group: 25+
- Seasons: Spring, Fall, and Winter
- Occasions: Business, and Leisure
- Longevity and Sillage: 5 – 7 hours with moderate projection
- Compliments: Medium
- Likeability: Medium
- Uniqueness: 3/5
- Value for money: 9/10
- Accords: Spicy, Musk, Woody
- Holy Grail Scent Rating: B+
4. Paco Rabanne Ultraviolet For Men
A note from the brand: “An woody amber fragrance, Ultraviolet Man is a blend of liquid mint, vibratory spices, amber and vetiver. The woody amber fragrance reveals itself over several dimensions. The frosty freshness of mint is the perfect complement to a fruity heart of mandarin and blackcurrant. The full-bodied vibes of coriander, patchouli and black pepper enhance the warm woody notes while ambergris, oak moss and organic vetiver add a playful dash.”
Why is Paco Rabanne Ultraviolet For Men one of the best cheap winter fragrances for men: During the time when this perfume was released in 2001, and way before Paco Rabanne became famous for other perfumes such as 1 Million and Invictus, there was Ultraviolet and Ultrared line.
I remember vividly that one of my friends talked about this like it was remarkable creation no one other should know about, and smelling it again, brought a smile to my face. Ultraviolet is such a different smell from everything that came out at the turn of the 21st century with futuristic bottle design.
Fresh and clean, with a delightful aroma of a summer breeze. Due to its juxtaposition of fresh and oriental notes, I get a comfortable soft and sweet fragrance with spicy/woody base notes.
I also like that the overall sweetness tames down as the fragrance shifts from the top notes into the base. Ultraviolet is an insight into Paco Rabanne’s catalog before they became giants of the fragrance industry, and a great scent as well.
- Perfumer: Jacques Cavallier
- Perfume Oil Concentration: Eau de Toilette
- Fragrance Type: Aromatic Oriental
- Release Date: 2001
- Target Audience: Men
- Masculine/Feminine: 70% – 30%
- Most dominant notes: Mint, Amber, and Oakmoss
- Age Group: 25+
- Seasons: Spring, Fall, and Winter
- Occasions: Night Out, and Leisure
- Longevity and Sillage: 8 – 10 hours with moderate projection
- Compliments: Medium
- Likeability: Medium
- Uniqueness: 4/5
- Value for money: 9/10
- Accords: Aromatic, Oriental, Woody
- Holy Grail Scent Rating: B+
3. Mauboussin Homme
A note from the brand: “The first masculine fragrance from Mauboussin Parfums, this classic, masculine fragrance opens with fresh, invigorating lavender. Combined with a warm and reassuring vanilla heart, the base brings power and refinement thanks to the sensual note of patchouli.”
Why is Mauboussin Homme one of the best cheap winter fragrances for men: A hidden gem with the regular perfume consumers, but a well-known hidden gem within the fragrance community.
Mauboussin Homme is a complex, sweet, and aromatic oriental fragrance that is a cheaper alternative to another great fragrance – Boucheron Jaipur Pour Homme.
What’s also great about this one is that it sits somewhere in between old-school masculine releases and modern perfumes with aromatic fougere touches of lavender, rosemary, and patchouli, and modern twists with sweet cinnamon and vanilla.
Suitable for all seasons, especially if you work from the office with a very good gentlemanly performance.
- Perfumer: Alberto Morillas
- Perfume Oil Concentration: Eau de Parfum
- Fragrance Type: Amber Fougere
- Release Date: 2003
- Target Audience: Men
- Masculine/Feminine: 70% – 30%
- Most dominant notes: Lavender, Cinnamon, and Patchouli
- Age Group: 25+
- Seasons: Spring, Fall, and Winter
- Occasions: Business, Night Out, and Leisure
- Longevity and Sillage: 6 – 8 hours with moderate projection
- Compliments: Medium
- Likeability: High
- Uniqueness: 3/5
- Value for money: 9/10
- Accords: Aromatic, Spicy, Woody
- Holy Grail Scent Rating: B+
2. Guy Laroche Drakkar Intense
A note from the brand: “Daring to spread an irresistible and addictive power, Drakkar Intense embodies a greater thirst for danger man.”
Why is Guy Laroche Drakkar Intense one of the best cheap winter fragrances for men: The latest flanker from the long-standing Drakkar line of fragrances, Intense came out in 2022 on the 40th anniversary of Drakkar Noir.
The new flanker introduces new elements such as oriental accords with zesty bergamot, aromatic sage, and hints of suede leather and amber into the recognizable Noir’s Noir aromatic, spicy, and woody composition.
Comforting. and a nice perfume to wear during the colder seasons that you’ll probably like more than you expect at this price point.
Just like the beforementioned Mauboussin, it is a crossover of a modern fragrance with crowd-pleasing formula, and a vintage fragrance in its core targeted to the younger generations of today.
Buy at Amazon
- Perfumer: n/a
- Perfume Oil Concentration: Eau de Parfum
- Fragrance Type: Aromatic Oriental
- Release Date: 2022
- Target Audience: Men
- Masculine/Feminine: 70% – 30%
- Most dominant notes: Patchouli, Suede Leather, and Amber
- Age Group: 20+
- Seasons: Fall and Winter
- Occasions: Business, Night Out, and Leisure
- Longevity and Sillage: 4 – 6 hours with moderate projection
- Compliments: Medium
- Likeability: High
- Uniqueness: 4/5
- Value for money: 8/10
- Accords: Aromatic, Leather, Oriental
- Holy Grail Scent Rating: B
1. Mercedes-Benz Club Black
A note from the brand: “Following the success of its line dedicated to the young generation, Mercedes-Benz Parfums is launching Mercedes-Benz Club Black, a fragrance with original and contemporary curves and oriental accents. A Black edition as a premium version of the previous flankers, with noble and refined notes, for people in search of a powerful trail with a strong personality. A symbol of virility and intensity…”
Why is Mercedes-Benz Club Black one of the best cheap winter fragrances for men: Even though this list isn’t made so that the last perfume is worse than the first one, I do believe that I have saved the best one in the end. Club Black was composed by one of the greatest perfumers of all time, Olivier Cresp, who is responsible for so many great fragrances that is hard to even list them here.
This is a stunning release, full-bodied boozy vanilla with a light woody smokiness that gives a sensual and sweet aroma. To get this type of quality, it is shockingly cheap even if in the end, it is a clone of Spiritueuse Double Vanille by Guerlain.
Smells awesome in the chilly winter air, and if I had to get only one from this list, this would be it. 100% worth the hype.
- Perfumer: Olivier Cresp
- Perfume Oil Concentration: Eau de Toilette
- Fragrance Type: Oriental
- Release Date: 2017
- Target Audience: Men
- Masculine/Feminine: 60% – 40%
- Most dominant notes: Benzoin, Vanilla, and Incense
- Age Group: 20+
- Seasons: Fall and Winter
- Occasions: Night Out and Leisure
- Longevity and Sillage: 8 – 10 hours with great projection
- Compliments: High
- Likeability: High
- Uniqueness: 3/5
- Value for money: 10/10
- Accords: Aromatic, Leather, Oriental
- Holy Grail Scent Rating: A
What Is A Winter Fragrance?
Winter fragrances are associated with colder seasons. Most commonly, Fall and Winter.
During this time when the temperatures are low, and the air is dry, your fragrances need to be able to push more to create a scented bubble around you.
As you know, when the temperatures are high, our body heats up and produces sweat which helps the light and citrusy fragrance to pump-out out of the skin easily.
Unfortunately, that won’t do the cut when it’s cold outside. That’s why perfumers create stronger fragrances with different warm and woody aromas that cut through the cold air.
Winter fragrance notes
Now, you may ask yourself, how do I recognize winter fragrance notes? That is an excellent question.
Here are some notes and accords you’ll find in the winter fragrance:
WOODS
Woody notes such as Oud, Cedar, Guaiac Wood, Sandalwood, Oakmoss, and Patchouli are most commonly used in the base of winter fragrances.
MUSKS AND ANIMALIC NOTES
Leather, various Musks, and Ambers are often used as “fantasy notes” through the mixing of different ingredients to get a certain accord. These are seen in many winter fragrance note breakdowns.
ORIENTAL NOTES AND RESINS
Benzoin, Vanilla, Incense, Myrrh, Labdanum, and Elemi are found in the oriental bases of cold-weather fragrances.
Can you wear summer fragrances in Winter?
Yes, you can, and I have heard about this misconception a million times. That you couldn’t possibly wear any summer fragrance in the winter.
Well, in this best cheap winter fragrances for men list we will destroy this illusion, and include a few summer fragrances which you can confidently rock in the dead winter cold.
People work in different environments. Some work in an office, while others are in public service. And as such, if you work in the office, in most cases you can’t possibly wear something strong.
That’s why a summer fragrance or two will definitely come in handy.
Conclusion
In the end, we can see that smelling great doesn’t necessarily mean you have to spend too much money. As someone who equally enjoys designer and niche perfumes, I have found that generally, designers have that mass appeal that niche fragrances often lack for exchange of artistry.
One more important thing I do recommend is that before buying any perfume, you try to sample it first, and only blind buy if you are okay with the risk which comes with it. We all have different tastes in perfumes.
What are your thoughts about this list? Have you tried any of the mentioned top 10 best cheap winter fragrances? Let’s start a conversation and let me know in the comment section below.
In case you are in doubt about whether you should consider buying any fragrance, it’s always good to take a look at Scent Grail’s S.P.A. Signature Factor Guide.
It is easy to use and the most relevant perfume-buying guide on the web. This way, you can check out if a particular fragrance is worth checking out, and potentially find your signature perfume.
Scent Grail content is free for anyone to use without anything hiding behind the paywall. If you would like to help me do more great articles like this, you can donate via PayPal. Much appreciated.
Find out more Scent Grail articles about perfumery, check out top lists, and other helpful reviews via the links below:
REVIEWS
- Nasomatto Pardon
- Maison Francis Kurkdjian Apom Pour Homme
- Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan
- Mancera Aoud Lemon Mint
- Tom Ford Costa Azzurra
- Bentley For Men Intense
TOP LISTS
- Top 10 Best Fall Perfumes For Women
- Top 10 Best Fall Fragrances For Men
- 10 Best Valentine’s Day Perfume Gifts For Her
- 10 Best Valentine’s Day Perfumes For Men
- 10 Best Cheap Perfumes For Men
- 20 Best Winter Fragrances For Men
SCENT GRAIL LEARNING CENTER
- How To Start A Perfume Collection
- Designer Vs Niche Fragrances
- Best Fragrance Discounters
- Fragrance Strengths & Perfume Concentrations
- How To Wear Perfume
- How To Find Your Signature Scent
Until next time, have a great time, and keep smelling like a million bucks!
Best, Marin!
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