12 Cheap Colognes that Don't Smell Cheap

As the name suggests, Me is one of those scents that is meant to smell like a heightened version of yourself. That's thanks to the powerful dose of Orcanox and Sublimolide, both synthetic musks that provide warm, musky, and skin-like notes. There's a very slight infusion of fruity and sweet notes like peach skin and caramel that heighten the scent, though they don't stick around for very long. Ultimately, Me gives off a subtle, skin-like warmth that feels far more expensive than it is.

I'm a big fan of some of Axe's classic scents—they've got a nostalgic hold on me that reminds me of my younger, more scent-naive years. Axe's new fine fragrance line abandons some of their more juvenile trappings in favor of scents that smell like premium colognes in the familiar body spray packaging (albeit with a new spray nozzle that prevents over-application) and a jaw-dropping low price. Midnight Amber is slightly reminiscent of warm colognes like Baccarat Rouge 540—it mixes amber notes with sandalwood and vanilla in a way that exudes luxury. When I first smelled it I was genuinely shocked. This isn't your old Axe.

Another home run from Hawthorne, Studded Smoke is an innovative take on leather cologne, adding sweet blackberry and snappy white pepper to the mix. The amalgamation totals out to a one-of-a-kind leather scent that forfeits the rugged, more mature elements of these kinds of colognes for something that's younger and more current feeling.

Hawthorne formulates its colognes at parfum concentration, which helps them last far longer than most in this price range. The first time I wore Studded Smoke, I sprayed it around 2 PM—and could still catch it on my skin the following afternoon. That kind of longevity at $25 is hard to beat.

I was surprised by the sophistication of American Eagle's Fear Nothing Eau de Cologne. There's a bright, fruity opening that gives way to a warm, woody base after a few hours, and it smells premium throughout. It's a fragrance that's both playful and manly. It's not necessarily suited for the most formal occasions, but for a night at the club or dinner with friends there's no going wrong here.

If your Instagram feed looks anything like mine, you've been inundated with ads for Dossier's scents. Their main selling point is a wide swath of highly accurate dupes for popular, expensive fragrances at fractional prices. To see whether they lived up to their advertising claims, I got my hands on a few of their scents, and was blown away by the quality.

Musky Green Tea quickly became a personal favorite in the line for its juicy citrus top notes of bergamot and mandarin layered on top of heart notes like blackcurrant and neroli and base notes like musk and orris. The amalgamation is one that smells ultra-chic and unlike many other men's colognes. It can be tricky to make a citrus cologne that stays super masculine while integrating the fruity notes I crave, and this strikes the balance beautifully.

While gourmands have been having their big moment in fragrance, I have to admit I've never been the biggest fan. Room for Dessert is set to change that for me though, as it somehow manages to take notes like crème brûlée and strawberry and spin them into a seductive, manly concoction.

The scent comes from Snif's Notewrks line, a new collection that specializes in masculine-leaning cologne (though generally the offerings from both the parent and sub brand are unisex in nature). What made Room for Dessert stand out for me was not only its sweet-yet-masculine opening but the deep amber-y dry down that smells like a sweetened second skin.

Nautica's Voyage is an affordable cologne mainstay. For less than $20, you won't find a cologne that's as universally loved. It's a more youthful approach to aquatic fragrances, mixing in apple and mimosa for a sparkly sheen at initial application and drying down into something more mature with a cedar and oakmoss base.

My Windex-blue bottle has served me well at bar nights with friends and DJ gigs, making me feel like I smell well-groomed and energetic at the same time.

Scents UnEarth'd is a new brand from incubator Maesa (also responsible for Fine'ry). The line focuses on scents inspired by geographical locations, with notes that highlight the traditions and ingredients of the locale. Oro Tonka, as the name suggests, places the tonka bean front and center, offering a deep warmth that's inviting but not too sweet. This is a cologne that has a very intimate feeling, with notes that wear close to the skin. It also has an impressive wear time, lasting me the full work day and well into the evening on days I've sprayed it on.

Part of Dossier's line of colognes that aren't dupes, Lost Americana is a collaboration with musician MGK. The scent is a standout for its spicy composition that slowly fades to a sweet base. Parts of it smell classic—pink pepper, myrrh, vetiver, and suede evoke a typical macho scent profile in cologne—but the addition of incense, almond, vanilla, and chocolate add an unexpected saccharine quality. It's not your typical spicy cologne, but at $49, it's worth taking a chance on.

Most men I know have tried Cremo's shaving products, but their best kept secret is their fantastic cologne line. The bottles are big, the prices are low, and the scents are fantastically crafted. Palo Santo is a woody concoction that sports dry, arboreal notes, feeling far more grown-up than the price tag would imply. Compared to others on this list, the scent isn't particularly long-lasting, but given the size and price reapplication isn't guilt-inducing like it can be with expensive colognes.