My current favorites.
I love smelly stuff. In our culture that is viewed by some as not something guys care about, but I’ve never understood that. We get 5 senses–guys can like stuff that sounds good, looks good, feels good, and tastes good but appreciating good smells, a bridge too far. I love a good body wash, a good soap, a good candle—anything to make my place smell good. And if you’re the same, you’ll recognize the journey every guy goes on when he gets into it.
It starts small. You grab the cheap but nice-smelling stuff. Then all of a sudden you’re sniffing things before you buy them. Slowly, you start paying $7 for bodywash instead of $4 just because of the smell. You’re still buying things from Target or wherever, but then you catch a whiff of something next level. One of those higher-end scents that makes you stop and go, Oh, wow. Yeah, I get this. These smell good.
But then comes the price tag.
Spending $30 on a bottle of hand soap for the bathroom? No way. It doesn’t fit the budget, and honestly, it’s outside the values. That’s not happening.
So what do you do?
The problem is, once you’ve smelled the really good stuff, it’s hard to go back. The budget-friendly options now all sort of have this quality you can’t quite put your finger on but know when you smell it. Whether it’s soaps, candles, or body washes, there’s some olfactory attribute that is always present on the budget-friendly stuff.
And for scents that lean masculine—wood, tobacco, leather, oud, musk—it’s even more noticeable. Even brands that try to refine those scents on a budget can’t escape that faint Axe-like undertone. Once you catch it, you can’t un-smell it.
But here’s the thing: you don’t have to settle for that weirdness, and you don’t have to blow your budget either. I’m always rotating through new options as I find them and after experimenting with all kinds of things, I’ve found these seven affordable scents that skip the cheap vibes and actually smell good. These are the ones that make your routine and your space feel refined—without spending like you’re shopping for a luxury candle in Soho.
Let’s get into it.
Cedar Balsam Hand Soap
Trader Joe’s ($3.99)
At $3.99, this is basically a no-brainer. It’s technically a limited-time seasonal item for the holidays, and, yeah, I get that when I smell it. But if you smelled it outside of that context, you wouldn’t immediately think, “Oh, this smells like December.” It’s got this cedar scent that just works—nice for the price and a welcome break from the floral or citrusy stuff you usually get at the lower end of the hand soap price range.
Palo Santo
Palo Santo, which means “holy wood,” is a fragrant wood often used to cleanse spaces or create a calming atmosphere. Unlike a candle or incense, it doesn’t burn continuously. You light it, let it briefly smoke, and then walk it through your space before it naturally goes out. It’s kind of like a match that smells good—not that it smells like a match, but it has that same effect of quickly influencing the scent of a space.
If you’ve ever been in a classy menswear store like Buck Mason or Todd Snyder, you’ve definitely smelled it before. These places are absolutely Palo Santo-ing their stores regularly—I know because I’ve smelled it and literally seen them doing it. Palo Santo is also a fragrence note, like musk, oud, or tobacco, that is often used in things like colognes and candles. Burning the real thing gets you right to the concentrated source.
The aroma sticks around for maybe an hour or so. What makes it great is how easy it is to use—no need to remember to blow it out or worry about it burning too long. It’s also dirt cheap. You can find it everywhere, pick up a little bundle of sticks at a farmers’ markets or, honestly, probably even Whole Foods.
Sandalwood + Cardamom Oil Body Wash
Dove Men+Care, $10
I’ve always been a fan of what Dove Men+Care does. I’ve worked through several of their body washes, and as far as the big-box-store men’s brands go, they really nail that mature scent—something that feels grown-up without veering into “grandfatherly” or “teenagerly.”
This Sandalwood + Cardamom Oil body wash is part of their Restore line, and it’s another solid option. The scent is subtle—woody, but not overly cologne-like the way something from Old Spice or Axe might be. It strikes a great balance between lather, price, and smell, which I think is what keeps me coming back to this brand. I got this one about two months ago and you can see I’m only just about half way through.
I’ve tried others in the line, like the Eucalpytus + Cedar, and I’ve never had one I didn’t like. This one is an easy buy, and I’d definitely pick it up again—though knowing me, I’ll probably grab a different scent next time just to see what else they have.
Mahogany Teakwood Intense 3-Wick Candle
Bath & Body Works, $10 on sale
I’ll admit, I’m surprisingly new to Bath & Body Works. Sure, it’s been in every mall I’ve ever lived near, and I’ve even bought gifts there in my younger years. But for myself? Never really crossed my mind. Honestly, it was the kind of store where I’d go in, grab what I needed, and get out as quickly as possible.
Recently, though, I was killing time and ended up browsing. Turns out, they’ve really stepped up their men’s line. Not everything’s a hit—some of it falls into the trap of “manly marketing” with names like Bourbon, but overall, there’s a lot to like.
On this particular day, they were running a deal where all 3-wick candles were $10. So, I picked up the Mahogany Teakwood Intense. First impression? It smells amazing—premium and masculine without being overpowering. And at ten bucks for a big, three-wick candle, it felt like a good buy.
What surprised me was the performance. I burned it one day for a while, the next day when I cam home the scent was still noticeable. I’m not new to candles, whether cheap or expensive, and I can honestly say I’ve never had that experience before. The fragrance lasts, and it doesn’t smell cheap or artificial—it’s genuinely impressive.
A bonus? The sticker on the jar peeled off cleanly, leaving me with this sleek, matte frosted black glass that wouldn’t look out of place next to more expensive decor. It’s like finding a clearance style piece that blends seamlessly with higher-priced items.
Now, here’s the thing I’ve figured out about Bath & Body Works—it’s basically J.Crew for scented stuff. The full price isn’t the real price. The next time I went in, the candles weren’t on sale, but all body care items were $5.95. They’re always running some kind of deal, so don’t pay full price.
Avoid the aerosol colognes (even the scents I like in the spritzer bottles or candles have that cheap Axe cologne vibe in an aerosol for some reason). I haven’t tried their body washes yet, but I’m sure I will at some point.
Overall, the Mahogany Teakwood Intense candle was a nice surprise, and I’ll definitely be back to see what else they have to offer.
Sea + Surf Body Wash
Method Men, $11.48 for 28 oz
I picked up the Method Men Sea + Surf body wash, because it was on sale at the time. I’ve tried it while finishing up the other bottle, and here’s the deal: it’s a little brighter than the Dove Men+Care, leaning slightly more cologne-y but still firmly in the “soap” category. It’s not overpowering, doesn’t linger on the skin in a bad way, and looks, smells, and feels premium in a subtle way.
What does Sea + Surf smell like? It’s not floral, citrusy, or woody. Just “clean,” without veering into “laundry detergent” territory. The bottle is big, and I like the design—it looks good in the shower.
Lather-wise, Dove Men+Care has the edge, but the Method holds its own. It’s a solid pick, especially if you catch it on sale.
Vetiver + Amber Hand Wash Refill
Method Gel Hand Wash Refill, $8 for 32 oz
I went through an entire liter of this before I remembered to photograph it. For around $8, you get a liter of soap that smells surprisingly premium. It’s probably the closest you’ll get to something like Aesop at Target prices.
I’d definitely buy this again, especially to refill a glass bottle. Easy choice.
Incense from World Market
I’ve become a fan of World Market’s incense after trying a few different kinds. They’ve got cones and sticks (pretty sure that’s it), and what I like is that they’re super budget-friendly with nice packaging. They offer the classic scents you’d expect but also some more curated, unique options.
For me, especially with budget incense, I want to smell it before I buy it. Cheap incense can be hit or miss—what one brand calls “sandalwood” might be totally off on another. That’s what first got me into World Market’s options: My fiance received some as a gift, then I found more in-store and was surprised by how affordable they were.
The packaging is a bonus. For example, the orange one shown here comes in a nice glass jar with a clean label. It’s the kind of thing that looks good sitting out—no need to hide it away. If you’re at World Market, it’s definitely worth checking out.
What are some of your current favorites? Keep the list going in the comments below!
