Over the past few years, I’ve found the best Armaf colognes to be a great way to smell luxurious and expensive for a fraction of the price.
In my experience, most budget colognes either fall down on scent (they smell cheap or synthetic) or performance (they only last an hour or two). But the best Armaf colognes offer affordable representations of designer colognes that actually stack up very well – for just a fraction of the price.
Take Club de Nuit Man Intense, for example. It’s a natural-smelling, citrussy/smokey blend that mimics Creed’s Aventus really well – for a fraction of the price.
It sticks around for 8 hours, which is far longer than you’d expect for a cologne in this price range.
Man Intense is a confident and relatively serious scent – so if you’re looking for something breezier and more easy-going, I’d recommend checking our Tres Nuit.
It’s a brighter fragrance that uses clean, green notes that are perfect for fresh spring days. Again, it’s a copy of a popular Creed fragrance – Green Irish Tweed – and it gets really close to the original.
If you’re a fan of Dior Sauvage (and let’s face it, who isn’t?), then you should check out Ventana and Pride of Armaf. Both of them do a great job of capturing the woodsy ambroxan DNA – Ventana is a little more assertive and masculine, while Pride of Armaf is a sweeter, creamier, and more subtle twist on the original.
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Close to Dior Sauvage
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Top Pick
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Best for Summer
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4.6
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4.8
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4.3
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$26.84 ($7.89 / Fl Oz)
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$35.97 ($9.99 / Fl Oz)
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- Excellent value for money in terms of quality and performance.
- Very similar to Dior Sauvage - around 90% likeness.
- One of the most complimented fragrances in my collection.
- Incredibly similar to Aventus. I'd say 90% identical.
- Clean and fresh, led by citrus, neroli, and bergamot on a woodsy base.
- Perfect for casual outings in warmer weather.
I’ll step you through the 7 Armaf colognes that I’ve enjoyed the most, and let you know when and where to deploy them, based on:
- Note profile (what does it smell like)
- Longevity (how long does it last)
- Projection (how subtle/strong is it)
- Value for money
- Occasion (season, time of day, setting)
Of course, every Gent is different – so lets find out which is right for you.
Best Armaf Perfume for Him
Club de Nuit Intense Man – Best Armaf Cologne Overall
Ventana Pour Homme – Very Close to Dior Sauvage
Armaf Blue Homme – Best for Spring and Summer
Tres Nuit Pour Homme – Best Choice for the Office
Club De Nuit Milestone – Similar to Creed Millesime Imperial
The Pride of Armaf for Men – Zesty and Great Value for Money
Hunter Intense – A Light, Safe Choice
Derby Club House Blanche – A Silver Mountain Water Imitation
Which Armaf Perfume is Best for Men?
Club de Nuit Intense Man – Best Armaf Cologne Overall
I’m telling you right now – Club De Nuit Intense Man is one of the most complimented fragrances in my collection.
Incredibly similar to Aventus. I'd say 90% identical.
One of the most complimented fragrances in my collection.
| Occasion: Classy confidence | Longevity: 8 – 9 hours |
| Age group: 23 – 45 | Projection: Moderate |
| Season: Year-round | Value for money: 5/5 |
It opens up with a burst of lemon and musk. Within 15 minutes you get a bit of smokiness, and the whole profile coming together smells reminiscent of deliciously grilled pineapple.
In the dry-down things get deeper as birch woodsiness enters the scene. It offers realistic, natural-smelling masculinity that smells incredibly sexy.
The musk and bergamot round out any sharpness for a powdery effect that makes Club de Nuit Intense Man smell way more expensive than it is.
It’s very similar to Aventus by Creed. I doubt 99% of people would be able to tell the difference. It’s about as close to an alternative as you can get, and represents great value for money.
Performance here is also incredible for a cologne at this price point. I get a full 8 hours out of Armaf Club de Nuit Man Intense, with around 4 hours of arms-length projection – and compliment collecting.
| Top Notes: | Lemon, Pineapple, Bergamot, Blackcurrant and Apple |
| Middle Notes: | Birch, Jasmine and Rose |
| Base Notes: | Musk, Ambergris, Patchouli and Vanilla |
Armaf Ventana Pour Homme – Very Close to Dior Sauvage
When I used Ventana Pour Homme, my first reaction was genuine laughter. I found it funny how close it was to Sauvage.
I really can’t see why anyone would pick up the original when Ventana exists. It almost smells identical – for a quarter of the price.
Very similar to the original Dior Sauvage - around 95% likeness.
Excellent value for money in terms of quality and performance.
| Occasion: Dior Sauvage fans | Longevity: 6 hours |
| Age group: 22 – 40 | Projection: Strong/Moderate |
| Season: Year-round | Value for money: 4.5/5 |
You get the iconic, in-your-face ambroxan blast straight away in the opening. Within half an hour, it subsides to make space for a warmer mid-section with floral freshness from lavender and geranium.
The dry down has that familiar, woodsy feel emerging from the base of cedar and vetiver. The amber note does exactly what it should, mellowing out and brightening up some of the harsher masculine woods.
Ventana has pretty solid longevity, too. 6 hours of significant fragrance from a budget cologne is good going, and above average for the price point.
- Check our guide to the best Dior Sauvage alternatives for similar scents.
| Top Notes: | Grapefruit, Lemon and Mandarin Orange |
| Middle Notes: | Lavender, Geranium, Vetiver and Patchouli |
| Base Notes: | Cedar, Amber and Precious Woods |
Armaf Blue Homme – Best For Spring and Summer
Armaf Blue is a solid pick-up for a fresh, daytime fragrance that’s best for a confident Gent in the city on spring/summer days. It smells fresh, clean- and even expensive despite the tiny price tag.
Clean and fresh, led by citrus, neroli, and bergamot on a woodsy base.
Perfect for casual outings in warmer weather.
| Occasion: | Longevity: 5 – 6 hours |
| Age group: 20 – 40 | Projection: Subtle/Moderate |
| Season: Spring/Summer | Value for money: 4.5/5 |
It opens up with the neroli and citrus notes we’re looking for, rounded out by a woodsy, amberish base straight out of the Acqua di Gio playbook.
The heart does lack some of the aquatic quality of the original, but the fougère of fruits, lavender, and bergamot has enough compliment-collecting potential to compensate.
Like the other Armaf colognes I’ve tested, performance here is excellent at 5 -6 hours of scent. It doesn’t last as long as beasts like Club de Nuit Man Intense, but it is inexpensive.
There’s a slightly spiced sense here, too. It’s more herbal than warming, but it’s there adding some vitality to the background.
- Check our guide to Acqua di Gio alternatives for similar scents.
| Top Notes: | Grapefruit, Mandarin Orange, Bergamot and Neroli |
| Middle Notes: | Nutmeg, Rosemary, Lavender and Jasmine |
| Base Notes: | Vanilla, Amber, Cedar, Vetiver, Patchouli and Musk |
Armaf Tres Nuit Pour Homme – Best Choice for the Office
If you’re looking for something to project a sense of professionalism and class – but still has a personality – this is the pick for you. Wear it on warm summer days and nights to smell fresh, stylish, and not overwhelming.
A 90% Green Irish Tweed alternative, which is fantastic for a budget cologne.
Projects well enough to collect compliments without coming off as obnoxious.
| Occasion: Freshness in the office | Longevity: 5 – 6 hours |
| Age group: 24 – 45 | Projection: Subtle |
| Season: Spring/Summer | Value for money: 5/5 |
It opens up with a hit of bright lemon before melting into a clean, green, spring-time scent. You can catch a little violet in there as it dries down.
Tres Nuit is an awesome substitute for Green Irish Tweed – it dries down to a 90% alternative, which is fantastic for a budget cologne.
In the base, the sandalwood and ambergris blend beautifully to create the stylish, masculine impression of the Creed original.
I found it lasts a good 5 – 6 hours on the skin, and a couple more if I spritz a little on my jacket. It projects a nice arms-length bubble that’s strong enough to be detected but nowhere near obnoxious. I can wear Tres Nuit to the office, no problem.
Armaf’s Tres Nuit is a 9/10 from me. I have to take a point off because I would prefer it lasted a little longer, but beyond that, it’s all here. I honestly don’t feel the need to buy Green Irish Tweed anymore because of it.
- Check our guide for more colognes perfect for office professionalism.
| Top Notes: | Lemon and iris |
| Middle Notes: | Spicy |
| Base Notes: | Sandalwood and ambergris |
Club De Nuit Milestone Armaf – Similar to Creed Millesime Imperial
Milestone with a beautiful, salted watermelon accord. It’s a refined, smooth, and natural-smelling opening that I can’t get enough of.
The most faithful alternative to the current blend. Will pass a blind test - which is amazing for the price
Great longevity compared to the original. Lasts around twice as long.
| Occasion: Relaxing by the pool/ beach | Longevity: 6 – 7 hours |
| Age group: 25 – 35 | Projection: Moderate |
| Season: Summer | Value for money: 4.5/5 |
Then, you enter an oceanic and marine-inspired dry down with a musky base, with ambroxan and woodsy notes that linger on for 6-7 hours
It’s very reminiscent of Creed’s Millesime Imperial – about 90% similar – but with twice the longevity. You get a decent scent bubble for the first few hours, while the Creed original is notoriously light in terms of projection.
So, twice the firepower for a tenth of the price? Sign me up.
And if Creed doesn’t either upgrade Millesime Imperial or lower the price soon, I’m convinced everybody will turn to Armaf Milestone, sooner or later.
Personally, I’ve got no problems with Armaf taking a leaf out of Creed’s playbook. I’m just happy that there’s someone out there keeping pressure on them to match their prices to the quality provided.
| Top Notes: | Sea Notes, Red Fruits and Bergamot |
| Middle Notes: | Violet, White Woods and Sandalwood |
| Base Notes: | Musk, Ambroxan and Vetiver |
The Pride of Armaf for Men – Zesty and Great Value for Money
Pride of Armaf is very similar to Armaf Ventana, but slightly sweeter from the lemon and bergamot in the opening.
It’s also less harsh than Ventana, so keep that in mind if you’re looking for something 100% safe and accessible.
In the dry down, Pride of Armaf uses touches of cinnamon and nutmeg to develop a fragrance that smells warm, creamier, and slightly soft compared to other Armaf colognes.
A touch sweeter and softer than Dior Sauvage - but still very close.
Smells impossibly expensive for the low price tag.
| Occasion: A sweeter Ventana alternative | Longevity: 6 hours |
| Age group: 22 – 45 | Projection: Moderate |
| Season: Spring/Summer | Value for money: 4/5 |
Wearing Pride of Armaf makes you feel like you’re wearing an expensive cologne. It’s one of a handful of fragrances I would actually recommend as a blind buy – you really can’t go wrong with this compliment-ripe cologne that smashed my expectations.
Pride of Armaf isn’t nuclear, but it’s not weak either. You’ll still get 6 hours of life out of this fragrance – and probably more in warmer weather.
| Top Notes: | Bergamot, Lemon and Lemon Verbena |
| Middle Notes: | Nutmeg, Cinnamon and Oakmoss |
| Base Notes: | Tonka Bean, Vanilla and Sandalwood |
Armaf Hunter Intense – Something Lighter for Playing it Safe
I like to wear Hunter Intense when I’m trying to make a good first impression, like on a date or at a job interview. It’s often difficult to judge what the right sort of scent is for these types of situations, and Armaf gives me a nice compromise between professional confidence and expressing my personality.
| Occasion: An inoffesnisve crowdpleaser | Longevity: 7 hours |
| Age group: 20 – 40 | Projection: Light |
| Season: Year-round | Value for money: 4/5 |
A citrussy opening descends into sophisticated florals and woodsy muskiness in this evolving scent. There are flickers of spice from pink peppercorns, leading the way into a patchouli-informed dry down that smells complex and well-crafted.
Despite the “intense” title, this note profile is relatively subtle and isn’t going to blow anyone’s head off. It’s pleasant and safe.
This easy-going Armaf perfume will keep you smelling clean and fresh from morning to night, with 7 hours of longevity.
Plus, I’m a sucker for a cool bottle. This leather-clad flacon feels masculine and foreboding, with a texture that begs to be handled.
| Top Notes: | Lemon, orange, cardamom and citrus |
| Middle Notes: | Lavender, pink pepper and rose |
| Base Notes: | Cedar, patchouli, vetiver and musk |
Armaf Derby Club House Blanche – A Silver Mountain Water Imitation
Armaf Derby Club House Blanche is a clean-smelling, citrus and musk-oriented fragrance that is equally at home at work, or for leisure.
| Projection: | Moderate |
| Longevity: | 4 – 5 Hours |
| Value for Money: | 3.5/5 |
If you appreciate Creed’s fresh and clean Silver Mountain Water, you’re in luck. Armaf Derby Club House Blanche harnesses that same crisp, citrus, musky character for a breezy and versatile scent
Beautiful green tea accords in the heart add a streak of vitality and natural earthiness to the blend.
Just be aware that for some, the citrus notes in the opening can be a little harsh. They calm down after 10 minutes or so, but that initial blast could be considered a little screechy if you over-apply.
Projection is in that perfect arms-length sweet spot. It leaves a nice scent trail as you walk for the first couple of hours, before becoming a skin scent for another 2 – 3 hours.
- Check out our guide to the best Creed Silver Mountain Water alternatives for similar scents.
| Top Notes: | Water Notes, Bergamot and Orange |
| Middle Notes: | Green Tea and Blackcurrant |
| Base Notes: | Musk, Galbanum and Sandalwood |
What You Should Know to Choose the Best Armaf Cologne for You
What’s the Longest Lasting Armaf Perfume for Men?
The longest-lasting Armaf cologne is Club de Nuit Intense Man. It lasts between 8 and 9 hours, which is plenty to carry you through a full workday or a party in the evening.
Club de Nuit Intense Man will attract a fair amount of attention, so if you’re looking for something a little subtler that will still last a long time, consider Armaf Hunter. It lasts 7 hours, and it has a lighter note profile that’s a little less overtly masculine.
Which Armaf Cologne is the Strongest?
The strongest Armaf cologne is Ventana pour Homme. It opens up with a blast of ambroxan, and dries down to an attention-grabbing woodsiness that people will pick up on from several feet away.
As such, make sure you only use 2-3 sprays if you’re going to be in an enclosed space like the office or public transport. Otherwise, you might risk offending those near you.
Similarly, the high heat of summer will cause Ventana to project even more, and the deeper notes are going to be too overpowering. Something lighter and breezier like Blue Homme or Tres Nuit would be a better choice.
Where to Buy Armaf Fragrances
My favorite place to buy Armaf colognes online is through Amazon. They tend to have the best shipping options, with most Armaf colognes arriving at your door within a couple of days.
So you can purchase a fragrance on Wednesday/Thursday, and have it in time for a special occasion at the weekend.
Just remember that Amazon allows 3rd party retailers to sell through their platform, so make sure you read their reviews to ensure they are reputable.
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Close to Dior Sauvage
|
Top Pick
|
Best for Summer
|
|
|
|
|
|
4.6
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4.8
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4.3
|
|
$26.84 ($7.89 / Fl Oz)
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$35.97 ($9.99 / Fl Oz)
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- Excellent value for money in terms of quality and performance.
- Very similar to Dior Sauvage - around 90% likeness.
- One of the most complimented fragrances in my collection.
- Incredibly similar to Aventus. I'd say 90% identical.
- Clean and fresh, led by citrus, neroli, and bergamot on a woodsy base.
- Perfect for casual outings in warmer weather.
FAQs – What You Should Know About the Best Armaf Colognes
Which Armaf cologne is best?
The best Armaf cologne is Club de Nuit Intense man. It’s a smokey, citrus fragrance that does a great job of imitating Creed Aventus
Is Armaf a good brand?
Armaf offers excellent alternatives to high-end fragrances for budget prices. They’re the best at producing colognes that smell far more expensive than they are – and that’s why they’re my favorite budget brand.
To learn more about budget colognes that overdeliver, check out some of our other guides:
- What are the best cheap colognes for men overall: full ranking.
- What’s the best Zara perfume for men to smell designer on a budget?
- Make summer savings with the best Nautica colognes.
What’s Changed?
We updated this guide in January 2024 to reflect the most recent pricing information.
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