David Beckham Instinct Review – My 2024 Scent Test

David Beckham Instinct is a modern, masculine fragrance that punches well above its price point.

This budget cologne delivers the perfect balance between freshness and warmth, with a bright citrussy opening resting on a warming cardamom heart.

It’s all tied together on top of a clean vetiver base which hammers home a brand of slick professionalism and projects plenty of confidence.

This fragrance is for a younger gent who might have some budget restrictions and wants to smell like a gentleman without smelling like a grandfather.

So let’s explore the pros and cons a little further with a full David Beckham Instinct review.

What Does David Beckham Instinct Smell Like?

David Beckham Instinct is a fresh and masculine scent with a touch of warmth in the dry down. It doesn’t try too hard to be flashy and proves that in a budget fragrance, less is usually more.

It opens up with a bit of citrus tang, with orange and tangerine sweetness tempered by some light bergamot. As the initial citruses fade, you enter a heart with subtle inflections of warm cardamom and pimento pepper.

I also noticed a streak of star anise that adds a little aromatic sweetness, without becoming overpoweringly licorice-y.

Instinct has a masculine base of fresh vetiver that balances out those sweeter notes nicely. There aren’t that many budget vetiver fragrances out there, so I really appreciate finally finding a viable option here.

This is a safe scent that, while being manly enough, won’t risk offending anyone. It’s excellent for work when you don’t want something sweet or fruity – but I would go with something deeper or more sensual for a date or special night on the town.

David Beckham Instinct Fragrance Notes

Top Notes:	Bergamot, Mandarin Orange
Middle Notes:	Star Anise, Pimento, Cardamom
Base Notes:	Vetiver, Patchouli, White Amber

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How Long Does David Beckham Instinct Last?

David Beckham Instinct lasts for between 4 and 5 hours, which is an excellent effort for a the prices. It’s easily on par with mid-range choices like Nautica Voyage which can cost twice as much.

In terms of projection, you’ll be kicking out an arms-length scent bubble for at least a couple of hours – but if you want to keep collecting compliments, you’ll have to be prepared to reapply during the day.

It’s by no means a weak cheapie, but you can’t expect top-tier performance at this sort of price range either.

Is David Beckham Instinct Worth It?

David Beckham Instinct is excellent value for money. You get a cologne with a sophisticated, masculine profile with enough nuance to keep you interested – without trying to reinvent the wheel.

While not a performance beast, it lasts long enough to be practical – and the price point means you can respray throughout the day without too much thought.

It’s the sort of fragrance you can imagine a handsome, charming professional wearing, and get’s a solid 8/10 from me.

Where to Buy David Beckham Instinct?

If you’re looking to buy colognes online, you need to make sure you use a reputable retailer.

There’s nothing worse than placing an order that feels a little too good to be true, only to receive a cologne that underwhelms because it’s obviously a knock-off. Or worse yet, doesn’t arrive at all.

For the best prices and shipping times, I recommend shopping through FragranceX. They have great shipping times, and cut-price offers by selling cologne testers that have never been used.

Otherwise, you could order through Amazon – just make sure you check out the reviews beforehand to make sure you’re purchasing from a reputable vendor.

If you enjoyed this David Beckham Instinct review, check out some of our other fragrance reviews for more:

• Armaf Club de Nuit review: is it worth the hype?

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What’s Changed?

We updated this guide in January 2024 to reflect the most recent pricing information.