As the festive rush intensifies, a beauty journalist with years of fragrance expertise has unveiled what she calls the perfect, budget-friendly Christmas present for the men in your life. MoneyBethan Shufflebotham, a Senior Fashion and Beauty Writer, alongside Jada Jones, Content Commercialisation Editor, highlighted the find on 15 December 2025.
The Expert's Affordable Fragrance Discovery
Having spent four years working at a fragrance counter, Shufflebotham used her professional nose to sample scents from the US men's grooming brand, Cremo. The brand's pre-Christmas sale, offering up to 30% off plus free delivery, presented an ideal opportunity to test their acclaimed range. Her mission was to find a scent worthy of a blind buy, eliminating the guesswork for shoppers.
Out of three top-selling fragrances she tried, one stood out as exceptionally luxurious for its price. Cremo's Bourbon and Oak Eau de Toilette, normally £30.95, is currently on sale for just £21.66. Described with notes of distiller's spices, smoked bourbon, and oak, it offers a warm, cosy, and masculine aroma.
How It Compares to Designer Fragrances
The writer drew a direct comparison to high-end perfumery, noting its resemblance to Maison Margiela's Replica Jazz Club, which retails for £125. While the Cremo scent is not as potent, its sophisticated profile evokes a similar atmosphere of a gentleman's club or antique library.
Customer reviews strongly support this assessment. Shoppers have compared the fragrance to premium brands like Yves Saint Laurent, Mont Blanc, and even Tom Ford. One satisfied buyer stated: "I usually wear YSL and Mont Blanc but which cost five times more but this cologne tops them both." Another claimed it smelled "exactly like" the coveted Tom Ford Tuscan Leather.
The article does note a caveat: the sillage and longevity may not match that of far more expensive products. However, at this price point, generous application or layering with the matching Bourbon and Oak shower gel is a practical solution to extend the scent's life.
Other Scents in the Sale
Shufflebotham also sampled two other discounted Cremo fragrances. The Spice and Black Vanilla Eau de Toilette is also reduced to £21.66 from £30.95. This option offers a gentler, sweeter scent with cardamom and vanilla, which she likened to pricier perfumes like Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male Le Parfum.
The third scent, Palo Santo Eau de Toilette, was priced at £24.46 (down from £35.95). It provides a fresher, earthier fragrance with cardamom and dry papyrus, though it was not the writer's personal favourite of the trio.
Across the board, customers praised the value for money. One reviewer summarised: "After buying really expensive brand names for years, these are just as good if not better and miles cheaper and in bigger bottles." With the Cremo sale now live, this discovery offers a timely solution for last-minute Christmas shoppers seeking a thoughtful, high-quality gift that doesn't break the bank.
