As you read through this article, I hope to help you understand the costs associated with cologne and what you can do to reduce or minimize those costs.<\/p>\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nWhat Makes Cologne So Expensive?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
As a luxury purchase, part of what makes cologne so expensive is the fact that you\u2019re buying into an experience instead of simply purchasing a product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s difficult to assign a specific price or value, but here are some factors to think about when considering the cost of one bottle of cologne.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ingredient Quality<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When choosing a cologne, it can put you at ease to know that a company is carefully selecting each ingredient that makes up the scent formula.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From the alcohol to essential oils, and other ingredients that\u2019ll never appear on the label<\/a>, the better made, the less of a problem it\u2019ll create for you – whether natural or synthetic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ironically, there are affordable natural ingredients and not all synthetic ones are cheap. Whether natural or synthetic, there\u2019s a range in level of quality and price for each.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As previously explained<\/a> fragrance oils are the most expensive ingredient added to any fragrance. But the amount of fragrance oils added to cologne is less than that of an eau de parfum, making it less expensive than perfume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But cologne is more costly than an eau de toilette, eau fraiche, body splash, and so forth, due to the amount of fragrance oil added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Packaging can cost four to six times as much as the liquid inside of the bottle<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s a lot that goes into the process<\/a>, from the bottle material to the bottle size, whether it\u2019s embossed, how elaborate the stopper, the materials used to make and print the boxes, etcetera, all of these expense lines add up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It costs tens of thousands of dollars to advertise in magazine publications. One full page can cost upwards of $30k and that doesn\u2019t include the fragrance samples included in the magazine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Multiply these costs by several of the most popular publications where you\u2019d find an ad for the same fragrance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fragrances are an emotional purchase<\/a>. For instance, when we had nowhere to go in 2020 due to lockdown, sales for personal fragrances soared. We\u2019re talking over $33 billion dollars in 2021 with estimates of this number steadily increasing<\/a>, moving closer to $50 billion by 2027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over the past two years, consumers wanted to give beautiful fragrances to others and treat themselves to something nice – possibly in an effort to \u201clift spirits\u201d and find comfort during difficult times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Additionally, fragrance houses pay millions of dollars for celebrities to endorse their cologne. They choose stars that are relatable, highly attractive, inspiring – which helps you to feel more connected to the product.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Once a scent gains momentum, though, fewer marketing dollars are needed. For example, the cologne Acqua di Gio was released in 1995 but reportedly earns between one and two billion dollars per year on autopilot to this very day. In cases such as this company profits increase over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fragrance formula is the glue that holds all other points together. Without the right \u201cjuice\u201d<\/a> as these fragrances are sometimes called, you won\u2019t earn customer sales.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n So, another factor is the \u201cnose\u201d behind the scent. The perfumer who creates the fragrance formula for your cologne is an essential factor in whether or not the scent sells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Without an intoxicating fragrance formula, all the best ingredients, attractive packaging, and pointed marketing, will fall flat.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n You might assume that the more an ingredient costs, the better it\u2019ll smell, but this isn\u2019t true. If the perfumer doesn\u2019t incorporate just the right amount of each ingredient, then the cologne won\u2019t smell attractive to customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A good cologne has a balanced fragrance and lasts a long time. Affordable and moderately priced colognes can smell nice and perform well as some more expensive brands.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Aside from these main cost components, there are a number of additional costs associated with making colognes available to customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m sure there are additional costs not mentioned here. Hundreds of thousands of dollars – sometimes millions – are spent before the first sale is made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Related to the nose behind the scent is the brand emblem that\u2019s on the bottle. Similar to apparel and vehicle purchases, certain brand names are associated with worthwhile products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When purchasing fragrances from certain brands, you can rest assured that they put as much effort into creating the juice as they do marketing it to you. <\/strong>Some of these brands are heavily involved in the production process, others source out these services, but they aren\u2019t going to attach their brand name to a fragrance that doesn\u2019t meet their quality standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This factor alone can make some expensive colognes worth the purchase.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n You won\u2019t find a company that\u2019ll share definitive manufacturing and sales numbers with customers or other corporations, but it\u2019s possible to make inferences from available information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That said, even when sourcing expensive ingredients, it doesn\u2019t cost that much to manufacture a personal fragrance.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n According to this Los Angeles Times article<\/a>, a $150 bottle of perfume often only costs between $1.20 to $1.50 to make.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Colognes cost half as much to produce, and therefore, have higher profits than perfume. They also sell more – 65% of a fragrance company\u2019s sales comes from cologne over perfume.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Relatively speaking, cologne is less expensive than perfume, so more customers are able to afford it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the long run, gravely inexpensive colognes aren\u2019t worth the money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some colognes have a heavy \u201cfront load.\u201d This means that they immediately smell wonderful, but the scent quickly falls off after you\u2019ve worn the scent for a short time. They actually turn out to be more expensive because you\u2019ll reapply them more often, resulting in the bottle not lasting as long.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Or, you\u2019ll want to immediately replace the inexpensive bottle with something more expensive once you realize that the one you purchased doesn\u2019t perform well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When made well, read: worth the money, your cologne will both smell nice and last longer than an hour or two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although it\u2019s best to spend extra dollars on a high-quality cologne, there are ways that you can reduce the amount you pay in the end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For colognes worn daily, or at least on a regular basis, it\u2019s more cost efficient to purchase the larger bottle. You\u2019ll pay less per ounce, and it\u2019ll last you for a few years at least.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of paying for all of the packaging and expensive bottle caps, purchase a wholesale tester<\/a>. They may not display well, but the scent is the same. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Customer loyalty discounts can be worth the excessive marketing emails you\u2019ll receive. It\u2019s less expensive to retain a customer than to acquire a new one. When they demonstrate that they care<\/a> and are intentional about communications<\/a> with you, then you probably won\u2019t mind them marketing to your email box and sending you cologne discounts.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Alternatively, duty-free stores<\/a> are a great solution, especially if you\u2019re seeking a specific cologne. Your email account won\u2019t be invaded by marketing efforts, and you can more proactively purchase your favorite cologne.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes the best sales surround the holidays. As you know by now, it\u2019s less about the holidays<\/a> and more about meeting end of year sales quotas. But it\u2019s hard not to take advantage of steep discounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For instance, this past Black Friday, my favorite Lanc\u00f4me fragrance<\/a> was 50% off the retail price. Fragrances on their website from Black Friday to Cyber Monday were less expensive than discount stores. This is something to look out for next year.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that you understand why cologne is so expensive, it\u2019s up to you to decide whether or not you want to pay for expensive cologne.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Considering how long cologne can last, you\u2019d be purchasing a product that won\u2019t be immediately consumed. Knowing this can sometimes justify the higher costs involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Beyond costs, though, you want to consider what matters most to you. Is it more important to support your favorite performer<\/a> or is it more important to research how ingredients are sourced, and how the cologne is made and distributed? Is prestige more important to you than fragrance?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n No one can answer these questions but you. So, take the time to consider your budget and preferences before buying expensive cologne.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read more:<\/p>\n\n\n\nIngredient Quantity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Packaging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Social Persuasion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Formulation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Extraneous Costs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Brand Name<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How Much Does It Cost to Manufacture Cologne?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Should You Buy Cheap Colognes?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How Can You Save Money on Cologne?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Purchase the Larger Bottle<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Buy Testers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Shop Discount Retailers or at Duty-Free Stores<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Holiday Sales<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Should You Buy Expensive Cologne?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n