Best Aftershave for Men UK: Fresh, Woody and Spicy Scents Under £30

Short answer: for a fresh everyday aftershave, start with No. 179 Bergamot & Pepper. For the office, No. 606 Pineapple & Birch is smart and confident. For evenings and dates, No. 525 Oud & Sandalwood is warm and rich. Every scent is a vegan eau de parfum made in the UK, at £26.95 for a full 100ml bottle or £4.95 for a 5ml sample, with free tracked UK delivery.

A great men's fragrance does not need to cost a fortune. This guide sorts our range by when you will actually wear it, so you can pick one scent for every day and another for nights out, then explains how to choose, how to make it last and which size gives the best value.

Men's aftershave at a glance

Every scent is £4.95 for 5ml, £15.95 for 30ml and £26.95 for 100ml.

Everyday fresh aftershave

A fresh scent is the safest place to start. It works in the morning, at your desk and on the weekend, and it is hard to get wrong in any season.

No. 179 Bergamot & Pepper: the easy everyday choice

Family: fresh aromatic spicy. Notes: It opens with bergamot and pepper, settles into Sichuan pepper, lavender, pink pepper, vetiver and geranium and dries down to ambroxan, cedarwood and labdanum.

Bright and clean at first, then gently spicy, with a smooth ambroxan and cedarwood finish. It is the scent to reach for when you do not want to think about it: fresh enough for a warm day, with enough warmth underneath for winter.

Shop No. 179 Bergamot & Pepper: 5ml £4.95, 30ml £15.95, 100ml £26.95.

No. 222 Grapefruit & Sea Notes: clean and sporty

Family: aquatic fresh woody. Notes: It opens with grapefruit, sea notes and mandarin, settles into bay leaf and jasmine and dries down to guaiac wood, oakmoss, patchouli and ambergris.

Juicy grapefruit and a salty sea accord give this a lively, outdoorsy feel, while guaiac wood and oakmoss keep it grounded. Ideal for the gym bag, summer weekends and anyone who likes a crisp, uncomplicated scent. Browse more in our fresh and aquatic collection.

Shop No. 222 Grapefruit & Sea Notes: 5ml £4.95, 30ml £15.95, 100ml £26.95.

Smart and office aftershave

At work you want something polished that people notice when they are close to you, not across the room. Two or three sprays is plenty.

No. 606 Pineapple & Birch: confident and polished

Family: fruity chypre. Notes: It opens with pineapple, bergamot, blackcurrant and apple, settles into birch, patchouli, jasmine and rose and dries down to musk, oakmoss, ambergris and vanilla.

Fruity and bright on top, then dry birch and patchouli give it a smoky, grown up edge, finishing on soft musk and oakmoss. It feels smart without being stuffy, so it suits meetings, interviews, weddings and dinners alike.

Shop No. 606 Pineapple & Birch: 5ml £4.95, 30ml £15.95, 100ml £26.95.

If you prefer something quieter for the office, No. 179 Bergamot & Pepper worn lightly also works well, as does No. 529 Sandalwood & Cardamom from the unisex picks below.

Evening and date night aftershave

Evening scents can be warmer, richer and a little bolder. These three suit dinners, dates, nights out and colder months.

No. 246 Spiced Leather & Amber: bold and spicy

Family: spicy leather. Notes: It opens with grapefruit, mint and blood mandarin, settles into rose, cinnamon and spices and dries down to leather, amber, woody notes and patchouli.

Citrus and mint up front, then cinnamon and spice, finishing on leather and amber. It is a going out scent through and through: warm, sweet edged and memorable. One or two sprays is enough.

Shop No. 246 Spiced Leather & Amber: 5ml £4.95, 30ml £15.95, 100ml £26.95.

No. 525 Oud & Sandalwood: warm and refined

Family: woody oriental. Notes: It opens with oud, rosewood, cardamom and pepper, settles into sandalwood and vetiver and dries down to tonka bean, vanilla and amber.

Smooth oud and rosewood with a hint of cardamom and pepper, softened by sandalwood, tonka bean and vanilla. It is rich without being heavy, and ideal for autumn and winter evenings or anywhere you want to feel put together.

Shop No. 525 Oud & Sandalwood: 5ml £4.95, 30ml £15.95, 100ml £26.95.

No. 717 Rose, Oud & Leather: the special occasion scent

Family: oriental woody. Notes: It opens with grapefruit, bergamot, cardamom and saffron, settles into rose, oud, jasmine, lavender and nutmeg and dries down to leather, amber, sandalwood, vanilla, tonka bean and musk.

The most dramatic scent in the range, with rose and oud at its heart, a spicy saffron and cardamom opening and a deep leather, amber and vanilla base. Save it for occasions when you want to make an impression.

Shop No. 717 Rose, Oud & Leather: 5ml £4.95, 30ml £15.95, 100ml £26.95.

Unisex woody scents

Woody scents are some of the most versatile fragrances you can own, and these three work for men and women alike. See more in our woody and oud collection and unisex collection.

No. 529 Sandalwood & Cardamom: soft, modern woods

Family: woody aromatic. Notes: It opens with cardamom, violet and iris, settles into ambrox and papyrus and dries down to sandalwood, cedarwood and leather.

Cardamom and violet over creamy sandalwood, cedarwood and a touch of leather. It is relaxed, comfortable and easy to wear every day, and it works just as well on a partner.

Shop No. 529 Sandalwood & Cardamom: 5ml £4.95, 30ml £15.95, 100ml £26.95.

No. 486 Juniper & Incense: fresh and smoky

Family: woody aromatic. Notes: It opens with bergamot, lemon, pepper and juniper berries, settles into incense, pine needles and orris and dries down to amber, vanilla and sandalwood.

Lemon, pepper and juniper give it a fresh start, then pine needles and incense add a smoky, outdoorsy feel over amber and vanilla. Perfect for weekends, walks and autumn.

Shop No. 486 Juniper & Incense: 5ml £4.95, 30ml £15.95, 100ml £26.95.

No. 369 Saffron & Amberwood: warm and glowing

Family: floral amber woody. Notes: It opens with saffron and jasmine, settles into amberwood and ambergris and dries down to fir resin and cedarwood.

Saffron and jasmine over amberwood, with fir resin and cedarwood underneath. It has a warm, slightly sweet glow that suits evenings and special occasions.

Shop No. 369 Saffron & Amberwood: 5ml £4.95, 30ml £15.95, 100ml £26.95.

How to choose an aftershave

• Start with when you will wear it. Fresh and aquatic scents suit daytime and warm weather. Woody, spicy and leather scents suit evenings and cooler months.
• Test on skin, not paper. A scent changes as it warms up, so wear it for a while and see how it settles before you decide.
• Try no more than three at once. Your nose tires quickly. Testing a few samples over a few days gives a fairer picture.
• Build a small wardrobe. One fresh scent for every day and one warmer scent for evenings covers almost every occasion.

Our guide to fragrance families explains the main scent styles in more detail.

How to make your aftershave last

• Apply after a shower. Fragrance holds best on clean, warm skin.
• Moisturise first. Unscented moisturiser gives the fragrance something to cling to, as dry skin lets it fade faster.
• Spray pulse points. The neck, chest and inner wrists are warm spots that help a scent develop.
• Do not rub your wrists together. Let it dry naturally so the top notes are not crushed.
• Spray a little on clothes. A light mist on a scarf or jacket can hold a scent well; test on a hidden area of delicate fabric first.
• Store it well. Keep the bottle away from sunlight, heat and steamy bathrooms.

For more tips, read how to make your perfume last longer.

Sizes and price per ml

The 100ml bottle is the best value per ml. If you want several scents, our bundle and save sets cost less than buying each bottle singly: The Fab Five gives five 30ml bottles for £63.95, and His & Hers Harmony gives two 100ml bottles for £45.95 if you are buying for two.

Men's aftershave FAQ

What is the best aftershave for men under £30?

For everyday wear, No. 179 Bergamot & Pepper is our easiest recommendation: fresh, spicy and simple to wear anywhere. For evenings, No. 525 Oud & Sandalwood is warmer and richer. Every scent is £26.95 for a full 100ml bottle, or £4.95 for a 5ml sample.

Is aftershave the same thing as eau de parfum?

Not quite. Traditional aftershave is a lighter splash used after shaving, but most people in the UK now use the word for any men's fragrance. Our men's scents are eau de parfum, a richer concentration that you spray on skin rather than splash on.

Which size should I buy?

Start with a 5ml sample at £4.95 if you are trying a scent for the first time, or the Starter Set at £12.95 to try three. The 30ml at £15.95 suits travel and the gym bag, and the 100ml at £26.95 is the best value at about 27p per ml.

How quickly will my order arrive?

Every order ships free by Evri tracked delivery, usually in 2 to 3 working days. Orders placed before 2pm Monday to Friday are dispatched the same day. We currently deliver to UK addresses only. You have 30 days to return unused items in their original packaging. Not sure which scent? Try a 5ml first for £4.95.