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Gentlemen, today I’m talking about a cheapie that was recommended to me called F by Ferragamo Free Time Salvatore Ferragamo. That is a bit of a mouthful, isn’t it? I will refer to it as F by Ferragamo for the remainder of this article to save time. I presume the “F” stands for Ferragamo, and “Free Time” relates to it being intended for casual wear. That is at least how I understand it, but feel free to correct me in the comments should you know better.

F by Ferragamo is a woody aromatic fragrance for men released in 2011 and composed by perfumer Olivier Polge. If you’ve never heard of Salvator Ferragamo (as I hadn’t), it is a luxury designer fashion house headquartered in Florence, Italy. It was founded in 1927 by, you guessed it, Salvator Ferragamo.

So, is the fragrance any good? Here are my thoughts.

Appearance and Presentation

It’s a very interesting-looking bottle indeed and not something I would expect from a typical designer house. It looks like something you might have seen used in a Toni and Guy hair salon during the 90s.

Despite looking somewhat cheap and dated, it does evoke a sense of nostalgia, which I appreciate. The simple retro design reminds me of some of the Jaques Bogart fragrances, which is a good thing.

Price and where to buy

I frequently visit most of the leading discount fragrance stores in the UK and have yet to see this one on the shelves. The only place I have seen it being sold is online.

It’s cheap, guys, very cheap. It screams blind buy, but be sure to read until the end of this article before you pull the trigger.

When it comes to getting the best deal, your best bet is almost always the discounters — especially when they’re running coupon codes. And the one that’s never let me down is FragranceX.

They ship worldwide, they only deal in authentic stock, and they’ve got a solid 30-day return policy, which keeps things risk-free.

Prices do move around (sometimes daily, especially during holiday sales), so it’s always worth checking the current deal. 👇

The Notes

Top Notes – Amalfi Lemon, Ginger

Middle Notes – Pink Pepper, Cardamom

Base Notes – Vetiver, Musk, Virginia Cedar

My thoughts on the notes

The opening is fresh, breezy, citrusy, aquatic, and nothing out of the ordinary. It is a blue fragrance with a similar composition to many others, but it’s still pretty good. The pink pepper and cardamom add subtle spices in the mid with a woody base, an overall well-balanced fragrance. It is almost identical to Nautical Voyage to my nose, although slightly less aquatic and more woody.

It is generic in a good way and does what it sets out to do: to please as many people as possible while keeping the price low. I saw another review saying that because it does everything well, it doesn’t do anything great, which is an excellent way to summarise this scent. Good, but nothing special.

Compliments

This is a safe and inoffensive scent, and most people who put their nose to it will appreciate it. In other words, you are guaranteed to receive compliments from this. You don’t need to worry about that.

Is it masculine?

Yes, in my opinion, it is even more so than Nautica Voyage. This is because it has more guts in the base, with the woody notes being the most prominent. It has a traditional and familiar masculine blend you most likely have encountered before.

Performance

As I’ve mentioned before on this blog, fragrances of this type don’t usually last that long on my skin, but this one does. I got around 8 hours of longevity, and most people within approximately 2 to 3 feet could smell this on me for the first 5 hours before it became a skin scent. One of the most impressive aspects of this fragrance for me is how well it performs, and I am delighted with it.

🔥NEW FRAGRANCE!

When to wear?

It’s an all-rounder that can be worn in literally any scenario. That doesn’t mean there aren’t better options, particularly when it comes to the colder months. As a general rule of thumb, fresh scents like F by Ferragamo will work best in the spring and summer.

Where to wear?

Again, an all-rounder, although especially well suited for daywear in the office or casually out and about. You can’t go wrong with it.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Pleasant fresh aroma
• Very inexpensive
• Works for all seasons and any occasion
• Performance is above average
• Great for everyday use in the office
• Would work well as a signature scent

Cons

• Linear and not all that sophisticated
• Similar to many other scents

Should you buy?

This is a bargain of a fragrance, and I recommend it to anyone looking for something simple and easy to wear. If you’re looking for something more sophisticated, look elsewhere. Generally speaking, you get what you pay for, but this one over-delivers in many areas and is worth checking out.

I am always interested in hearing your thoughts, so comment below on your experiences with this one.

READY TO GRAB THIS FRAGRANCE?

If you’re ready to add this to your collection, here are two reliable places to check:

• FragranceX – usually the best prices, discount codes, and a wide selection. They also ship worldwide.
• Amazon – great if you prefer Prime delivery speed, just make sure to buy from a trusted seller.

👉 Pick the option that works best for you.

No matter where you’re reading from, smell good, spend smart.

WANT TO FAST-TRACK ALL OF THIS STUFF?

I put together The Ultimate Fragrance Cheat Sheet—a no-fluff guide that covers everything from notes and families to shopping smart and applying like a pro.

It’s built for guys who want to smell sharp without overthinking it.