Beyond

The Verdict

David Beckham Beyond occupies a peculiar spot in the fragrance world: a cologne that smells considerably better than its price tag suggests, yet performs considerably worse than even modest expectations. Released in 2015, it was created by perfumer Nelly Hachem Ruiz and represents one of the more competent entries in the Beckham lineup. The community generally agrees that Beyond is a pleasant surprise when first sprayed and a quiet disappointment an hour later.

On Fragrantica and Basenotes, Beyond has earned a reputation as one of the best celebrity cheapies available. It punches above its weight in scent quality while falling flat on longevity and projection. For the under-twenty-dollar price point, most reviewers consider that an acceptable trade-off.

What It Smells Like

The opening is unexpectedly bright and appealing. Grapefruit and cardamom create a crisp, slightly spicy citrus blast with a modern edge. Some wearers detect a cocktail-like sweetness reminiscent of mojito in the first minutes, giving the opening a fresh, inviting quality.

As the heart develops, elemi resin and nutmeg add a warm aromatic spiciness, while violet contributes a soft, powdery dimension that smooths the transition. The composition settles into a woody-amber base where vetiver, musk, and amber form a clean, well-blended foundation. The drydown has drawn comparisons to a lighter version of YSL La Nuit de L'Homme crossed with a touch of Abercrombie Fierce, though considerably more subdued than either.

When to Wear It

Beyond works best as a daytime fragrance in mild weather. Spring and early fall are its strongest seasons, where the woody-citrus character feels most natural. It can stretch into summer thanks to its lightness, though in intense heat it may vanish even faster than usual.

This is fundamentally a casual, undemanding scent. It works at the office, at school, running errands, or meeting friends for coffee. It is not a date fragrance, not a statement piece, and not something anyone will notice across a room.

Longevity & Projection

Performance is Beyond's Achilles heel and the single most discussed topic in community reviews. Projection lasts roughly one hour before collapsing to a skin scent. From there, opinions diverge: some report the fragrance disappearing entirely within two to three hours, while others claim to still detect traces at seven to twelve hours as a very faint skin scent. The consensus lands around three to four hours of detectable wear for most people.

To get meaningful projection, some wearers resort to heavy application, with one reviewer admitting to nearly thirty sprays on clothing. Three to five sprays on pulse points and clothing is a more reasonable approach, though expectations should be tempered accordingly.

The Community Says

The praise tends to come with heavy qualification. One Basenotes reviewer called it a "very pleasing scent, fruity, peppery, leathery and cocktail-sweet," but acknowledged the weak sillage. Another noted that despite the poor projection, the duration was "beyond their expectations, more than seven hours on skin," adding that for the price you simply cannot complain.

The criticism is direct. One Fragrantica reviewer dismissed it as "utterly generic and boring, where the best part is the bottle." Another lamented that "cheap ingredients and obviously a budget to work with can't help make a great fragrance," concluding it failed to accomplish even basic cologne duties at work or school.

Who Should Buy This

Beyond is for the practical buyer who wants something pleasant to spray after a shower without overthinking it. If you are building a collection on a strict budget and need a versatile warm-weather option, this delivers adequate quality for under fifteen to twenty dollars. It works especially well for teenagers and young professionals who are just discovering fragrances.

Skip it if you measure value by performance hours per dollar, or if you already own any competent woody-citrus designer fragrance. Versace Pour Homme, Nautica Voyage, or even other Beckham offerings like Instinct compete in the same space with better results.

The Bottom Line

David Beckham Beyond is a lesson in what budget perfumery can and cannot achieve. The scent itself is genuinely pleasant, well-blended, and easy to appreciate. The performance is genuinely poor, vanishing before lunch on most skin. At its typical price point, that bargain remains fair for anyone who simply wants to smell clean and modern for a few hours without investing much thought or money into the process.