You’ve got a nose for sniffing out terrific deals on the latest styles. But when it comes to finding the best budget perfumes, things might get a little trickier. Those haute fragrances you love so much often come with a price tag that could finance a small wardrobe. Even a small bottle from the sensual and sensorially indulgent Bond No. 9 perfume line will set you back $250 to start.
This post may contain affiliate links*But finding a signature scent is as clutch to your personal style as your statement necklace, your trusty pop-of-color or print bag, your classic LBD, or your go-to power heel. Your friends and colleagues already revel in the awesomeness of your brains and beauty. They should be able to revel in how nice you smell, too.
So finding a perfume when you’re watching your pennies isn’t always easy. But it can be done, if you know what you’re looking for. Fruity? Floral? Herby? Or maybe you trend toward earthier scents, like ylang-ylang or sandalwood.
Here are a few fragrance items that will leave you sitting (and smelling) pretty, without breaking the bank:
Best budget perfumes
Avon Haiku Kyoto Flower Eau de Parfum
Maybe you haven’t shopped Avon in a while, but this scent is a fan-favorite. It’s light, clean, and dewy. Like a fresh garden that’s in no way overpowering. It’s a delightful blend of violet leaf, white peony, and soft cotton musk. Amazon shoppers say wear this as their daily scent, and get tons of compliments.
Tokyo Milk Dead Sexy Perfume
- Romantic & ethereal, irresistibly…
- Distinct packaging features an…
- These tinctures are craftedw ith…
- A fabulous range of notes from…
If fresh and clean isn’t your jam, Dead Sexy might be. This perfume is long-lasting and vibrant — without smelling cloying or like something your grandmother would wear. And it’s well worth the $48. The Dead Sexy scent really is quite sexy, full of luscious woody, vanilla notes with the slightest edge of floral. The combination is so yummy you’ll want to lick your own wrists.
Go for the rollerball
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A roll-on formula is a great strategy to get your sweet scents for less. The rollerball formula will generally run you less than the usual 1- or 2-oz spay bottle. Plus, they’re portable. Read that to mean: You can stash one in your purse so you’re never far from a perfume pick-me-up.
Ariana Grande’s scent is fruity and flirty…youth in a rollerball. Top notes of pear, grapefruit, and raspberry combine beautifully with vanilla, musk, and marshmallow.
Gift yourself a sampler
- LUXURIOUS PERFUME SET. With the…
- LINGERING SCENT BLENDS. Immerse…
- PREMIUM GLASS BOTTLE & POUCH. The…
- TRAVEL-SIZE LEATHER POUCH. The…
- RICH YET GENTLE ON SKIN. Impress…
There’s something to be said for giving gifts to others. But let’s be honest: It’s also pretty damn nice to give yourself a gift once in awhile. If you’re having trouble deciding on the perfect perfume, try a little bit of everything. Boxed sets from a single line, or a set with multiple designer fragrances all in one, come with bigger-than-sample-but-not-quite-the-full-shebang sizes that give you multiple wearings of each scent. Variety is the spice of life and all that jazz, so if you want to change it up on a regular basis this fall, you can do just that for less than $40.
Another budget-friendly option is to check out Zara perfume dupes — they smell just like the real deal! Also see these popular perfume picks.
Whatever piques your olfactory senses, remember: Mist, don’t douse. It’s nice to leave people with a light lingering of a scent they’ll always associate with you. It’s not nice to cause an allergy attack the moment you step foot on the same city block.