It seems that every time I stumble upon a TikTok perfume recommendation, it’s well over $300. I don’t have that kind of money to drop on a signature scent—and I’m sure a lot of people can relate. So where are the best affordable perfumes? Do they even exist? “There are plenty of key notes found in designer perfumes for women that can also be found in inexpensive options,” says Nicole Mancini, principal perfumer at DSM-Firmenich. With Mancini’s wisdom in my back pocket, I set out to discover the most long-lasting, affordable perfumes that rival the likes of Tom Ford, Versace, and Dior—and I struck gold. I spritzed and sniffed dozens of fragrances priced under $100 and narrowed it down to a dozen mesmerizing picks. So whether you’re drawn to floral fragrances, gourmands, or fresh and woody scents, your new favorite perfume just might be on this list.
The best affordable perfumes, at a glance
- Best Overall: By Rosie Jane Dulce Eau de Parfum, $80
- Best Vanilla Perfume: Lavanila Pure Vanilla Eau de Parfum, $48
- Best Floral Perfume: Ouai Dean Street, $64
- Best Nighttime Perfume: Dossier Oud & Rose on Fire Eau de Parfum, $38
- Best Daytime Perfume: Dime 7 Summers Eau de Toilette, $62
Your affordable perfume questions, answered
How do affordable perfumes differ from luxury perfumes?
There are quite a few elements that separate inexpensive fragrances from high-end, luxury perfumes, but one of the main things that determines the cost is the scent concentration, explains Mancini. “Body sprays and mists are often more affordable than eau de toilette or eau de parfum due to their lower concentration of fragrance oil.”
However, when we’re talking purely about eau de parfums—like all of the options on our list—the packaging and overall design of the bottle also plays a major role in the end price. “When purchasing luxury fragrances, you’re also paying for the bottle, packaging, and brand communication,” says Mancini. “Some brands that invest less in these areas can still offer great fragrances at a lower price, but luxury brands often place a premium on these elements, which contributes to the higher cost.”
Are there certain fragrance notes that are less expensive?
While the bottle design and the materials used to make perfume can jack up the price, those aspects aren’t always the main cost driver. Some notes—like orris, rose, and oud—are extremely rare and difficult to harvest, which results in a more expensive eau de parfum.
There are more readily available notes, too, that still smell otherworldly without costing an arm and a leg. “Fruity notes are generally more affordable, with common examples including apple, pear, peach, and coconut,” says Mancini. “Sweet notes such as vanilla can also be cost-effective if created using the aroma chemical vanillin, which is widely available in the flavors and fragrance industry.”
What’s the best way to apply perfume to make it last longer?
“To make your fragrance last longer, I recommend applying it to your skin, hair, and clothing, as fragrance tends to cling to fabric the longest,” says Mancini. “Another great tip is applying the fragrance to your pulse points like the wrists and neck, which intensifies the scent with your body’s warmth.”
1. Best Overall: By Rosie Jane Dulce
Courtesy of brand
By Rosie Jane Dulce
Original photo from Mary Honkus testing By Rosie Jane Dulce
It was really difficult to name just one scent from By Rosie Jane because the brand has really cracked the code when it comes to crafting inexpensive, cruelty-free scents that enhance your natural essence. That said, I don’t know a single person who doesn’t adore Dulce.
This scent is pure nostalgia in a bottle, thanks to a captivating swirl of pure vanilla and comforting musk, along with a hint of chocolate and hinoki woods that makes this reminiscent of bake shops and summertime boardwalks. Personally, I have more than 200 scents in my perfume collection, yet I’m constantly drawn to Dulce. The aroma sticks around much longer than some of my most expensive bottles—I’m talking days—and it’s a total compliment magnet. Every time I wear this, someone tells me I smell divine.
2. Best Budget: Le Monde Gourmand Nectar de Passion
Courtesy of brand
Le Monde Gourmand Nectar de Passion
Original photo from Mary Honkus testing Le Monde Gourmand Nectar de Passion
Just because a perfume is expensive doesn’t mean (1) it will last longer, and (2) it will be more complex. Le Monde Gourmand consistently puts out scents with impressive longevity and beautifully layered notes at a ridiculously affordable price—just $25—including one of its most recent creations, Nectar de Passion.
Fruity fragrances aren’t anything new. However, if you ask me, passionfruit is an underutilized note that sparks joy the moment you smell it. This pink potion is juicy, sweet, and vibrant with its energizing mix of passionfruit, wild strawberry, peony blossoms, and orange flower. The top and middle notes create a youthful, flirty vibe, while the base notes—a sensual combo of French vanilla, sandalwood, and sweet musk—deepen the scent for a lingering sultry aura that you’ll still be able to catch whiffs of the following morning.
3. Best Affordable Celebrity Perfume: Sabrina Carpenter Cherry Baby
Courtesy of brand
Sabrina Carpenter Cherry Baby
Original photo from Mary Honkus testing Sabrina Carpenter Cherry Baby
Celebrity perfumes are making a serious comeback, and Sabrina Carpenter’s Cherry Baby is leading the pack. This delightfully playful scent emulates the pop star’s flirty energy courtesy of a dazzling blend of vine-ripe cherries spiked with plum nectar that’s then deepened with dark chocolate, patchouli, and vanilla orchid. One whiff will have you and the people around you blushing. I reserve this for date nights when I want to make a lasting impression. When I show up wearing Cherry Baby, I know I’ll be unforgettable.
4. Best Vanilla Perfume: Lavanila Pure Vanilla
Courtesy of brand
Lavanila Pure Vanilla
Original photo from Mary Honkus testing Lavanila Pure Vanilla
There are so many types of vanilla scents—some that are sultry, some that are creamy, and even some that are sickeningly sweet. Lavanila Pure Vanilla doesn’t fall into any of these buckets. It’s a vanilla that truly stands in a realm of its own. (It’s no surprise this is a bestseller). This chiffony vanilla perfume feels like an angel’s kiss. It’s beautifully soft and alluring thanks to a simplistic mix of Madagascar vanilla, tonka bean, and a touch of heliotrope, a marzipan-like floral.
Depending on your body chemistry, this can smell a bit powdery, extra warm and cozy, or even clean and soapy. But regardless of the result, just know that the scent will last a very long time. When I spritz this, it’s not uncommon for me to smell it the following day…sometimes days later if I spray it on my clothes. It makes an excellent fall fragrance because it embodies a cozy vibe.
5. Best Floral Perfume: Ouai Dean Street
Courtesy of brand
Ouai Dean Street
Original photo from Mary Honkus testing Ouai Dean Street
A round trip flight to London will cost you well over $500. (Yikes.) Luckily, a spritz of Dean Street will transport you across the pond for under $70 (!). Ouai may be known for its effective hair care and tropical body mists, but the brand’s affordable fragrances deserve all the attention. I typically don’t gravitate toward florals, yet every time I wear this, I score endless compliments and I feel happier.
This mood-boosting scent was inspired by the eponymous street in the heart of London and features an array of garden flowers, including rose, magnolia, and linden blossom. A bright burst of apricot and citrus fruits add a cheery effervescence before settling in a musky haze.
6. Best Solid Perfume: Noyz Sh**ty Day Solid Perfume
Courtesy of brand
Noyz Sh**ty Day Solid Perfume
Original photo from Jenifer Calle testing Noyz Sh**ty Day Solid Perfume
Solid perfumes have been trending, and beyond being extremely travel-friendly, they’re also super affordable compared with their liquid counterparts. Noyz Sh**ty Day stick may look like an oversized lip balm, but don’t be fooled—housed inside the tube is a silky balm that leaves behind a noticeable aroma. The first time I applied this, someone approached me from the other side of my gym’s locker room to ask what I’d just put on, solidifying (heh) this solid perfume’s efficacy in her eyes. When it comes to the notes, this scent reminds me of a sophisticated Parisian woman, with aromatic eucalyptus leaves, salty ocean air, figs, and French lavender, grounded in warm, resinous amber.
It’s also a favorite of Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle, who always keeps it in her bag. “It’s so tiny but effective. At the end of the work day when I need an extra refresh, I apply this on my wrists and neck, and feel brand-new.”
7. Best Gourmand: Good Chemistry Coffee Cloud
Courtesy of brand
Good Chemistry Coffee Cloud
Original photo from Mary Honkus testing Good Chemistry Coffee Cloud
It’s no secret that gourmand scents have been dominating the perfume industry (our editors love it as a winter fragrance but it’s great all year round). While it’s not uncommon for gourmands to include hints of vanilla, caramel, honey, or chocolate, Good Chemistry Coffee Cloud revamps the category by giving yummy espresso its shining moment. This still satisfies my sweet tooth without being overly saccharine, and I appreciate the rich espresso note—not only because it’s relatively rare, but also because it gives me a jolt of energy, almost as if I’m actually drinking a cup of Joe.
The simple yet head-turning perfume features just three notes—zesty bergamot, robust espresso, and cozy cedarwood—that wrap you in a comforting hug. I’m also a sucker for a unique bottle, and I love that this one is in the shape of a chemistry flask.
8. Best Fresh Scent: Elizabeth Arden Green Tea Pistachio Crunch Eau de Toilette
Courtesy of brand
Elizabeth Arden Green Tea Pistachio Crunch Eau de Toilette
Pistachio is quickly gaining popularity in the olfactive world, but for the most part, it’s only been found in decadently rich gourmand scents. Elizabeth Arden’s newest eau de toilette proves that pistachio is much more versatile and delicate, and Honkus says that even those who are sweet-averse will adore Green Tea Pistachio Crunch; it is equal parts cozy and refreshing.
A blend of bright bergamot and uplifting green tea give this scent a sparkling quality before a nutty pistachio accord, vanilla bean, and white amber veil you in feathery warmth. This is one of those scents you can wear daily because it’s not overpowering, yet it still makes a subtle statement.
9. Best Fruity Perfume: 5Sens Life of the Party
Courtesy of brand
5Sens Life of the Party
Original photo from Mary Honkus testing 5Sens Life of the Party
This vibrant fruity floral packs a whole lot of sass into one tiny bottle. At the first spray, top notes of luscious blackcurrants dance across your skin before intermingling with dainty peach blossoms for a carefree vibe. A dash of saffron adds a flirty kick, creating a magnetic effect that draws people in, and, believe it or not, totally enhances confidence. It’s impossible to not feel like an It girl when wearing this scent. I always reach for it on nights out. While it doesn’t have the best longevity, the travel-size spritzer easily fits in your purse for when you need a boost.
10. Best Skin Scent: Snif Me
Courtesy of brand
Snif Me
Original image by Alanna Martine Kilkeary testing Snif Me
There’s no arguing that one of the best compliments you could ever receive is “you smell good.” That’s exactly what people will say to you when you wear Me, an ethereal skin scent from Snif that will make others think your natural aroma consists of fuzzy peach skin, juicy plum, dewy white moss, and airy musk. This isn’t a fragrance that projects far, but it doesn’t need to, plus its softness makes it ideal for layering. It’s more of a personal scent that enhances your aura. When I wear it, I feel more self-assured—and to me that’s pretty powerful!
11. Best Nighttime Perfume: Dossier Oud & Rose on Fire
Courtesy of brand
Dossier Oud & Rose On Fire
Oud is one of the most expensive fragrance notes in the world. It was pretty difficult to find an inexpensive option that included the grandiose note—but of course Dossier came through. The brand is known for its transparency and believes everyone should enjoy the olfactory experience without breaking the bank.
