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It seems every time I stumble upon a TikTok perfume recommendation, it’s well over $300. If you’re like me, you’re wondering where the best affordable perfumes are and if they even exist.
“There are plenty of key notes found in designer perfumes that can also be found in inexpensive options,” says Nicole Mancini, principal perfumer at DSM-Firmenich. “While more expensive perfumes may use rare or highly concentrated ingredients that often result in greater longevity and depth, affordability doesn’t mean a lack of artistry,” adds Clement Gavarry, also a principal perfumer at DSM-Firmenich.
With Mancini and Gavarry’s wisdom in my back pocket, I set out to discover the most long-lasting, budget-friendly perfumes that rival the likes of Tom Ford, Versace, and Dior—and I struck gold. I found fragrances with notes that were just as complex as their pricier counterparts, dupes that rivaled high-end options, and even a few scents that lingered on my clothes for days. Of the dozens of under-$100 fragrances I sniffed and sprayed, I managed to narrow it down to 12 mesmerizing picks. Our favorite overall was By Rosie Jane’s Dulce Eau de Parfum for its crowd-pleasing blend of vanilla and musk that lasts for days. But 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
Featured in this article
How we tested
We evaluated a wide range of under-$100 scents, taking into account their notes, sillage, and longevity. We paid special attention to those that contained rarer and more expensive notes (such as orris, rose, and oud) at a budget-friendly price. We took into account where we would wear each perfume and the reactions they elicited from fellow beauty experts, friends, and family. We regularly update this story with new and trending choices.
1. Best Overall: 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
Just because a perfume is expensive doesn’t mean (1) it will last longer, and (2) it will be more complex. If you’re looking for a great Amazon perfume, Le Monde Gourmand consistently puts out scents with impressive longevity and beautifully layered notes at a ridiculously affordable price—just $25. One of its most recent creations is 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 Daytime: DedCool 01 Taunt Eau de Parfum
I’m always on the hunt for scents that I can spray on every day without totally breaking the bank, and Taunt makes the cut. At $90, it’s not exactly cheap, but the bottle has lasted me well over a year, despite my signature three-sprays-a-day rule.
Taunt is flirty yet sweet; think sunlight-dappled grass, a long skirt with an off-the-shoulder top, and a fresh red pedicure. Despite its vanilla and amber notes, I wouldn’t classify it as a gourmand. Bergamot gives it a delicate, uplifting feel, and the vanilla is more of a whisper than a shout. I’ve sprayed this on before work, day dates, picnics with friends, and even a few workout classes. Each time I wear it, I feel feminine and confident.
4. Best Skin Scent: Glossier You Eau de Parfum
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I’m practically an expert at identifying what perfumes people are wearing when I’m out, but one that always stumps me is Glossier You. As a skin scent, it smells wildly different (yet always amazing) on everyone I encounter. On one friend, it smells expensive and orris-forward. On another, it’s soft, comforting, and slightly powdery. On me, it even leans a little salty!
Glamour editors love the scent so much, they named it the best perfume for women overall. “While it’s at first a bright, woody, floral scent, it gradually changes on your skin, melting into something deeper and more inviting,” says senior west coast editor Jessica Radloff. Senior social manager Anastasia Sanger swears by it too. “One bottle lasts forever—I’m only on my second, and I’ve worn You religiously for years. Just buy it.”
5. Best Fresh Scent: Elizabeth Arden Green Tea Pistachio Crunch Eau de Toilette
Pistachio is quickly gaining popularity in the olfactory world, but for the most part, it’s only been found in decadently rich gourmand scents. Elizabeth Arden’s newest EDT proves that pistachio is much more versatile and delicate. 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.
6.Best Nighttime: Forvr Mood I Am Her Eau de Parfum
Rich, luxurious red velvet (yes, like the cake!) sidles up next to sparkling pear and a burst of juicy raspberry. As this scent wears, the romance of the vanilla and rose heart notes blossom—and the undeniable sex appeal of the oud drydown makes itself known.
“I Am Her is the scent I wear when I want heads to swivel the second I enter a room,” says Glamour contributor Ariel Wodarcyk. “This is the first perfume I would reach for to spray a love letter. It’s sexy, flirty, and has incredible sillage that stops people in their tracks.”
7. Best Gourmand: Fine’ry Pistachio Please Eau de Parfum
This perfume makes me feel like I’m resting on a sweet-smelling cloud. With notes of pistachio milk, vanilla, and tonka bean, it’s a cozy and enticing treat with a delectable scent trail (also known as sillage) that follows me all day.
Wodarcyk dubs this one of the best milky perfumes she’s tried. “If you love gourmands but want something with a little added depth, this is for you,” she says. “Not only is this scent extremely long-lasting with an impressive sillage, the pistachio note smells like a freshly baked cake. As it dries, it only becomes milkier and sweeter, thanks to vanilla and tonka bean. For less than $50, you really can’t go wrong.”
8. Best Vanilla: Philosophy Fresh Cream Warm Cashmere Eau de Toilette
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Where some vanillas take a creamy, heavy, or overly sweet turn, this EDT goes in a totally different direction. It’s comforting yet light, layered but not too complex, and smells freshly baked without giving me a sugar rush. The pop of tangerine in the top notes lightens up the vanilla and feels fancy and refined. It reminds me of a little custard tart topped with candied fruits, sitting in the window of a French patisserie. If you fall in love with the scent just as much as I have, there’s a matching shower gel and body lotion you can snag.
9. Best Unisex: Phlur Father Figure Eau de Parfum
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For a scent that embodies the same effortlessly chic vibes of tossing on an oversized button-down, I always reach for Father Figure. It’s dominated by a juicy fig note that toes the line between sweet and fresh, backed by crisp water lily and a sultry sandalwood drydown. It also contains orris, which gives richness and depth to its airy top notes. Without it, the fragrance wouldn’t be able to linger as it does for well over eight hours. Every time I spritz this eau de parfum, I feel like the coolest girl in the room.
10 . Best Affordable Celebrity Perfume: Sabrina Carpenter Cherry Baby
Celebrity perfumes and cherry notes are both having their moment in the spotlight, 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.
11. Best Vanilla Perfume: 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.
12. Best Floral Perfume: Ouai Dean Street Eau de Parfum
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 floral perfumes 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.
13. Best Solid Perfume: Noyz Sh**ty Day Solid Fragrance
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.”
14. Best Fruity Perfume: 5Sens Life of the Party Eau de Parfum
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 not to 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.
Frequently asked questions
How to find your signature scent
“A signature scent should feel like an extension of yourself, something that reflects your personality and style, and becomes something people associate with your presence,” says Gavarry. Start by testing fragrances in the store, and write down elements that you like about each. Are you drawn to woody, coastal scents that smell like the sea? Sweet vanilla or candylike scents? It can also be helpful to write down the notes in each fragrance, so you can find similarities between your likes (and dislikes). Once you find a few options you like, test them on your skin and see how they develop through the day. “Fragrances evolve throughout wear, so how it smells at first won’t be how it smells hours later,” says Gavarry. “If you still love it by the end of the day, that’s a good sign it might be the one.”
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, 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.”
Do perfumes smell different on different people?
While you might be able to instantly recognize someone important to you by their signature scent, the same fragrance could smell entirely different on somebody else. “Perfume interacts with your skin’s unique chemistry,” says Gavarry. “Factors like pH and body temperature can affect how a scent develops over time.” He adds that where you apply your perfume, whether on your skin, hair, or clothes, can also impact its scent and staying power. “This variability is part of what makes fragrance so personal.”
Meet the experts
- Clement Gavarry, principal perfumer at DSM-Firmenich
- Nicole Mancini, principal perfumer at DSM-Firmenich
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