The 11 Best Budget-Friendly Perfumes That Rival High-End Options

Best Overall

Glossier You Parfum

$78 $32 at Sephora $32 at Glossier $78 at Kohls.com

Fragrance Family: Warm, skin scent | Highlighted Notes: Pink pepper, iris, ambrox | Size: 0.27, 1.7, 3.4 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Those on BeautyTok will be familiar with this viral fragrance from Glossier. It was one of the first modern “skin scents” that re-popularized the category (skin scents harmonize with your skin to enhance your natural scent), and we’ve been huge fans of it since its release. Notes of pink pepper, powdery iris, and multidimensional ambrox create a fragrance that’s equal parts fresh, warm, floral, and musky. It’s potent but not overpowering and perfect for any occasion. While all fragrances smell slightly different on everyone as they mesh with your unique body chemistry, this one in particular smells quite different from person to person. This could be a bonus since it makes it a personal fragrance, but it could be misleading if you love how it smells on someone else—it may smell entirely different on you. 

During testing, it performed beautifully. (Read: no staining, oily residue, or fast fading.) It warms up and transforms a bit on your skin as you wear it, but it remains detectable all day long. If you’re looking for a great everyday scent that’s well-loved by people with a wide range of fragrance preferences, we highly recommend checking it out. 

Lindsay, tester: "I think what people like the most about this perfume (and what I like best) is how it reacts with your skin as the day goes on. It is a bit different on everyone and develops really nicely with my natural scent. It's hard to describe and stops people in their tracks."

Best Floral

Phlur Missing Person Eau de Parfum

$29 at Amazon $99 $29 at Sephora $29 at Nordstrom

Fragrance Family: Floral | Highlighted Notes: Musk, bergamot nectar, neroli blossom, orange flower, blonde wood | Size: 0.3, 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

As the most popular member of the Phlur fragrance family, Missing Person stands out for its floral and musky character. Warm musks and sweet woods balance out a burst of neroli blossom, orange flower, and jasmine. It’s delicate and feels like an elevated take on someone’s natural skin scent. The brand says, “If nude were a perfume, this is it.” And we agree it’s subtle and wearable for all occasions, though some might find it to be too faint. 

It applied nicely with no residue or staining, and we found that it lasted throughout the day, fading gradually as the hours passed. We love the packaging—it has a sleek and functional design that features a weighted, magnetic cap. If you’re looking for a floral fragrance that’s not heady or overpowering, we think you’ll be pleased with this one. 

Tina, tester: "It feels like a warm hug since it reminds me very much of my mom. I love the overall musk of the perfume. It's extremely nostalgic and mature smelling."

Best Fresh

Clean Classic Warm Cotton

$44 at Amazon $74 at Sephora $74 $44 at Ulta

Fragrance Family: Fresh | Highlighted Notes: Citrus, floral cotton accord, marine, musk, amber | Size: 0.34, 1, 2.1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Fresh scents are a fragrance collection staple because they’re suitable year-round for day and night. This one is grounded by soft musk and amber, ensuring it doesn’t come off too soapy. Cotton flower accord and a marine note give it its true fresh identity, while notes of citrus and orange flower provide brightness. It’s a soft, clean sheets type of fragrance that feels comforting and familiar. 

On the skin, it’s present without being overpowering, and we love that it warms up a bit throughout the day. We found that it left some residue on fabrics, so we recommend applying it directly to your skin. We highly recommend this one if you’re looking for a classic, clean fragrance to introduce into your fragrance rotation. 

Trisha, tester: "This perfume smells like I buried my face into clean towels fresh out of the dryer. The notes that stick out the most are warm. It is not overpowering, so even though it smells like soap, it feels clean because it doesn't linger or become too cloying in any overpowering way."

Best Vanilla

Lavanila Pure Vanilla

$48 at Amazon View on Lavanila.com

Fragrance Family: Warm | Highlighted Notes: Pure vanilla, tonka bean, coconut, grapefruit, lavender | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Vanilla perfumes evoke a warm, familiar feeling, and this one encapsulates that perfectly. Pure vanilla tonka bean sits at the heart of the fragrance, while coconut, grapefruit, and lavender provide a small boost of freshness. It’s very vanilla-forward, but we appreciate that it’s not super candied or saccharine. 

It warms on the skin beautifully and lasts well, fading just subtly throughout the day. We did notice that the actual juice leaves a bit of a sticky residue on the skin, so keep this in mind before you start spritzing. But if you’re a true vanilla fan, this pick is bound to suit your fancy. 

Mandy, tester: "It's a very calming and sophisticated scent. On my skin, I still found the scent to be soothing without being too overpowering."

Best Citrus

Ouai Dean St. Eau de Parfum

$64 at Amazon $64 at Sephora $64 at Ulta

Fragrance Family: Citrus | Highlighted Notes: Mandarin, lemon, grapefruit, apricot, musk, rose | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

A lot of citrus scents can come off as overly tart or biting, but this one is extremely well-balanced, thanks to notes of apricot, musk, and rose. Upon first spritz, you’ll immediately recognize its fruity identity, but as it warms on the skin, a subtle sweetness and depth develop. It’s fresh and juicy, and unlike a lot of fresh perfumes that feel more suitable for daytime, we think this one is great to take from day to night.

It did create minor staining on some fabrics, so we recommend spritzing it directly on your skin. It wore nicely throughout the day and was still detectable on the skin after several hours of wear. 

Sunita, tester: "The citrus and sweet floral notes stand out the most to me. I would describe this as a sophisticated fragrance that would be loved by anyone who loves a floral, sweet scent that isn't overpowering."

Best Gourmand

Oakcha Sweet Addict

View on Oakcha.com

Fragrance Family: Sweet, floral | Highlighted Notes: Vanilla, rose, pink pepper, marshmallow | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Appropriately named Sweet Addict, this fragrance is, well, very sweet. But not in an artificial candy kind of way—in more of a soft, romantic sense. Vanilla and marshmallow give the fragrance its foundational sweetness, and notes of rose, pink pepper, and bergamot provide depth and brightness to round it out. Because it’s an extrait de parfum, the most concentrated type of fragrance, the stuff is potent. 

Once on the skin, it warms up and a subtle musky quality emerges. It lasts well throughout the day with minimal fading, and we love that the colored glass bottle it comes in feels heavy and luxe. This fragrance is perfect for those who gravitate towards sugary, more traditionally feminine scents. 

Nikki, tester: "It is very bold, yet soft and extremely sweet. It's as if the marshmallow is in a cloud of musk."

Best for Everyday

By Rosie Jane Rosie Eau De Parfum

$80 at Amazon $80 $29 at Sephora $29 at Nordstrom

Fragrance Family: Musky, skin scent | Highlighted Notes: Nude musk, sweet rose | Size: 0.25, 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Having a fresh and musky, perfect-for-any-occasion scent in your fragrance wardrobe is a must. It’s the go-to choice when you’re running out the door, it’s ideal when other more dynamic scents aren’t speaking to you, and it’s even fitting when you want to smell nice before hopping into bed. The brand says it feels like “sleeping in your birthday suit—nude and translucent,” and we couldn’t agree more. It has a simple blend of nude musk and sweet rose notes that marry to create a fresh, understated, slightly sensual skin scent. It’s noticeable but never too intense. 

We found that it created a slight residue on skin and clothing, but we’re willing to overlook this because of the stunning fragrance and impressive wear. It wore beautifully on our skin and clothing throughout the day. If you’re in the market for a simple fragrance that you can spritz on with abandon, this is the one for you. 

Amy, tester: "I find it blends in very well with my natural scent. It's a very sophisticated scent that is great for daily wear and can be unisex."

Best for Date Night

Zara Rose Gourmand Perfume

$54 at Amazon View on Zara.com

Fragrance Family: Floral, gourmand | Highlighted Notes: Carnation, jasmine, rose, caramel, vanilla, musk | Size: 2.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Date night calls for a fragrance that makes you feel sexy and confident. This one from Zara did that for us during testing, thanks to a combination of floral, warm, and spicy notes. It opens with a burst of vanilla and florals—carnation, jasmine, and rose—that give it a warm and romantic quality. Once it settles on the skin, that vanilla note fades (we wish some of it stuck around), lending to a more spicy and musky dry down. 

It lasted well on our skin and didn’t create an oily residue on fabric swatches. We were also impressed by the elevated and functional packaging (the atomizer creates a fine mist), especially given the affordable price tag. 

Grace, tester: "It is a very light and airy scent initially and then becomes a bit spicy after it settles. The vanilla scent is the strongest note of this scent, but the floral scent balances it out and gives it some freshness. On my skin, this scent pairs well. It is very refreshingly light and feminine."

Best Celebrity Perfume

Ariana Grande God Is A Woman Eau de Parfum

$70 at Amazon $48 at Ulta $60 at Target

Fragrance Family: Fruity | Highlighted Notes: Pear, ambrette, Turkish rose, vanilla, sandalwood | Size: 1, 1.7, 3.4 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Cloud Eau de Parfum by Ariana Grande might as well have its own fan club, but we highly recommend not sleeping on this one from her line. God Is A Woman is characterized by a bold pear note that’s immediately detectable upon the first spritz. That unique juicy and fruity note is complemented by ambrette, vanilla, and creamy sandalwood, leading to a warm and sweet scent. It does have a bit of a candied quality on the skin, which some people might find too youthful, but we appreciate how bright and playful it is. 

We noticed that it started to fade on our skin after about 30 minutes of wear, but because it’s a pretty potent fragrance, this wasn’t an absolute dealbreaker for us. If you’re a fan of Miss Grande and you’re looking for a sweet and fruity fragrance at a wallet-friendly price, we think you’ll be pleased with this one. 

Best Drugstore

Pacifica Dream Moon Spray Perfume

View on Amazon $27 at Ulta View on Pacificabeauty.com

Fragrance Family: Floral, woody | Highlighted Notes: Patchouli, pink rose, sandalwood | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Drugstores are not home to a wide variety of perfumes, but this one can be purchased at several drugstores as well as Amazon for the ultimate convenience. It’s a flirty floral, woody, and sweet fragrance that we think teens and young adults will love, aka it’s a great option for someone new to the fragrance world (think sweet sixteen gift). The sweetness gives it a youthful quality, while patchouli and sandalwood provide depth. 

We loved that it was noticeable on the skin and fabrics without being sickly sweet or overbearing, but when we tested it on hair, it faded very quickly. The bottle also doesn’t come with a cap, which could make traveling with it a no-go. But if you’re looking to experiment with affordable perfumes (or get a gift for a young perfume newbie) and you/they like floral and woody scents, we do think this one is worth checking out. 

Cassie, tester: "It reminded me of walking into an Abercrombie and Fitch, but with a more mature, subtle, and sweet vibe. I loved it."

Best Mist

Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Crush Cheirosa

$38 at Amazon $38 $25 at Sephora $38 at Ulta

Fragrance Family: Sweet gourmand | Highlighted Notes: Salted caramel, pistachio, vanilla | Size: 3.8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Okay, so we’re cheating a bit here—this Sol de Janeiro fragrance is technically not a perfume since it’s a mist and not an eau de parfum. However, we’d be remiss not to talk about it in a piece centered around affordable fragrances. It’s the mist version of the iconic scent in the brand’s Bum Bum Cream, and we absolutely love it. Salted caramel, pistachio, and vanilla work in tandem to create the most delicious and addicting scent. It’s warm and comforting with a bit of a sexy flare. 

Although the mist doesn’t last long on the skin (most mists don’t), we appreciate that the fan-favorite fragrance comes in this mist as well as other products, like the body cream and body oil—so you can layer it up for a more long-lasting experience. Whether you’re already a fan of the scent and want to add the mist to your collection, or you’re new to it and on the hunt for a creamy, warm fragrance, we think you’ll fall in love with this popular pick. 

Amy, tester: "There's definitely got to be some sweet-smelling vanilla in there. My second impression was that it smelled like flavored coffee, which makes sense that there is the salted caramel scent."