The Nose Knows
You don't need to have a million bucks to smell like a million bucks, and a good fragrance need not break the bank. Your local drugstore or department store might be stocking some hidden gems without you realizing it! Of course, there are bound to be some stinkers, but we're here to separate the good from the bad.
1. Love Spell
This Victoria's Secret scent straddles the line between perfume and body mist. Debuting in 1999, this fruity and floral scent has more depth than a lot of fruity perfumes on the '90s. Unfortunately, we cannot smell it without getting a migraine at the thought of a high school changing room.
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2. Beauty Parisienne
YSL Beauty Parisienne is on the higher end of the scale, but it's still affordable compared to some designer perfumes on the market. Fans of lighter scents who don't want to trigger migraines and scent allergies in others will appreciate Beauty Parisienne's light touch. However, for the price you're paying, you'd think it would have more than five minutes of wear time.
3. Aromatics Elixir
Clinique's Aromatics Elixir alleges to be "an uplifting blend of life, sea breeze, and cypress". Alleges is the key word here as many people associate this fragrance with the classroom, clouds of it wafting from their least favorite teachers. It doesn't help that many wearers really pile the scent on.
4. Good Girl
Just like you should never judge a book by its cover, you should never judge a perfume by its bottle. However, Carolina's Herrera's stiletto-encased Good Girl smells exactly how it looks. The bottle tries to be provocative but ends up looking tacky, while the sickly sweet scent is barely noticeable.
5. Angel
If you can buy it at Walmart, it counts as an affordable scent, hence Angel's inclusion on the list. While we admire how Mugler changed the game with this gourmand perfume, Angel has too much going on. Angel has been compared to everything from dirt to BO to a dumpster fire behind a candy shop.
6. Lil' Angel
Lil' Angel by Harajuku Lovers is a stealth celebrity perfume by Gwen Stefani. Like Love Spell, Lil' Angel smells like 2008, for better or worse. While some scents on this list age their wearer, Lil' Angel smells like delayed adolescence, like someone who peaked in high school.
7. Mystic Figures
Fine'ry makes perfumes that are "fun, flirty and feminine", however some reviews of Mystic Figures are anything but that. Mystic Figures is supposed to be the Mediterranean in a bottle with turquoise waters and fig trees. Some people swear this is true, while others say the initial sniff is too medicinal, even comparing it to AXE body spray.
8. Pink Sugar
If you like your perfume sweet enough to make your teeth ache, then Pink Sugar by Aquolina is the scent for you. However, even people who like sweet scents tend to find Pink Sugar a little too sweet, especially the overwhelming licorice note. Like Love Spell & Lil' Angel, this scent can come off as tacky and juvenile.
9. White Diamonds
We know, we know, White Diamonds didn't just change the celebrity perfume, it invented it. But even Elizabeth Taylor isn't immune to criticism, and White Diamonds is one of the most hated perfumes on the Internet. The pungent, powdery scent of this perfume reminds people of mothballs and must.
10. Alien
We're not trying to hate on Mugler, in fact, some of the flanker scents for Alien are great choices. Alien itself, on the other hand...oy. It smells suspiciously sweet, like it's covering up a cigarette habit it can't kick.
Now that we've covered some affordable scents that aren't worth your money, let's cover a few that are.
1. Red Temptation
Clothing brand fragrances can be hit or miss, but Zara Red Temptation is a solid hit. Somehow, the notes of bitter orange, praline, and musk add up to an intense woody scent that's irresistible. Baccarat Rouge 450 on a budget.
2. Nectar De Passion
Passionfruit is an underrated note in fruity perfumes, and we never would have thought of pairing it with strawberries! The youthful fruity notes combine with darker base notes of sandalwood and sweet musk, but a scent that's a little more balanced than Love Spell or Pink Sugar. A great choice for someone who wants the fun of those scents without the association.
3. Vanilla Bourbon
If perfume could be drank, we imagine this Mix:Bar scent would taste exactly how it smells. Vanilla is a fave for fragrance lovers on a budget with its warm and cozy scent. Perfect for fall dates.
4. Layali
We're not sure if it's the oud or the beautiful bottle of this Swiss Arabian perfume that tricks us into thinking it's more expensive than it actually is. While oud can be a bit strong or even medicinal to some noses, Layali cuts through it with juicy black currant and orange. A perfume for the woman who has it all.
5. Eilish
If you're looking for a scent to wear in the colder months, Eilish by Billie Eilish might be the scent for you. This is a sensual, warming scent that's musky without being animalistic or over-the-top. The only downside of this perfume is that the shape of the bottle makes it difficult to spray.
6. Cleopatra
Tocca seeks to imagine what the legendary pharaoh may have smelled like with this oriental perfume. Cleopatra has mainly fruit and musk notes (though we think it would have benefitted from a touch of oud) with grapefruit and white jasmine topnotes. A thoroughly beguiling scent.
7. Cloud
If you're a fan of affordable perfume, you probably saw this one coming. Cloud by Ariana Grande has a cult following on the level of Tom Ford and Baccaret Rouge, and, frankly, Ariana's earned it. Cloud is a creamy and long-lasting crowd-pleasing gourmand with lavender, pear, and bergamot.
8. Coffee Cloud
Want a little coffee with your cloud? Good Chemistry has you covered. With just three notes—bergamot, espresso, and cedar wood—Coffee Cloud manages to tell a whole story in a single spray. You don't have to worry about reapplying this one, reviews claim a lasting time of 12 hours!
9. Flower Moon
Pacifica's Flower Moon is meant to inspire passion, creativity, and pure bliss. The notes of jasmine and peach are perfect for a laid-back summer day, flirty without being juvenile. As a bonus, Pacifica perfumes are vegan and cruelty-free!
10. You
Our scent recommendation is...You. No, not you the reader, You by Glossier. You is a light, musky scents with notes of amber and iris; simple yet subtle. The exact scent of this perfume is difficult to pin down because it truly changes with the wearer, for a scent that's as unique as you are.
