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The Best Budget Perfumes for 2023
YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO THE BEST BUDGET PERFUMES
Perfume fragrances can be incredibly personal. There’s a wide range of scents and fragrances available that are perfect for daily use or special occasions. Scents can be comforting or they can be alluring, fruity or earthy, citrusy or musky. The best one is all up to you.
The good news is, you don’t have to spend a fortune just to smell like a million dollars! In this guide, we show you our top picks for the best cheap perfumes that will leave you smelling fresh, fruity, or spicy, depending on your style!
WHAT ARE THE BEST BUDGET PERFUMES?
Editor's Choice  Best Overall |  Best Simple Perfume |  Best Unique Perfume |
Clinique Happy SprayIf you love fun and bright fragrances the Clinique Happy Spray is the one for you! This lightweight perfume lasts long and is perfect for day-to-day use. | Philosophy Pure GracePhilosophy Pure Grace offers a sophisticated, simple, and clean fragrance. This perfume has a water lily, leafy greens, and musk smell to it. | Glossier YouIf you love a unique scent, this personalized perfume, Glossier You, delivers just that! It has a comfortable scent that's perfect for daily use. |
Functionality: Quality: Price: | Functionality: Quality: Price: | Functionality: Quality: Price: |
LET’S GO OVER EACH FRAGRANCE
#1: CLINIQUE HAPPY SPRAY
Feel happy, be happy! This feminine perfume scent is sure to lift anyone’s mood, and if you’re looking for a fresh and light fragrance, look no further. The body mist is the best of both worlds, with vibrant fruity notes like ruby red grapefruit and bergamot mixed with the combined floral scent of a Hawaiian wedding flower.
Recommended perfume for: those who want a bright scent that isn’t too overpowering and is suited for daily use.
PROS AND CONS OF THE CLINIQUE HAPPY SPRAY
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Light, feminine scent ✔️ Great for day use ✔️ No overpowering odor | ✖️ Might be too light for some |
#2: PHILOSOPHY PURE GRACE
Scents are even more powerful when they can trigger emotional responses. Some things remind us of better days while others excite and enchant. This one smells like comfort.
Comfort comes in all shapes, sizes, and scents, too — the smell of fresh laundry, your favorite home-cooked meal, and even a warm bath. The Philosophy Pure Grace is an Eau de parfum that is clean, pure, and homey; the philosophy behind being nothing smells better than soap and water.
Add a few notes of water lily, leafy greens, and musk, and you’ve got yourself a signature scent that is perfect for the sophistication within us. The inviting head notes are bergamot, lily, lavender, lemon, and neroli; while florals like lily of the valley, rose, and jasmine makes up the heart. The base is a strong musk to balance it out. Recommended for: classy, clean days where you want to feel like a million bucks.
PROS AND CONS OF THE PHILOSOPHY PURE GRACE
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Simple, sophisticated fragrance ✔️ Suitable for daily use ✔️ Pleasant floral notes | ✖️ Might not be suitable for special occasions |
#3: GLOSSIER YOU
As we said, fragrances can be incredibly personal. You wear them, and you feel almost transformed. Much like the clothes we wear and the accessories we don, they can make us feel like different people if we want an escape even just for a night. But that’s not what Glossier You is for.
Instead of making you feel like someone else, the Glossier You is all about making you feel comfortable in your own skin and celebrating all the best parts of yourself. The first scent is pink pepper, a top note that piques anyone’s curiosity. The ambrette seeds and amber notes make up the heart. Once you’re completely pulled in, the floral scent of white irises balances it all out. A complex fragrance for a unique human being, just like you.
PROS AND CONS OF THE GLOSSIER YOU
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Personalized fragrance ✔️ Complex notes of spice, fruit, and florals ✔️ Perfect for daily use | ✖️ Simple packaging |
#4: ZEN ZEST EAU DE TOILETTE
If you think perfume has to cost a thousand dollars, think again. The Zen Zest Eau de Toilette makes a case for cheap perfumes, being long-lasting and unique in its fragrance.
Our favorite from their perfume line is the Thistle. Fruity notes like melon and pineapple give it a tropical feel reminiscent of summers on our country’s very own beaches. It’s great for daily use as the scent is mild and not too harsh on the nose.
At just Php 230, the Zen Zest Eau de Toilette in Thistle is one of the most affordable products on this list, and it’s a local product too. You can find it online and at local stores near you.
PROS AND CONS OF ZEN ZEST THISTLE
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Contains fruity notes of melon and pineapple ✔️ Unique scent with a budget-friendly price tag ✔️ Not too harsh yet lasts all dayt for daily use | ✖️ The fruity notes might be too bright for some people's tastes |
#5: VERA WANG EMBRACE
Scents can be incredibly intimate, too. The Vera Wang Embrace is named after this gesture of affection and intimacy. The Green Tea & Pear Blossom variant is just as irresistible, with a mix of pear blossom and bergamot as the initial notes along with peony, freesia, and orange blossom for the heart.
Wearing it feels like a warm hug from someone you love. Perfect for: summertime, walks on the beach, or going on dates!
PROS AND CONS OF THE VERA WANG EMBRACE
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Beautiful floral scent ✔️ Strong without being overpowering ✔️ Lasts all day | ✖️ Pricey compared to others |
HOW DO I CHOOSE THE RIGHT FRAGRANCE?
One of the most enjoyable parts of choosing a scent is all the different options you get. It might seem daunting at first, but don’t worry! Once you learn all the basics, then mixing and matching is the fun part.
The first thing you need to know is that typical fragrances consist of notes. There are multiple layers called the base notes, head/top notes, and middle/heart notes. The blend of these scents provides the overall fragrance.
This is why you’ll find floral perfume fragrances with notes from violet leaves, peonies, Bulgarian roses, freesia, lilies, orange-blossom, and roses. Others will have a spicy scent with notes of cinnamon, star anise, pepper, vanilla, or nutmeg; while a fruity fragrance typically features notes such as creamy coconut, mandarin orange, black currant, and passionfruit. If these aren’t your thing, you can opt for a scent with more earthy notes. Some popular ones include patchouli, white musk, and sandalwood which have a sweet, full aroma.
But of course, the best part about choosing your (cheap) perfume is that most of them are actually a combination of different kinds of scents — complex and unique, just like the wearer! There are also plenty of benefits to wearing a good scent. For one, it’s proven to lift our mood. A good scent can make us feel fun, bold, or happy. It can set the stage for plenty of occasions, whether it’s a date night or a summer trip with the fam.
If you don’t quite know where to start yet, we’ve outlined some of the best products just for you. They range from cruelty-free natural aromas to spicy, alluring fragrances. Read on to find out what they are!
CAN CHEAP PERFUME SMELL GOOD?
Now, I know what you might be thinking – cheap perfume can’t possibly smell good, right? Well, the truth is, the price tag on a fragrance doesn’t necessarily determine its quality or how it smells. There are plenty of affordable options out there that can smell just as amazing as high-end perfumes.
Of course, there are some things to keep in mind when shopping for cheaper fragrances. For one thing, you might have to do a bit more digging to find a scent that really speaks to you. Sometimes, more expensive perfumes have a certain level of complexity and depth that can be harder to find in a cheaper option. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t find a fragrance that you love at a lower price point.
One thing to consider when shopping for cheaper perfumes is the brand. There are some well-known, reputable brands that offer affordable options without sacrificing quality. For example, drugstore brands like Revlon, Coty, and Avon all offer a wide range of fragrances that can be found at a lower price point.
Another thing to keep in mind is that cheaper perfumes may not last as long on the skin as more expensive ones. However, this isn’t always the case – there are some affordable options out there that can last just as long as pricier perfumes. You might have to do a bit of experimenting to find the right one for you.
So, in conclusion, can cheap perfume smell good? Absolutely! While it might take a bit more effort to find the perfect perfume scent at a lower price point, there are definitely affordable options out there that can smell just as amazing as more expensive fragrances. Don’t be afraid to explore different brands and scents, and always remember that your personal preferences and skin chemistry can play a big role in how a perfume smells on you. Happy scent-hunting!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the number 1 perfume in the world?
According to beauty magazine Byrdie, the top-selling fragrances in the United States are on the softer side. These include Coco Mademoiselle and Chanel Chance, two of the biggest named brands in the market.
The UK has a similar taste with Chanel Chance also being a top contender. Even in Japan, where it can be offensive to wear anything overpowering, Chanel’s Coco Mademoiselle, Chance, and No. 5 take the cake.
Which perfume smells expensive?
Smelling expensive is definitely subjective, but there are a few fragrances that simply exude a million bucks when people get a hold of them. According to WhoWhatWear’s list, these products are the:
- Maison Francis Kurkdjian Paris Baccarat Rouge 540 Eau De Parfum (it is expensive, too — $300 a bottle!)
- Frederic Malle Portrait of a Lady
- Le Labo Santal 33.
There are certainly key odors here that make these fragrances “rich”, but we’ll leave that to the wearers. All I know is, even just saying those names already makes me feel expensive.
What is the best-smelling cheap perfume?
As we said, aromas are incredibly personal. The best you can do is find one that works for you or works for the occasion. We hope this guide was helpful in getting you one step closer to finding your forever fragrance!
CONCLUSION
It shouldn’t take a fortune to smell great. With these budget-friendly fragrances, you’re well on your way to finding that signature fragrance you’ll know and love. Whether it’s an Eau de parfum with citrus notes or a musky eau de toilette, there is no shortage of wonderful products to choose from!
We hope this guide was helpful in your quest to find the perfect fragrance. Love smelling fragrant scents? Try reading our top-scented candles.
Editor’s Choice
CLINIQUE HAPPY SPRAY
If there ever was happiness in a bottle, then this cheap perfume might be it. Crafted with a blend of fresh, vibrant notes and sensual undertones, the Happy Spray by Clinique is their best-selling women’s fragrance.
This minimalist-looking bottle is the perfect gift for anyone who needs an instant pick-me-up, or a daily comforting scent that can lighten up any room. The fragrance lasts all day.
Joey is an AB Psychology graduate of the University of St. La Salle – Bacolod. Her life’s passions include writing, film, and spending hours on end binge-watching fashion vloggers on Youtube.