Best inexpensive perfumes: From M&S to Zara, a magnificence editor reveals precisely which High Street fragrances scent nearly as good as designer scents – from simply £15.99
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As a beauty editor of over 12 years with access to all the newest – and priciest – fragrance launches, it’s safe to say that I have a somewhat discerning taste (read: snobbery) to what makes it into my perfume wardrobe.
My favourites? Le Labo Tonka 25, Diptyque Ilio, Van Cleef & Arpels Santal Blanc to name but a few. They’re all gorgeous – they’re also not cheap. But all is not lost.
In recent years, plenty of affordable High Street fragrances have been popping up that smell delightful, and it’s not all designer dupes from Aldi. From Beauty Pie to M&S scents that are reminiscent of classics, there’s a lot to explore.
So if you don’t have the budget to spend more than £200 on fragrance, see below for our editor-approved favourites…
M&S
Marks & Sparks isn’t just good for knickers. Their Discover eau de toilette range has long been popular, and last year they added eau de parfums to the range for extra heft and staying power. The packaging is very Byredo-esque, and the new Spiced Amber has the warming resinous feel you’d expect, deepened with hints of cedar but with a brightness coming from notes of geranium.
REISS
When I think of Reiss, perfume is not the first thing that springs to mind, but this is vastly kinder to your wallet than their beautiful shearling jackets. While normally I avoid oud like the plague, this seems to be one of those scents that everyone likes despite using quite a polarising ingredient. The base of oud is brightened with bergamot and softened with creamy solar florals, making it lighter than other ouds you may have smelled previously.
& OTHER STORIES
Woody, green, earthy – this smells so much more complex than its affordable price would suggest. Moss, amber and vetiver make for a fresh but warm fragrance, with a hint of spice from notes of ginger and turmeric. And while the website says there’s top notes of brussels sprouts, rest assured this smells distinctly not farty.
BEAUTY PIE
When I say that I often reach for this bottle over a selection of £200 perfumes, I am not being hyperbolic. Beauty Pie uses the same factories and noses as some of the world’s most luxurious fragrance houses, and the quality in this bottle is proof of that. It’s comforting yet luxurious, like a cashmere knit – except one you managed to get in a greatly discounted designer sample sale. Fragrant cardamom, creamy tonka, rich sandalwood and musky white suede makes for an expensive aroma that belies its price tag.
MANGO
In chic apothecary-style brown glass containers, these give off the distinct vibe of being posher than coming from your High Street go-to. Aromatic and herby with basil, moss and eucalyptus – yet warm and cosy with cedarwood and clove – it’s a wonderfully clean home fragrance that has a decent throw on it, easily filling a space with its scent.
ZARA
Genuinely the best thing I have smelled in a very long time. So much so that I have bought the whole range, from the four-wick candle (under £100, which is unheard of!) to the room spray. Green and fresh, with an almost botanical herbaceous quality to it, this is somehow both crisp and fresh whilst also being mouth-watering. When guests come over, repeated sniffing and questions of ‘what is that lovely smell’ is a common occurrence. One of my favourite finds in recent years.
