Trust Me: These 25 Affordable Perfumes Smell Really Expensive

Key notes: Cardamom, cinnamon leaf, cedarwood, sandalwood

This perfume recently went viral on TikTok as it smells similar to one that is over 10 times the price tag. It's consistently going out of stock, so act fast. It's a favourite M&S perfume of beauty editor, Eleanor Vousden. "Warmth is a perfume I reach for day in, day out. It's such a versatile scent and gets me tonnes of compliments when I wear it. It's not the most long-lasting perfume I own, but at this price I don't mind topping up every couple of hours," she says.

Key notes: Marshmallow, sesame, tonka bean, milk

Commodity is fast becoming one of the Who What Wear UK team's favourite fragrance brands, with each scent coming in three intensities (Personal, Expressive and Bold) to suit your preferences on how far you want your fragrance to project around you. Milk is Vousden's current favourite. "Milk (Expressive) is the most delicious vanilla-steeped milky scent I've tried," she says. "It melts into the skin with a sweet (but not saccharine) creamy trail that has since gotten me compliments whenever I wear it."

Key notes: Sea spray, orange blossom, neroli, grapefruit

Imagine the most luxurious everything shower, and you can imagine exactly how this smells. Upon spritzing, you feel like you've just stepped out of a steamy shower after lathering up with a citrussy shower gel and cocooned yourself in a fluffy robe. Perfect for those who love a clean-smelling scent that lasts all day.

Key notes: Apple, orange, pink grapefruit

My sister introduced me to this fresh, fruity perfume, and it truly is a delight. With hints of apple, orange and pink grapefruit alongside a floral bouquet of rose, jasmine, violet and peony, it's vibrant and uplifting. 

Key notes: Saffron, coriander, bitter orange, praline

Zara perfumes are something of a beauty-editor secret, and trust me—the scents truly defy their modest price tags. Again, there are plenty to choose from depending on your scent preferences, but this one made the cut as it gives a similar vibe to Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540, with notes of orange blossom, coffee, and vanilla.

Key notes: Rose, sage, angelica, bergamot, patchouli, sandalwood

This fragrance is like a breath of fresh forest air in a bottle. It's light and delicate, but really provokes an emotional response of calm and clarity. If you need space, this is like having your own woodland in your pocket.

Key notes: Hazelnut, rose petals, vanilla cream

This very sweet gourmand scent is inspired by birthday cake, and it smells just like a sprinkle-covered delight. It's a smile-inducing fragrance and reminds you of happy times and celebrations.

Key notes: Apricot flower, jasmine, vanilla bourbon, moss, caramel

Lovers of sweet, gourmand perfumes that are good enough to eat will love this. It reminds me a bit of Dior Hypnotic Poison with blooming apricot flower, jasmine, smooth vanilla bourbon, moss and a swirl of mouth-watering caramel. It's one of Vousden's favourite Zara perfumes. "When I first spritzed this in store, I couldn't believe how luxurious it smelled. It's like molten vanilla and caramel with a hypnotic twist of jasmine," she says.

Key notes: Apple blossom, sichuan pepper, jasmine, juniper berry

It might sound obvious, but a good hack for finding high-quality but affordable perfumes is to purchase them in smaller sizes. London-based perfume brand Floral Street offers all of its scents in travel-friendly, 10-millilitre bottles, which is a great way to confirm that you really love a scent before committing to the full size. I'm a big fan of this brand for unusual scents, but I think Neon Rose is a real crowd-pleaser—a fresh, green floral.

Key notes: Coconut, vanilla, vetiver, exotic ambrosial

This fragrance smells of tropical islands and Pina Coladas, so even if you don't have a holiday booked this year, you can still be transported to paradise.

Key notes: Pink pepper, ylang-ylang, musk, vanilla.

I'm pretty sure every girl who grew up in the '90s would be familiar with The Body Shop's White Musk perfume (it's still available, by the way!). Trust me, though—this black version is like white musk's cool older sister. It contains sweet pear, spicy pink pepper, and heady bergamot, and it smells incredible. Honestly, I had a colleague who used to wear this, and I lost count of the number of times people asked her what she was wearing. It's that good.

Price shown is members' price.

Key notes: Bergamot, cardamom, basil, sage, cinnamon, cocoa, patchouli, sandalwood, vanilla, tonka

Beauty Pie's fragrances are a real hidden gem if you want to smell luxurious on a budget. Amber 001 is the most delicious amber scent if you want your fragrance to envelop you in a warming hug. It's smooth, cosy and subtly sweet thanks to the addition of sandalwood, vanilla and tonka.

Key notes: KOrange blossom, vanilla, magnolia

I'm a huge fan of Estée Lauder's iconic Bronze Goddess perfume which comes out every year, but this affordable scent from French skincare brand Nuxe is a close second. It has notes of orange blossom, vanilla, and magnolia, and has that vibrant, tropical feel that gives me an instant mood boost on grey, drizzly days. It's also a favourite of beauty director, Shannon Lawlor's. "This stuff is basically French chicness, bottled. To me, it smells like liquid gold—it is creamy and warming, with a defiant sun-soaked element, for sure. However, unlike other other solar perfumes of its kind, it never verges into a territory that seems sticky or sweet. Instead, it is intense and possesses a depth that has the scent clinging to your skin as though it was made for you. Not only do I consider this one of the most expensive-smelling affordable perfumes, but I consider it one of the most expensive-smelling perfumes full stop."

Key notes: Neroli, amber

Yes, it's another Marks & Spencer scent—what can I say? They're brilliant. This is one of the richest perfumes in the range, and it's perfect if you love expensive-smelling, spicy amber scents with hints of bold white florals.

Key notes: White musk, neroli, ginger, orange blossom, jasmine

This beautiful scent from Caudalie smells so expensive, it's hard to believe the price. It's light, floral freshness is cut with a sweet warmth that makes this a versatile perfume for all seasons. Delicate but wonderfully powerful at the same time, it's deceptively modern. 

Key notes: Ambrox, ambrette, musk, iris root, pink pepper

If you love Glossier You and its unique ability to carve out a personalised scent for all, it might be time for you to pick up their refillable (yes, refillable) travel-friendly, solid compact. Oh, so heavenly both in scent and affordability. It's another favourite of our beauty editor. "The original Glossier You is the ultimate skin scent," she says. "It was originally designed to become one with your natural skin chemistry (think you, but even better), and you'll see this in notes, too. None of the four notes take centre stage here, instead, they all play a supporting role in the background to complement one another and your skin."

Key notes: Brown sugar, tonka bean, musk

I have a sweet spot for vanilla scents, and this one from Kayali, the fragrance line from beauty mogul Mona Kattan, is up there with the best of them. It's creamy and sugary (thanks to brown sugar and Brazilian tonka) but also heady with florals from vanilla orchid, patchouli and musk. But most of al,l it's utterly comforting and available in a petite 10ml bottle for on-the-go application. 

Key notes: Vanilla, toasted macadamia, tonka bean

I am a real sucker for a Sol de Janeiro mist and wore the Cheirosa '71 Hair & Body Mist all last summer. This one bottles the brand's trademark gourmand scent—a mouthwatering blend of caramelised vanilla, toasted macadamia nut, coconut blossoms and sea salt. It is totally joy-inducing and the perfect antidote to the cold weather. 

Key notes: Mango, black currant, pink pepper, orris flower, jasmine sambac, black lotus.

Phlur's perfume mist is a perfume for warm and sunny days. This bright fruity scent is an instant mood-booster. Plus, unlike many body mists, it's potently scented and lasts just as long as a perfume does. In fact, we find the body mists linger on clothes for days on end.

Key notes: Neroli, mandarin, musk, sea salt

Out of all the expensive perfumes our beauty editor owns, it's this one that gets her the most compliments on the regular. "Despite owning a lot of niche and luxury fragrances, it's this affordable scent from M&S that my boyfriend and colleagues always notice and compliment me on," says Vousden. "It's refreshing and zesty, but with a musky sea salt base that makes you feel like you've taken a brisk walk along the coast."

Key notes: Saffron, raspberry, praline

If you know and love the original Red Temptation scent, then you'll want to try this version, which centres around saffron, fruity raspberry and smooth, addictive and nutty praline. Saffron is known to be an expensive spice, so this is a great way to exude a luxurious vibe without spending a lot of money.

Key notes: Jasmine, blood orange, amber, peony, vanilla, cedarwood

Opting for a celebrity scent is a great way to get an affordable perfume that still smells amazing. Case in point with Cosmic by Kylie Jenner, which unfurls on the skin with creamy jasmine, glowing amber and a hint of vanilla.

Key notes: Cherry blossom, rice milk

It won't last as long as a proper eau de parfum, but there are some incredible body mists on the market right now if you don't mind committing to some top-ups throughout the day. This sweet, cherry-blossom scent is as uplifting as it is calming and makes a great addition to my desk-side beauty stash.

Key notes: Dragon fruit, orange blossom, tuberose, musk

This is a summer holiday, bottled. It's fruity, coconutty and utterly heavenly. As a hair and body mist, it's surprisingly long-lasting, but you may find you need a few extra spritzes to make it last all day.

Key notes: Wild strawberry, red rose, cedarwood

This one is a favourite of freelance beauty editor and Who What Wear contributor, Laura Pearson. She says, "It evokes memories of summer holidays and cute activities like picnics and strawberry picking. It's fun, with just the perfect amount of sweetness. Sometimes it's lovely to wear a cute scent just for fun, rather than something sophisticated or expensive."