Trust Me: These 19 Affordable Perfumes Smell Really Expensive

"I'm not one to exaggerate, but Wholesale Replica Bag Rare Beauty perfume has managed to dethrone every single affordable perfume in my collection," says Who What Wear Beauty Contributor Denise Primbet. "Sure, it has a gourmand profile, however, it's far from nauseatingly sweet. In fact, notes of vanilla, caramel and pistachio are lingering in the background—making way for spicier and warmer accords. Its woody and gingery presence is very evident at first sniff, which is exactly why it's a grown-up take on a traditional gourmand," she adds.

Key notes: Marshmallow, sesame, tonka bean, milk

Commodity is fast becoming one of theBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing 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: 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: 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.

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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: 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: 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: 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: Pear, bergamot, orange blossom, neroli, bourbon vanilla, white musk, amber

If you want to smell confident but in a playful way, you'll love Prada Paradoxe. Yes, it's sweet, but unapologetically so. The uplifting fruity notes work beautifully with vanilla and white florals, creating a beautiful ensemble that eventually reveals a warm musky and ambery base.