I'm a Perfume Snob, But These High-Street Fragrances Smell So Expensive
You don't have to spend a lot to smell expensive, as these affordable perfumes dupes prove.
I have a confession to make. Since starting my career as a beauty journalist, I've acquired quite a collection of the best fragrances over the years. Due to the nature of the job, I've been lucky enough to receive lots of expensive fragrances, from Byredo to Jo Malone, and I've developed quite a high-end taste—and nose. It was only when standing in the queues of some of my favourite high-street stores recently that I really took notice of the affordable fragrances available. And in recent years, they have seriously upped their game.
With brands such as Jo Loves (which was founded by fragrance royalty Jo Malone) pairing with stores like Zara, high-street fragrances have shed their sickly sweet reputation and become seriously sophisticated. In fact, you can probably find a perfume dupe on the high street—or at least something very similar—for the most popular fragrances nowadays. If I'm being honest, I don't love the concept of a perfume dupe, as I don't believe that you can get an exact alternative to a luxury scent. That being said, the appeal in finding a more affordable perfume that smells expensive can't be denied, so although you will never get the same experience, there are affordable perfumes that deliver a luxury scent profile.
All in all, you don’t always have to break the budget to smell expensive. Whether you like clean-smelling fragrances or fruity scents or want to find your signature perfume on a budget, high-street brands H&M, Marks and Spencer, Other Stories, The Body Shop and Zara are really leading the way for more affordable high-street perfumes.
To help you find your new high-street fragrance, I've found the best sellers from each store and put them to the test, matching them and their notes to their more expensive counterparts. And I have to say, these are now permanent fixtures on my fragrance shelf alongside my premium favourites.
Best High Street Perfumes That Smell Expensive
- Best woody perfume: Marks Spencer Apothecary Warmth
- Best warming perfume: Zara Red Temptation
- Best fresh perfume: The Body Shop White Musk Eau de Toilette
- Best sweet perfume: Zara Cherry Smoothie
- Best floral perfume: Marks and Spencer Gardenia Vanilla
1. Marks Spencer Apothecary Warmth
Key notes: Cardamom, cinnamon, cedarwood and sandalwood
If you've been sleeping on M&S's perfumes, it's time to get yourself acquainted. I have been spritzing this sandalwood scent since it went TikTok-viral and sold out everywhere. If you're looking for a similar perfume to Le Labo's Santal 33, then I'd urge you to try this. I'll admit, the staying power is not its strong suit, but at £12 for 50ml I can justify the cost-per-spritz to top-up my fragrance throughout the day.
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Loved by fashion insiders and beauty editors alike, this fragrance has notes of sandalwood and cardamom, which give it its clean-smelling, woody scent.
2. Marks Spencer Sea Salt Neroli
Key notes: Sea salt, neroli, mandarin and musk
I'll hold my hands up and say that I've previously overlooked Marks and Spencer's fragrances, and it was only when I started writing this article that I came across the diverse collection that it has. Sea Salt & Neroli is an M&S best seller, and I can totally see why. It smells so much more expensive than its price tag suggests, and it's one of the best salty fragrances I've found. Out of all of the expensive perfumes I own as a beauty editor, it's the one perfume my boyfriend always comments on when I wear it. It's salty yet refreshing—like slicing open an orange or sipping a zesty, salt-rimmed margarita. If Tom Ford's Neroli Portofino and Jo Malone's Wood Sage Sea Salt cologne had a baby, this would be it.
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This citrus scent is reminiscent of sitting on the breezy Amalfi Coast with an Aperol spritz aperitif in hand. The top note of bergamot mingles with mandarin orange, lemon and bitter orange for a zesty spritz before drying down with herbaceous lavender, rosemary and myrtle, which paves the way for African orange flower, neroli and jasmine. The warm base notes of amber, ambrette and Angelica are subtle yet beautiful. It's no wonder it's such a popular fragrance.
This is one of my favourite Jo Malone London scents. It's aquatic smelling, like a brisk walk along the British coastline on a windy day. The sea salt notes are tempered with earthy sage, which is ideal if citrus scents aren't usually your thing.
3. The Body Shop British Rose Eau de Toilette
Key notes: Rose, saffron and amber
If you're a fan of rose fragrances, then I implore you to try this fragrance from The Body Shop. Far from your nanna's powdery rose scent, this is beautifully moody and modern. It reminds me very much of Jo Malone London's Red Roses. British Rose has notes of rose absolute, saffron and amber, making it a warm floral with long-lasting wear throughout the day. It's also certified vegan, and 91% of the ingredients are of a natural origin.
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Imagine burying your nose into the most luxurious of rose bouquets, and you have this scent.
Turkish rose, cinnamon and amber make this fragrance a modern-day classic.
4. Bon Parfumeur 301 Sandalwood Amber Cardamom
Key notes: Jasmine, coconut, cedar, sandalwood and amber
Listen up—Bon Parfumeur is an affordable French fragrance brand that beauty editors flock to for seriously chic fragrances on a budget. The brand's 301 scent features a luxe combination of amber and sandalwood, which are both warming and addictive. Spritz within the vicinity of others and you're bound to get compliments.
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I turn to Aesop for those quiet luxury fragrances that you won't find everyone wearing. If you like woody and aromatic scents, then you'll love this.
5. The Body Shop White Musk Eau de Toilette
Key notes: Aldehydes, lily of the valley, jasmine and white musk
This is The Body Shop's best-selling fragrance, and during the '90s, it cemented its status as a cult scent. It's still as loved today thanks to its timeless notes of vegan musk, aldehydes (which give fragrances that clean scent) and a soft floral touch of jasmine. When I smell this, it reminds me of those clean, fresh-out-of-the-laundry types of scents that make you smell like you but better.
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The Body Shop's White Musk has a similar effect to Eccentric Molecules Molecule 01. Much like how White Musk uses musk to make your skin smell like you but better, this reacts differently on everyone to enhance your own natural scent.
White Musk smells very much like Juliette Has a Gun's Musc Invisible. Notes of cotton flower and musk make these two fragrances sisters.
6. Zara Red Temptation
Key notes: Saffron, bitter orange, jasmine, praline, amber and musk
This is another standout from Zara's growing fragrance collection. This is a beautiful, rich gourmand fragrance that still smells sweet yet sophisticated. Jasmine, saffron and amber notes smell similar to the likes of Maison Francis Kurkdjian's Baccarat Rouge 540.
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Rich amber is paired with sweet florals in this iconic fragrance.
7. Marks and Spencer Gardenia Vanilla
Key notes: Vanilla, sandalwood, gardenia and grapefruit
Upon smelling this, it instantly reminded me of Marc Jacob's Daisy and even a little bit of Chanel Chance Eau Tendre. This easy-to-wear floral smells like a springtime day spent under blue skies. Expect to smell notes of gardenia, vanilla, grapefruit and sandalwood.
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Marc Jacobs Daisy is a fresh floral, which smells very much like Marks and Spencer's Gardenia and Vanilla fragrance.
A radiant, fruity-floral scent that is so wearable and chic.
8. Zara Golden Decade
Key notes: Jasmine, orange blossom, mandarin and lavender
If you like YSL's iconic Libre scent, then you need to know about this Zara fragrance. With notes of jasmine, orange blossom and lavender, this warm, sensual perfume is bound to become a new favourite in your collection.
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This distinctive perfume always earns me compliments. French lavender and vibrant tangerine are grounded by creamy vanilla and musk for an addictive finish.
9. Other Stories Perle de Coco Eau de Toilette
Key notes: Caramel, red apple, jasmine, vanilla, warm milk accord and sandalwood
I've previously written about my love of fragrances that smell like expensive suncream, and this totally fits the warm, sun-kissed scent criteria. You only have to read the reviews of this affordable perfume to see its appeal. It's a solar-floral that instantly takes you to days spent at the beach. When I smell this, I can detect sea salt and white florals, which give it its beachside aroma. It reminds me a lot of Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess and Tom Ford Blanc de Soleil.
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A fragrance classic for a reason, this instantly transports you to the beach. Zesty Italian bergamot unfurls into jasmine sambac, coconut and frangipani before drying down to cashmere wood, musk and alluring amber.
Smells like sailing on a luxurious yacht in the middle of the Mediterranean surrounded by sparkling seas. Solar florals combine with creamy coco de mere and warm amber.
10. Zara Cherry Smoothie
Key notes: Cherry, plum, almond and vanilla
Cherry isn't an obvious fragrance note, and while in some cheaper fragrances, it can lean too fruity, this affordable option from Zara smells far more expensive than its price tag indicates. Sweet cherry is paired with a soft blend of vanilla and almond (which you'll also find in Tom Ford's iconic Lost Cherry).
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Jammy cherry and syrupy liqueur notes are juxtaposed with Turkish rose and jasmine sambac, making it a sweet fruity scent that also smells sensual.
11. Other Stories Act 1 Scene 3 Eau de Toilette
Key notes: Pomegranate, blackcurrant, rose, leather, patchouli and amber
Fruity fragrances aren't usually my thing, but when my nose caught this, it reminded me of Jo Malone's Pomegranate Noir. This has top notes of sweet pomegranate and blackcurrant, which dry down to a sensual mix of florals such as rose and davana alongside leather and orris. The base notes include patchouli, amber, and sandalwood, which make this fragrance very long-lasting for its reasonable price tag. Many of these notes also feature in Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir, but it comes in at a fraction of the price.
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Rich and dark but at the same time crisp and zesty, this fragrance perfectly balances notes of pomegranate with guaiacwood and patchouli.
12. Zara Sublime Epoque
Key notes: Bergamot, orange blossom, white peach, vanilla, cedarwood and musk
I'm a big fan of Zara perfumes, and this particular one is at the top of my list. In my opinion, this smells very similar to Armani's popular scent, My Way. It has notes of jasmine, tuberose and orange blossom, which give it that fresh, floral base, and the addition of vanilla and cedar add that expensive-smelling finish.
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Also infused with jasmine, tuberose, cedarwood and vanilla, it's no surprise that this fragrance is loved by beauty editors.
