These Perfumes Smell Expensive, But Are All Surprisingly Under $100
If you want to smell rich, but don't want to drop hundreds of dollars, try one of our favorites below.
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As a beauty editor who writes about fragrance for a living, my perfume stash has no shortage of expensive fragrances. But, oftentimes I overlook the pricey bottles that can be upwards of $300, and gravitate towards more budget-friendly scents instead—they smell equally as regal for just a fraction of the price.
A good perfume doesn't have to break the bank to be long-lasting and expensive-smelling. The notes in all of my under-$100 picks are just as complex, the wear time is nearly as long, and the compliments are just as frequent. A great scent isn’t defined by a high price tag, and some of my most-loved perfumes that I wear on repeat are well under triple digits.
Ahead, the best under-$100 fragrances that will make you smell just as expensive as a designer scent three times the price, sans the splurge, according to Cosmo editors.
One Cosmo editor says: "When you find that perfect expensive white tee shirt and you’re like: “this is worth every dollar—I’ll wear this all the time and a million different ways?” That’s Retrospect. It’s indulgent, but ideal for everyday and the clean, skin-like scent easy to wear, whether you’re a perfume novice or love layering."—LAUREN BALSAMO, BEAUTY DIRECTOR
One Cosmo editor says: "I own a lot of perfumes (ahem, upwards of 200+), and You is one of the longest-lasting scents in my collection. I swear, I can spritz this on a my clothes and still smell it after multiple washes. It's like magic. It's the perfume that kickstarted the whole "your skin but better" movement."—BETH GILLETTE, BEAUTY EDITOR
One Cosmo editor says: "You know when you first start seeing someone and you can’t get enough? That’s what this warm fragrance smells like. Afterglow has an addictive quality to it. The juiciness hits you in waves—like biting into a ripe piece of fruit.” —LB
One Cosmo editor says: "This is exactly what I imagine wafting in the air when Kylie and Timothée went on that cute picnic date early in their 'ship. At first sniff, it's feminine and fresh in the opening thanks to floral jasmine. But as it dries down, I get warmth from amber, vanilla, and cedar—a touch of sweetness with a grounding element of woods make this a purely fresh floral, not an overly sweet perfume."—BG
One Cosmo editor says: "I have this scent in every form possible: a body wash, the viral body butter, and of course this hair and body mist. One or two sprays creates a warm scent balanced with vanilla, violet, and sandalwood that lays nicely on my skin and clothes for all-day wear."—JASMINE HYMAN, ASSISTANT BEAUTY EDITOR
One Cosmo editor says: "LORE as a fragrance brand is my new hyperfixation, and this scent has quickly become my new signature. It's perfectly balanced—it's woodsy and warm but also a little sweet. Also, you can use the cap as a candlestick holder, which looks impossibly chic."—BG
One Cosmo editor says: "I love this dynamic scent profile that has a little bit of everything. It's got layers of gourmands that make you smell delicious and a subtle spicy kick that adds sophistication. And it's all perfectly balanced with grounding earthy notes for a natural, skin-like scent."—ANVITA REDDY, COMMERCE EDITOR
One Cosmo editor says: “This fragrance is the perfect blend of warm and sweet. I love that the white florals aren't too overpowering apropos of its coupling with warm layers of vanilla and citrus. If someone bottled up a bright sunrise and made it into a perfume, the result would be a few spritzes of this long-lasting scent.” —JH
One Cosmo editor says: “This musky scent sits close to the skin for a subtly sexy effect. It’s warm, cozy, and slightly mysterious, which, in my experience, is the ideal recipe for romantic attraction.”—JH
One Cosmo editor says: "All of the gemstone-encased Orabella scents are great, but Salted Muse will always be my favorite. It's not super sweet or fruity the way so many celebrity perfumes are; instead, its fresh, clean, and a little spicy. I feel like I smell expensive when I wear it, and it's earned compliments from a wide range of people. Men find it sexy on date night, but it's also a scent my mom wouldn't mind smelling on me."—SARAH MABERRY, LUXURY AND FASHION COMMERCE EDITOR
One Cosmo editor says: "When I want to be perceived as the decadent version of myself, I spritz on Billie Eilish's perfume. It smells like a soft vanilla cloud. It's loaded with sugar, cacao, musk, red berries, and amber that make it warm and cozy. But the tonka bean and spice notes come through once it's sat on my skin for a while for a layered, smooth finish."—BG
One Cosmo editor says: "I don't gravitate toward fruity perfumes much, but Matilda is the juiciest perfume I've ever smelled maybe. I want to douse self-tanned skin in this then pull on a bikini and drink a margarita at the beach."—BG
One Cosmo editor says: "This is what I imagine Paris Hilton smelled like in the early 2000s—it exudes playful wealth. Angel Soirée smells expensive compared to the other budget-friendly Le Monde Gourmand scents, and it's sweet in a light way thanks to the hint of rose and sandalwood. But the sweetness doesn't overpower the fruity notes of lychee, strawberry, and apricot."—SM
Why trust 'Cosmopolitan'?
Jasmine Hyman is the assistant beauty editor at Cosmopolitan who covers all things fragrance. For this story, she, along with team Cosmo spritzed and tested dozens of under-$100 perfumes to select the best ones based off of longevity, notes, and price.
Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.
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