If You're In The Market for a New Luxury Perfume, There's No Better Place to Shop Than Nordstrom
And there's no better time to shop than during the Anniversary Sale event.
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As much as I love watching the shock wash across someone's face when they say I smell good and it happens to be a cheap perfume, I just feel like a million bucks when my perfume costs, well, a million bucks-ish. I'm sorry, I'm a snob! I love expensive things! Baby, I was born this way! One of my favorite pastimes, actually, as an expensive perfume connisseur, is waltzing through the beauty department at Nordstrom.
Dare I say it, some of the best perfumes reside at Nordstrom. They have a foundation of classic brands like Le Labo, Byredo, Replica, and Parfums de Marly. They've got all the designers like YSL, and Versace. And they've slowly brought in a handful of niche luxury houses, including Initio Parfums, Xerjoff, and Mancera. They're doing it right over there if you're a fragrance lover. Which is why it might take a lil digging if you're overwhelmed. (Which is where I come in.)
But! Not all expensive fragrances have to cost a fortune, by the way. The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, which is happening now through August 3, is the perfect time to grab a new signature scent, stock up on your favorite perfume, or score a lovely gift for a loved one at a really good deal. The fragrance sales in particular really caught my eye this year. We're talking close to $115 off fragrance sets, including one of my favorite scents of all time. Keep scrolling for all of my top picks in the sale right now, vetted by a beauty editor whose job is sussing out actually good deals for a living.
"I spray Good Girl every time I want a boost of confidence and to feel sexy. Not only does it smell simultaneously yummy and sophisticated, it lasts so long on my skin."—IMAN BALAGAM, CONTRIBUTING BEAUTY WRITER
- Key notes: Tuberose, jasmine, tonka bean, coffee, amber
- Scent family: Gourmand
Why the deal's so good: One single 2.7 oz bottle of Good Girl would run you $150, so a little ~girl math~ will tell you that this is a damn good deal. You basically get the extra 1 oz travel size for free (which would typically run you $88, so... score).
"If you’re looking to splurge on a signature scent and don’t know where to start, do yourself a favor and try spritzing yourself in this vibrant and long-lasting scent from Byredo. The fragrance is the perf combo of woody and floral—making it ideal for any occasion. Whether it’s date night or a day in the office, I promise this perfume will bring in alllll the compliments."—JASMINE HYMAN, ASSISTANT BEAUTY EDITOR
- Key notes: Ambrette, magnolia, sandalwood, cedar
- Scent family: Fresh, woody
Why the deal's so good: At a whopping $115 off, this is easily one of the highest savings of all the fragrance deals in the Anniversary Sale. Typically, I'm not that into sets that include a fragranced lotion (usually, they're pretty mid in the moisture department), but this hand cream is actually so great to keep in your bag and really does increase the longevity of the scent a bit.
"I'm a huge fan of so many of the Le Labo scents—Thé Noir is my absolute favorite of all time, but Another 13 is a close second. But of course, with an expensive brand, it can be difficult to decide which scent to purchase, if it's actually for you, how you like the longevity, etc. A discovery set like this is fantastic to get a sense of which perfume you might want to grab a full-size of eventually. And these minis aren't too mini either, so you def get to try them more than a handful of times."—BETH GILLETTE, BEAUTY EDITOR
“I’m a vocal floral perfume hater, but this scent changed me. It doesn’t smell like a garden, but rather has a sultry good-girl-gone-bad vibe to it that makes me feel irresistible when I wear it.”—MARY HONKUS, CONTRIBUTING BEAUTY EDITOR
- Key notes: Lavender, orange blossom, musk accord
- Scent family: Floral
Why the deal's so good: A 3 oz. bottle of Libre (which is what comes in this kit) costs $170, so you're already getting a discount here, not even taking into account the included travel size and cosmetics bag. But also... I currently have this makeup bag backed in my carry-on for a trip right now. It's such good quality and looks so chic.
"I always wait until a sale to buy fragrances, because why buy a bottle for full price when you can save $86 with this duo? Nectarine Blossom and Honey is my favorite Jo Malone fragrance, it smells juicy, fruity, and crisp without being overly sweet. If you’re looking for a light summer scent (I honestly wear this year-round), this is the one to splurge on. Thank me later."—JH
- Key notes: Cassis, honey, peach
- Scent family: Fruity
Why the deal's so good: I love when a set comes with a travel size, but this comes with a whole 1 oz bottle that, sure, can easily fit in a makeup bag, but won't be depleted after a few spritzes.
"Versace Bright Crystal was the perfume I purchased the day before I started my job at Cosmo because it felt like a Big Girl Scent. Professional and classic, but soft and cutesy. Still to this day—three years later—I wear it whenever I want to feel like the most chic, put-together version of myself. Ya know, before the deadlines and real-life hit of 'Cosmo beauty editor' hit."—BG
- Key notes: Yuzu lemon, peony, musk
- Scent family: Fresh floral
Why the deal's so good: For $10 more than what you'd spend to get the 3 oz bottle, you get this adorable lil 1 oz version too to travel with.
"So many of Maison Margiela's Replica perfumes have become viral TikTok hits (looking at you Jazz Club and On a Date), and you’d be hard pressed not to find at least one or two topping the internet’s “best perfumes” lists (including Cosmo's). Each of their expertly crafted scents is inspired by a specific time and place, replicating (pun intended) a feeling, and transporting you to a new destination—like Palermo in 1987 or Stockholm in 2007—without having to purchase a plane ticket (or a time machine, lol)."—MH
"I'm kinda snobby about designer perfumes because I don't want to smell like everyone else in the room. But I don't even care when it comes to Valentino Donna Born in Roma. It smells so yummy and rich and chic—like I'm the hottest person in the room with the biggest wallet. That vibe. I love it so much."—BG
- Key notes: Black currant, jasmine, vanilla
- Scent family: Fruity gourmand
Why the deal's so good: You already get 20 percent off the 3.4 oz bottle with this deal (considering it normally costs $170). But you also get a travel size, essentially for free. Deals on deals, baby.
"Assistant news editor Sam Olson wears this perfume nearly every day in the Cosmo office and it's become her signature—so much so, that I can tell a difference in the vibe of the office when she's not around because we can't smell it in the air. That's how strong and effervescent this perfume is. You really get a whiff of it on someone with just a few sprays. I also own it and wear it whenever I want to feel soft yet powerful—the mix of fresh floral notes with the strong projection and extremely long wear-time juxtapose in a really unique way."—BG
- Key notes: Bergamot, white peach, orange flower, vetiver, ambrofix, musk
- Scent family: Fresh, floral
Why the deal's so good: Obvi, this is not ~affordable~, but it's a damn good price if you know you love this scent and want a lot of it. The 2.5 oz retails for 390, so you get an extra ounce of product for less than $30 extra. But the savings is over $200. Wild.
"Prada Paradoxe is the epitome of a sexy and juicy perfume. If you want to smell flirty, floral, and fruity, without your perfume being overly sweet, I could not recommend this scent more. It opens with notes of tangerine, pear, and jasmine then it dries down with amber and musk to leave behind a warm and sexy scent. It's my favorite nighttime fragrance when I want to smell straight up irresistible."—JH
- Key notes: Neroli, amber, musk, tangerine, jasmine, pear
- Scent family: Floral
Why the deal's so good: The 3 oz already retails at $170, so there's an instant $23 savings there. But you also get a travel size perfume and scented body lotion that makes the price feel even more worth it.
Why trust ‘Cosmopolitan’?
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan and has seven years of experience researching, writing, and editing skincare stories that range from reviewing Glossier perfumes to Le Labo Santal 33 dupes. She regularly tests and analyzes perfumes while working with the industry’s top fragrance experts to assess new formulas, brands, and trends.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.
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