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8 best cheap perfumes starting at £8.75 that smell super luxiourous
Spritz, spritz
When I first started dabbling in fragrance, I figured out quickly that expensive perfumes were generally the most hyped. But I was a ~woman on a mission~ to smell really bloody good and spend as little as possible doing it. So, I stocked my dressing table with the best cheap perfumes. Shockingly, my collection was actually filled with gems, from delicious vanilla perfumes to fruity body sprays to layered patchouli fragrances. But it definitely took a whole lotta testing to sniff out (hehe) the gems.
I narrowed down the 8 best cheap perfumes for you (on the low low, ofc), from cosy winter perfumes to bright summer fragrances and so much more. FYI: They're all under £45, so you can rest easy that your bank account won't be screaming at you after you hit "add to cart." A lil sneak peek of my newest favourites:
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Intrigued? Kk, cool. Let's get to the full list, plus a guide on choosing the right cheap perfume for you.
Ariana Grande's perfume collection has the same level of hype on TikTok as the Tom Ford and Bacarrat Rouges of the world, TBH. Legit, everyone is obsessed with Cloud, leading to the launch of Cloud Pink in 2023. It's got the same sweet, bubbly jasmine-forward scent, with a whole lotta fresh berry notes that feel perfectly aligned to Ari's whole vibe.
Type: Eau de parfum
Size: 30ml
Glowing customer review: "I own A LOT of perfumes including several from Ariana Grande. Cloud Pink is my #1 and it is very feminine and youthful. I plan to buy several bottles in the future!!!"
I'm fully obsessed with Phlur's entire fragrance assortment (ILY with my whole <3, Somebody Wood), so I was very intrigued when they launched hair and body mists. This is a super juicy mango scent with an added vanilla and brown sugar sweetness that is so playful and fun, which makes perfect sense to just spritz into your hair throughout the day. The formula is really light and airy and doesn't make my hair sticky at all, all the while giving me a pretty long-lasting scent.
Type: Body spray
Size: 88.7ml
Glowing customer review: "I absolutely love the smell of this fragrance. It lasts a while too when you spray it. I honestly love to spray it into my hair; I feel like it lasts a lot longer in my hair. Just an overall yummy fragrance."
When I first started hoarding collecting perfumes, I added this affordable scent to my cart on a whim to try out a fresh, green perfume. Turns out, it's still one of my favourites... 110+ perfumes later. I just love how crisp and clean it smells, while still giving off some warmth, thanks to musk and amber base notes.
Type: Eau de parfum
Size: 50ml
Glowing customer review: "Have used this product for several years and love the light clean tones. Never fails. Get many compliments."
Okay, yes, bias alert, this perfume was developed by Cosmopolitan, my employer. But I am a free woman!! And I actually, genuinely love this woody scent. It's filled with red berries, sandalwood, coconut milk, and orange blossom – all of which simply smell like sinking your toes in the sand on a warm holiday evening. But because it's a body mist, it's still light and bright, not heavy or cloying, which is ideal for spraying on before running into the waves, bb.
Type: Body spray
Size: 50ml
Glowing customer review: "I honestly love it. It reminds me of my Grammy when I was younger at the beach. It smells so nice but it's only a mist so it doesn't last that long, but I love it still. I recommend. ❤️"
Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Crush Cheirosa 62 Perfume Mist
Fans of the famed Sol De Janeiro Bum Bum Cream, gather 'round: Chierosa '62 is the exact same scent in a super affordable body mist. Cosmo beauty contributor Mary Honkus ranked it her #1 amongst the other Sol de Janeiro perfumes. According to Honkus, "It perfectly encapsulates the essence of joyful, summer days. It smells warm, nostalgic, and familiar. And though it features just three key sweet notes – pistachio, salted caramel, and vanilla – it manages to leave a big impact on the skin without veering into headache-causing territory." Plus, she says it lasts surprisingly long for a body mist when she spritzes it on her clothes.
Type: Body spray
Size: 90ml
Glowing customer review: "If you love the Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Cream, you NEED this! It has the same warm, sexy salted caramel vanilla scent, and it layers so well over the cream!"
Eilish by Billie Eilish Eau De Parfum 30ml
Recently, I quickly sprayed Eilish a few times on my wrists before heading out the door for an event. Hours later, before my Uber even left my stoop, he asked me what perfume I was wearing. And about 30 minutes into the ride, he asked me to write the name in his phone so he could order it for his wife, because it smelled "so lovely." So trust me, a few sprays, and you'll smell like this vanilla-centric perfume forever.
Type: Eau de parfum
Size: 30ml
Glowing customer review: "This is a wonderful fragrance if you are into sensual, warm vanilla scents. This one has a hint of musk immediately after spraying, almost masculine-y musk, but upon drying down, it's a sweet vanilla scent that just reminds me of being wrapped in a cozy cashmere sweater."
If you're used to seeing £££ Vera Wang dresses on 'Say Yes to the Dress', you'll prob be shocked at how inexpensive this citrus perfume from the famed designer is. One spritz of this fresh-smelling perfume is all you need – your skin will be left with the perfect combination of pear, green tea, and florals (think: freesia, peony, and orange blossom). Plus, it's got a subtle hint of musk and sandalwood to finish it all off.
Type: Eau de toilette
Size: 30ml
Glowing customer review: "I have been using this product for several years; it is very light and not overwhelming, exactly like the smell of green tea and pears!"
Philosophy Pure Grace Nude Rose For Her Eau De Toilette
A lot of floral perfumes can be overpowering with heavy powdery notes. Thankfully, that’s not the case with this affordable perfume from Philosophy, a flanker on their O.G. Amazing Grace perfume range. Pure Grace Nude Rose definitely goes into flower-shop territory, but it's grounded with some woody cedarwood, earthy musk, and fresh ambroxan. It gives the scent this very clean and classic vibe. Because it's an EDT, the lasting power isn't outrageous, but I find it's lovely to spritz on my clothes and get a whiff throughout the day.
Type: Eau de toilette
Size: 60ml
Glowing customer review: "I have been stopped by other women to find out what I'm wearing and where can they get this beauty perfume. I am complimented many times always when I am hugged."
How to pick the best cheap perfume
Identify your favourite notes
Some like it sweet, some like floral, some like it warm, and some like it fresh. The first steps to choosing the best cheap perfume for you are to identify your personal taste and know what notes work for your vibe and your body chemistry.
Think about a scent's intensity
Most perfumes fall into two categories: eau de parfum (EDP) or eau de toilette (EDT). An EDP contains more fragrance oil than an EDT, meaning the EDP is more concentrated and will last longer on the skin. If you want something less fragrant, opt for an EDT or even a body mist. A body mist is the lightest form of fragrance and is typically cheaper, too.
Start small
Don't want to spend a tonne of money, but have a taste for the pricey stuff? Hey, not to worry, there's a hack: opt for the travel size or a rollerball perfume. That way, you don't have to spend a ton, and you can decide if you like how the perfume wears on your body and if you should invest in the larger size.
Why trust Cosmo?
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with five years of experience researching, writing, and editing perfume stories that range from 2024 perfume trends to the best Le Labo pefumes. She’s an authority in all perfume categories, but is an expert when it comes to cheap perfumes after testing dozens over the years to fill her extremely vast fragrance collection.
Siena Gagliano is the associate editor at Cosmopolitan, and has three years of experience writing about beauty, fashion, and lifestyle news. She’s an expert at researching and writing beauty stories, like the best vanilla perfumes and the best new perfumes, and feels especially knowledgeable in cheap perfumes thanks to her extensive perfume collection. She regularly tests and analyses perfume on herself for efficacy to assess new products and brands.
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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