I Hate Heels, But I Absolutely Adore These Platform Sandals From Aerosoles

Living in New York City, I have negative patience for high heels. Sure, I’d love to strut my stuff across busy city intersections like Carrie Bradshaw—that looks cool! But the truth of the matter is this: heels slow me down, stress me out, and further reduce my already-minimal coordination skills to Bambi-like awkwardness. At least […]

If you love fragrance, you know the satisfaction of spritzing on a coveted scent. However, sometimes, a three-figure bottle of perfume isn’t exactly attainable. This is where luxurious-smelling, affordable perfumes come into play—they have the chops to give you an everyday scent that won’t hurt your wallet. They can even help elongate the lifespan of the pricier perfumes in your collection (which you can opt to save for special occasions). Here, we’re sharing exactly what to look for when shopping for an affordable perfume, plus our top 13 affordable perfume picks to try, whether you love gourmands, musk, or anything in between.

Best affordable perfumes, at a glance

• Best overall: OUAI Melrose Place Eau de Parfum, $64
• Best skin scent: Glossier You Solid Perfume, $32
• Best cherry: Snif Tart Deco, $65
• Best gourmand: Le Monde Gourmand Pistachio Brûlée Eau de Parfum, $25
• Best vanilla: PHLUR Vanilla Skin Fragrance Mist, $35
• Best musk: Fine’ry I’m a Musk Fragrance Perfume, $37
• Best floral: Good Chemistry Magnolia Violet Eau de Parfum, $29
• Best warm + spicy: Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 59 Perfume Mist, $38
• Best lavender: Being Frenshe Eau De Perfume Lavender Cloud, $37
• Best beachy: Vacation “After Sun” Eau de Toilette, $60
• Best citrus: LUSH Karma, $26
• Best under $20: Saltair Santal Bloom, $14
• Best discovery set: Henry Rose Discovery Set, $28

What to look for in an affordable perfume

Searching for the right affordable perfume comes down to a few factors: the notes, the price, and the finish. These three characteristics will ensure a more luxurious experience that can rival pricier counterparts. If an affordable perfume hits these marks consistently, it will easily become a regular part of your daily routine.

The notes: Affordable perfumes should have familiar yet unique notes and blends. This will make them feel as luxurious as the three-dollar sign bottle in your collection, but it also makes them comforting and reliable. Look for notes of vanilla, gourmands, florals, and citrus to satisfy sweet-scent cravings or musk, spice, and santal for a more savory finish.

The price: To us, an affordable perfume means no more than $65. This price point is attainable and makes these fragrances feel less intimidating when you need to re-up. And if you can find them at your local Target? Even better!

The finish: Perhaps the