Earlier this month, Marie Claire did a listicle on 10 Cheap Perfumes Beauty Insiders Love. I have no real objection to their list1 other than the inclusion of a $76 perfume and an $82 body oil — beauty insiders apparently have a different definition of "cheap" than I do, possibly because they don't have to fork over cash for their beauty products — but I did note on Twitter that I did not love any of their picks. I'll also add that none of their 10 show up very often in our daily scent of the day polls. So, here is a list of my own. I couldn't make myself narrow down to fewer than 11, and of course I've cheated even more by adding alternatives. As always, do include your own picks in the comments!
Marie Claire included the old standby 4711. I know some of you probably love 4711, and I can't scoff at it — it's possibly one of the better fragrances on their list. Still, my old-school drugstore choice would be the venerable spicy carnation, Old Spice. As with everything else, though, vintage is better, if you can get your hands on it. The absolute best case scenario is you come across an old, unopened bottle in your grandfather's medicine cabinet. Maybe all the stars align and there's an old bottle of Stetson hiding in there too?
If you shop around, you can find a 50 ml bottle of Prada Infusion d'Iris Absolue for less than $50. It's lovely and it has decent lasting power, which is more than you can say for a number of "luxury" iris fragrances that shall remain nameless.
If you're looking for bargains in scented body oils, you can't do much better than Tauer Perfumes Rose Delight Body Oil, which will run you about $25, and which will stand up just fine on its own, or layer perfectly with nearly anything else you can think of that might be enlivened by a bit of rose.2 (If you're looking for something more meditative, and you're willing to up the ante to $40, there's always Aftelier Ancient Resins body oil. But really, you ought to own both oils. You'd only be out $65 and one or the other would work with nearly any perfume you own.) If you prefer a "real" perfume, don't forget that Tauerville Rose Flash is only $31. Oh, and Rose Flash can be layered with Vanilla Flash...
And so long as we're including scented body products, let's not forget Estee Lauder's Bronze Goddess Whipped Body Cream. At $50, it's admittedly spendy for a cream, but the tub is huge and so is the fragrance — I find it considerably more powerful than the spray Eau Fraîche. I wear it frequently in the summer, and I've hardly made a dent in my tub in the two years I've owned it.
Donna Karan Gold is that rare thing, a pretty lily perfume. It's not an in-your-face, niche hothouse lily, like Serge Lutens Un Lys, but nor is it a deconstructed modern lily, like Cartier Baiser Volé. It's a middle-of-the-road, mainstream lily, and that was a hard sell in department stores in 2006. It was not on counters for long. Since then, it's gained a minor but avid following among perfumistas who've taken a chance on a dirt cheap bottle from a discounter (at the moment, you can find 30 ml of the Eau de Parfum for about $15).
When you want something a little offbeat, but don't want to pay top dollar for the latest niche favorite, Lush is always worth a visit. (Their elegant jasmine - vetiver Silky Underwear, which I bought for $30 years ago, is still a personal favorite. As is the way with Lush, it's not available at the moment, and who knows if or when it might reappear.) Their offerings vary by country; if you can find it, Furze is bright and cheerful and summery, and completely wearable despite smelling like nothing you'll find in a department store. At the moment, Lush's UK Kitchen has a Furze body spray for £12.
If Lush is just not your style, check out the budget-friendly, easy-to-wear offerings from Pacifica. My own favorite is the spicy / incense-y Tibetan Mountain Temple, which will run you $22 for 29 ml (or you can snag a solid perfume in Mediterranean Fig for $9).
Need a sweet comfort gourmand for pennies, one with a bit of spunk? Perhaps with a dash of cognac for good measure? Queen by Queen Latifah, like Donna Karan Gold, did not wow them on the fragrance counters, but it's had a decent afterlife on perfume blogs and forums. You can find a 15 ml bottle for less than $10, which in perfumista math means they're paying you to take it off their hands.
Italian perfumer Maria Candida Gentile isn't cheap, exactly, but she makes little 15 ml travel bottles for the relatively friendly price of $45 (if you buy directly from the brand, there are also 7 ml miniatures available). Her Hanbury is a charming floral based on calycanthus, and I've been wavering over a purchase ever since I smelled it. If you don't love it, she has lots of other choices, from the quiet Lankaran Forest to the animalic Elephant & Roses.
Marie Claire also included Kiehl's Musk. Kiehl's Musk used to have a bit of a following on MakeupAlley, and I do see it mentioned here from time to time, but I never really loved it, and would offer up in its place the newer woody unisex Sarah Jessica Parker Stash SJP. At $50 for 30 ml, it's still free in perfumista math terms. The alternative, if the Stash does not suit, would be the woody unisex Comme des Garçons + Pharrell Williams Girl, easily found for less than $30 for 100 ml.
It's still a little shocking to me that you can buy a 50 ml bottle of Lalique Encre Noire, one of the best vetiver fragrances ever made, for less than $25.
Your picks?
1. Although I should also note that the article starts off with the assertion that the "main difference between perfumes at high and low price points is lasting power", which any perfumista can tell you is complete nonsense.
2. After sniping at beauty insiders who get all their products as promotional swag, I feel honor bound to point out that my bottle of Tauer Rose Delight was actually accepted as swag, and is one of only two or three such products in my collection. Most freebies I either don't accept in the first place, or give away in contests, but I tested the Rose Delight so enthusiastically that it seemed silly to give away what was left. And, I'll add that Marie Claire's choice of body oil, Balmyard Beauty Romantic Call, is not that much more expensive per ml than the Tauer, and it's actually less per ml than the Aftelier. But it only comes in the one 120 ml size.
There’s always good old Youth Dew (I love it in cold weather and tiny doses), which can be had for under $40. Most of the Estee Lauders are very reasonably priced and have the half-life of plutonium.
Yes! And the Youth Dew body cream is $39.
I feel like you could make this whole list out of Lauder and you would do pretty well!
Yes! I purchased the bath oil, recommended by bois de jasmin – I add one drop to my full bath and it blooms incredibly – it will last me a lifetime.
All hands, legs and noses on board for Prada Infusion d’Iris Absolue
It is good stuff.
Seconding Pacifica’s perfumes. I wore Persian Rose for a few years. Nowadays, I prefer my roses on the darker side so I find it a bit too cloying now, but I still swing by the Pacifica display at Whole Foods from time to time to get a whiff for a dose of nostalgia.
I will have to give that one a try, not sure I’ve smelled it!
The closest thing I could compare it to in my (admittedly limited) olfactory experience would probably be Stella, so I think if someone was wild about Stella but wanted something cheaper, Persian Rose might be a good compromise (although Stella’s bottle is so pretty that I would probably just fork over the extra cash for the real deal
)
Plus, you can find Stella pretty cheap — the 30 ml is less than $50.
Very true! I would say Stella itself almost qualifies for this list, but I know personally that as a poor college student, I wouldn’t have even come within striking distance of any actual perfume counter. But I could sure justify the >$10 for Pacifica’s solid perfumes.
Love this article Robin!- I have yet to tryPrada infusion Absolu, it’s been on my Blind Buy list for 2 years, since I read you’re review, I might have to push that button now!
I’m a big fan of DK Gold, so pleased u mentioned it.
So sad I can’t get either of the oils in the UK, I know I’d love them both.
Really, will Tauer not ship the body oil to the UK?
Tauer won’t ship anything to the UK, which I have to day dulls my enthusiasm for the man and his works.
* have to say.
Oh, sorry, did not know (or forgot).
What a wonderful list! I’d add Eau De Gaga which is great and only around $18/bottle. Also (if they ever decide to bring it back) Chanel 5 body oil was $85. when it came out last Fall, BUT it was/is a 200 ml. bottle. Damn I love that stuff!
Eau de Gaga is fantastic and so inexpensive!
$18 really is a bargain.
Chanel No. 5 Body oil unfortunately does not seem to be available at discount anywhere.
I bought two bottles of Eau de Gaga at my local Marshall’s for $9.99 each! A steal. It’s a great summer perfume.
What a delightful article. I love it that you included Queen – I bought a mini recently, and did not love it, but my boyfriend kidnapped it and now wears it regularly and I do love it on him!
I wonder if they would count Van Cleef & Arpels First – $85 at Neiman Marcus, but around $25 on e.g. Amazon. Somehow I suspect these articles use the Neiman’s prices… But I’ve always found it so cheaply that I have accumulated, um, a lot.
Oh, I’m sure they’re only using the suggested retail price of everything, and would undoubtedly tell you that anything bought at discount was fake.
Ha! If fake smells this good, I’m not too totally sure I care.
Indeed! Most of my fumes are from discounters. And I’ve done a lot of research on counterfeits & fakes. Any perfumista worth her salt can tell the difference.
I also second the Pacifica perfumes…grab the solids while you can as they are being discontinued.
Also, loving Demeter Incense…I was given a 15ml travel size and I drained that sucker in less than a week!
The Couvents des Minimes line has some nice stuff and Ulta sells them for $16 for 1 oz.
I will also add that essential oils added to carrier oils make nice all over body scents for the summer and are highly affordable. Or you can do what I did and add a vanilla bean or two to a carrier oil and use that
and Dame Perfumery carries inexpensive travel sprays (8.50 to 10 dollars) and full price bottles are 65 but with a 10 percent discount code which he gives you once you buy a travel spray even cheaper!
The Berdoues Grand Cru collection is also affordable (100ml ranging from 55-80 dollars depending on whether you pay retail or get them online discounted like I did and their 1902 also sells for a song..pretty sure under 20 for 100ml and under 30 for 200ml)
Oh heck, I forgot Dame! My $35 magnolia soliflore is gorgeous!
Oh yes!!! The roll ons! and also the travel size of New Musk and Chocolate Man are amazing too!!!!
What’s the chocolate oil like? I’m giving it some consideration and you’re probably THE person to ask????.
Well i happen to like it but it is potent and sweet. I think the travel size is only ten dollars with free shipping and Jeffrey Dame always includes at least three samples so you really can’t go wrong. You can always pass it on if you don’t like it but upgrade to a larger size if you do.
Cassieflower, if you’re in the US, I have a sample of Chocolate Man that I would be happy to send to you.
Demeter Incense is really good. And they actually make some other incenses other than just the one called Incense…will have to look them up.
Holy Smoke and Holy Water. I have them both, and the Incense. Yes, I do have a bit of an incense problem.
Thank you! Plus, there is also Frankincense.
Ah yes! I have tried Holy Smoke and that is good too! But the Incense is sweet as it is made from a different note (copal balsam??? I think???) and that is what I like about it…it is not frankincense which is traditionally used for incense dominant fragrances.
Elizabeth Arden fragrances are sold in “drugstores” in the Netherlands for very little money. Sunflowers used to be a favourite of mine.
In France you can buy really nice colognes from the Bien-Etre line in virtually every supermarket.
I would love some BG whipped cream, but I want to finish my Azurée Soleil body oil first. A great favourite for summer. Great post, Robin, and out of curiosity, which is your favourite Hemingway novel?
The Sun Also Rises is his first and my favorite, but in general I also just like that period of US fiction & expat fiction in particular.
And then you can read the backstory — I have not read Everyone Behaves Badly, but have read most of the gossip elsewhere.
Glad to see you’ve mentioned several of my favourites in your list. Donna Karan Gold is most probably the bottle I would grab if my house was on fire. I’ll add a couple of my own if I may. The mini Lush Lust is cheap as chips and is Jasmine on steroids. Paul Smith Rose is very pretty and airy. It’s unchallenging and would be a good gateway rose for someone who thinks they don’t really like rose. I’ve recently purchased 30ml of Courreges Blanc for €15???? which is just free imo. It’s musky iris and again very easy to wear. There are probably several more I could come up with if I had time to think, but these just popped into my head immediately.
Great additions, thanks! Lush Lust is also great to mix into unscented lotion if it’s just too too.
It’s never too too! Ha!
That is an excellent list, Robin. I especially like seeing Tauer, Lush, Pacifica (love TMT and Lotus Garden) and Queen on there.
I’ll add the Tokyo Milk line (I especially like Sea and Sky – $30 for 1 oz.), Ava Luxe (her Fig Leaf is a summer staple for me – $45 for 15 ml, but it is quite concentrated; one spritz lasts a good 8 hours on me) and the discounters often has some amazing bargains – that’s how I got my bottle of Queen and my bottle (and then backup bottle) of Roberto Cavalli Oro.
And I discovered that Old Navy carries perfume when I was shopping for my niece’s birthday present earlier this summer. Their Sea Salt and Fig body spray makes an excellent linen spray for the summer!
I will have to try Sea and Sky! And had no idea Old Navy was into perfume again.
Thank you for reminding me about Sea and Sky! It’s been on my “to try” list for a long time, but it’s so reasonably priced that I just upgraded it to my “to buy” list and pulled the trigger on it.
I would wear the Old Navy scents…I rather liked two of them…the fig one you mentioned and another one with honey in the name.
Some Yves Rocher scents are very nice, and super cheap when the frequent discounts are taken into account. I got Comme Une Evidence EDP as a gift with purchase and I have Noix de Coco too.
They keep discontinuing my favorites, but absolutely right, they do a good job.
It’s almost the death knell of a product…to have become a favourite…lol
In no particular order:
-Jean Nate
-Old Spice
-Florida Water
-Botanical Cologne of Love/Eau Aimable by Le Couvent des Minimes
-Dame Perfumery soliflore perfume oils in Wisteria and Rose de Mai
-Aphrodite’s Slipper by Demeter (and many others)
-Several by Pacifica
-Pre de Provence Linden Flower perfume (appears to be discontinued)
Great list! And sorry to hear about the PdP linden, that was a nice scent.
Oh, the Pre de Provence Linden soap is something I’d take to a desert island! Didn’t know they did a perfume.
A couple of ‘cheap’ ( rather than discounted ) scents in my list would be Smell Bent Prairie Nymph which reminds me of Lush Rose Jam and possibly Smoked Ambergris, Florists Fridge or St Tropez something ( which is nice and beachy). If Olympic Orchids counts I would add Seattle Chocolate and Woodcut in the dinky little bottles. Tabu if you can find an old bottle…and Body Shop White Musk for flashbacks of perfume life on student allowances.
Reminds me I need to go try the new White Musk flanker! And they are a great store for bargains since they do near-constant markdowns.
The Body Shop is always good for cheap thrills!!
Reminds you of Rose Jam, you say? I’ll have to give that one a try since I missed out on Lush’s perfume version of it.
You should probably get a second opinion on that
Eh, the worst that could happen at that price point is that it becomes freebiemeet fodder.
Please tell me more about smoked ambergris! I love the idea of it. Should I blind buy?
If you love ambergris, or are at all curious about what it smells like in isolation, I say go for it! I got a 1ml size from either Surrender to Chance or The Perfumed Court because I fell in love with ambergris. I barely get any smokiness from it, personally. It’s great to layer under other scents for a bit of salty/tangy/animalic goodness.
Hey, thank you so much for your kind offer above, but I am far far away from the U.S. There wasn’t a space to reply to you in that box. Dame ships internationally for free, though, so it’s very customer friendly.
I don’t care for Pacifica at all, and even though I loooooove Lush body products, I find their perfumes dreadful. But I’ll second Dame! Dark Horse is my current favorite, though he has a number of great ones. Also happy to see PW Girl up on your list (kind of). I’d add Guerlain Vetiver, which is quite affordable at discounters and is just a perfect summer vetiver.
I’m pretty resentful at the habit people have of quoting absolute prices and typically discounting price per mL. $25 for 50 mL of Tauer’s Rose Delight really isn’t cheap for a body oil, especially not if you use body oil the way I do (after a shower, all over my body). Instead, I’ll suggest the gorgeous 10 Corso Como body oil!!!!! which is something like $60 for a very generous 250 mL. There’s also the wonderful l’Occitane body oils. My favorites are Fleur d’Or et Acacia and l’Arlesienne, which are something like $30 for 100 mL, and the Pivoine Flora, which is ~$30 for 75 mL or something. (Not seeing those on their website right now–I hope they haven’t discontinued them?!)
It is all about how you shop, isn’t it? To me, a $60 body oil is not “cheap” even if it’s cheaper per ml. So we just shop differently! But we totally agree on 10 Corso Como. I did not have the body oil but I did have the lotion, and it was highly scented and possibly a “better buy” than the perfume.
Tauer’s Rose Delight is VERY potent, and almost a perfume oil IMO. I really like it, and the only reason i didn’t include it because it irritates my skin (of course, so does Old Spice,
)
Oh no, that’s so sad
Yes, I love Rose Delight and definitely find it to be deliciously strong. All my favorite body oils are!
I understand now that I should’ve clarified–I’m not trying to say that Rose Delight should be cheaper; I think it’s a great product made with high quality ingredients (like all Tauers). I simply feel that at $0.50/mL, it’s not a cheap body oil.
I understood!
For me it is far too strong to be used all over my body so I consider it more of a perfume oil, but YMMV.
You make an excellent (and thrifty ????) point about the price per ml. I always consider price per ml in my bottle purchases. Dark Horse is my fav Dame too. But I also adore several of his soliflores.
I love Elizabeth Arden Green Tea. I’ve never owned bottle, but my mother, a notorious oversprayer, wears it sometimes. She used to douse herself daily in Chanel No. 5 — I suspect she was unable to smell it after years of living in such a thick fog of it. Anyway, one day a few years ago, some smart, kind friend of hers gave her a bottle of Green Tea. It was the first time in decades I had been able to give her a hug without flinching.
LOL!
Haha
My mother used to have EA Green Tea hand cream. I love it! I love smells that remind me of it! I should buy some, if it’s still around.
Oh my god…do we have the same mother? Mine does the exact same thing but in recent years she’s switched to Mademoiselle instead of No. 5, haha! I still have a hard time enjoying anything Chanel because I’ve been pelted in the face with it my entire life.
My sister wore EA Green Tea when I was in middle school and I would always steal sprays of it back then. Maybe I’ll pick up a bottle sometime and see if I still enjoy it!
On the gourmand front, Pink Sugar is easy to find at discounters for less than $30 for ~100mL, and it’s lasting power is impressive. I tend to wear it around Halloween, because it reminds me of candy, and it’s one of my most complimented perfumes. Same with Lolita Lempicka and its various flankers.
BPAL’s general catalog scents go for $17.50 per 5mL oil, and they have some really great scents (The Lilac Wood is one of the nicest lilacs I’ve smelled, currently out of stock though).
J. Lo Still is a great floral/tea fragrance and I think I got 3.3 oz bottle online for about $16.
I love a good cheap perfume!
The original Lolita Lempicka was on my long list, and now that they’re redoing the bottle, it ought to be even easier to find at discount.
I wish Pink Sugar was still doing Chocolovers — that was another great cheapie.
I love Chocolovers and wish it was still available. I am hoarding my little bottle and the shower oil.
I tried Chocolate Crave Perfume on one arm and Aquolina Chocolovers on the other arm, and they are quite similar. Milk chocolate, orange, and something nutty (I’m quoting myself from a 2014 post to NST. Hee, hee. See my post at https://nstperfume.com/2014/01/23/viktor-rolf-bonbon-new-perfume/) I paid $29 for what I think is a one-ounce bottle (too tired to try to find the bottle right now).
Picked up PS Black Sugar gift set with shower gel, hair perfume, and a 3.3oz for like $20. It’s a lovely burnt rubber, gooey marshmallow leather jacket kinda thing. I suggest Body Shop’s Chocomania as a sub for the discontinued PS chocolovers.
To me, cheap is something like Magman, a cross between an Aventus “clone” and a light version of a Lutens type scent (about $5.25 total, 100 ml NIB), but even One Man Show Oud Edition, at less than $9 for 100 ml new tester, is great, as it is “the poor man’s Leather Oud by Dior! OMSOE is much better than Stash, IMO (less “chemical,” more interesting composition).
For anyone who wants to investigate, One Man Show Oud Edition is Jacques Bogart. I have never tried it, thanks Bigsly!
What about SJP Covet? I remember it was quite interesting and ‘offbeat’ – geranium and chocolate, if I remember correctly, and can be had for next to nothing.
so true! 
Also, great article. “..in perfumista math means they’re paying you to take it off their hands.”
Agree about Covet, good choice.
Such a good article, thank you, Robin.
Is Old Spice for woman?
My fav perfumes are Opium, Cinnabar & Shalimar….
Old Spice is for men, and it is one of many men’s scents I happily wear
Nodding along for Demeter, Pacifica, Elizabeth Arden Green Teas, Estee Lauder, Smell Bent, Dame… would also add Roger & Gallet (like their Vetiver; also Fleur & Osmanthus), VCA Midnight in Paris, Caron Yatagan, Natori… and I like Donna Karan Gold Sparkling even more than regular Gold (it’s a bit lighter, more summery); if you can find it, it’s even cheaper.
Oh thank you, forgot there even was a Gold Sparkling!
You get a pin for Gold Sparkling. I never heard of such a thing and bought a 100ml bottle for $15. I love Gold EdP but my boyfriend found it cloying. I can’t wait to try it.
And yes, Natori! I have about 300ml and contemplating a back up or two more.
Yes to Pacifica, Estee Lauder, and Natori. I’d like to add Fancy Nights by Jessica Simpson. I had originally dismissed it based on her previous scents, and was very surprised when I finally tried it on skin. You definitely have to like patchouli to enjoy that one!
Fancy Nights gets a lot of love. Someday I hope to smell it.
That was a good one (the Fancy Nights).
It shouldn’t have been a flanker. Nothing in common with the others imo
I will add Jacomo Silences pdt. 1oz is less than $10.00 at discounters.
Yes!!!
I used to rave about Jordin Sparks Because Of You. A superb, womanly, woody oriental, ten bucks at Fashion Bug stores. Or maybe it was twelve bucks.
Never heard of this one! Sounds interesting.
https://nstperfume.com/2010/10/01/jordin-sparks-because-of-you-new-fragrance/
Seconding Tibetan Mountain Temple! It reminds of a less complex Cimabue ( DSH) -not as long lasting of course.At that price point ( $16!) you can generously respray- it last well in your hair and it’s just a Lovely chai tea scent in sweater weather!
I have a question if Off topic is ok?
Does anyone know of a reliable sample site that still sells Chanel?
I have no idea, sorry!
Scent Split has a VIP program (after placing a number of orders with them) and with that they have the Exclusifs, Bond’s and another line I don’t recall for decant samples. (No affiliation)
Thanks for that information Flopper. I hadn’t heard of scent split. Have you had good experience with them?
Yes absolutely. Their bottles are great and shipping is quick. I prefer Scent Split over any other decant site. They might be a little higher in price but I feel that they ship way quicker than STC.
It’s partly a question of timing. You can currently find L’AP Dzing! at discounters for less than $60, due to the change in packaging. And it’s one of the best leather fragrances of all time, possibly the best in my book. Some of the Hermes fragrances, such as Un Jardin sur Nil, are also showing on discounters now, too.
One that has been inexplicably, shockingly cheap forever and now under $30 is Bulgari Black. Also one of the best.
Not quite in the same league but still worthy and under $40 is Perles de Lalique. (Also an obvious winner for next week’s poll, since it was composed by Nathalie Lorson.)
Black was on my long list too. It’s crazy cheap.
And the bottle design is good, too.
I would add Tendre Vanilla by Laurence Dumont, which smells like Xerjoff’s Lira (but better!)- madeleines. Very Proustian.
Have not tried that one, thanks!
Thanks for a fun article. I’ve really enjoyed reading everyone’s additions. Took a look at my stash and will add a few that haven’t been mentioned yet. Agent Provocateur can was be found for a song. It is very, very similar to ELDO Eau de Protection. And I’ll add the dreaded Euphoria. Two spritzes is perfect on a cold winter’s day ????
AP is really good for the price!
I like AP — good pick!
I think Caron’s men’s scents are amazingly inexpensive at the discounters and still smell very good (as compared to most of the perfumes marketed for women which I understand have suffered terribly from reformulation).
Good point. I’ve been meaning to get some Anarchiste forever.
Wonderful article! Great pics, and I had no idea about the oil’s, I will check them out.
Oh, please publish your long list – we are all listening intently
????
I think everything else has pretty much been mentioned. Bvlgari Black and Lolita Lempicka were the last to go. I thought about including one of the 30 ml Parfums de Nicolai scents, they are still a decent bargain at $45. I considered a few Demeters, and the Sonoma Scent Studio Incense Pure.
Almost commented to add PdN L’Eau Chic. Clean like old fashioned soap and very refreshing. Built like a tank too. I kind of want the huge 250ml splash bottle, which would not make this list.
Thank you Robin! Adding all of these to my ever-growing “list”
Alvarez Gomez “Agua de Colonia Concentrada” (lemon/geranium/spice) and “Agua de Colonia Concentrada Barberia” (bergamot and cedar) are ridiculously cheap. As Bastet mentioned, the Carons for men are very inexpensive. My SOTD John Varvatos “Artisan” is also a cheapie.
Yum, Artisan. I need to buy that.
I doubt I’ve ever seen that Alvarez Gomez mentioned! I bought a set, dirt cheap, in Barcelona – I love it! A much more clove-y version of the classic cologne. I’d say you have to love clove to like it. And that reminds me – what about Lush Dear John? One of their all-time best, I’d say. Also lots of clove there.
Cinq Mondes Eau Egyptienne is a fairly inexpensive body spray with decent lasting power and a lovely herbal scent. I also like many of the ELDO scents – they’re not super cheap at $50 an ounce, but they’re off-beat and fun. I’ve heard good things about the &Other Stories sprays but I’ve not tried them. And I love the already-mentioned DK Gold and Bulgari Black!
Yes — and you can get the Cinq Mondes in little bottles.
Hopping on the Pacifica bandwagon — I love their Malibu Lemon Blossom, probably the most carefree and cheerfulness-inducing fragrance in my collection. And Demeter’s Wet Garden was an early (and lasting) love. And Bobbi Brown Beach body oil is in heavy rotation this time of year — the perfect oh-that’s-just-me-smelling-great-in-my-sexy-sunscreen base layer.
Kevin loves that Pacifica too!
Another affordable, cheerful lemon-based fragrance is Tupelo Lemongrass by Thymes. I blind-bought a rollerball in the dead of winter a couple of years ago and it was like a little ray of sunshine every time I put it on.
Wet Garden is lovely!
I have every iteration of Encre Noire ever made (except the one for women, which is not vetiver), and we use them constantly in the summer, the whole family, visiting relatives, friends, neighbors popping in for coffee, there’s no end to it.
I just ordered CdG PW “Girl” and can’t wait to try it, and see the freaky bottle in person. I also bought a bottle of TDC’s Nuit Magnetique (the blueberry one) and am totally in love. Blueberry!! It cost less than $30 USD. Steal of decade for me. Also love Gold and have the EdP and EdT, love both, and the bottle for the EdP.
Masha, I wore the Zen incense powder yesterday and it was just so lovely and meditative. I’ve gotten so much enjoyment from all the little goodies you sent me. Thank you again!!
That bottle is so cute. Hope you’ll like Girl.
And wow, that is the steal of the decade.
While not exactly a perfume, someone who wants to smell good for minimal bucks might try Olivenation Rose Water. (about 3.99)) It is very good for taking off make up and lasts well on the skin. It is also edible (or rather drinkable) and a few drops can be used instead of vanilla to change up deserts.
Such a lovely list. Thank you.