From Essencias De Portugal, Orange Blossom Bar Soap: "Go on a citrus infused floral journey with this delicately scented Orange Blossom scented bar soap. Enriched with glycerin to keep skin soft and hydrated this Portuguese soap is sure to please." 200g for $8.95 at Smallflower.
Way back in January 2021, Kevin wrote that 2020 had been the year of overpriced, overhyped scents: “Never have I smelled so many $250, $350, $450 perfumes that reminded me of $10 scented candles.” Based on various online “gift guides” that have scrolled past my eyes lately, I can’t say that late 2024 is looking any different. I’m less and less impressed by arbitrarily high prices. Here at NST we’ve been saying “under $100 is the new ‘free'” since 2009; in that spirit, here are three fragrances I’ve encountered over the past year or so that live up to their descriptions, feel accessible to scent-curious shoppers and sell for less than $100 for a full-sized bottle.
First: I initially came across the Cra-yon fragrance line at the Liberty department store in London and made a mental note to find out more later. Cray-on started showing up in the United States soon after that trip, and I picked up a bottle of Art Life at a perfume swap event in New York. (Swap meet-ups are the Gen Z version of the early-2000s message-board swaps!) Cra-yon was “founded by Christine and Niclas Lydeen, French/Swedish fragrance pioneers” and comes across as a welcoming, upbeat brand that doesn’t take its own cool-kid vibes too seriously…
From Old Spice, limited edition Snickerdudel antiperspirant: "...gourmet allure with scent of the delicious Sugar Cookies everyone loves", about $6.99 for 73g, or you can find it at Target packaged with 473 ml of the matching body wash for $9.99.
A cheap(ish) thrill from Yves Rocher: Perfumed Body and Hair Mist Argan & Rose Petals. "This 98% natural origin ingredients body & hair mist delicately perfumes skin and hair. The relaxing sensations of a traditional hammam with a captivating oriental fragrance. Enriched with organic Argan oil and Rose from Morocco." $23 for 100 ml at Yves Rocher.
A cute, perfumath free 30 ml size of Roger & Gallet Fleur de Figuier: "This soothing fragrance combines the warmth of fig pulp with the refreshing shade of its leaves, complemented by a touch of bittersweet grapefruit." $26.95 at Hampton Court, where you'll also find the same size/price in Rose and Jean Marie Farina. (Roger & Gallet now makes all their fragrances in 30 ml, if you can find them.)