The Affordable Perfumes Beauty Editors Are Obsessed With Right Now

Forget your favourite moisturiser or your trusty retinol serum for a moment; the most expensive beauty product in your bathroom cabinet right now is probably your perfume. Fragrance is (and always has been) notoriously luxe, with big name fashion brands, niche perfume houses and countless celebrities serving up all manner of expensive scents. But what if we told you that you don’t always have to spend a small fortune to smell good?

Thanks to the likes of Zara and & Other Stories, to name just a couple of brands, finding a signature scent that won’t burn a hole in your pocket each time you spritz it is easier than ever, and there’s no need to scrimp on quality. In fact, there are some respected names behind a variety of affordable fragrances, including the iconic Jo Malone and even Byredo’s Ben Gorham.

The question is: Which affordable perfumes smell incredible and actually last? Ahead, some of the UK’s most trusted beauty editors sort the worthy from the wastes of time. 

Here are their favourite fragrances under £30.

“I’ll admit I’m something of a perfume fiend. In fact, my collection is getting a little out of hand to say the least. While I do have a fair few expensive fragrances that I’d consider to be worth their salt, there’s an abundance of affordable options I’ll reach for, too, and they’re just as striking. The latest to earn pride of place in my (very cluttered) handbag is The Body Shop’s positively dreamy Bluebell Fragrance Mist, £12. Trust me when I say that just a single spritz could be mistaken for a fragrance with a much higher price tag (ahem, Jo Malone). The press release describes this one as “a walk through a British bluebell woodland”, and I couldn’t agree more. Expect a heady blend of fresh bergamot, plum, wild hyacinth and cashmere, a concoction that smells beautifully sweet and spring-like, without feeling overwhelming. My one gripe? It’s a limited-edition scent, so is sure to sell out swiftly. Consider this your cue to hit the checkout button.” — Rachael Martin, junior beauty editor at Grazia.

“There’s something very nostalgic about this fragrance; it’s a much more sophisticated version of the fresh and sprightly body sprays I gravitated towards as a teenager. It opens with serious energy thanks to tarte lemon but dries down to something cosy and comforting over time. That’ll be the vanilla-esque tonka bean, creamy cedarwood and heady mimosa flower. If cheaper perfumes don’t last on you, you’ll be pleased to know that this is a perfume oil, which typically boasts more staying power than an eau de toilette or eau de parfum. It feels more intimate, too: I roll it onto my pulse points and bask in its warmth throughout the day.” — Jacqueline Kilikita, deputy beauty director at Refinery29.

“Although I’ve been lucky enough to try fragrances that come with price tags of £100 and upwards, this £7.50 perfume from Marks & Spencer is the only one my boyfriend comments on when I wear it, and it’s one of the few perfumes I’ve actually managed to finish down to the last drop. With notes of sea salt and neroli, it makes me feel like I’m walking along the seafront in summer on a breezy day. It reminds me a lot of Tom Ford Neroli Portofino and Jo Malone London Wood Sage & Sea Salt, but at a much more affordable price point.” — Eleanor Vousden, beauty editor at Who What Wear.

“As a beauty journalist and overall beauty junkie, I know how difficult it can be to find affordable fragrances under £30 that smell good and are truly long-lasting. But one of my favourite affordable fragrances — and I can’t get enough of it — is Zara’s Red Temptation. I first heard about it from [founder of It’s A Lifestyle Hun] Melissa’s Wardrobe, and I loved the sound of it. It was always sold out in store and online but back in February, while away in Paris, I managed to hit the jackpot: I found a fully stocked shelf. I can only describe it as a warming floral scent that’s not overbearing or sickly sweet. It’s a nice middle ground if you want something sweet but mature. It blends notes of saffron, jasmine and praline beautifully. If I haven’t raved about it enough, it’s also a brilliant dupe for Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s Baccarat Rouge 540 Eau de Parfum, which I also have a bottle of within my fragrance collection. I no longer feel as though I have to use my Baccarat Rouge 540 sparingly as I’ve now got a great alternative. I also recently gifted a bottle to my twin sister for our birthday and she’s fully obsessed.” — Vanese Madix, freelance beauty writer.

“I really like & Other Stories’ fragrances. My favourite is probably Deja Vu Mood, £28, as it’s a really good dupe for Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s Baccarat Rouge, but for far less money. It’s sweet but sophisticated and it’s not particularly seasonal, so it works year-round. It’s also perfect for a date night. I’d recommend checking out all of their scents, though, as there is so much variety. Plus, they’re great value for money.” — Rebecca Fearn, freelance beauty editor.

“Most of us like to be bougie with our scent choices. It makes sense; smelling good makes you feel good and if you feel good, you look good. However, shopping for fragrances shouldn’t cost you an arm and a leg — and it doesn’t need to. I really like this Body Shop White Musk EDT because it blends that musky scent that I can’t stop obsessing over with a more balanced aroma of freshness. I know what you’re thinking, but when I say freshness, I don’t mean loo air freshener. I mean a gentle blend of fruit and flowers that feels sexy and transcends day to night. It’s also one of those perfumes that you can fit in your bag to top up throughout the day, or you can pop it on your work desk. The bottle is classy and easy on the eye.” — Shei Mamona, freelance beauty journalist.

“When it comes to affordable scents, this is easily the best 30 quid I’ll ever spend. For one thing, it lingers on my skin for hours on end. Secondly, despite being warm, rich and enveloping, it works brilliantly outside of winter. There’s something about the uplifting green notes of lotus flower and orchid that make it zing when the sun comes out to play. It’s impressive stuff.” — Perdita Nouril, beauty editor at Women's Health.

"I’m incredibly indecisive when it comes to fragrance. I’ll so often spritz something, be convinced I love it and within two weeks feel like I can’t get the scent out of my nostrils quick enough. However, this is a fragrance that I’ve come back to again and again over the years and I am forever happy to drink up its sunny aroma. Packed with sweet orange, coconut, vanilla and musk, it’s a warm, sunny holiday in a bottle. It has that nostalgic sunscreen-esque scent but with an elevated freshness that means it can also carry you through to dinner. If you’re someone who likes a mood-boosting, sun-drenched fragrance, you’ll love this." — Chloé Burcham, freelance beauty editor.