ShoppingBeauty

11 Affordable Perfumes That Smell Really Expensive

We found affordable scents that smell like expensive designer fragrances including vegan, travel, unisex, and drugstore options.

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Photo credit: Designed by Well + Good
Published Jun 12, 2024

Written by 

Alanna Martine Kilkeary

Our editors independently select these products. Making a purchase through our links may earn Well+Good a commission

Over the years we’ve racked up quite the collection of luxury perfume. Some of our all-time faves? The powdery notes in Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 450 or the smoky fruit of Tom Ford Lost Cherry. And while they smell amazing, last for hours, and look extra fancy on a clean vanity, refilling our favorite luxury scents can quickly rack up a hefty bill (with some even ringing up at over $300 bucks).

The truth is: a good fragrance doesn’t have to break the bank, and a solid collection has room for all the icons and some luxury alternatives that still smell really good. If you’re on the hunt for a new scent that won’t break your monthly budget, we rounded up some of our favorite affordable options that are similar to some popular high-end faves. Read on for our top luxury-smelling perfumes that you can shop in between your luxury fragrance splurges.

The best 11 perfumes that are luxury for less, at a glance

Shop the best luxury-smelling perfume dupes for less

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Best Overall: Dossier Ambery Saffron — $50.00

Key notes: saffron, orange blossom, cedarwood, amber

Scent Type: warm floral

Ambery Saffron hits all the right notes—literally. It’s warm, intense, and has a blend of cedarwood, orange blossom, jasmine, and saffron for a cozy, sensorial finish that feels luxurious upon first sniff. It satisfies everything we love about a luxe perfume: it’s long-lasting, recognizable, and in a chic bottle, which earns it the best overall luxury-smelling perfume for less in our book. 

Size: 50 ml

Pros:

  • Warm and addicting
  • Lasts long
  • Vegan and cruelty-free
  • Gender neutral

Cons:

  • Some users report that the scent is diluted
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Most similar to Tom Ford Lost Cherry: Fine’ry Not Another Cherry — $36.00

Key notes: wild cherry, turkish rose, almond amaretto

Scent Type: warm fruit

Cherry and almond blend together in this affordable fragrance by Fine’ry. Its scent has a nice harmony of sweet and woody notes like the cult-classic Tom Ford scent, plus a cherry finish so juicy it’ll make you crave the real thing. 

Size: 2 fl oz

Pros:

  • Under $40
  • Sweet and tart
  • Vegan and cruelty-free
  • Available at Target

Cons:

  • Only one size
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Most similar to Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540: Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Crush Cheirosa ’68 Beija Flor Fragrance Mist — $38.00

Key notes: jasmine, sun musk, hibiscus

Scent Type: warm floral

This Beija Flor body spray has a quintessential warm floral scent and reminds us of Baccarat Rouge 540 with sweet notes of Brazillian jasmine, hibiscus, pink dragonfruit, and lychee. It also has a dense finish of sun musk and ocean air that will easily satisfy the craving for a luxurious, powdery finish.

Size: 90 and 240ml

Pros:

  • Under $40
  • Available at Sephora
  • Recyclable packaging

Cons:

  • It’s a perfume mist vs. a perfume, so it has a lighter finish than your typical scent
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Most similar to YSL Black Opium: Oakcha Midnight Nymph — $35.00

Key notes: coffee, vanilla, white floral

Scent Type: spicy and warm gourmand

Oakcha Midnight Nymph goes for a sweet and spicy finish with notes of coffee, orange blossom, vanilla, and wood, similar to YSL Black Opium. It gives off a sensual finish that’s perfect for a date night: it’s flirty and warm, with a little spice.

Size: 1.7 fl oz

Pros:

  • Under $40
  • Warm and flirty
  • Vegan and cruelty-free

Cons:

  • Only available on Oakcha
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Most similar to Le Labo Santal 33: Cremo Palo Santo Eau de Toilette — $24.00

Key notes: cardamom and papyrus

Scent Type: woody

Cardamom is the star of this affordable eau de toilette that gives off a warm, woody finish. It also has notes of dry papyrus and palo santo, with a slight touch of citrus for zing, reminiscent of the classic Le Labo Santal 33 scent.

Size: 100 ml

Pros:

  • Available on Amazon
  • Travel-sized

Cons:

  • May contain ingredients that are not considered “clean,” vegan or cruelty-free
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Most similar to KAYALI Vanilla 28: Bath and Body Works Viva Vanilla — $19.00

Key notes: plum, amber, vanilla

Scent Type: warm gourmand

For a striking gourmand body mist, look no further than Viva Vanilla. With sugary plum and amber plus warm vanilla, this scent is addicting and sweet—perfect for fans of KAYALI Vanilla 28. This body mist is a part of the brand’s Everyday Luxuries Collection which features fragrances inspired by iconic high-end perfume favorites.

Size: 8 fl oz

Pros:

  • Affordable
  • Warm and luxurious

Cons:

  • May contain ingredients that are not considered “clean,” vegan or cruelty-free
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Most similar to Kilian Love, Don’t Be Shy: ALT Fragrances Bold Love — $60.00

Key notes: orange blossom, caramel, vanilla, musk

Scent Type: warm floral

Bold Love is a warm floral scent with notes of orange blossom, vanilla, caramel, and sugar, reminiscent of the sweet-smelling Kilian Love, Don’t Be Shy. It also contains a touch of pink pepper and neroli for a balmy, syrupy finish.

Size: 30, 60, 100 ml

Pros:

  • Sweet and addicting
  • Vegan and cruelty-free
  • Recyclable bottle

Cons:

  • Only available at ALT Fragrances
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Most similar to Glossier You: Le Monde Gourmand Fleur de Blonde Eau de Parfum — $25.00

Key notes: ambrette, violet, cashmere musk

Scent Type: floral

For a skin scent, opt for Fleur de Blonde. This light floral fragrance has ambrette, violet, and cashmere musk. It gives off a soft, powdery, and luxurious finish that feels familiar yet fresh, likening it to Glossier You. 

Size: 30 ml

Pros:

  • Affordable
  • Available at Urban Outfitters

Cons:

  • May contain ingredients that are not considered “clean,” vegan or cruelty-free
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Most similar to Jo Malone Wood Sage + Sea Salt: Aromapassions Nature — $79.00

Key notes: sage, seaweed, sea salt

Scent Type: earthy

This perfume pick captures an earthy, salty finish with notes of sea salt, sage, grapefruit, ambrette, and seaweed. Similar to the iconic Jo Malone scent, it will instantly transport you to a place of sea-crusted sand and wooded trees.

Size: 30, 50 and 100 ml

Pros:

  • Calming and serene

Cons:

  • Pricey
  • May contain ingredients that are not considered “clean,” vegan or cruelty-free
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Most similar to Giorgio Armani My Way: Zara Sublime Epoque — $38.00

Key notes: tuberose, orange blossom, bergamot

Scent Type: floral

For a sweet yet savory fragrance, opt for this pick that has notes of tuberose, orange blossom, and bergamot, plus vanilla and cedar. It’s feminine, yet not overly sweet or cloying, and is a great budget pick if you’re looking for a scent similar to Giorgio Armani My Way.

Size: 80 ml

Pros:

  • Under $40
  • Floral but not overpowering
  • Available at Zara

Cons:

  • May contain ingredients that are not considered “clean,” vegan or cruelty-free
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Most similar to Lake & Skye Santal Gray Eau de Parfum: Pacifica Neon Moon Spray Perfume — $22.00

Key notes: sandalwood, jasmine, cardamom

Scent Type: smoky floral

Neon Moon is a smoky floral scent with notes of sandalwood, jasmine, and cardamom, reminiscent of Lake & Skye Santal Gray Eau de Parfum. It will give you a musky and mysterious finish that feels luxurious and enticing, like the OG scent.

Size: 1 fl oz

Pros:

  • Affordable
  • Gender neutral
  • Recyclable packaging
  • Vegan and cruelty-free

Cons:

  • Can be slightly overpowering
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BeautyHair

Newsflash: You Can Wash Your Hair Every Day, According to This Haircare Brand Founder

Young women wearing swimwear, showering together at outdoor shower while talking about how often should you wash your hair
Photo: Stocksy/Brat Co
Published Mar 5, 2025

Written by 

Maeve McCormick

Our editors independently select these products. Making a purchase through our links may earn Well+Good a commission

Growing up, I never washed my hair more than three times a week. Despite being a year-round runner (hello, sweaty scalp) and hair-spraying my flat-ironed mane every weekend like it was my full-time job, I always believed that shampooing every day was, um, *really bad* for my thick, curly hair.

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Looking back, I can't even pinpoint where I first heard this—was it a friend, a teen magazine, or even my own hairstylist? Who knows. But that "rule" stuck with me. I could take the sweatiest hot yoga class and I'd still find a way to stretch my wash day, even if it meant feeling a little uncomfortable or having to get seriously creative with styling.

That all changed when I spoke with Maria McCool, a long-time hairstylist and the founder of Calista. "One of the haircare myths that I like to debunk a lot is that you're not supposed to shampoo your hair often," she said. "Back in the day—I'm talking like the '50s, '60s, '70s—the shampoo was so strong and sulfate-y, and it would really strip the hair... so you would try not to shampoo it as much [to avoid] your hair getting damaged." But the market has evolved since then, and newer, more nourishing products (like Calista Jousse Cleanse & Condition) make all the difference when it comes to your scalp and strands.

Wait... what? After years of strategically planning my wash days and fighting the urge to soap up, could it really be okay to shampoo daily? Needless to say, I had questions for McCool—and she had answers. Here's her scoop on washing, and why she wants everyone to give the Calista Jousse line a try.

Why washing more often can actually be good for your hair

McCool isn’t just giving us permission to shampoo more often—she’s saying it might actually help maintain better hair and scalp health. Think about it like skincare: You wouldn’t leave sweat and grime on your face for days, right? So why would you treat your scalp any differently?

She also highlights the impact of DHT (dihydrotestosterone), a hormone that, when left to accumulate on the scalp, can clog hair follicles and contribute to thinning and hair loss, especially in men. “If you’re thinking about these kids who are working out all the time, they go to the gym and then they don’t shampoo their hair—and that DHT sits there, on the scalp, without coming off,” she says. “And it really does cause clogged pores that deter the hair from growing.”

Translation: If you’re an active person who sweats a lot, skipping shampoo might not be doing you any favors.

Calista Jousse Super-Size Cleanse & Condition 32oz Duo

Calista Jousse Super-Size Cleanse & Condition 32oz. Duo — $69

The shampoo that lets you wash without worry

Of course, not all shampoos are created equally. Plenty of products still contain ingredients like sulfates, which can cause dryness and damage. That’s why McCool formulated Jousse Cleanse and Condition, her sulfate-free shampoo-and-conditioner duo, which gently cleanses while supporting your scalp health.

The whole Jousse line is basically like drinking juice for your hair, she says. McCool worked with a chemist to create a formula that uses ingredients like saw palmetto, red clover, and willow herb—all of which are known for promoting hair growth and scalp health. Jousse is formulated to exfoliate and cleanse the scalp while delivering nutrients, which is why McCool calls shampooing "juicing." “I can juice three times a day if I want,” she says. “It’s not going to damage my hair.”

So, should you wash every day?

The bottom line: There's no reason to fear the daily wash, especially if you’re using a gentle, sulfate-free formula like Jousse Cleanse and Condition. That said, McCool isn’t about pushing a one-size-fits-all approach. The best routine is the one that works for you, she says. So if you love that just-washed feeling? Go for it. BRB, off to break a lifetime of hair-washing habits.

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