Perfume on a budget...that actually lasts

[Goforit2000]

hi, I'm now on a budget for fragrance...would love to buy my usual - Chloe Nomade or Samsara Guerlain (although the change in formula has put me off buying for a while now), but they are just too pricey for me now...basically sandalwood, vanilla, florally, but not too sweet and girly, something mysterious, but not too 80s-style - and not expensive, and ideally one that actually lasts...would love some recommendations. I don't get the time to go out to the shops, so it's hard for me to try them on too.
Thanks

I have just gone back to an eighties favourite Loulou from cacherel. It is a nice as I had remembered and really lasts.
I miss the old samsara too. Reminds me of my lovely first mil. I bought her some as a present and she adopted it as her signature scent.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hotel-Collection-Pomegranate-Perfume-Parfum/dp/B08RXH6Q22/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=QZRCM4H7BZLN&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.uR5SxTirdYlPhRph8K7kBgeJseH9drIl3l1P46didVrnSwy629rE3DBnTbzQbIkjCH1jxPkkqo9LSlPmd2d3LjywCOkoZvYqBH_uxJaSmCswYcXdaR3gW6F-N1Dm2QvB6DHXsqiNPR-zPQd4eG0CTQOOrE6bLyYDghvq7iqFIdC8CODk4qw0gvB2O7eYuzwxzbdYbMKtojyxIxk7QJK5OA.Hur1yPu6uC4waEpAluPU-3NjnEfthRRjqRuNPcQvT8E&dib_tag=se&keywords=hotel+collection+no+3+pomegranate&qid=1713452339&sprefix=hotel+no+3%2Caps%2C879&sr=8-1

This is really nice.

What's your budget?
Avon have some decent fragrances some dupes for big names.
I believe they can be bought online.

If you're talking real low budget the Aldi/lidl dupes for Chanel definitely last.

I wear a Gucci perfume which I cannot smell on myself but get comments from other people about it. Could it just be a case of being nose blind if that makes sense?

I don't mind spending up to £30, but if it's something that will become my new favourite, can go more. Or less, of course! I remember I had an amazing perfume from Primark years ago that was about £5 and lasted all day and smelt beautiful, so happy to go that low too!

@foodtoorder yes, it could be nose blindness, but also, I don't know where to start looking for lower-priced, lovely smelling (not lovely air-freshener) fragrance!

If you have Other Stories near you then give their perfumes a try.

They are around £28 or so and are really lovely. A very varied range as well.

M&S do some fantastic fragrances in your budget. They have dupes as well as original scents.

Try Zara. They sell perfumes in a range of sizes from £12.99

Try watching Coco Pebz videos on youtube to find out more about the sounds and how similar they smell to other perfumes.

Zara also sell a collection of perfumes designed by Jo Malone. I was worried that they were discontinued, but they have recently been relaunched in new packaging.

My current favourites which I will always repurchase:
Golden decade: smells very expensive and very much like YSL Libre. I have tried both to verify.
Hypnotic Vanilla: I'm nuts for this one right now. It's meant to smell like dior Hypnotic poison, but I cannot verify this myself
Fashionably London and Energetically New York, both by Jo Malone.

Some other big hitters from Zara are Rose Gourmand and Red Temptation, which I don't wear, but are very popular.

Perfume has become so expensive that I'm also having to look for cheaper alternatives that still make me feel good. I've now got maybe ten designer ones that I will always have on the go, but for everyday wear, you can't beat Zara.

Have just re-read that. I have no idea why I put "sounds" instead of "notes"! Deffo in need of a nap.

On Tuesday i got a 100ml bottle of Aoura Pretty Woman from Boots for............£2 They are discontinuing them.

I’d also recommend Zara! They last ages

Zara Red Temptation

Try the brand 'Milton Lloyd'. They are brilliant and I buy a fabulous Chanel no. 5 dupe from them (Vogue). They are very cheap and last.

Arabian fragrance oils are inexpensive and are lasting.

Try Perfume Parlour( online) for dupes.
M&S have some lovely ones. My favourite is Spiced Bergamot. It’s £10 for 100ml, lasts all day.
Also like the Jo Malone made scents at Zara. About £25.

Buy a parfum rather than a cologne. They last longer.

Thank you so much for this info! I was gutted when the Zara Jo Malone's disappeared. I loved water lily tea dress and vetiver pamplemousse.

There was an episode of Sliced Bread about this on Radio 4 a while ago. (You can find it on BBC Sounds.) It found that the price is not the determining factor in whether or not a scent lasts. That is determined by the type of scent ingredients - citrus, for example, typically does not last long however much you pay. The conclusion was that some dupes are every bit as long lasting as expensive scents. Worth a listen. I learnt a lot.

Perfume Parlour are hugely recommended on mumsnet, I buy all mine from there since I discovered them!

https://perfume-parlour.co.uk/

I can't personally vouch for this but this comes up on Instagram a lot. The best part is you can buy a 5ml bottle for £4.99 and it is on my list of things for my birthday. Plus bundles of the 5ml so 5 bottles for £20. There is a shipping cost but then free over £35.

https://www.notedaromas.co.uk/

I was going to suggest Jo Malone, I usually mix the sandwood with pomegranate or my new fave is Jimmy choo Illicit

Vera Wang princess can be as cheap as £20 for 100ml and is gorgeous! Also the Britney Spears perfumes are very cheap and smell much more expensive.

I loved samsara too- reminds me of getting divorced- first bought a bottle that week back in 1991

Perfume parlour can be bought as oils and therefore last longer.