Smelling good is just a nice thing. But unfortunately buying perfume can be really expensive. Emphasis on can – because he doesn’t have to. More and more brands are focusing on fragrances under 50 euros. Here comes our top 10 cheaper fragrances.
1. Ariana Grande: Cloud and Cloud Pink
50 ml approx. 49.99 euros (Cloud) and 30 ml approx. 45 euros (Cloud Pink)
Two perfumes from rem founder and singer Ariana Grande for less than 50 euros. Both are rather sweet scents, so if you prefer bitter scents or unisex perfumes, you should choose a different mixture.
Her first fragrance “Cloud” was released in 2018. It smells floral-sweet. Logical, because it also consists of notes like whipped cream or lavender! So that the whole thing doesn’t smell too much like a visit to Willy Wonka, earthy notes such as musk balance out the sweetness. The scent has already achieved cult status on TikTok and Instagram.
- Top notes: lavender, pear, bergamot
- Heart notes: vanilla, whipped cream, praline
- Base notes: musk, wood
Of course, Ari built on the success of “Cloud” and went one better with “Cloud Pink” on August 21, 2023. The scent principle is similar: sweet notes are reminiscent of pralines, paired with an earthy, woody base made of moss. But instead of floral, this time it’s more fruity – thanks to pineapple, coconut and dragon fruit.
- Top notes: coconut, vanilla
- Heart notes: pineapple, dragon fruit
- Base notes: wood, moss, praline
In the clip: With this trick, perfume lasts longer
2. Zadig & Voltaire: This Is Us! L’Eau for All
50 ml approx. 28 euros
The unisex fragrance from the fashion designer duo Zadig&Voltaire is also an eau de toilette and not an eau de parfum. Still, it smells great. And honestly, a good eau de toilette is (almost) in no way inferior to a perfume. “This Is Us!” smells citrusy-fresh of bergamot and makes you want summer all year round. The spray is rounded off with sandalwood and musk, which gives the scent depth. A sweetness of lavender and neroli completes the fragrance experience.
- Top note: Bergamot
- Heart notes: neroli, lavender
- Base notes: cashmeran, sandalwood, musk
3. Cacharel: Yes, I am delicious
50 ml approx. 49 euros
The gourmand fragrance from the French fashion label Cacharel is really sensual. Dark chocolate and hazelnut meet citrusy mandarin and sweet gardenia. What reads like a recipe for a new chocolate martini is actually a seductive scented cocktail. Fans of light scents won’t be happy with this scent, but all gourmand girls and boys should give it a try.
- Top notes: green cardamom, mandarin, hazelnut
- Heart notes: orange blossom, jasmine, gardenia
- Base notes: sandalwood, dark chocolate
Also interesting: Entrepreneur, model & megastar Millie Bobby Brown launches her first perfume. We also have irresistible perfumes with amber here!
4. 4711 Acqua Colonia: Blood Orange & Basil
50 ml approx. 25 euros, 100 ml approx. 45 euros
For a long time, Cologne Water 4711 was considered a grandma fragrance brand. But instead of just relying on one classic fragrance, there are now modern fragrances for everyone that still carry a touch of nostalgia. The German fragrance manufacturer’s “Acqua Colonia” range consists of scents inspired by nature. In this case, the unisex Eau de Cologne smells the way we imagine the color green should smell. Fresh, spicy basil and fruity-tart blood orange. Makes you want to take a walk in the forest – or even better, a short vacation in Tuscany.
- Notes of: basil, blood orange
5. Lush: Rose Jam perfume
30 ml approx. 35 euros
If you like roses, you will love this perfume. The powdery scent smells like a walk in the rose garden of the British royals: noble and delicate at the same time. In addition to rose, geranium is also a main note, which makes the otherwise calming rose scent resonate more. A portion of lemon in the fragrance mix provides a fresh kick. The scent is vegan because Lush is against animal testing and therefore does not use animal testing (logically) but also completely avoids animal ingredients – i.e. substances such as musk (from the musk deer), castoreum (from the beaver) or amber (from the sperm whale).
By the way, “Rose Jam” is also available as a solid perfume – visually it is reminiscent of a solid shampoo. Here 6 g costs around 14 euros. The scent is also available as a body spray for around 40 euros for the 200 ml bottle.
- Notes of: Rose, Lemon, Geranium
6. La Rive: Destinée
90 ml approx. 8 euros
The Eau de Parfum impresses with its price, as well as with its lovely scent profile. Fruity currants and mandarin meet floral-sweet jasmine. The gourmand note of vanilla makes the scent a little sweeter, while musk and cedar add earthy components. If you prefer fresh scents with citrus notes, you won’t be happy with “Destinée”. By the way, the Eau de Parfum is said to be a good scent twin for YSL Libre…
- Top notes Mandarin, Petitgrain, Blackcurrant
- Heart notes: orange blossom, jasmine, lavender
- Base notes: musk, vanilla, cedar, amber
7. Toni Gard: True
40 ml approx. 40 euros
The German fashion company Toni Gard is not only popular with fans of the brand thanks to its timeless fashion, but also because of its fragrance creations. “True” is super fresh and makes you want to go for sea walks and Moscow Mule. It starts out citrusy and tangy, thanks to bergamot, grapefruit and lemon, and then becomes spicier thanks to cedarwood and ginger. The aquatic notes make the whole thing a great summer scent that definitely belongs in your hand luggage.
- Top notes: bergamot, grapefruit, lemon
- Heart notes: jasmine, ginger, sea breeze
- Base notes: amber, musk, cedarwood
8. The Library of Fragrance: Kitten Fur
30 ml approx. 13 euros
Okay, here you just have to trust for a moment. Because yes, the scent is really called “Kitten Fur”. But anyone who has ever smelled the fur of a baby cat knows: they somehow smell really good. A bit dusty, but positive, like an old book. And a little fresh, like a day in the sun. It smells like Sunday morning in bed and the feeling of having a warm, purring cat on you. All of the more than 300 scents from The Library of Fragrance brand use their olfaction to everyday objects or living beings – including baby powder, dirt, washing machines or wet gardens. They are also intended to be worn together and on top of each other – i.e. for classic perfume layering. By the way, the exact composition of the kitten scent is not revealed…
9. Bon Perfumer: 701
15 ml approx. 25 euros, 30 ml approx. 37 euros
Also a great unisex scent, because sparkling meets spicy – which is why men really like to wear it. Thanks, among other things, to fruity pineapple, hot pepper, spicy coriander and rosemary, smoky incense and tobacco. Not too bitter, but not too fruity-fresh either – the worlds of scents that at first glance appear to be contradictory balance each other out exactly in the middle. It smells like what the Beast’s library looks like in Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast.” The fragrances from Bon Parfumeur are also great for combining with each other – or with another perfume. A little more citrus or floral notes transform “701” into a completely different experience.
- Top notes: grapefruit, bergamot, pineapple
- Heart notes: pepper, rosemary, eucalyptus, nutmeg, coriander
- Base notes: incense, charcoal, white wood, amber, coffee, tobacco
10. Ellis Brooklyn: Vanilla Milk
7.5 ml approx. 30 euros, 10 ml approx. 38 euros
Admittedly, there really isn’t much in the Ellis Brooklyn bottle for under 50 euros. The brand is also better known for its decadent luxury fragrances, where 50 ml can cost over 100 euros. “Vanilla Milk” is an absolute must-sniffer for everyone who has chosen vanilla as the best scent in the world and lights scented candles with vanilla aroma non-stop at home. The perfume doesn’t smell like vanilla, but like vanilla milk. So it’s richer and more complex than other vanilla scents. Two types of vanilla extract meet milk accords, balsamic amyris, delicious cocoa and floral scent.
- Top notes: Creamy milk accord, frangipani, peony
- Heart notes: Bourbon vanilla bean, Madagascar vanilla bean extract, recycled cocoa shell extract
- Base notes: Benzoin resinoid, amyris, sandalwood, musk
Tilo Schulze is not just an author; he is a connoisseur of the olfactory world, writing with a passion that can only come from a profound love and understanding of scents. His words unravel the mysteries of perfumery, bridging the gap between the allure of vintage bouquets and the crisp innovation of modern fragrances.
