Fragrance Files: 16 Affordable Perfumes Under $100

Funding a fragrance obsession can put a serious dent in your wallet. But the mark of a great perfume collection, whether comprised of the sexiest scents or just the best of all time, is that it features perfumes from all price points. It's totally possible to have a great curation of citrus, jasmine, lavender and/or gourmand scents without having to splurge on designer names and extravagant bottles.

If you're looking to add some less expensive options to your lineup, start by thinking about what scent families you typically gravitate toward. Do you love fresh florals, woody scents, perfumes with some spice, or are you gourmand person through and through? Here, we've done the heavy lifting for you and narrowed down the 16 best perfumes all under $100.

Related article: Perfumer Christine Nagel Tells Us About H24, Hermès’ First Men’s Fragrance In 15 Years

Shop the Best Perfumes Under $100

BEST WARM VANILLA SCENT

Eilish Eau de Parfum

PROS

• Beautiful Bottle

Billie Eilish wanted her debut fragrance to feel like a warm embrace—and she accomplished just that. Vanilla, spice, and cocoa round out this true gourmand in a showstopping bottle.

Customer Review: "It's so warm and inviting. It's sweet and reminds me of being cozy by a fireplace wrapped in a blanket. I absolutely love it." -Crystal From Ohio

BEST FRESH FLORAL SCENT

philosophy 'Amazing Grace' Eau de Toilette

PROS

• Lightweight and fresh

There's no better way to celebrate spring than with a fresh, floral scent. Amazing Grace is a fragrance classic for a reason: it's easy to wear and smells great on everyone.

Customer Review: "I wear almost everyday and get compliments everyday. It is not too heavy or overwhelming. Even people who are sensitive to perfumes love this on me."

BEST LOWKEY FLORAL SCENT

By Rosie Jane Rosie Eau de Parfum

PROS

• Subtle

This best-selling fragrance from By Rosie Jane is a mix of floral and woody notes, so it's fresh and modern but not in a big bouquet kind of way.

Customer Review: "Love this perfume—wish it came in a bigger bottle!" -Lisa P.

BEST FOR SUMMER

Vacation Eau de Toilette

PROS

• Fun, Tropical Scent

Crafted after the culty Vacation-brand sunscreen, this eau de toilette is an invitation to travel to anywhere warm and sunny with notes of coconut milk, solar musk, banana, pineapple, and sea salt.

Customer Review: "I loved this beachy scent and it brings me back to summer in the dead of winter! It was better than I expected and I am super happy it’s a clean fragrance." -Chris716

BEST SKIN SCENT

Brown Girl Jane Casablanca Eau de Parfum

PROS

• Not Overpowering

Inspired by the city of Casablanca, this fragrance was made to illicit feelings of romance, sensuality, and confidence.

Customer Review: "I'm a fragrance lover, and this is my favourite new release. It's sultry and sexy without being overpowering. Slightly sweet in a luxurious way, but not sugary. The longevity is in line with the price and I see this as more of a personal fragrance versus one that screams when you wear it. It's super different and very, very sensual." -Phadreaknowsall

BEST FLORAL MUSK

Phlur Missing Person

PROS

• Viral on TikTok

Made to evoke the "lingering scent of your lover's skin," Missing Person is warm and sensual yet oddly familiar. It's gone viral time and time again on TikTok because the blend of woods, musks, and fresh citrus notes is universally appealing.

Customer Review: "This scent reminds me of something I used to wear back in the day. I can’t remember what but it is very nostalgic. Truly a skin musky scent. Dries down very pretty and deeper than it starts off. Reminds me of one of my trips to Vegas." -QOTU

BEST WARM GOURMAND

Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Crush Cheirosa 62 Perfume Mist

PROS

• For Hair and Body

This hair and body spray will easily become your go-to if you love the warm, sweet notes of vanilla and salted caramel. It's perfect for tossing in a travel bag.

Customer Review: "I love the scent, it’s not overpowering but it smells so good." -Rylee G.

BEST FOR SUMMER

Bobbi Brown Beach Eau de Parfum

PROS

• Great for Day or Night

Some beach-inspired fragrances can smell a little too much like a frozen cocktail. This is an elegant take on a seaside scent, with crisp, bright notes of sea spray and mandarin.

Customer Review: "Bobbi Beach is like a vacation in a bottle. When I spray it on, I instantly feel like I am on the beach somewhere tropical. It smells of sunshine, flowers and happiness!" -Tallshopaholic

BEST GARDENIA SCENT

Pacifica Tahitian Gardenia Spray Perfume

PROS

• Under $25

Love Gardenia? Then you'll really love Pacifica's Tahitian Gardenia perfume, with notes of the flower plus jasmine, sweet orange, and tea leaves.

Customer Review: "Love this spray. Compared it with an expensive department store gardenia scent and liked this one better at a fraction of the cost!" -Michelle K.

MOST NOSTALGIC

LAVANILA Vanilla Coconut

PROS

• All Natural Fragrance

There's nothing like nostalgia to guide a fragrance purchase. And for anyone who grew up in the '90s or 2000s, vanilla scents were likely your gateway into fragrance. Lavanila's tropical Vanilla Coconut is for fans of those two key notes in particular.

Customer Review: "I use my new fragrance daily and I love it! It is a very warm memory of summer's gone by." - Lisa A.

BEST FRESH SCENT

Tocca Colette Eau De Parfum

PROS

• Great Everyday Scent

Light, fresh, and warm all at once, Colette is a scent that an easily become your signature without breaking the bank. We also love how the vintage-inspired bottle looks on our vanity.

Customer Review: "Just bought Colette perfume yesterday! It smells elegant and expensive, the perfect balance between mature and young. Reminds me of a Coach perfume, but still has a scent which is completely unique against any other perfume I’ve tried! Love it." -Reesek

BEST PERSONAL FRAGRANCE

Glossier You

PROS

• Subtle

The name says it all. This fragrance is all about you, the wearer. Bright pink pepper melts into the skin before drying down to a light, subtle musk.

Customer Review: "When you first spray it, it instantly smells like musk, woodsy, then it work it’s way up to its fragrance which comes out nice clean soft and light. The girls are right, it does not last long. But it does smell good." -Tien

BEST FRESH CITRUS SCENT

OUAI Dean Street Eau de Parfum

PROS

• Great for Spring/Summer

If you're a fan of this citrusy floral scent from the brand's body wash, try taking the eau de parfum for a spin. Pair them together to get an even stronger scent experience.

Customer Review: "Great smell for transitional seasons and if you're looking for a signature scent." -MegV

BEST SPICY GOURMAND

Ariana Grande Cloud Eau de Parfum

PROS

• Under $50

We didn't anoint Ariana Grande the last great celebrity perfumer for no reason. Her Cloud scent has gone mega-viral because the spicy and sweet gourmand scent is beloved by people of all ages and tax brackets.

Customer Review: "One of my most complimented perfumes, compliments from men/women of all ages. Such a sweet beautiful scent. I even wear it as my night time scent to sleep in. It's intoxicating!" -Sarah

BEST LIGHT FLORAL FRAGRANCE

Ralph Lauren Ralph

PROS

• Fresh

If you loved this fruity floral fragrance 10, 15 even 20 years ago, chances are you'll still love this fresh, clean scent today. Consider this your sign to buy another bottle.

Customer Review: "Have loved this scent for years. I’m more of a deeper and musky scent person, but this is something I’ll always keep in my collection. Smells so fresh and light." -Maddieob

CLASSIC FRAGRANCE

Kiehl's Since 1851 Original Musk Eau de Toilette Spray

PROS

• Lasts all day
• Gender neutral

A version of this musk was first created in the 1920s, then reintroduced in the late '50s when it was found in the original Kiehl's apothecary in a vat labeled "love oil." There is plenty to love about this classic scent: it's warm and earthy with citrus top notes, a rose floral heart, and a dry down that includes tonka bean. patchouli, and musk.

Customer Review: "This is not a strong scent, it's a powerful scent. It's a classic musk like you may remember from years ago. It's worn by both men and women. What it does is blend with your own body chemistry to smell a bit different on each person. I wear one squirt of it and two squirts of my regular perfume. It blends very nicely w any scent in my opinion. This is a superior value and excellent value. I've been wearing it since the 1970s and have gotten compliments on the scent consistently over time. I've even had strangers ask me what it is. Btw, it last a long time, too, as this is a pungent and powerful scent. You do not need to use a lot and as others have said, it lasts for many hours." -MidwestLady

How To Shop For An Inexpensive Fragrance

Don't Get Hung Up on Labels: Just because a perfume doesn't carry a designer label, doesn't mean it isn't good. Don't get too caught up with specific brands and instead think about what notes you like best.

Travel Size: If you're really loving a designer perfume, consider purchasing the smallest size available. Rollerballs and solid perfumes are more affordable, and they're less of a long-term commitment.

Think About the Retailer: If you're at a high-end department store, chances are you're going to be around more expensive fragrance options. Check out more mass retailers, like Amazon, CVS, and Target—you'll be surprised at what perfume gems you might dig up.

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This article originally appeared in Harper's BAZAAR US.