High street fragrances from Zara, Boots and M&S now offer scents that closely rival luxury brands like Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent and Tom Ford, with prices starting from £8. These budget-friendly options are becoming increasingly popular for everyday wear, offering similar notes to high-end perfumes without the hefty price tag.
Zara Golden Decade Eau de Parfum
Zara's Golden Decade is an elegant yet fresh scent, with top notes of mandarin orange, heart notes of orange blossom, jasmine, and lavender, and a base of vanilla that adds warmth and depth. The fragrance profile is commonly known to be similar to Yves Saint Laurent Libre Eau De Parfum Intense, which costs £119 for 50ml. While the YSL fragrance may linger longer, the scents match harmoniously. Priced at £22.99, it is available at Zara.com.
Apothecary Warmth Eau de Parfum by M&S
M&S's Apothecary Warmth Eau de Parfum is described as comfort in a bottle, with aromatic notes of cardamom, cedarwood and sandalwood, shared by the beloved smoky, leathery and musky Le Labo Santal 33, which retails at £176 for 50ml. While few perfumes are in Le Labo's league when it comes to wear, M&S matches it in all other categories. It costs £12.99 at Marksandspencer.com.
M&S Midnight Blossom Eau De Toilette
M&S's Midnight Blossom shares notes of soft jasmine florals with deeper, musky undertones, reminiscent of Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Eau De Parfum, which costs £102 for 50ml. As an Eau De Toilette, it will fade faster, but at £8 a bottle, spraying a little more often won't hurt the wallet. It is available at Marksandspencer.com.
& Other Stories Déjà Vu Mood
& Other Stories Déjà Vu Mood features floral scents of jasmine, saffron and aromas of Ambroxan, similar to Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540, which costs £265 for 70ml. The unique juxtaposition of warm woody scents and jasmine adds a mysterious element, leaving a wearable fragrance that's not too musky and not too sweet. As an Eau De Toilette, it may take a few more sprays to get the same punch as Maison Francis Kurkdjian fragrances. It is priced at £32 at Stories.com.
Boots Last Note Echoes of You
Boots' Last Note collection, released last month, includes Echoes of You, which provides a clean but not overpowering scent. The opening notes of pink pepper and balm move into iris, cashmere musk and lily of the valley. The fragrance evokes similar feelings to the softer Glossier You, which shares notes of iris and pink pepper and costs £70 for 50ml. Priced at £12.99, it is available at Boots.com.
