Getting that perfect scent to wear for long days at work, nights out, and even vacations is essential for both men and women.
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In this article, I will outline some of the best picks that can make you smell and feel amazing but don’t break the bank or leave you with an empty wallet.
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Best For Everyday Use
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Best For A Day Out
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Best For Any Occasion
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Some of the best unique finds are actually more affordable than you may think!
Our Top 10 Picks
Whether you’re searching for a fragrance that suits a specific season, looking for an everyday scent, or the perfect perfume for your date night, you’ll find what you’re looking for below!
Best for Autumn
Derek Lam 10 Crosby Ellipsis is a warm, woody fragrance featuring luscious sandalwood as its main component. Sandalwood has been used in aromatherapy for centuries due to its healing scent. It has a slight must to it while feeling fresh and natural.
This fragrance is blended with jasmine flowers, sweet notes of vanilla and caramel, dark wood, and white floral, making it the perfect combination of feminine and woody. This scent is designed to linger on the skin, perfect for maintaining that beautiful slight must.
This fragrance is perfect for a woman who loves unique, complex fragrances, and is recommended to wear on an evening out in the autumn due to its warm, sweet features.
PROS: Not overpowering, affordable, available for delivery
CONS: Not a unisex option
- For: Women
- Seasons: Autumn/Winter
- Wear it: Evening
- Launched: 2015
Best for Spring
Calypso Violette is a flirty, powdery fragrance perfect for the daytime. Wear it out shopping, going out with friends, or even on a date.
This is a complex fragrance with floral notes of violet and rose, combined with the bold scent of sandalwood and white musk. It has a lingering scent of rose, honey, and violet, making it the perfect everyday elegant fragrance leaving you feeling fresh and sexy.
PROS: Lingers all day, is affordable, and available for delivery
CONS: Stronger scent, not intended for those who like lighter scents, not unisex
- For: Women
- Seasons: Spring/Summer
- Wear it: Daytime
- Launched: 1999
Best for Everyday Use
Monti is a great everyday casual wear fragrance for the woman seeking a bolder everyday wear perfume. With base notes of amber, musk, and mahogany, blended with the floral scents of lotus, peony, and magnolia, it makes for a unique, bold, and perfectly balanced fragrance.
When applying, you will experience a fresh, unexpected burst of slightly citrusy magnolia with the elegant aroma of the lotus and peony. It is feminine and divinely seductive while not overpowering, making it a perfect choice for everyday use.
PROS: Everyday use, affordable, available for delivery
CONS: Fades quicker than stronger scents, not unisex
- For: Women
- Seasons: Summer/Autumn
- Wear it: Any occasion
- Launched: 2008
Best for Any Occasion
Inspired by the Norwegian mountains and the wildflowers that line them, Laila by Geir Ness is a beautiful fragrance in the form of a deodorant stick features floral notes, lemongrass, green tea, and lavender.
It is perfectly suited as a deodorant stick as it boasts a fresh and clean fragrance, and absorbs perfectly to hide any unwanted odors.
For those women that prefer using natural ingredients, this option is perfect as two of the main ingredients include lemongrass extract and green tea. These ingredients ensure the skin will not be irritated by artificial ingredients and is even alcohol and aluminum-free.
This deodorant stick is perfect for everyday use, for any occasion, and will not dry out skin or clog your pores.
PROS: Great for everyday use, natural ingredients, absorbs body odors, unisex
CONS: In deodorant stick form only
- For: Women and men
- Seasons: Any
- Wear it: Daily
- Launched: 1995
Best for A Day Out
Lucky You has been a favorite of budget-seeking shoppers who do not want to skimp on quality for 22 years. Great for casual, everyday wear, this feminine scent is noticeable without being overpowering.
Expect to be complimented on how you smell, because this perfume boasts a blend of fresh citrus, light flowers, and beautiful jasmine notes. The top notes include ruby red grapefruit, green leaves, and water hyacinth. The base notes that take longer to develop but have the strongest scent include blue poppy, peony, and star jasmine.
The driest notes that develop once the fragrance begins to wear off include musk, sandalwood, and amber. This is a long-lasting, tried, and true everyday perfume great for social outings, work, and anything else you desire.
PROS: Very affordable, great for everyday use, available for delivery, long-lasting
CONS: none found!
- For: Women
- Seasons: Any
- Wear it: Daily
- Launched: 2000
Best for An Evening Out
Another long-standing, tried-and-true women’s perfume is Fragrance by Paul Sebastian, which has been turning heads since 1985. Those who prefer a highly feminine floral fragrance, with notes of woody musk would love this concoction.
The top notes of this fragrance include jasmine and orange blossom, and as the fragrance begins to set in, you will begin to smell the top notes of yellow ylang-ylang, tuberose, gardenia, honeysuckle, lilac, rose, and carnation.
Finally, as the fragrance begins to wear off you will smell the lingering woody musk and sweet gardenia that add a great finishing touch to this scent. This fragrance is highly potent, so would be best to be used on evenings out when you are looking for a bolder option.
PROS: Feminine, affordable, available for delivery
CONS: Strong scent that can be overpowering if too much is applied
- For: Women
- Seasons: Spring/Summer
- Wear it: Evenings
- Launched: 1985
Best Men’s Date Night
Following the women’s version of this tried and true classic comes the men’s version of Paul Sebastian cologne. A classic masculine scent, perfect for evenings out and date nights. The top three fragrance notes include lavender, ylang-ylang, and patchouli.
Reminiscent of a classic oriental fragrance, it also includes notes of sage, jasmine, rose, and amber. Combined with the musk scent provided by patchouli, it creates the perfect balance of masculine and fresh.
PROS: Masculine, affordable, available for delivery
CONS: Not unisex, a strong scent that can be overpowering if too much is applied at once
- For: Men
- Seasons: Anytime
- Wear it: Evenings
- Launched: 1985
Best Everyday Men’s
Outlaw by Tru Western is a favorite cologne among modern men seeking an affordable alternative to a quality cologne.
Blended with bergamot, lavender, fir balsam, mahogany, amber, and sandalwood, this creates the perfect woody, sensual scent for every man. This cologne can also be used after a clean shave and has a vintage, rugged scent to it that lingers for hours.
PROS: Lingers for hours, affordable, modern, available for delivery
CONS: none found!
- For: Men
- Seasons: Anytime
- Wear it: Anytime
- Launched: Not Listed
Best for Subtle Everyday
Clean Classic perfume is perfectly described in the name- clean. This company boasts all-natural, clean ingredients and uses no irritating, artificial ingredients that can set your mind at ease. As well as being non-irritating, this scent is also vegan, free of phthalates, parabens, gluten, propylene glycol, mineral oil, and artificial dyes.
The company offers multiple different versions of this fragrance, and many can be used for both men and women. The top notes of this fragrance include honeydew, lotus blossom, and fresh air accord.
The middle notes which shine through the most include dewy petals, aquatic notes, and blue rose, while the base notes finish off this fragrance with white musk, cashmere woods, amber wood, and creamy vanilla.
Perfect for everyday use to work, or any daily activity, this is a no-nonsense, straightforward choice of perfume.
PROS: Unisex, affordable, clean
CONS: Not a powerful scent
- For: Women and men
- Seasons: Anytime
- Wear it: Everyday
- Launched: Not Listed
Best for Women’s Date Night
Vera Wang Princess is perfect for a night out, as its strong feminine scent exudes magical energy. The scent boasts fruity notes of apple, apricot, and guava, as well as chocolate, tuberose, and vanilla, making this scent complex yet alluring.
You only need a spritz of this one as it is strong and long-lasting. The scent is surprising and unexpected, meant for the daring personality that isn’t afraid to be bold.
Modern and youthful, the scent takes fruity notes and combines them with more sophisticated notes to add elegance and charm. A staple in many modern women’s cabinets, this is a tried and true bestseller from Vera Wang.
PROS: Youthful, modern, affordable, available for delivery
CONS: Strong scent that can be overpowering if not used in moderation
- For: Women
- Seasons: Spring/Summer
- Wear it: Nights out
- Launched: 2006
Selena Marc is a fragrance enthusiast, freelance writer, and dog mom living in Houston, Texas. When she's not writing about her favorite new perfumes, you can find her enjoying yoga or a morning hike.