My Top 5 Budget Fragrances Found at Discount Stores

I have a slight major addiction to perfumes or anything that smells incredible, including candles. FYI, if you're looking for candles with staying power, might I suggest Nest candles? I can't begin to count how many perfumes and candles I possess, and there's even a few in boxes still unopened because the urge to purchase was just too strong. However, this post isn't about the ones in my possession, but more about the ones I can't live without and repurchase whenever they're on empty. This is about my top five favorite budget fragrances.

I'm not kidding when I say I have an addiction. My husband likes to joke that I have more than enough and there's always a new one purchased while my previous bottle is still at 99%, and I stubbornly insist that it has been 1% used which is a lot. So you may be wondering, "what exactly is a budget fragrance?" I personally call any fragrance that you can get at discount department stores such as TJMaxx, Marshalls, Nordstrom Rack or even Target a budget fragrance. They are generally very affordable and can frequently be purchased at under $50 for a full-sized bottle. While I'm more of a designer fragrance girl myself, I decided to make this list for those who would rather not spend $100 on a full-sized bottle of perfume, so without further ado, here are my top 5 budget fragrances that you can find at a discount store.


1. Elizabeth Arden Red Door Revealed
I remember when Elizabeth Arden introduced her scent Red Door. It is and has always been a classic, however, when Red Door Revealed was released, I thought that it was made for me. It's a magnificent floral fragrance, which I consider fun and flirty and I always get complimented on the scent whenever I wear it. Most are genuinely surprised to hear that it didn't cost me an arm and a leg. It has a long-lasting scent that you'll appreciate.

2. Pink Sugar
While this one belongs to my youngest daughter Madison, I sometimes steal and wear it occasionally. It is the perfect summertime fragrance and reminds me of going to the state fairs and eating all the cotton candy that I can. It does smell similar to cotton candy and can be described as your playful, girly scent that may bring back childhood memories. You can find Pink Sugar at Sephora and most department stores.

3. Alfred Sung Shi
Another favorite of mine and one that has been around for quite some time. I remember first using this when my eldest son was born, and whenever I see it in stores, I always grab a bottle. It's a fruity floral scent that smells heavenly, at least on me, and I have to say that you can't go wrong with this one. You can generally find this in discount stores at around $20.

4. Guess by Marciano
I have always had a love for Guess by Marciano clothing designs, while the perfumes were still on the back burner for me; that was until the Guess by Marciano fragrance was introduced. This is a very old fragrance as it was first released in 2003, but still a favorite as the scent is very long-lasting. This has undertones of vanilla and musk, which I enjoy in perfumes. You honestly get your money's worth with this one.

5. Tommy Girl Tropics
This is one of Tommy Hilfiger's newest perfume as it was only launched in 2017. As a tropical girl myself, I couldn't resist the urge to purchase this scent. From what I've found out, this is a limited release of his original Tommy Girl fragrance and is meant for the summer. Think of sun-filled days on the beach and cool nights. This is another scent filled with peaches and vanilla. While the fragrance doesn't last as long as some of the others on the list, it's perfect for daily wear.

Bonus scent.

6. Marc Jacobs Honey
While most Marc Jacobs fragrances aren't budget fragrances such as his Decadence line, you can generally find Honey heavily discounted at most department stores. This has a light, floral scent and isn't overwhelming. Like most Marc Jacobs perfumes, the aroma lingers throughout the day. I'm also a fan of the whimsical bottle that's reminiscent of the honeybee.

While these are within budget for most, Victoria's Secret, and even Bath and Body Works have some fantastic fragrances that you can wear as well without putting a hole in your pocket. I tend to wear my budget fragrances on a daily basis, whenever I'm going to the supermarket, mall or even just dropping or picking up the kids to/from school, while my designer fragrances are worn on special occasions. Budget fragrances are a superb way of finding your preferred scent: Floral (my go-to scents) vs. Clean vs. Musky etc... Stay tuned because I'll soon be sharing my top five seven designer fragrances.

What's your favorite budget fragrance?