Are you passionate about perfume? You’re in good company. In the United Kingdom, the fragrance market is worth almost £2 billion. While there are plenty of budget-friendly products out there, most women admit to spending between £40 and £100 on a typical bottle of fragrance. Looking to make a saving on your next purchase? We’ve put together some useful tips to ensure you’re spending any more than you have to on your favourite scent.

Take Advantage of Seasonal Sales

Keeping your perfume stocks replenished can prove expensive, especially if you’re a fan of designer scents. If you’re watching the pennies, keep your eyes peeled for fragrance sale and seasonal discounts. We all like to treat ourselves to something new in the lead-up to Christmas, but it’s worth remembering that most retailers will charge a premium as the gift-giving season gets underway. Instead, get in early when shopping for perfume. Black Friday events offer substantial discounts on perfume and cologne. Alternatively, check clearance lines come the January sales.

Make a Saving with a Bigger Size

If you’re looking for a particular scent, it’s always best to buy a bigger bottle. A 35ml bottle is all well and good if you’re looking to experiment with something new, but if you’re someone who spritzes scent on liberally, you’ll quickly run dry. Shelling out for a 100ml bottle might seem expensive, but you’ll ultimately be paying for less per spray.

Are Refillable Fragrances Worth It?

If you want to make a saving and do your bit for the environment, refillable fragrances are worth considering. Brands like Thierry Mugler pioneered the eco-friendly revolution, offering refillable bottles as early as the 1990s. In most cases, you save a significant amount on your favourite scent by not having to pay for premium packaging. However, if you’re looking to buy something like Good Girl perfume as a gift for someone special, that signature bottle is all-important.

What’s the Deal with Dupes?

Smell-alike perfumes are becoming increasingly popular. As the name suggests, smell-alike fragrances are imitations of designer scents. Although the aromas can be close to your preferred cologne or perfume, you’ll never be dealing with a carbon copy. Many ingredients will be second-rate and you’ll often need to reapply them throughout the day. While smell-alikes sell for a fraction of the cost of genuine fragrances, they’re a poor substitute for the real thing.

False Economy

If you buy fragrance regularly, you’ve probably picked up a few bottles of budget eau de fraiche before. While these bottles sell for peanuts compared to designer perfume, they don’t come close when it comes to intense aromas. In most cases, an eau de fraiche product will contain no more than 3% essential oils. You might be happy with the results immediately after applying the product, but any aroma will dissipate within an hour. Ultimately, you’ll need to reapply regularly to enjoy any noticeable fragrance. As such, it’s often better to spend a little more on an eau de toilette or high-quality perfume instead.