Because I've been a beauty editor for so long, I've developed quite an expensive taste level when it comes to fragrances. Don't get me wrong—that doesn't mean I don't still love a budget fragrance when it's really, really good, but most of my all-time favorite scents make me shed a tear whenever it comes time to repurchase. Beauty is pain—I know. You can imagine how excited I was to find a whole line of fragrances that don't even break the $40 mark but smell like they should be $100 at the very least.
Normally, these fragrances would be my best-kept secrets, but I've decided they're just too good to gatekeep. If you like elevated gourmand fragrances that won't burn a hole through your wallet, you've come to the right place. I'm sharing the best perfumes I picked up at my local Target. (Yep, you read that right!) Read on below.
Rosa Lina Eau de Parfum
Key notes: sparkling lychee, velvet rose, cashmere musk
Luxury fragrance brand Fine'ry just launched 12 new fragrances exclusively at Target. I picked up three of these bad boys, and this one was my favorite. If you're a fan of expensive scents like Parfums de Marly's Delina, you definitely can't miss out on this one. While Rosa Lina does smell a bit different than Delina, it brings the same energy with sparkling notes of lychee and soft rose. I'd say this one is sweeter than Delina and has a vanilla undertone to it. Some gourmand scents can be a little overpowering, but this one has just the right amount of projection and staying power. I genuinely couldn't believe the price when I picked it up and gave it a sniff. I later got a few compliments from friends, who had to know what I was wearing.
Luxury Counterpart: Parfums de Marly's Delina Eau de Parfum.
She's a Goodie Eau de Parfum
Key notes: purple plum, gardenia petals, warm tuberose
Inspired by Carolina Herrera's Good Girl, this one is really warm, sweet, and perfectly balanced. Normally, I don't love tuberose scents because they're a bit heavy for me, but the tuberose note in this one is so subtle and never too much. Juicy purple plum adds a decadence to it and is the standout note. It does smell extremely similar to Good Girl, but it's not quite as heady due to the lack of tonka bean in this formula. If you want a slightly warmer, brighter version of that fragrance, this one's your ticket.
Luxury Counterpart: Carolina Herrera's Good Girl Eau de Parfum
No Prince Required Eau de Parfum
Key notes: night-blooming jasmine, pink marshmallow, amber
This was, by far, the sweetest scent of the bunch that I tried and is inspired by Kilian's Princess. The standout note in this fragrance is marshmallow, but the added note of amber gives it a warmer, earthier, and creamier scent. I love this one because it reminds me a bit of one of my all-time favorite scents, Vanilla 28 by Kayali. It's a *true* gourmand scent that, out of all three, has the best staying power IMO. If you are a fan of Kilian's Princess but are looking for a similar scent that won't break the bank, I'd say this one is definitely worth a go.
Luxury Counterpart: KILIAN Princess Eau de Parfum
More Budget-Friendly Scents That Smell Expensive
Key notes: salted caramel, pistachio, vanilla
This classic Sol de Janeiro scent is pretty much the one that started it all. You can find it in the brand's original Bum Bum Cream and in a similar (but pricier) EDP.
Key notes: pear, rose, caramel
This is your PSA not to sleep on Zara fragrances. They're so good and super inexpensive. This luscious scent has light, uplifting notes of pear, rose, and caramel.
Key notes: white, milk, and dark chocolate; whipped cream; vanilla
I love coffee- and chocolate-inspired scents, so you can imagine this one from Zara gets a lot of wear time from me. It's a true gourmand but is never too much to wear out.
Key notes: violet leaves, cardamom, orris, ambrox, cedarwood, cypriol, musk, sandalwood, amber
I own and love the original Santal 33 from Le Labo, but this fragrance from Dossier was inspired by it and is equally as good.
Key notes: buttercream, plum butter, ambrox
I know this fragrance is $78, but TBH, I still consider it low-key affordable compared to some others I have. (I'm side-eyeing my cabinet of luxury scents.) This one's warm and spicy while still being super gourmand—my favorite kind of scent.
Key notes: rose, nude musk, vanilla
Perfume oils are all the rage RN, and this By Rosie Jane option is a favorite. Classic notes of rose, nude musk, and vanilla evoke all the warm, cozy feelings.
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This story was published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
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