Three Perfumes under R500

I might be in a position where I get to test Tom Ford and Chanel fragrances as if they’re Dove aerosols, but I’m well aware that my perfume collection would have been significantly smaller if I had to buy these smelly wonders myself.

This made me round up my favourites of the more reasonably priced perfumes that I have on my beauty shelves. Not only do they make good gifts and are they softer on the pocket for younger users; they’re all perfectly good options for anyone as everyday scents. Only three budget-friendly options made it onto the list because trust me, some of the cheap & cheerful perfumes are vile. But let’s focus. Here are my three favourites:

essence Like a Trip to New York

essence Like a Trip to New York is a light, fruity floral with just a slight hint of spice that thankfully prevents it from being overly sweet. It’s fresh, not seasonal at all and can suit just about anyone although it’s pretty light; making it a good option for younger wearers that are still figuring out just exactly how many spritzes are an appropriate number (2-3, by the way).

Available from Clicks and DisChem, R89 for 50ml (!!), R59 for 10ml.

Justine Cantare Spanish Nights EDP

Justine Cantare Spanish Nights EDP is a warm, soft, somewhat musky floriental fragrance. It has quite a bit of depth for a fragrance in this price range, and makes for a lovely evening & winter fragrance.

Available from Justine consultants, around R400 for 50ml

Gossip Girl Spotted! EDP by Scentstory

I’m not even going to lie, I prolonged opening this one for the longest time because I just couldn’t get over a fragrance inspired by a TV series about teenagers. When I eventually did get over it I was pleasantly surprised. Gossip Girl Spotted! is simultaneously zesty and sweet, with citrus, floral and berry notes. It dries down to a pretty-girl powdery finish, and the bottle is really chic when you remove the charm.

R295 for 50ml, exclusive to Edgars.

Any budget smellies I should have on my radar? I remember loving SO… Inspired and Coty’s blue Exclamation perfumes in my early teens, although I doubt either of those exist any more. And ALL the knock-off versions of CK One. There was also a really fresh perfumed gel (possibly from Avroy Shlain) that I really liked, but for the life of me I can’t remember what it was. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go wash off the seven perfumes I just sprayed myself with/vomit – whichever one comes first.

C xx