Fragrance always makes a first-rate present. Whether it’s an impromptu Christmas gift or a last-minute Valentine’s Day treat, you can’t go wrong with a bottle of someone’s favourite perfume or go-to cologne. However, if you’re not a savvy shopper, you can end up spending a small fortune on fragrance. Thankfully, there are many ways you can make a sizable saving on fragrance.
Don’t Be a Seasonal Shopper
Ever noticed how the price of chocolates, beauty products and fragrance soars during the festive season? Retailers know that consumers are more likely to make knee-jerk buying decisions in the lead-up to Christmas and other seasonal holidays. In 2022, UK consumers spend a combined £1.37 billion on Valentine’s Day alone. Most of us are happy to fork out a little extra if we’ve left our shopping until in the game, but there’s no reason to spend over the odds.
If you’re shopping for Valentine’s Day, get in there early and make your purchase during the New Year sales. If you’re buying for Christmas, take advantage of Black Friday discounts. However, don’t assume these annual perfume sale events will always yield big discounts. In recent years, consumers have been waking up to the fact those Black Friday bargains aren’t all they’re cracked up to be.
Choose a Smaller Size
High-end perfume brands come at a cost. Even when you factor in sale discounts, these premium scents don’t come cheap. However, you can bring down the cost of your purchase by choosing a smaller bottle. Thinking about treating yourself or someone special to Chloé perfume? If the RRP of a 100ml bottle is beyond your budget, go for a 50ml bottle instead.
If you’re happy to settle on a smaller bottle, you can redirect your savings into purchasing a better product. Think about purchasing a smaller bottle of an eau de parfum, rather than a 100ml bottle of eau de toilette. As long as you’re purchasing a decent brand, the essential oils included will be of higher concentration. This results in longer-lasting aromas, meaning you won’t have to regularly reapply your fragrance of choice.
Be Wary of Smell-a-Like Fragrances
There’s a soaring market for so-called smell-a-like fragrances. These are essentially unlicensed imitations of popular perfumes and colognes. First impressions are usually good, with top notes that are almost impossible to distinguish from the fragrance they’ve been copied from. However, the full ingredient list will be far removed from the original. Smell-a-like scents rarely contain high-quality essential oils. After just an hour or so, you’ll notice a distinct change in the aroma profile. Admittedly, they’re a lot more affordable than the real thing, but that doesn’t mean they’re better value.
Shop Online for the Best Deals
If you’re looking for a brand-new signature scent, nothing beats being able to sample products in-store. However, brick-and-mortar businesses need to pass on their overheads in the form of hiked prices. Online retailers are more cost-effective, with fewer operational costs to contend with. Standard prices tend to be much lower than what you’ll encounter on the high street, while seasonal discounts are even more impressive.
