The beloved high street store may not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of luxury beauty, but after going viral online for its ability to create opulent scents on a real budget, it's clear that M&S should now be a go-to destination for all perfume obsessives.
There are countless perfumes for women on the market today, so cutting through the noise to make a sell-out scent is no mean feat. But after multiple shoppers noted an uncanny similarity between the M&S Apothecary Warmth Eau De Parfum and Le Labo's much-loved Santal 33 fragrance, M&S perfumes started to get a real buzz. No longer a simple British clothing brand, the retailer is slowly but surely cementing itself as an olfactory haven.
We are pretty devoted to our signature designer perfumes; in our experience, they are almost always worth the steep price tag - even without the best perfume deals or the M&S sale to consider. And despite going viral, we were skeptical about how well these M&S dupes could live up to the real thing in terms of lasting power and potency. But, after testing out the most talked about perfumes for ourselves, we discovered a remarkable dupe for one of our all-time favourite summer fragrances - and it has quickly become our new signature scent. With an entire range of impressive designer alternatives and premium blends of sophisticated notes available for under £20, the best M&S perfumes are deserving of your attention. Perfect beauty stocking fillers, might we add?
The 10 best M&S perfumes, tried and tested by us
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RRP: £10 for 50ml | Notes: Cardamon, cinnamon, cedarwood
Widely touted as the best high street dupe for Le Labo's Santal 33, this fragrance really does deliver. When testing, we couldn't believe the similarities between the two. A very rich and woody scent, it is both genderless and seasonless, although we can really see this becoming a winter staple due to its long-lasting warmth that hung around in the air long after spritzing.
Who should wear this? Those looking for a warm, long-lasting perfume similar to Le Labo Santal 33.
RRP: £10 for 100ml | Notes: Iris, jasmine, bergamot
We used to wear Coco Mademoiselle religiously, but after discovering the M&S Soft Iris perfume, we're pretty convinced we won't need to spend that kind of money again. This is one of the fragrances that impressed us the most in terms of its similarities to a designer favourite. The unique floral blend is delightfully fresh and not at all sickly, so we would highly recommend it to those who avoid sweet perfumes but still want something traditionally feminine to wear day-to-day.
Who should wear this? Those looking for a cheaper alternative to Chanel Coco Mademoiselle.
RRP: £7.50 for 30ml | Notes: Citrus, sweet neroli, coconut
One of our all-time favourite scents for summer is Beach Walk by Margiela, and we have never been able to find a suitable, affordable alternative - until now. After a slightly sweaty commute and almost a full day at work, it still smells just as strong, with the salty coconut notes pushing through. Elegant and sophisticated, it will sit proudly amongst your fragrance collection without indicating that it was a budget buy.
Who should wear this? Anyone who wants to smell like a sweet summer masterpiece.
RRP: £10 for 100ml | Notes: Neroli, jasmine, amber
Declared as one of the best Chanel No.5 dupes online, we had high hopes for Velvet Amber. When testing, we liked the simple trio of notes that gave a minimal and sophisticated feel. It does, however, smell slightly less rich than Chanel No.5, but we think this makes it a brilliant everyday scent that is luxurious without feeling out of place for regular days in the office or running errands.
Who should wear this? Those who love Chanel No.5 and want a sweet, spicy everyday fragrance.
RRP: £10 for 100ml | Notes: Orange flower, cassis, mandarin
Opening with a distinctively orange smell, we were instantly transported to sunnier climes. However, despite the amount of floral and fruity top notes in this perfume, it was the vanilla that really pushed through for us after it dried down. If, like us, you err between the best vanilla perfume and fresher fragrances for the summer months, this will give you the best of both worlds.
Who should wear this? Those looking for a zingy, citrusy scent with a unique, warm vanilla base.
RRP: £10 for 100ml | Notes: Jasmine, tuberose, amber
This is one of the highest-rated M&S perfumes on the site and customers tend not to hold anything back, so you can be pretty confident in this purchase. If you're a fan of the best Zara perfumes for their cheap and cheerful YSL-inspired sprays, you'll want to know about Midnight Blossom. A fantastic alternative to Black Opium that has also gone viral for being a brilliant designer alternative, it is a delightfully alluring scent that will easily become a go-to for the evening.
Who should wear this: If you like Zara's fragrances or are looking for a chic dinner party perfume.
RRP: £6 for 30ml | Notes: Neroli, bergamot, musk
With similar notes to Paco Rabanne Lady Million, this is another lovely designer dupe from M&S. With a more basic formulation and soft yellow bottle, it is one to try out if you don't want your perfume to overwhelm the senses. Another pick highly rated by customers and raved about online, it is frequently noted that it has an expensive smell at a budget price. We found Warm Neroli to be universally appealing. Simultaneously smooth, floral, and warm, it is a gorgeously feminine scent that isn't too powdery or sweet
Who should wear this? If you like citrusy yet woodsy, warm notes.
RRP: £15 for 100ml | Notes: Mandarin, lemon, orange blossom
Designed to smell like the 'sun-drenched orange groves of the Mediterranean' - we're sold. If floral fragrances aren't for you but you don't want to go for anything earthy or woody, this could be your new best friend. Although it is a perfume with jasmine, the floral notes hardly stick out, instead remaining loyal to citrus even as it dries. It reminded us of being on holiday, amongst orange groves, so it is perfect to transport you away no matter the season.
Who should wear this? If you're looking for a subtle floral and fresh winter fragrance.
RRP: £6 for 30ml | Notes: Orange blossom, pink pepper, jasmine
Pink pepper is one of our favourite perfume scents as it always adds a distinctive edge to a fragrance. If you tend to gravitate towards unisex fragrance, it is a lovely note to look out for. In a cute pink bottle that is right on the Barbie trend, it will make a nice visual addition to your collection. The subtle mix of spice in with the sweetness also makes it a pick you can wear for any season.
Who should wear this? If you're looking for a sweet yet gender-neutral fragrance.
RRP: £10 for 100ml | Notes: Coconut, white flowers, sweet blossom
This is the M&S perfume that we were most surprised by. Promising a tropical, salty, and coconutty scent, we were ready for another beachy perfume to fall in love with. However, that was not what we got. If you like the sound of a very subtle hint of coconut, amongst floral and citrusy notes, you've met your match. Light and subtle, it gave a real your-skin-but-better feel that will suit those who want to avoid overly perfume-y smells. If, however, you do want a creamy coconut scent, we refer you back to Under the Palm Trees.
Who should wear this? Those after a floral fragrance with subtle notes of warm coconut.
How we tested the best M&S perfumes
Perfume is very subjective, so we approached this testing process with an open mind. As well as being sure to try perfumes from multiple fragrance families and with differing notes, we looked at a few key things to determine whether each M&S perfume is worth purchasing. These included:
- The strength of the scent
- The blend of notes and how well they worked together
- How similar they were to designer scents
- Packaging
- Price point
How to choose the best M&S perfume for you
Learning how to choose a perfume takes some trial and error, especially when shopping online. That's why it's important to understand which perfume notes you like to make the process simple.
Decide whether you're after a scent that's fruity, woody, fresh, or floral as a starting point, and then land on the specific smells you want to pull through when you spritz. Most M&S perfumes have their notes listed on the bottle, so it's easy to take a quick look and decipher whether they're smells you gravitate towards.
As many of the best M&S perfumes have been compared to designer fragrances, you can also opt for one that is similar to a high-end perfume that you like. Not only can you be sure of a scent you love, but you will also be saving yourself a lot of money.
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