Smelling expensive doesn't actually have to be - these 6 Zara perfumes prove it with every spritz
From trendy blends to those that smell reminiscent of iconic designer fragrances, your local Zara is a great place to find a new signature.
Investing in a quality fragrance can cost a pretty penny nowadays, but if you know where to look, you can still bag an expensive-smelling scent for under-£40, especially among the best Zara perfumes.
While many of the best long-lasting perfumes tend to boast a designer name and a premium price point to match, not all fragrances need to be expensive to smell great and deliver good sillage. In fact, there's one high street brand, in particular, that proves as much and actually continues to rival its high-end competitors, earning a spot on our team's list of the best perfumes for women. Zara, aside from offering stylish clothes, furniture and decor, is also home to an array of stylish scents that cater to all tastes - many of which have become cult-favourites in their own right, and are touted for smelling similar to other iconic blends.
So, if you're keen to add one of these best cheap perfumes to your collection, but aren't sure which to opt for, our beauty team knows the Zara perfume portfolio inside out. These are their six picks from the retailer's shelves...
The 6 best Zara perfumes, tried and tested by our beauty team
RRP: £22.99 for 80ml | Notes: Saffron, coriander, orange, jasmine, praline and amber
Warm, floral and spicy, this blend definitely smells more expensive than it is, with hints of saffron mingling with jasmine and rich amber. It's perhaps not one that everyone will fall in love with at first sniff, but it grows on you with every passing moment as the scent evolves and melts into the skin. It's a truly distinctive perfume that is bound to draw compliments.
Smells like: Baccarat Rouge 540 – if you're looking for a more premium alternative, 540 is as luxe as they come.
Who should buy it: If you want an affordable perfume that could become a unique signature scent, we definitely recommend Red Temptation.
RRP: £9.99 for 30ml | Notes: Orange blossom, coffee, peach and raspberry
This is truly a premium-smelling scent. Designer fragrances are usually very potent and long-lasting, but this can also mean an intense – or even slightly suffocating – scent when first applied. Gardenia bypasses that and cuts straight to the "worn-in" smell that sits gracefully on the skin for hours, giving it universal appeal.
Smells like: If you love the sophistication of this perfume, then you'll love YSL's Black Opium.
Who should buy it: For those who find the classic Black Opium a bit too too intense, after testing this Zara number for several months now, we think it's a less overwhelming alternative – in the best way.
RRP: £22.99 for 80ml | Notes: Jasmine, orange blossom, mandarin and lavender
In a word, this perfume embodies elegance with its warm and sensual blend of white florals, mandarin and calming lavender. It's long-lasting and perfect for an evening scent.
Smells like: YSL's cult-favourite Libre, which smells so luxe and clings beautifully to your skin and clothes all day long.
Who should buy it: If you're already a fan of YSL's Libre and are looking for a cheaper alternative or a similar scent that can live in your handbag for top-ups, this enveloping fragrance is idea.
RRP: £35.99 for 100ml | Key notes: Grapefruit, cypress, patchouli, vetiver
Equal parts woody and citrusy, Ebony Woods is another of Jo Malone CBE and founder of Jo Loves' creations that marries grapefruit with fresh and earthy notes of cypress, patchouli and vetiver.
Smells like: They don't smell exactly the same, but there's a lot of note crossover between Ebony Woods and one of Malone's best-loved fragrances, Jo Loves Pomelo. It's also slightly reminiscent of Byredo Bibliothèque.
Who should buy it: Those who like the fragrant, slightly spicy depth of woods in a fragrance that's cut with a little sweetness.
RRP: £9.99 for 30ml | Key notes: Pear, red fruits, jasmine, coconut and vanilla
This fragrance is youthful and fun. The top notes of pear are accompanied by a middle of red berries and a vanilla base, all making for a fruity and feminine aroma that lingers on the skin.
Smells like: This scent is often compared to Dior's J'Adore Eau de Parfum, which is a truly iconic fruity and floral and feminine perfume.
Who should buy it: Sweet perfume lovers would love this. It dries down to a vanilla base that pleasantly reminds you just how good you smell throughout the day. Plus, if you love layering, this scent is a must-try.
RRP: £19.99 for 100ml | Notes: Praline, jasmine and sandalwood
With a rich blend of praline, jasmine and sandalwood, Fields at Nightfall has an evening feel (as the name promises) that also reminds us slightly of YSL Libre in terms of its hearty yet sweet finish.
Smells like: YSL Libre and Zadig & Voltaire's viral favourite This Is Her, which is beloved for its floral and woody aroma.
Who should buy it: If you seek a long-lasting perfume, this Zara number also has a similarly strong lasting power to YSL Libre, retaining the same scent from the initial spritzes hours later.
Also consider...
With dozens of fragrances currently available to shop in-store and via the Zara website, it's only natural that we give credit where credit is due and give flowers to the scents that didn't quite make the cut.
- Illusion Eau de Parfum - The newest edition to Zara's perfume collection, Illusion is a soft and intimate ambery-floral, with notes of orange blossom, jasmine and warm vanilla. Plus, the textured, swirly bottle is so chic.
- Sun Kissed Banana Eau de Toilette - With gourmand perfumes and banana perfumes, especially, proving very popular this year, Zara's sweet and decadent take is a must-try.
- Apple Juice Eau de Toilette - Rumoured to boast similar notes to Chanel's Chance Eau Tendre, this youthful fragrance is light, fresh and fruity; however, it doesn't boast longevity.
- Orchid Eau de Toilette - dubbed to be a rival of the Victoria's Secret Bombshell perfume, this scent blends floral rose and lily of the valley with fruity notes of peach and apple, paired with a musky base.
How we tested the best Zara perfume
We have been wearing Zara fragrances for years, but have also been reviewing these fragrances consistently for months to ensure that this list is reflective of the best Zara perfumes available to buy today. But of course, as master perfumer Ruth Mastenbroek notes: "Buying a fragrance online is notoriously challenging because of the obvious limitation – you can’t smell through a screen."
A small selection of the Zara perfumes our beauty team have tested.
Thus, we've tested a wide range of Zara fragrances with a variety of different notes to select the best from each fragrance family, wearing each for a full day – all with the goal of helping you make an informed choice before buying. As well as seeking out the best fruity, woody, fresh and floral perfumes, we also paid close attention to factors like lasting power and potency to determine which budget Zara scents are truly the best.
Figuring out how to choose a perfume that suits your taste can be tricky, but given their lower price points (and the occasional Zara sale offering further bargains), we think all of these Zara perfumes are pretty safe bets. Your closest store will likely have a selection of scents for you to smell first-hand, but if you already know what style of perfume you're looking for - perhaps rose perfumes are your go-to - you can find the whole collection online, with descriptions and note breakdowns, so that you can make an informed choice.
Once you've found one that strikes all the right notes for you, we've also quizzed the fragrance pros on how to boost its longevity.
Tips for getting the most out of your affordable perfume
To really get the most out of your affordable perfume, and ensure it lingers on your skin, we've asked the experts to share all their tips - spanning application to what lingering notes to look for when shopping for a new signature...
- Spray on wet skin: "The best time to spray perfume on your skin is right after your shower," says Iember Gordon, fragrance expert and head of marketing at The Fragrance Shop. "This is because moisture gives your scent something to hold on to, so spraying [it] on after your skin has been freshly washed boosts its staying power."
- Notice the base notes: "Some people may pay too much attention to the initial spritz [of a perfume], as they are sold on the top notes, without hanging around to see how the fragrance develops over time," Mastenbroek notes. "While helpful, some people may place too much importance on these notes."
- Stay moisturised: "For 'desk-to-dancefloor' situations, use an unscented moisturiser on your skin before you apply perfume," says Gordon. "This will help lock the fragrance in better as it gives a moist skin impression."
- Assess the fragrance type: When weighing up eau de toilette vs parfum, remember that "perfume and cologne are sold in different ratios of fragrance oil to alcohol," as Gordon explains. "The more concentrated forms, like pure parfum, will cost the most and last the longest, while the less concentrated versions, like an eau de toilette, will cost less and the spritz won't last as long."
- Create an aroma: "If you have a signature scent, you can get your clothing to smell like it as well," says Gordon. "Line your drawers with tissue paper that has been spritzed a few times [with this perfume] and allow the scent to permeate the fabrics."
