Our beauty team declare these the 6 best Zara perfumes to smell expensive for less than £30

From long-lasting scents to those that rival designer fragrances, these are the best Zara perfumes that have our seal of approval...

Collage of the best Zara perfumes on a light pink background (L-R) Fields at Nightfall, Gardenia, Red Temptation, Wonder Rose, Golden Decade and Emotions Ebony Woods
(Image credit: Future/Zara)

From luxury-smelling scents to perfumes that rival designer buys, it's wise to not overlook the best Zara perfumes when it comes to restocking your fragrance arsenal, as there's something to suit every taste.

It feels almost impossible to bag a quality fragrance nowadays without having to fork out an investment-worthy sum in the process. One glance at a list of long-lasting perfumes or the best perfumes for women will typically detail a plethora of designer names, however one high street brand that continues to earn a spot amongst its high-end competitors is Zara. Not only do they boast a selection of stellar perfumes without an eye-watering price tag, they're also known for their similar scents that rival popular luxury fragrances.

So, for those looking to add one of the best cheap perfumes that will leave you smelling expensive and have others asking what scent you're wearing, luckily our beauty team knows the Zara perfume portfolio inside out. Having spritzed our way through the entire assortment, we've created a guide to six very best fragrances that Zara has to offer. Not to mention, expert tips to ensure you get the most out of your signature scent.

The 6 best Zara perfumes, tried and tested by our beauty team

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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.

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 composite image of three of the best Zara perfumes

A small selection of the Zara perfumes our beauty team have tested.

(Image credit: Amelia Yeomans)

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 to suit your taste can be tricky, but due to their lower price points (and the occasional Zara sale offering further bargains), we think all of these Zara perfumes are pretty safe bets. 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

We got all the experts tips on how to get the most out of your affordable perfume.

  • 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."
Amelia Yeomans
Senior writer

Amelia joined woman&home in 2022 after graduating with an MA in Magazine Journalism from City University and she is now a senior fashion and beauty writer. She began building her career as a lifestyle journalist after completing a fashion journalism course at the Condé Nast College of Fashion & Design in 2019, writing for a variety of titles including OK!, New!, and Notion on topics such as sustainable fashion and entertainment.

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