Smelling expensive doesn't have to cost the earth – these 6 chic Zara perfumes prove it
From on-trend blends to scents reminiscent of iconic designer fragrances, Zara is a great place to find your new signature perfume
Perfume costs a pretty penny nowadays, especially when shopping from high-end, luxury fragrance houses or big-name designer scents. But if you know where to look, you can still find expensive-smelling scents for under the £40 mark – especially if you choose from 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.
Aside from offering stylish clothes, furniture and décor, ZARA is also home to a range of stylish scents that cater to pretty much every preference, many of them having become fan-favourites in their own right. What's more, they're often compared to iconic, more expensive cult perfumes – meaning shoppers on smaller budgets can bag a similar scent for considerably less.
So, if you want 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 very well and is on hand with the chicest, most wearable options. These are our six favourite picks you'll find at the high street favourite...
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 like a far more expensive fragrance – think hints of saffron mingling with jasmine and rich amber. It's perhaps not one that everyone will love at first sniff but, speaking from experience, it grows on you as the day goes by, 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: Those who want an affordable perfume that could become their newunique signature scent.
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. These richer notes also mean that this woody scent lasts fairly well on the skin, adding to its value for money.
Smells like: They don't smell exactly the same, but there's some 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 slightly spicy depth of woods in a fragrance that's cut with a little sweetness.
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 | Notes: Bergamot, orange blossom, white musk
Another of the expertly-blended creations from ZARA's collaborations with Jo Malone CBE, this is the one for citrus fans. Bright and sparkling, it centres around zingy bergamot and orange blossom petals on a musky base; a fragrant imagining of days spent enjoying the sun on the Amalfi Coast.
Smells like: If you love Tom Ford Neroli Portofino or Jo Malone London Orange Blossom, we think you'll be into this.
Who should buy it: Anyone who loves citrus perfumes with a little depth, and who wants to top up their scent liberally through the day.
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.
- 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 isn't particularly long-wearing.
How we tested the best Zara perfume
A small selection of the Zara perfumes our beauty team have tested.
We've worn various Zara fragrances over the years years, but have revisited these fragrances consistently as part of the testing process for this feature to ensure the guide reflects 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."
We therefore tested a wide range of Zara fragrances, selecting the best from each fragrance family, wearing each one for a full day – all to help you make an informed choice before buying. As well as seeking out 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.
Working out how to choose a perfume that suits your taste can be tricky, but given the lower price point (and the occasional Zara sale discounting them further), we think 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 – say, for example, rose perfumes – this can help you to choose. The entire collection is available online, complete with descriptions and note breakdowns, so 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, from application to the lingering notes to look out for.
- Spritz 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."
- Look at 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." The base notes, however, are the longest-lasting.
- Moisturise well: "For 'desk-to-dancefloor' situations, use an unscented moisturiser on your skin before you apply perfume," Gordon says. "This will help lock the fragrance in better as it gives a moist skin impression."
- Consider fragrance type: Between 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."
- Spray elsewhere: "If you have a signature scent, you can get your clothing to smell like it as well," Gordon suggests. "Line your drawers with tissue paper that has been spritzed a few times [with this perfume] and allow the scent to permeate the fabrics."
