How to get into perfume without going broke

Smart ways to explore perfume, plus my favorite budget-friendly finds

When I first launched Dry Down Diaries, I wrote a post on how to get into perfume, you can read it here. It resonated with a lot of people, so I thought it was time for a part two. This edition is packed with affordable picks and plenty of links to shop below (because it’s a holiday weekend, and the sales are everywhere).

My best advice for getting into perfume is in this post, but let’s be honest—falling in love with fragrance without going broke is a tricky business. Perfume can be expensive. That said, you don’t need a huge collection to enjoy it. Like a body count, the number of bottles you own has very little to do with the actual pleasure you get from the hobby. Quality, curiosity, and enjoyment matter far more than quantity.

Get discovery sets and samples

Nearly every perfume house offers a discovery set—an easy, low-commitment way to explore their range and experience bestsellers before investing in a full bottle. Many brands even include a discount on a full-size bottle with the purchase of a discovery set, making it a smart option if you’re sampling with intention. Discovery sets are also one of the best ways to figure out what types of fragrances you’re drawn to. Do you love florals? Warm, woody notes? Bright citruses or cozy gourmands? Sampling a curated selection can help you hone your preferences and vocabulary.

Discovery sets from Gabar and Alloy Studio

Individual samples are another great option for exploring without splurging. Sites like Lucky Scent and Twisted Lily offer a wide selection of samples from niche and hard-to-find fragrance houses.

Smell your friends collections and ask for decants

I am constantly decanting perfumes in my collection for my friends. I have too much and I like sharing all the smells. With fragrance having such a major moment (and no signs of slowing down), chances are you have at least one friend with a growing collection. Smelling through what they own is a great way to figure out what you like. And if they’re generous, they might even have extra samples or decants to share.

Buy travel sizes

Let’s be honest, it’s rare any of us will finish a 100ml bottle of perfume, or even a 50ml, especially if we own more than a handful of fragrances. That’s why I’m always disappointed when a fragrance house doesn’t offer travel sizes. They’re a great way to test-drive a scent, enjoy it for a while, and avoid making a big financial commitment. Lately, I’ve been opting for travel sizes over full bottles whenever I can, and my wallet is definitely thanking me for it.

The friendly face of Steven Gontarski and the samples I left Scent Bar with that day.

Look into decants

I’m a big fan of Scent Split, it’s one of my favorite places to buy decants, and they carry a good range of fragrances. You can choose the size you want, explore a wider variety of scents, and save money in the process. I know people who exclusively buy decants—it’s a smart way to build a diverse collection without the full-bottle commitment. And if you fall in love with something, Scent Split also offers full-size bottles when you're ready to go all in.

Get your fix at perfume boutiques

I write a lot about the perfume stores I love, mostly Stéle, Ministry of Scent, and Scent Bar in LA. I visit these shops whenever I can, and often I’ll just spend time smelling through their collections, chatting with the staff (perfume people are truly my favorite kind of people), and getting my fix.

Sometimes I leave without buying anything, but I always walk out with more insight into what I might want to invest in next. And that’s totally fine. Of course, it’s great to support indie perfume shops by purchasing from them—but they absolutely don’t mind if you come in just to explore. If you don’t live near any perfume shops going to perfume counters at the mall is another great option!

Ministry of Scent in San Francisco and Stéle in NYC

Be curious. Ask questions. The people who run these shops are deeply knowledgeable and often just as eager to talk about scent as you are. Many also offer samples, so you can test things on your skin at home before committing. It’s one of the best ways to learn, and fall deeper in love with fragrance.

Don’t get caught up in the frenzy

I know I contribute to it, I write about fragrance and post about it constantly. But let me be the first to say: it’s totally okay if you don’t get your hands on the newest release the moment it drops. The hype will pass, and the perfume will still be around next month (and next year). The more fragrance content you consume online, the harder this can feel, I get it. I have to remind myself to chill out all the time. And if you must smell the latest launch? Refer back to the steps above: samples, friends, decants, perfume boutiques.

Affordable Frags I recommend

I recommend Dedcool to a lot of people. And I buy Dedcool discovery sets for the young people in my life (like my niece) who want to get into perfume. Xtra Milk is a favorite skin scent of mine, it’s musky, clean, and a little sweaty in the best way. I am anosmic to Milk but I can smell Xtra Milk. At $90 for 50ml I think this is a good deal ($72 right now). I usually buy the travel size as I like to take this one with me on trips. And it’s only $30, $24 right now on the Dedcool site.

Imaginary Authors is one of my go-to recommendations for anyone who wants to have fun with fragrance but isn’t sure where to start. Their discovery sets are a great entry point, and I love their playful design and literary-inspired concept. The scents are solid across the board—some resonate with me more than others, but with such a wide range of offerings, most people can find something they really connect with. In Love with Everything is a standout, a bright, nostalgic scent that smells like carefree summers—when nothing felt urgent and the whole world felt wide open. I’m super curious about their latest release, How to say Bicycle in French, clunky name but great notes. These go for $115 for a 50ml and $46 for a 14ml.

Snif is another affordable line that has a good range and some really solid smells. Vow Factor and Heal the Way are two of my recent favorites from them. $65 for 30ml is a great deal. I’m also a big fan of Snif’s weird sister, No Noses which features what they call a ‘secret menu’ of perfumes I find super interesting. I recommend Crumb Couture and Naughty Nonna.

Glossier and a shot from Viv Chen's scent swap last year - another great way to get into fragrance and not go broke.

You know what, I like the original Glossier. It’s a bestseller for a reason and at $78 for 50ml I think it’s a good deal. I have yet to smell their latest, You Fleur, but I have heard good things. I bought the new releases last year but am just meh on them and will probably bring them to scent swaps.

Essential Parfums is one of the best-priced fragrance lines out there—and the quality is outstanding. They collaborate with world-renowned perfumers, giving them complete creative freedom to craft the scents they want to make, without a restrictive brand brief. The mission is simple but refreshing: celebrate the perfumers and put their artistry front and center.

I always recommend their discovery set—you get ten fragrances for just $27, which is an absolute steal. And if you fall in love with one, a full-size bottle is only $96, a rare price for such high-caliber, perfumer-led creations.

I keep hearing good things about the new fragrances from Nopalera and I need to get my nose on them. I love their soaps. Flor de Madera sounds like one I would like and at $78 for 50ml they’re also well priced.

d.Grayi and Odette

For some more indie niche fragrance houses I love D. Grayi. I own a few of their scents but Jasmine Rice and Padan are on my list. They run $100 for 30ml.

I also think the beloved Odette is really well priced at $102 for a 100ml and $68 for a 30ml. You can read what I thought of all of her scents right here. Warning - her site is a little finicky so just be patient, it’s worth it!

I have not smelled Sorce but they’re high on my list to try. If for no other reason than I have seen many many tiktokers rave about them, some of whom I trust. And they’re priced really well with lots of size options. You can get a 50ml for $92.

Immortal Perfumes is run by the brilliant Jen Siems who shares the best historical perfume knowledge on the internet. I love that you can get a full bestsellers sample collection of her scents for $65. I really like everything I have smelled from her line and I’m dying to visit her shop in Seattle.

If I’ve learned anything, it’s that many of you are far more knowledgeable about perfume than I am. So please share your best tips for getting into fragrance without going broke, and let me know your favorite affordable perfumes to recommend. I know you all have good recs.