Budget Beauty: Five brands to raid for lovely perfumes under P1,700
It’s easy to see why fragrance is such a personal matter. While the (happy!) reality is that there are simply too many available locally to count, there is also the matter of trying to find a scent that sets you apart from others while simultaneously suiting your personality and current mood.
If you have the budget to spring for celeb-coveted artisanal creations like Le Labo, Jo Malone,and Maison Francis Kurkdjian or are a savvy saver with luxury scents, then carry on as usual. But if you’re on a shorter leash with your fragrance budget, then some mid-range recos are just what you need. Here are five brands that offer scents below the P2,000 limit while still bringing something special scent-wise.
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The Body Shop
Okay, so The Body Shop isn’t exactly the fragrance-lover’s best kept secret. You’ll come for the eternally popular body butters and body washes and stay for love of their scent blends. What makes the brand special is that they offer a full suite of products that make fragrance layering so easy and oh-so-tempting. Try keeping it light and fresh through the rainy season with the Fuji Green Tea cologne (P995 for 100ml).
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Berdoues
French perfume house Berdoues is best known for their 1902 line of premium colognes, which actually range from just P795 to P995! This is most definitely not your teenage body splash as they feature sophisticated takes on refreshing scents like Gingembre Vert (green ginger), Mandarine & Cuir (mandarin and leather), and Cedre Blanc (white cedar). In case you’re wondering, 1902 is the year that this fourth-generation business began operations, so you’ve get some trustworthy noses behind the scents. Berdoues colognes are available in Rustan’s department stores, Zalora, and SM stores.
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Yves Rocher
This affordable French beauty brand doesn’t get nearly enough love as it should, and even the PV writers agree! Arguably, the most popular Yves Rocher product here is the rinsing vinegar. (it even made our list of exotic-scented beauty products!) but the fragrances are surely worth a second glance, or sniff. For example, Comme Une Evidence is a floral blend that’s as feminine as it gets, and you can grab an EDP for only P1,495 and the more intense incarnate for only P1,695. But they often have bundle sets and in-store promotions, so you’ll be able to save even more if you keep your eye out for a promo.
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Marks & Spencer
Aside from being able to get English gourmet treats and posh clothing options, Marks & Spencer is actually a veritable source of bath and body products. The Floral Collection fragrance line features a 3-in-1 Body, Room, and Linen spray for only P1,250 (100ml) because, let’s face it, if you love a favorite fragrance enough you'd want it on everything. Other EDTs and EDPs range from around P595 for 25ml to P1,645 for 95ml.
Demeter
The early 2000’s saw the rise in the popularity of scent-blending, and the Demeter Fragrance Library became one of the frequently named “blendables” that celebrities layered together. With unique selections like Dirt and Petrichor, it isn’t hard to imagine why even famous folks found creative freedom in the brand’s budget-friendly singles. And while Demeter doesn’t have a physical store in the Philippines, select variants are available in Althea Korea, with roller balls at P650 and small perfume bottles at P440. Plus, they even have fragrance cushion compacts for just P730!
Have you tried an out-of-the-box mid-range scent yet? We'd love to know your recos!
Header image via insider.etiket.ca
