Perfume shopping has become a near-impossible luxury in the current economy. But what if we told you we had a solution to (nearly) all of your scent-related woes? To solve this conundrum, we have a list of local brands that sell perfumes and colognes that are affordable and actually get the job done. Some of them smell — cough, cough — quite similar to pricy originals, and others make authentic innovations that are bound to leave an impression wherever you roam.

Sound smart: An eau de parfum boasts the highest concentration of fragrance oils, dictating its potency and longevity. Perfumes are crafted with a balance of top, heart, and base notes, with the latter lingering the longest due to their richness. In the defense of fragrances, an individual’s body chemistry influences scent retention, with oily skin being more conducive to longevity.

Storing conditions also play a big part. Properly stored perfumes can help preserve your fragrances and prevent them from deteriorating prematurely. The rule of thumb is a dry, cool, and shaded environment.

#1- NSPIRED BEAUTY: This brand is set up by passionate scent enthusiasts who are committed to teaching you how to apply perfumes — and making well-known luxurious fragrances accessible to all without breaking the bank.

Another one of their perks is that you can opt for their discovery set for men and women if you’re not ready for ‘a bottle commitment’ yet (yes, that’s the lingo these days). What does that mean? They’ll send up to six 3ml samples of any six scents. They also have a 0% risk policy, so if the scent you bought doesn’t tickle your fancy you can return it and get your dosh back.

SCENTS: Nspired are all about fragrances that are inspired by some of the most popular (and frightfully expensive) imported perfumes and colognes.

MEN: For men, they have Sweet Cigar, an alternative to Tom Ford’s Tobacco Vanille, and Dior’s Sauvage stand-in, Wild Child.

WOMEN: For the ladies, the heavy-on-the-wallet MFK Baccarat Rouge 540 can be substituted by Scarlet Seduction, as can YSL’s Black Opium with Black Sugar.

HOW MUCH? Prices range from EGP 300 for the Discovery Set to EGP 1.3k for the Duo scent package. Perfumes come in two prices based on size: 50ml for EGP 485 and 100ml EGP 795.

WHERE? You can make an order on their website.

#2- DESIRS FRAGRANCE: They offer a distinctive range of fragrances, each inspired by their expensive counterparts.

SCENTS: Their categories of scents are strictly feminine and unisex.

WOMEN: Their bestselling Madagascar Vanilla has similar scents to the Narciso RodriguezAmbrée Narciso.

UNISEX: For both him and her, they have Toasted Tobacco Honey, which is a mix between Tom Ford’s Tobacco Vanille and Chanel’s Égoïste.

HOW MUCH? A bottle of Toasted Marshmallow will set you back EGP 900, and up to EGP 1.4k for Rose Smoke — all bottles are 110ml.

WHERE? You can buy their perfumes from their website. Prefer a sniff before committing? Visit one of the stores that stock their perfume for a quick whiff at Maison 69, Bloom Pharmacies, and 5 Beauty Spa Beverly Hills.

#3- NUIT FRAGRANCES: They’re a brand that focuses on curating a premium local fragrance brand with a singular belief: That everyone deserves more than just a pleasant scent.

SCENTS: They promise you an olfactory experience that’ll elevate your mood and spirit — and if you’re looking for a specific mood, they tell you what vibe each scent gives off and when to apply it.

MEN: They have Bounty Hunter, which has a heady scent close to Maison Margiela’s Jazz Club from the Replica line.

WOMEN: Their current hit aptly Head Turner has similar scents to Love Don’t Be Shy by Kilian.

UNISEX: Their best-selling unisex perfume is Rum, another fragrance that has notes similar toMFK Baccarat Rouge 540.

HOW MUCH? Prices range from EGP 380 for French Foulard to EGP 550 for Arabian Spell. All bottles are 50ml.

WHERE? You can buy their perfumes online but if you want to smell before you spend, you can visit Maison 69.

#4- BOSHARA PERFUMES: You’ll dig deep in your pockets for one of the fragrances from their diverse collection.

SCENTS: We were overwhelmed by the endless categories, but we picked a few to ease your search.

MEN: We picked Milano, created for fans of Paco Rabanne’s 1 mn.

WOMEN:Pink Shadow, similar to Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Nectar, was a quick like.

UNISEX: We opted for the Iconic Oud, which reminds us of Tom Ford’s Tobacco Oud.

HOW MUCH? Perfumes range from EGP 599 for Indiago, to EGP 1.5k for Neron. Bottle sizes range from 50ml to 100ml.

WHERE? You can order from the online website or you can visit one of their two Cairo branches in Mall of Egypt or Maadi City Center. There are other branches outside of Cairo, in Tanta and Alexandria.

#5- GO NATURAL: This brand is dedicated to promoting beauty and health — specifically perfumes — without the need for expensive products or harmful chemicals. There’s another bonus, too: They offer 5ml - 20ml samples of their perfumes for you to try without the commitment.

SCENTS: They’re mainly focused on women — only two fragrances were created for men. The majority of the scents are flowery, sweet, and fruity.

MEN: The first perfume, Noir, has similar notes to Jo Malone’s Velvet Rose & Oud. The second perfume, Alpha, is almost identical to Dior Fahrenheit.

WOMEN: There are more options for the ladies, and we picked two favorites. Juliette, similar to Viktor & Rolf’s Bonbon, and Velvet Musk, which is close to Chloé by Chloé

HOW MUCH? The perfumes are all priced at EGP 450 with 50 ml in the bottle.

WHERE? You can buy their perfumes on their website or try them out at Maison 69, Locally, Kito Center, and Up-Fuse.

#6- MISKA: If you fancy heavier scents that are similar to Arabian oud, this brand is for you.

SCENTS: They are focused on female scents and offer seven fragrances. Each one has a musky note to it complemented by dark and earthy to light and floral notes. Our must-have from the options is Rose Musk, a great substitute to Chanel’s Coco Mademoiselle.

HOW MUCH?Expect to fork up EGP 1.1 k for 50ml.

WHERE? You can DM their Instagram or make a trip to one of the Maison 69 or Al SagheerSalon branches.

Tags: