OK, so now that you look good, you probably want to smell good too. Here's how to do it on the cheap.
Fragrance Oils:
I love me some scented oils: Amber, Patchouli, Sandalwood...they remind me of my youth (the memory of which I enjoy). Oils are great because they typically don't have that awful alcohol smell that a lot of perfumes, especially cheap ones, sometimes have. Oils also won't smack other people in the face with overwhelming scent that some perfumes do. Oils range in price, but I can always find one that I like for under $15.
I love me some scented oils: Amber, Patchouli, Sandalwood...they remind me of my youth (the memory of which I enjoy). Oils are great because they typically don't have that awful alcohol smell that a lot of perfumes, especially cheap ones, sometimes have. Oils also won't smack other people in the face with overwhelming scent that some perfumes do. Oils range in price, but I can always find one that I like for under $15.
My latest scent obsession is a one called “Memories” (how ironic) by Soapily Ever After. Soapily Ever After has a TON of scents to choose from and she can even mix you up a custom scent.
Now, with any scent, oil or perfume, I urge you to try it on your skin first, wear it for awhile and see how it mixes with your body chemistry. A scent you love in the bottle may smell like puke (or any other vile scent) on your body. (Example: I love Nag Champa, but it smells like bathroom cleaner on me.)
Lucky for you (and me too!),Soapily Ever After has just the thing!
Purchase a sample of any one of her 100+ scents in a sample size for just $2 and if it works for you, she will deduct $2 off of any future purchase from her store made with that scent. This is a sampler's dream!
Soapily Ever After also offers soaps (duh!), dry shampoo, lip balm...and she's always coming up with more.
Also check Flourish on Etsy for other oil options.
Another great oil shop is Kamala’s Own Magickal Perfumery. Kamala has a wide range of oils in a wide range of prices, from Ajowain at $7 for 1/8 oz to Indian Oud at $1,442 for 1/8 oz. She offers sampler packs for around $20 - you get seven 1/5-dram (slightly more than 1/8 tsp - about 30 drops) of a similar variety of oils. Kamala will also custom design a scent just for you or you can provide her with a scent you love (but maybe can't afford) and she will replicate it. Kamala is located in Colorado, but she does visit the Bristol Renaissance Faire every summer, come by and meet her if you're able to.
(Kamala visits other events throughout the year as well. Check her site for upcoming events.)
Perfume:
A great place for cheap perfume is The Body Shop. Most scents are around $20 and they have a wide variety, from floral to musky, to satisfy all.
Also check out Lush. It's a little more expensive than Body Shop, but they also have solid perfumes that are less expensive.
