The 16 Most Expensive-Smelling Fragrances, Broken Down by Cost Per Wear

We’re firm believers that fragrance is just as important
to personal style as clothing. Scent memory is intense; the one
you choose will likely leave a lasting impression on everyone you
meet. For this reason, we’re constantly keeping tabs on the

most popular perfumes, the best new offerings,
and even the ones our editors are
wearing on repeat to stay abreast of the very best aromas out
there.

Right now, we’re interested in the rich, complex scents that
smell downright expensive. You know, the ones that make you do a
double-take. We scoured good ol’ Nordstrom for the most elegant
elixirs and then took it a step further by calculating their price
per wear. And honestly, these numbers make a serious case for
shelling out the cash for these little bottles of heaven.

We put on our very fashionable math hats and came up with a
formula to determine this info. As a general rule of thumb, there
are about 10 spritzes for every milliliter of perfume, and we
estimate that women will use two spritzes at a time. This means
that we get about five wears per milliliter, by volume.

Now that we’re done crunching the numbers, we invite you to shop
our curated list of the chicest scents to round out your perfume
wardrobe, all for a daily price less than that of parking in Los
Angeles.

This
intriguing option doesn’t smell like poison at all. It features
Calabrian bergamot and Sicilian mandarin as its top notes,
culminating in a pleasantly musky floral. The cost breakdown: $111
÷ 500 wears = $0.22 per wear

This
is the kind of fragrance you smell once and remember forever. It’s
that good. The violet accord and cardamom top notes play nicely
with the cedarwood, leather, and sandalwood base mixture. The cost
breakdown: $189 ÷ 250 wears = $0.75 per wear

Basil
grand vert, neroli, and white musk are all the components of this
simple yet elegant cult favorite. The cost breakdown: $119 ÷
500 wears = $0.24 per wear

If
you’re a sandalwood lover, then this nuanced take on the commonly
used base will be both surprising and pleasing to the senses. Notes
of bergamot, lemon, orange, and petitgrain (a bitter orange-derived
scent) sit on top but are softened by lavender and cardamom in the
middle. It’s just divine. The cost breakdown: $122 ÷ 100 wears =
$1.22 per wear

This
Tom Ford option evokes fantasies of the most lavish vacation you
can imagine. Oils of cypress fucus algae and armoise mixed with
salty driftwood make for a complex, elegant aroma. The cost
breakdown: $128 ÷ 150 wears = $0.85 per wear

This
Greece-inspired cologne smells of figs, green fruit, and wears
slightly musky. It’s the scent of a woman who knows a thing or two
about selecting a timeless fragrance. The cost breakdown: $140 ÷
500 wears = $0.28 per wear

This
lighthearted scent gives you notes of apple, pink musk accord, and
cedarwood, which is a winning combination for an everyday go-to.
The cost breakdown: $126 ÷ 500 wears = $0.25 per wear

This
sensual floral perfume is deep and sweet, with just enough woody
edge to make it interesting. The cost breakdown: $74
÷ 250 wears = $0.29 per wear

This
refreshing smell is reminiscent of a warm ocean breeze. It’s not
too strong but certainly leaves an impression. The cost
breakdown: $119 ÷ 500 wears = $0.24 per wear

This
crips, citrusy cologne is sweetened with notes of juniper berries
but kept spicy with basil and pepper. It smells like a California
dream. The cost breakdown: $135 ÷ 500 wears = $0.27 per wear

This
unique scent features top notes of bergamot, bay leaves, black
tea, and fig. The cost breakdown: $189 ÷ 250 wears = $0.75 per
wear

The
top notes of tuberose and jasmine sambac are soft and lovely. It’s
a true floral but not aggressively powdery. The cost
breakdown: $140 ÷ 500 wears = $0.28 per wear

This
woody fragrance is named for its key ingredient, which happens to
be on the more expensive side of perfume ingredients. The cost
breakdown: $128 ÷ 150 wears = $0.85 per wear

You’ll
pick up rose, pink peppercorn, and patchouli in this edgy, floral
scent. The cost breakdown: $102 ÷ 235 wears = $0.43 per wear

This
complex aroma embodies Italian elegance with notes of bergamot,
citrus accord, lemon, magnolia, jasmine, rose, tuberose, patchouli,
sandalwood, vetiver, and vanilla. The cost breakdown: $136
÷ 250 wears = $0.54 per wear

With
bergamot, lemon, and pomegranate layered atop a base including
sandalwood, and musk, this sweet, floral scent is bold without
being overpowering. The cost breakdown: $106 ÷ 500 wears =
$0.21 per wear. Up next, the 21 Japanese drugstore beauty products
with the best Amazon reviews.