Best Zara perfume: From everyday scents to designer launches
No need to splash the cash on designer fragrances – these Zara perfumes deliver a scent for every occasion at a price you'll love
Zara comes up trumps for stocking could-be-designer clothing at affordable prices. We’re going to let you in on a little secret: the same can also be said about its ever-growing collection of perfumes. All the rage on TikTok for its power to dupe a designer perfume, Zara fragrances are definitely worth a sniff. This top high-street retailer offers a variety of scents, from fruity florals for daytime wear to flirty aromas that are perfect for date night.
And the best news? You won’t have to pay out a small fortune for the scent of the season. Despite the generous price point, Zara perfumes are known for being very trend-led; in fact, many customers share the likeness of some of the brand’s scents to cult designer perfumes. For example, if you’re hankering after some swoon-worthy and much sought-after Maison Francis Baccarat Rouge, which will set you back a couple of hundred pounds, then Zara’s Red Temptation smells very similar but comes in at a fraction of the cost.
Whether you’re looking for something seasonal, inspired by a cult-classic or an uplifting scent you can spritz on everyday, we’ve tested Zara’s plentiful perfume collection and rounded up the best-smelling picks of the lot.
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Best Zara perfume: At a glance
- Best all-round Zara perfume: Lightly Bloom | £7.99
- Best Zara perfume for floral scent: Elegantly Tokyo | £26
- Best Zara perfume for a clean scent: AppleJuice | £13
- Best Zara perfume for date night: Gardenia | £7.99
How to choose the best Zara perfume for you
What types of Zara perfumes are available?
With different moods, notes and vibes, there’s a plethora of Zara perfumes waiting to be sniffed; but our favourites (and the most premium) tend to be from Jo Malone’s collaborations with the high-street brand.
The perfume connoisseur (and founder of Jo Malone London and Jo Loves) has worked with Zara on two highly anticipated collections: Zara Emotions in 2019 and Vibrant Cities in 2021. These perfumes come in at a higher price point than the regular scents, but still only sit around the £20/£25 mark. When compared to the price of Jo Malone’s cult perfumes, they could be described as being in bargain territory.
In addition, you can also purchase handy travel sizes of most of the Zara fragrances available, which is great for testing out how the perfume wears on your skin and to discover its staying power. The travel roll-ons are perfect for slipping into a handbag for top-ups while you’re out and about.
Which Zara perfumes are the best designer dupes?
If you’re looking for a perfume inspired by a classic scent, here are the most popular dupes according to enthusiastic customers.
Waterlily Tea Dress (£26): With notes of vert de bergamot and spearmint, this fragrance is said to be very similar to Byredo Gypsy Water.
Red Temptation (£20): Oozing top notes of sensual jasmine and rich saffron, with middle notes of amber, some have called this a dupe for Maison Francis Baccarat Rouge.
Gardenia (£8): Sweet and spicy, this fragrance is likened to the popular YSL Black Opium.
Apple Juice (£8): This fresh, romantic scent has customers calling it a dupe for Chanel’s Chance Eau Tendre.
How we test Zara perfumes
At Expert Reviews, we know that hands-on testing delivers the most complete information about a product. As such, we put all of the Zara perfumes we review to the test, using the products on a strip blotter, spraying them on pulse points, and taking note of the scent once it has had time to settle and react to the body’s warmth.
Through testing, we note all levels of the scent pyramid, evaluate the overall quality of the fragrances, how well they match their brand name counterpart, and the length of time they linger on the skin. We also note how accurately the scent meets the stated fragrance notes. Finally, we confirm the amount of the product supplied.
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The best Zara perfumes you can buy in 2023
1. Lightly Bloom: Best all-round Zara perfume
Price: £7.99 | Buy now from Zara
If you’re looking for an easy and light, everyday crowd pleaser – or somewhere to start in your Zara perfume journey – Lightly Bloom is one for your list. It’s a girly scent powered by lotus, aquatic florals and musk, which makes it an extremely likeable and clean fragrance. We love the fresh notes of peony that feel very springtime.
It’s a fuss-free, expensive-smelling perfume that’s perfect for those occasions you need a scent that’s comfortable yet captivating. Customers love this super-affordable floral scent that feels light and sophisticated. The sleek packaging and brilliant price point make it an excellent gift, too.
Key details – Main notes: Lotus, peony, musk; Size: 30ml; Smells similar to: Dior Blooming Bouquet
2. Elegantly Tokyo: Best Zara perfume with a floral scent
Price: £26 | Buy now from Zara
This is an elegant and sophisticated floral fragrance grounded with hints of wood to ensure it remains modern. One from the Jo Malone Vibrant Cities collaboration, it definitely feels a lot more luxe and long-lasting then some of the other Zara perfumes.
It’s delightfully heavy on the jasmine and, all in all, smells like a garden of white flowers (in the best possible way). A unisex scent, it’s a masterpiece for the price point. Some have likened the scent to Diptyque’s Do Son or Dior’s Lucky. Overall, Elegantly Tokyo is a quietly confident floral perfume that you’ll look forward to spritzing again and again.
Key details – Main notes: Lily, Arabian jasmine, akigalawood; Size: 100ml; Smells similar to: Diptyque Do Son
3. Ebony Wood: Best Zara perfume for autumn
Price: £26 | Buy now from Zara
If you’re looking for a scent that’s autumn personified, this Jo Malone-created fragrance is one for your perfume shelf. Sporting a warm, spicy scent, it has a soft sweetness that lends itself to being unisex. We love how it radiates comfort and mystery, while fans of the fragrance gushed how it’s elegant without feeling ageing.
It’s a uniquely original scent for Zara – it doesn’t really smell like any other popular scents on the market – although,at a push, it could be likened to Dior’s Ambre Nuit. It’s a great woody fragrance to have in your arsenal during the colder months.
Key details – Main notes: Ebony wood, clove, pink peppercorn; Size: 90ml; Smells similar to: Dior Ambre Nuit
4. Hibiscus: Best Zara perfume for summer
Price: £13 | Buy now from Zara
A tropical, fruity floral that reminds us of relaxing by a pool in the summertime, Zara’s Hibiscus is creamy and addictive, boasting mango and citrusy notes that harmonise with a floral finish. It’s fun, playful and a guilty pleasure – some have even likened the smell to a tropical fruit punch.
Despite not being listed as a note, you get strong whiffs of pineapple, which give it an air of the unique. Overall, it’s a fresh, fruity fragrance that’s perfect for summertime. Weartime is around four to six hours, which is pretty impressive for the low price point.
Key details – Main notes: Tangerine, vanilla, peony, mango; Size: 90ml; Smells similar to: Loewe Solo Ella
5. Tropical Boost: Best Zara perfume for a sweet scent
Price: £18 | Buy now from Zara
An uplifting and easy-to-wear fragrance that smells like a fruit salad, we adore this summery scent from Zara. It oozes juicy notes of pineapple and grapefruit, grounded with an addictive creamy musk. It’s fun and playful while being soft and airy. It’s a top-tier everyday perfume that will instantly put you in a good mood.
Fans have likened the scent to Marc Jacobs’ Perfect and Burberry Her – and, thanks to its syrupy sweet notes, it’s a great scent for teens, too. Tropical Boost is definitely one to pack for holidays or for feeling some summer sparkle on cloudy days.
Key details – Main notes: Pineapple, almond milk, brown sugar; Size: 100ml; Smells similar to: Marc Jacobs Perfect
6. AppleJuice: Best Zara perfume for a clean scent
Price: £13 | Buy now from Zara
Growing in popularity is Zara’s AppleJuice perfume – which, like its namesake suggests, smells exactly like crisp apples. This sophisticated, fresh and musky scent is a crowd pleaser, subtle and light enough to be worn everyday. We enjoyed the sharp, juicy notes of apple that pair perfectly with delicate peony and violet for a can’t-believe-it-isn’t-designer fragrance.
It’s thought to be a dupe for Chanel’s Chance or Marc Jacobs’ Daisy, and is perfect for anyone wanting a fresh yet musky citrus scent on a budget. AppleJuice is delicate, fruity and incredibly moreish.
Key details – Main notes: Apple, peony, violet; Size: 100ml; Smells similar to: Chanel Chance
7. Gardenia: Best Zara perfume for date night
Price: £7.99 | Buy now from Zara
As one of Zara’s most well-known perfume dupes, Gardenia smells almost identical to YSL’s Black Opium. Despite its namesake, Gardenia doesn’t smell too floraly – although it is slightly more bloom-worthy than YSL. Instead, it delivers deep notes of orange blossom, coffee and vanilla for a mysterious and seductive aroma.
It rated highly for boasting a mature sweetness, while remaining warm, sensual and fun – making it an easy choice for impressing on date night. All in all, you can expect an expensive-smelling fragrance with great staying power, proving its value as one of the best perfumes you can pick up on a budget. We simply can’t get enough.
Key specs – Main notes: Orange blossom, coffee, vanilla; Size: 30ml; Smells similar to: YSL Black Opium
