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Perfume, Body Wash, and Lotions for Cheap Prices

Smell Good Without Breaking the Bank

Shamontiel
Ladies, raise your hand if you like to smell nice. Tap the Shift key if you like to smell nice without the whole room smelling you before they see you. Now press the space bar if you like to smell nice without being loud, and don't want to go broke in the process. I, for one, love all of the above. I'm flattered when I reach out to hug someone or walk by a person, and they stop me to ask "What is that you have on?" with a look of approval. There are so many items at regular drug stores that a woman can buy to smell delicious without spending a wad of cash while clearing people's sinuses.

Perfumes: Women spend hundred of dollars on perfume that is out of style within months. Why don't we ever buy knock-off perfumes? Companies like Parfums de Coeur specialize in making your favorite perfume for a price you can afford. From high school to mid-college, I wore Fly With Me perfume faithfully and got plenty of attention from brothas. Fly With Me is a knock-off version of EscapeĀ® perfume and smells the same. Quite a few guys stopped me on the street and asked me what I was wearing. Besides loving the attention, I enjoyed the fragrance as well. This company sells everything from body fantasies, skin musks, designer imposters, and juice bar items.
And even if you're not interested in knock-off perfumes or can't find your brand for a cheaper price, try out specialty stores, specifically women's stores like Bath and Body Works and Victoria's Secret. A couple years ago, I went on my usual bra shopping expedition to Victoria's Secret and passed by the fragrance section. Feeling experimental, I sprayed a touch of Heavenly perfume on my wrist and fell in love. The perfume ranges from $39 to $52, but the body spray was only $15. Just like that, my five-year favorite, Fly With Me, was dumped and in walked Heavenly. Even if you're not really into body spray, Victoria's Secret has body washes that are between $15 and $20. Same smell. Cheaper. It may not last as long, but same effect.

Body Wash: Everybody likes feeling refreshed after they've taken a shower, so why not feel clean and smell even better? There are plenty of body wash choices that can be bought at regular drug stores like Walgreens, Walmart, Kmart, Target, and Osco Drug. My favorites include Adidas body washes like Aloe Vera body wash for women and Citrus Oil body wash for women. Aloe vera is already a great moisturizer for skin, and it has a subtle, soothing scent to it. Two other scents that smell really delicious but aren't too strong are Dial's Soy & Almond Milk and Dial's Lavender & Twilight Jasmine. You can buy body washes like this for under $5, and if you shop at discount stores regularly, as cheap as $3. Check the weekly coupon books for deals on coupons and rebates.

Lotion: I'm partial to anything with aloe vera in it, specifically because I have very dry skin. Vaseline aloe vera lotion is always on my bathroom sink. As much as I like smell-good perfumes and body washes, I'm not big on scented lotion (minus Victoria's Secret Heavenly's glimmer lotion). But if you are, even specialty stores like Fashion Bug sell scented lotion, along with the regular scent stores like Bath and Body Works, where you can find 8 oz. lotion for $5. Bath and Body Works is always having some kind of clearance or sale. Be careful of lotions that are too fruity though. I once wore Juice Bar's Cotton Candy lotion and ended up with 43 mosquito bites in a month. That was the worst summer ever. I couldn't go outside because I kept getting bitten, and it took me awhile to figure out why so many mosquitoes were killing my arms and legs. Aloe vera is a great ingredient in lotion because it smells wonderful, moisturizes, and kills bugs all at the same time. You ever wonder why so many mosquito repellents come with aloe vera added?

Whatever you choose to wear, just make sure that the smell compliments you and your checking account. No sense in smelling great if you can't afford to go anywhere and let others enjoy.

Published by Shamontiel

Shamontiel is the author of Round Trip and Change for a Twenty, and in mid-October became the Chicago Tribune s Digital News Editor. She works on National Travel, Health and occasionally Breaking News, and w...  View profile

  • 8 oz. lotions can be bought for $5.
  • So many perfumes come in the knock-off brand. Why not buy that?
  • Aloe vera is a wonderful smell and it kills mosquitoes.
Why pay $50 when you can buy $9 for your favorite perfume minus the big name?

8 Comments

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  • Shamontiel3/6/2008

    Quiche, I always feel like I'm cheating on my perfume if I wear another one. I bought Sexy Little Things by Victoria's Secret today after wearing Heavenly for four straight years. What do you think of men's cologne? What's your favorites? Feel free to check out my latest article on men's fragrances (http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/643653/top_five_mens_cologne.html).

  • QUICHE2/27/2008

    Great article, I actually have heavenly by Victoria's Secret and I love it. We have a discount perfume store in Little Rock by the name of Drug Imporium. You can get named brand perfumes at very discounted prices. I have so much perfume and body splash I could wear a different one every day for at least 2 months!

  • Shamontiel9/11/2007

    Lucy, I can't STAND Jergen's lotion. That stuff smells like dirty diapers. It makes me cringe. Eeeeeeew. But I know a lot of people who love that lotion though so I guess I'm in the minority.

  • Lucy Brandon9/11/2007

    Great article, but you didn't include good old fashioned Jergen's lotion, it has a great cherry-almond scent!

  • Shamontiel6/24/2007

    Really? I think Parfums de Coeur specializes in that type of thing because everything I used of theirs smells like the real thing. Their perfume used to be more accessible though because they sold them in Osco Drug (I don't know if you have one of those where you're at--I'll have to check your location) but I guess they started getting less sales so you have to get it through mail order or online.

  • Alyce Rocco6/24/2007

    Makes me want to rush right out and get some new perfume or body wash. I often got name brand bargains when stores markdown all those fancy boxed Christmas merchandise. I found close out Avon Timeless body lotion for a buck at a dollar type store. Never knew that aloe was a good insect repellent. Maybe I will give knockoff brands another try. The ones I tried did not smell as nice as my regulars.

  • Shamontiel6/22/2007

    You know what? I tried going to an oil store in Evergreen Park, IL at Evergreen Plaza and I wasted my money there, so now I'm a little hesitant to go to some of those specialty stores. I'm going to have to give another one a chance though, but a lot of those bottles don't have ingredients on it. I need to know what's in them because I break out so much. I can't even use face wash on my face. I can only use water, and luckily, I very rarely get pimples (like once every few months).

  • Saba,Ink6/22/2007

    Good selections--I also enjoy using the myriad of oils that can be purchased at African Stores or other wholesale discount place. These days, my favorite is White Diamonds and I must say it lasts ALL Day.

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