Here are practical, affordable ways to get scents that smell like luxury perfumes while keeping costs low in Australia — brands, specific dupes that are commonly cited, where to look, and smart buying tips.

Cheap brands and retailers to try

• Zara Fragrances — widely cited for “dupes” of designer scents (very inexpensive in-store and online).
• Dossier — direct “inspired by” perfumes sold online at low prices and ships internationally (popular for accessible takes on designer scents).
• H&M / Uniqlo / Muji / Miniso — cheap, pleasant mass-market fragrances for everyday wear.
• Drugstore brands at Priceline and Chemist Warehouse — Revlon, Elizabeth Arden, Adidas, etc. often have surprisingly nice options and large discounts.
• Discount department stores and outlets — TK Maxx, Myer last-chance sales, factory outlets.
• Decant and sample sellers — look for local decanting shops or online decant services to try a small amount of a high-end perfume before paying full price.

Common affordable dupes (examples people often recommend)

• Zara Vibrant Leather — often compared to Creed Aventus (masculine citrus/wood profile).
• Zara Red Temptation / Oriental — compared to some richer sweet-oriental designer scents (e.g., certain Dior/YSL gourmand/oriental lines).
• Zara Femme / Zara Gardenia — compared to more floral luxury offerings.
• Dossier’s “inspired by” range — they list which designer fragrance each scent is modeled after on their site (e.g., floral, woody, amber accords).
  (These are typical pairings people discuss — try samples first because skin chemistry changes how each scent smells.)

Where to shop in Australia for the best value

• Priceline and Chemist Warehouse: frequent sales, multi-buy offers and clearance sections.
• TK Maxx / outlet stores: often carry marked-down designer bottles and niche brands.
• Official brand sales and end-of-season clearance at Myer or David Jones.
• Online marketplaces and reputable resellers for decants or sealed discounted bottles.
• Local fragrance communities or Facebook Marketplace for lightly used bottles (buy sealed or inspect for authenticity).

Money-saving strategies

• Buy EDT or smaller sizes (30 ml) rather than 100 ml.
• Purchase decants/samples to test before committing.
• Look for fragrance oils or extrait/浓缩 versions from indie makers that mimic a designer profile at lower cost.
• Layer cheaper body products (matching body lotions, shower gels) to increase longevity without cost of more perfume.
• Buy during sales events (EOFY, Black Friday, Mother’s Day, Boxing Day) for big discounts.
• Consider refillable atomizers for travel-size decants of a single bottle to spread cost.

How to choose a good dupe

• Read notes and compare the dominant accords (top/citrus, heart/floral, base/woody-oriental). If the base accord matches (e.g., tobacco + vanilla, or amber + musk), it will feel closer.
• Try on skin and wear a few hours — some cheap fragrances smell close at first but diverge on dry-down.
• Pay attention to longevity and sillage expectations; many cheaper scents are best for close-to-skin wear and may need reapplication.

Safety and authenticity

• Buy from reputable sellers to avoid counterfeit products.
• Check ingredient lists if you have sensitivities or allergies.
• Avoid buying reportedly “exact copies” that infringe trademarks — many affordable options market themselves as “inspired by” rather than identical.

If you want, tell me: which luxury perfume(s) you like (brand or scent profile) and I’ll suggest specific, budget-friendly alternatives available in Australia and typical price ranges in AUD.