by Molly Carter

Created on: September 10, 2007

Perfume can be pricey. I fell in love with a sweet perfume at Macy's only to find to my jaw dropping surprise that it was $120 for 3.4 oz. Wide eyed, I walked away from the counter, went home and hopped online, convinced that I could find it cheaper...and I could.

There are a multitude of websites that offer discounted signature perfumes for up to 70%-80% off the price tag. Below is a list of reputable suppliers.

www.FragranceNet.com
www.Scentiments.com
www .perfumeemporium.com
www.fragrancex.com
www.saveonfrag rance.com
www.perfumeworldwide.com

Instead of purchasing my perfume from the sites listed above, I actually found an ebay store that sold my perfume for $20. Each perfume company has a number of tester bottles. These bottles hold the same amount of perfume as the marketable ones, however do not have a cap. For $100 savings, I didn't mind a cardboard lid. If you are purchasing a fragrance for yourself, by looking at ebay, you will be able to find your scent for a fraction of the cost.

If you are shopping for gifts, the best time to stock up on colognes and perfumes is right after Christmas. Stores like Ross, Marshalls and Target buy these fragrances in bulk for the seasonal rush. I've even found signature perfumes at Ross and Marshals throughout the year. You may have to dig through a discounted fragrance rack, but the savings are well worth it.

Another trick I learned from my boyfriend is don't be afraid to ask for samples. Men have an easier time than the ladies in scoring free samples, but he got by for a year on samples alone. When a new cologne or perfume comes out, ask for a sample or two. I've learned that if you tell them you have the fragrance and love it, but are heading on a trip, they will usually happily give you a travel size sample to take with you.

Spending hundreds on a bottle of fragrance is ridiculous when you can score such great deals on line or at a discount store. Invest a little time, it's worth it.

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