How to Buy Discount Designer Perfume Online: A Fragrance Outlet Guide

The Fragrance Outlet sells designer and celebrity perfume and cologne at discount prices, online and in over 100 stores across the US. Its best deals stack up when you buy more than one bottle: pick 3 for $99, buy one get the second 50% off, and bundle duos. Here's how to choose well when you can't smell the bottle first, and which deal fits which order.

EDP, EDT or cologne?

The label tells you how concentrated the scent is, which affects how strong it smells and how long it lasts.

• Eau de parfum (EDP) usually has the highest concentration of the common types. It lasts longer and projects more, so one or two sprays is often enough.
• Eau de toilette (EDT) is lighter and fresher, a good choice for daytime, warm weather and the office.
• Eau de cologne and body mists are lighter still and fade fastest.

The same fragrance name can come in more than one concentration, and they don't always smell the same. Check the full name on the product page, such as "Eau Fraîche" or "Intense", before you buy.

Testers, gift sets and retail boxes

Some listings offer a tester size. A tester is usually the same fragrance in a plain box, sometimes without a cap, and it often costs less. It's a good buy for yourself, but pick the retail box for a gift.

Gift sets pair a full bottle with a travel spray, lotion or shower gel, and they often cost about the same as the bottle alone. They make easy gifts, and the travel spray is handy for your bag.

Buying a scent you haven't smelled

Buying "blind" is common online, and you can make it less of a gamble:

• Start from what you already like. If you wear a fresh citrus scent, look for one described with the same notes.
• Read the notes on the product page: top notes fade within minutes, the base notes are what you'll smell hours later.
• If one of The Fragrance Outlet's stores is near you, smell it there first, or try a smaller size before a full bottle.

Skin reactions

The FDA notes that some fragrance ingredients can cause allergic reactions or sensitivities in some people, and that brands don't have to list each fragrance ingredient separately. If your skin reacts to perfume, stop using it, try spraying on clothing instead of skin, and ask a doctor if the reaction doesn't settle.

How the deals work

Pick 3 for $99 lets you mix and match three fragrances marked for the offer and pay $99 for the set, which works out to $33 a bottle. It's online only and limited to select items, so look for the "Buy 3 for $99" label. Buy one, get one 50% off takes half off the second fragrance, and the discount goes on the item of equal or lesser value, so pair bottles at similar prices.

Bundle duos package two top-selling scents together for less than buying them one at a time; the store says the savings go up to about $170. The clearance section goes up to 70% off, but sizes and stock change quickly.

Shipping and returns

The cart shows free shipping on orders from about $50, and many items offer express 2-day delivery. Customers pay return postage unless the store made an error, and returns are credited once the item is checked and found in its original condition. Read the full return policy before you open a bottle you might send back. See the Fragrance Outlet deals page for current offers.