14 best long-lasting perfumes rated by us - and better still, they're all under £70

The best long-lasting perfumes will stay all day and linger into the night too, but that doesn't mean they come with a hefty price tag. Here are 14 options that we swear by, and they're all available for less than £70 - bargain!

Whether you're spending the whole day in the office or running about after the kids, a long-lasting perfume can be the key to feeling put together when you're struggling to find time to freshen up. But while some of the best perfumes of all time are known for their stellar staying power, they might set you back hundreds of pounds - and, unfortunately, even the best perfume dupes are unlikely to last as long as their designer counterparts. 

But that doesn't mean that you have to splash out to smell great all day. If you know where to look, there are plenty of budget-friendly scents that will last for hours after the first application and with this in mind, we've rounded up our favourite fragrances and tested their staying powers. From floral scents to spice and musk, these are the best long-lasting perfumes that really work for busy mums and women on the go - and the best part is that they all cost £70 or less. 

14 long-lasting perfumes under £70

The quick list

The best long-lasting perfumes we recommend in 2023

Keep scrolling to read the reviews form our team...

Dolce & Gabbana are is known for the luxury fragrance collections, with scents such as Light Blue and The One among their most popular. But did you know that you can own one of their its designer fragrances for less than £70?

L'imperatrice is a bold, feminine fragrance combing watermelon, cyclamen and blondwood. With an RRP of £60 for 50ml, This scent is top of our list of the best long-lasting perfumes.

Goodto verdict: Of all the perfumes I tried, this was by far my favourite. It has the advantages of being a well-known designer brand but at a more affordable price than other Dolce & Gabbana fragrances, and most importantly it was the longest lasting. I applied it at 8am and could still smell it on myself at 5pm - despite having cooked and washed up while on my lunch break. I like the scent too, it's not too sweet and it's not overpowering when first applied, despite having stellar staying power.

One of several new eau de parfums from The Body Shop, Full Ylang Ylang blends notes of soft petals, green leaves, woody stems, juicy fruits and sweet resin to create a sweet yet spicy scent.

Made with 90% ingredients of natural origin, certified by The Vegan Society and in a bottle made from recycled glass, this long-lasting perfume is a great choice for those who are looking for eco-conscious beauty.

Goodto verdict: I'm a big fan of The Body Shop and have used their fragrances for years. They're always affordable and smell great, and this scent was my favourite of their new collection - which also includes full iris, full rose and orange blossom too. The Full Ylang Ylang is fruity and tropical but not overly sweet, and for a budget option, it lasted a surprisingly long time. Again, I applied at 8am and while it had mostly faded by 5pm, I did keep catching the odd whiff of it throughout the evening. 

Another designer scent that's surprisingly affordable if you opt for a smaller bottle, Caroline Herrera's Good Girl cost £60 for 30ml. Sure, it might not make economic sense to make this your new go-to fragrance, but if you fancy treating yourself to a new scent, this a great option that promises to last all day. 

Packed full of powerful fragrance, this scent combines top notes of almond with heart notes of Sandalwood, Tuberose, Iris, Jasmine to create an oriental scent. The bottle will look impressive on your dressing table too!

Goodto verdict: This is my ‘signature’ perfume and I fell in love with it after my husband bought it as a gift - my little girl chose it because the bottle is shaped like a high heel and it does look very cool on my dressing table. I’m not a fan of overly floral perfumes, but this is a deliciously complex scent with top notes of almond, bergamot, coffee and lemon, and base notes that include cacao, cashmere wood, cinnamon, praline, tonka bean and vanilla. Yum. It’s quite a luxurious scent - I feel a bit spoiled if I use it for daytime - but it’s wearable every day. 

French skincare brand Caudalie has cemented its reputation as a skincare giant, but it also offers several fragrances at an affordable price. And Fleur de Vigne is our top pick for a fresh and uplifting daytime scent. 

Energising notes of grapefruit, mandarin and cedar combine to evoke the scent of a vine flower and is designed to be reminiscent of a walk through the grape vines that Caudalie is so famous for. 

Goodto verdict: I love this fragrance - it’s described as fresh and energising, which is spot on - I put this on in the morning, and immediately feel a little zing in my step. I’m not really a fan of heady scents, so this fresh fragrance from Caudalie is right up my street. A fresh fragrance is meant to be lighter than eau de toilette, but while it’s a light scent, I don’t find that it fades quickly or is unnoticeable. 

I wear this as an everyday scent, but wouldn’t hesitate to wear it at night too. Plus, the glass bottle looks great in my bathroom, and it’s compact enough that I can stash it in my handbag.

This designer fragrance will set you back a fair few pennies if you opt for the 50ml or 75ml bottles, but the 30ml option costs a very reasonable £65. If it's a well-known designer fragrance you're after but don't want to break the bank, this one's for you.

Described as "The feeling of falling in love, bottled", Chloé Love Story combines neroli, orange blossom and jasmine stephanotis to create this floral, daytime scent.

Goodto verdict: Rich and floral but still fresh, this is a heady scent that combines top notes of orange blossom with jasmine and cedarwood. I had a voucher to spend and I wanted to spoil myself so I splashed out on this after reading that it’s one of Molly Mae’s faves! I couldn’t believe how tiny the bottle was considering this is the most I’ve ever spent on perfume - but it’s lovely to use sparingly for special occasions. (Or whenever I want to channel my inner Love Islander or feel like feel like I fly by private jet…) 

If you're a fan of clean fragrances - think fresh cotton sheets that have just come out of the dryer - then Lazy Sunday Morning is the perfume for you. The clue is in the name with this one, which is designed to emulate the feeling of waking up in fresh sheets on a sunny Sunday morning. 

Fragrance fanatics might have already heard of Replica by the Fireplace, which is popular on TikTok. And while Lazy Sunday Morning couldn't be more different when it comes to scent, they both have stellar staying power. 

Goodto verdict: This perfume is a unique and very versatile scent, great for daytime wear. It's very subtle, so while you're not going to be leaving clouds of fragrance behind you while wafting about in this perfume, I found that it left me feeling fresh all day. 

If you're a true fragrance fan then no doubt you're already familiar with M&S' products - all of which boast stellar staying power and several of which have been hailed as dupes for designer scents.

While Warm Neroli has been praised for its similarity to Paco Rabanne's Lady Million and Midnight Blossom is said to smell just like YSL's Black Opium, Apothecary Warmth is a £10 dupe of  Le Labo's £160 santal 33, with both sharing notes of cardamom. 

Goodto verdict: This eau de parfum from Apothecary’s wellbeing fragrance collection went viral on TikTok so, yes, I bought it out of curiosity to see what all the fuss was about. Apparently, it’s a dupe of Le Labo Santal 33 which costs over £150 a bottle. It’s a very autumnal scent - think cardamom, cinnamon, cedarwood and sandalwood. As someone who likes summery scents, I wasn’t immediately a fan but it’s definitely a grower. It’s supposed to ‘evoke a warming feeling of comfort’ and the idea is that you spritz it on your pulse points ‘morning, evening or anytime you need to feel comforted’ and then inhale. For a tenner, it’s a lovely fragrance gift or an affordable treat if you’re a fan of warming, woody scents. 

A perfume staple if ever there was one, Glossier You is well-renowned for its staying power. Formulated as a skin-smell enhancer, it comes in a roller ball, solid perfume and there's a candle too. But the trusty 50ml bottle will set you back just £57. 

This long-lasting perfume includes top notes of spicy pink pepper with warm heart notes and floral iris for a fresh daytime scent. It's a cult perfume and raved about on TikTok too, so if if you love a trending product then this is our top recommendation.

Goodto verdict: I was really excited to try this cult favourite, and it didn't disappoint. It's a feminine fragrance but again not overly sweet, and it's not too overpowering when first applied. However, it didn't last quite as long as some other perfumes I tested, with the scent mostly vanished by around lunchtime. 

A summer scent if ever there was one, Sunflowers combines bergamot, melon and peach with jasmine, sandalwood and moss for a fruity and floral fragrance. 

Despite the brand's high-end status, a 100ml bottle of this Elizabeth Arden scent will set you back just £32, making it one of the most affordable products on this list. Not bad for a fragrance that promises to last all day!

Goodto verdict: I have been wearing this perfume for years, after buying my first bottle duty free on an plane to Florida when I was 16 years old. And I have loved it ever since. It might not be the most trendy scent, but it feels quite timeless - and Elizabeth Arden is spot on when they describe the fragrance mood as ‘bright, light-hearted and happy’. For me, it’s the perfect mix of fruity and floral, without feeling dated - I wear it everyday in the summer and find it long-lasting yet subtle - I don’t feel like the scent enters the room before I do. One where people will tell you that you smell nice, and not that they think your perfume smells nice. 

In collaboration with the Van Gogh Museum, Floral Street created this fruity, floral fragrance inspired by van Gogh’s oil painting masterpiece, Almond Blossom. The bottle is, quite literally, a masterpiece, and we love the mouth-watering notes of pomelo, passionfruit and apple blossom too.

At £68 for 50ml, this fragrance is a reasonably priced long-lasting perfume. And for those who like to know exactly where their beauty products came from, rest assured Floral Street is vegan, cruelty-free and sustainably sourced too - so you can spritz without a guilty conscience. 

Goodto verdict: This fresh and fruity scent wins major points for coming in such a beautiful bottle, and it's a very unique fragrance too. I'm a big fan of anything with grapefruit notes, so this perfume ticks plenty of boxes for me. It didn't last as long as some of the fragrances I tried, but I still managed to get a few hours wear out of it. 

Award-winning skincare brand Liz Earle has a stellar fragrance collection, with each scent over 87% naturally derived and made with the highest quality botanicals by leading perfumers.

Its No. 20 scent is a feminine, floral fragrance that combines rose with top notes of bergamot, pink pepper and mandarin, and base notes of sandalwood and vanilla, to create a romantic and uplifting perfume.

Goodto verdict: I'm not usually a fan of really feminine fragrances, but I do like rose and despite the sweet, floral notes of this scent I'm a big fan. I applied this one at 7am and it had faded by lunchtime which is not bad going, but at £62 for a 50ml bottle this fragrance isn't as good value for money as some of the others on our list.

Liz Earle has made it onto our list of the best long-lasting perfumes not once but twice, with the fresh and citrussy No. 1 scent coming in closely behind No. 20.

Perfect for sunny days, this perfume has top notes of bergamot, mandarin and bitter orange, and base notes of cedarwood and patchouli - perfect for those who love a lighter fragrance.

Goodto verdict: Despite including some of my favourite notes like bergamot and mandarin, I actually preferred Liz Earle No. 20 to this scent. However, if you're a fan of very fresh, daytime scents then this might be the one to go for, and I found it was just as long-lasting as its floral counterpart.

Ghost's newest fragrance Deep Night is - you guessed it - a delicious evening scent that combines notes of rose, apricot and peach with musk, amber and vanilla to create a fragrance that promises to last all night long. 

Described as sensual and passionate, this is a strong, confident scent with a romantic touch, complete in a stunning crescent-shaped bottle. 

Goodto verdict: If it's a more unisex scent you're after, Ghost Deep Night might be the best choice for you. Personally, I found it was quite overpowering at first and despite this, it had faded considerably after about five hours of wear. However, as this is a distinctly evening scent, I think this is plenty long-lasting if you want to wear it on a night out. 

It's another double-whammy for French skincare brand Caudalie, who has made it onto our long-lasting perfumes list for a second time with their autumnal Thé des Vignes scent.

White musk, ginger and neroli are the main notes in this fragrance, which is priced at just £44 for a 100ml bottle. You won't have to worry about spritzing away your pennies with this scent - not only is it a bargain but it'll last for hours too. 

Goodto verdict: Although the scent wasn't my favourite, what I really liked about this Caudalie fragrance was the mist application, which meant that plenty of perfume was applied with just one spray. It lasted a reasonably long time - I applied it at 8am but it had completely faded by the end of the working day, so I did manage to get a fair few hours out of it.  

How we tested the best long-lasting perfumes

To make sure we included products for every budget, we tested perfumes from a range of price points - including those from designer brands as well as options you can find on the high street. 

Each perfume was tested by a Goodto team member, to make sure that this list is an accurate representation of the best long-lasting perfumes on the market. We rated each perfume based on its longevity, and disregarded the products without satisfactory staying power.  

To do this, we applied each product at the beginning of the day and monitored how long the scent lasted - from how it changed throughout the day to how long it lingered and at which point the fragrance had faded completely - to get a good idea of which perfumes deserved a place in our roundup.

As well as how long the products lasted, we considered their value for money and, of course, how they smelled too. Lastly, we asked fragrance experts for their recommendations, as well as what to look out for when purchasing a fragrance that promises to last all day. 

What to consider when looking for a long-lasting perfume

• Concentration: For long-lasting options, EDP (eau de parfum) and parfum are usually better choices, because they contain a higher concentration of perfume oil. While EDP usually contains 10-20% perfume oil and can last up to five hours, body mists contain as little as  1-5% perfume oil, and therefore won't last anywhere near as long.
• Notes: Base notes tend to last the longest, so look for perfumes with notes such as woods (sandalwood, cedar), vanilla, musk, spices as well as oriental notes, such as cinnamon, patchouli, and amber. Top notes evaporate most quickly, and typically feature citrus, fruit or herbal notes.
• Brand: The reputation and quality of the perfume brand can also affect the longevity of the fragrance. Brands that tend to use higher-quality ingredients will often produce longer-lasting scents.

What type of perfume lasts the longest?

Eau de Parfums (EDP) and scents that contain lots of base notes make the best long-lasting perfumes. To make sure you're getting a fragrance with great staying power, choose EDP over Eau de Toilette (EDT), and look out for sandalwood, vanilla, amber, cedarwood and musk scents - as these will last the longest.

Christina Kamester, head of fragrance at So...? Fragrance, explains that paying attention to the concentration and the notes of your fragrance is key, "The fragrance triangle is a concept that was created to explain how a fragrance works. The top notes are the most volatile, they evaporate most quickly but are the first impression of the fragrance. These notes can last for up to 20 minutes and typically feature citrus notes, or fruits, herbs and marine notes. 

"The middle or heart notes are the true personality of the fragrance - lasting up to a few hours - and the heart typically contains floral notes and spices. Meanwhile, the base notes are the lasting impression of the fragrance. These notes have the most longevity and typically feature woods, amber, leather, vanilla, gourmands, and musks.  So, if a fragrance is chock full of base type of notes it may perform longer than something that is more citrussy and delicately floral."

However, as Christina points out, we don't just choose fragrances for their strength and longevity. Some of the most popular perfumes out there are fresh, citrus scents. Ultimately, you need to try a fragrance on yourself and see how it interacts with your own skin chemistry and how long it lasts, whilst weighing it up against how much you love the scent on you. 

How to make your perfume last longer

You can make your perfume last longer by adjusting where you spray it on your body and taking note of the other skincare products you use at the time of application. You can also spritz the scent on your clothes and your hairbrush too.

Christina says you should "Always apply perfume to moisturized skin, ideally using an unscented moisturizer, and apply the fragrance to pulse points (wrists, neck, inner elbows, backs of knees). The best way, though, is layering the same fragrance, by washing with a shower gel that uses the same fragrance and applying the body cream from the range, before applying the perfume."

Other tips you could try include keeping your favourite bottle of perfume in the fridge, as heat and sunlight can compromise the delicate balance of notes. And if you're not a frequent spritzer then you'll definitely want to consider buying your perfume in smaller bottles, because fragrance can go out of date after two or three years, which will affect its longevity.

Looking for more guidance on the best beauty buys? We've tried and tested the best eye creams for dark circles, and the best red lipstick shades for every complexion. You could also check out these night creams for glowing skin, and read our CeraVe cleanser reviews.