There is no getting around the fact that perfume is expensive, and increasingly so in today’s world.

While high-concentration luxury scents will often last for hours, meaning just a spritz or two is required for all-evening wear, being able to buy them in the first place just isn’t possible for everyone. Which is where the ultra-affordable fragrance creations of high street stores come in. 

Over the past decade or so, the high street has become a great place to shop for perfume. From ZARA’s collaboration with Jo Malone CBE, to Marks & Spencer and & Other Stories’ own brand ranges, there’s arguably never been a better time to find elegant and wearable fragrances for less. And now, Boots has upped the ante with the launch of Last Note, a five-strong range of perfumes priced at just £12.99 for a 50ml bottle. Housed in modern-looking clear vessels with minimalistic labels, they certainly look chic. 

A beauty editor’s review of Boots’ Last Note perfume range

As a beauty journalist who writes about fragrance for a living, I’ve tried more than my fair share of scents over the years, spritzing everything from luxury perfume house blends and designer bottles to cheaper scents that you can pick up for less than dinner out with the girls. So, how does Boots’ new capsule collection of affordable fragrances fare?

I put all five Eau de Parfums to the test to assess each one’s notes, wear time, and overall vibe, ranking them based on my personal preferences. Here are my thoughts on each one, starting with my favourite.

1. Echoes of You

If you love being wrapped in a cosy, musky haze of a scent, Echoes of You is the Last Note scent to go for. With notes of pink pepper, iris, cashmere musk and dry amber, it smells rather similar to Glossier You; the wear time isn’t quite as long as the real deal, but it lingers well considering the price. I genuinely think people would mistake the two. It’s a great one for everyday wear, spritzed liberally on scarves, jumpers and skin. 

2. Velvet Bouquet

I’d describe Velvet Bouquet as being a typical, traditional feminine fragrance and, as such, it feels familiar and nostalgic. Jasmine is the star of the show, and the note that seems to last the longest with wear, supported with fresh, citrus-y bergamot and a little musk.

To me, it’s a little reminiscent of the iconic J’Adore by Dior, while I’ve seen other shoppers have compared it to Dior’s Poison. If you like reaching for a classic-feeling floral fragrance for everyday wear, I think you’ll like this. 

3. Into The Orchard

A fragrance for die-hard fruity fragrance fans, Into the Orchard’s name is apt because it conjures crisp, ripe apples right off the bat. When you first spritz, you’re immediately hit with this alongside equally sweet notes of strawberry, pink grapefruit and peach.

These crunchy and juicy apple notes take me back to an old-school classic, DKNY B Delicious. As it wears, though, it becomes more of a floral-fruity blend, thanks to jasmine, red berries and a musky base, retaining some of that initial sweetness all the way. 

4. Vanilla Portrait

This is one for sweet gourmand fragrance lovers. It’s got that syrupy quality, like a grown-up Natural Collection Vanilla (if you know, you know) or a strong whiff of vanilla extract while baking. Other notes at play here include amber, musk, rose and patchouli, but they are extremely subtle – to me, this scent is pure vanilla. But it goes to show that this olfactory family’s popularity is still going strong: at the time of writing, it’s had the most positive reviews on the Boots website, with shoppers comparing it to KAYALI Vanilla 28.

5. Soft Island Drift

Another super sweet fragrant concoction, Soft Island Drift opens with a tropical cocktail of coconut, pear and banana flower. This initial burst sits somewhere between foam banana sweets and Malibu. Banana leaf, apple blossom and jasmine come through as it wears, with a musk, vanilla and sandalwood base that remains somewhat sugary. It’s definitely the sweetest perfume of the collection after Vanilla Portrait. 

My verdict on Boots’ Last Note collection

All in all, this is a pretty nice collection of perfumes that cost less than £15 – increasingly rare with today’s ever-climbing prices.

So far, there are gourmand and floral options aplenty, so I’d like to see some less-sweet options be added to the line – perhaps something woody, perhaps something heavier on amber and spicy notes.