Love At First Spritz: Find Your New Signature Scent

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There’s something really intoxicating and satisfying about wearing the right fragrance. Finding a signature scent, however, can be a years-long process, especially when you’re picky and sensitive to scents. Fragrance is so notoriously personal—it tells a unique narrative through their notes and evokes intimate memories. The right smell, each unique to the wearer, can give you an instant confidence boost, send you down memory lane, or elicit a smile. 

So how do you find the one? Just like trying on clothes, it’s all a matter of elimination. But a good place to start is with best-selling and popular scents that have stood the test of time. These are tried-and-true fragrances one can almost always find on anyone’s top shelf or vanity.

Ahead, we’ve curated seven scents from local brands you can choose from or play around with. And they’re all under P1,000—which is a bonus in our perfume books. Shop one or two (or all) via the SM Malls Online app. Add them to your cart today and save P100 on your delivery order for a minimum purchase of P700 when you use the voucher SHOPNOW upon checkout.


Ian Darcy

Oil-based perfumes tend to stick to the skin more and so are longer lasting than eau de toilette, hence the term “skin scents.” They offer a softer and a more natural whiff of fragrance that smells stronger as your body temperature gradually increases. They can be a bit pricey, but a pocket-friendly option can be had at Ian Darcy. 

For only P1,000 via the SM Malls Online app, you can score three best-selling Ian Darcy scents—VS-Victoria's Secret Bombshell 100 ml, CO-Bvlgari Coral 100 ml, and BC-Bright Crystal Versace 100 ml. These are all inspired by signature scents from brands we’ve all come to love. 


The VS-Victoria’s Secret Bombshell is a fruity-floral blend of citrus, Brazilian purple passion fruit, Madagascan vanilla orchid, and Italian pine for that bright fragrance that reminds you of a sunny day. 

Another radiant, fruity-floral option is the CO-Bvlgari Coral with top notes such as bergamot and goji berries, middle notes like pomegranate, hibiscus, and water lily. Rounding off the perfume are base notes from musk and Virginia cedar. 

BC-Bright Crystal Versace, on the other hand, smells like a refreshing yet sensual blend of chilled yuzu and pomegranate, complemented with soothing blossoms of peony, magnolia, and lotus flower, and warmed with notes of musk and amber. 


Aficionado

The brainchild of Filipino entrepreneur Joel Cruz, Aficionado has become a homegrown name in the local perfume industry and is touted as the leading perfume manufacturer in the country. The brand carries a wide array of scents, sometimes celebrity-inspired, that are easy on the wallet. 


Love Britney Spears and the bold, feminine energy she embodies? Shop the Aficionado F68 Fantasy by Britney Spears for only P288 via the SM Malls Online app. Made for the modern, playful femme, this bottle combines the enticing mix of red lychee, golden quince, and exotic kiwi notes—all while being laced with cupcake accord, jasmine petals, and white chocolate orchid finishes. It delivers a creamy musk that’s rounded off with orris root and woods. You’ll smell like a sensual, no-nonsense icon with this one!


Snag the Aficionado F2 Polo Sport for Men via the SM Malls Online app for only P288 if you prefer clean and crisp scents. Inspired by the iconic Polo Sport perfume, this one sports an aromatic green fragrance for that cool and refreshed feeling. It’s a classic woody and citrusy combo you’ll want to have in your scent arsenal. P.S. You can also spritz this on as your aftershave alternate!


Bench

Ben Chan’s flagship brand, Bench, is no rookie in the local scent industry. Its perfume and cologne collection has been a staple in countless vanities all over the country—and with good reason. They come in a wide range (size- and price-wise) and are accessible. 


If you want to try all of Bench’s daily colognes, we suggest you add the Bench Daily Scent 6-in-1 Trial Pack to your SM Malls Online app. This handy trial pack now only retails for P85 (from P100)—that’s 15% off! The pack contains 25ml bottles of Happy Hour, Lazy Afternoon, Indian Summer, Sunday Morning, Spring Break, and Bubble Pop. These are all made to match whatever your daily mood is—you’ll have a scent for each “season.”


Scent Studio

The first fragrance studio in the country, Scent Studio allows you to create your own fragrance. Be it perfumes, essential oil blends, room sprays, sanitizers, or candles, they’ve got you covered. Of course, they also carry pre-made eau de toilettes for the picking. 


Shop their Scent Studio Limited Edition Eau de Toilette (Blue Lagoon) for only P289 via the SM Malls Online app if you’re a certified summer baby. This easy-to-wear, unisex fragrance is inspired by “summer vacations spent floating on cool and refreshing azure waters.” With notes such as mint, melon, lemon blossom, freesia, ylang-ylang, cedarwood, and musk, this one adds a boost of energy and positivity to your day—whether you’re spending it at the beach or elsewhere. It also contains natural spearmint and peppermint for that much-needed refresh. 

Narrowing in on your signature scent can take time—but it’s a fun journey nonetheless. Remember, though, that you don’t need niche creations or designer exclusives that break the bank—you just need one that’s exactly you.  

On the lookout for #AweSM deals and discounts? Drop by SM Deals and the SM Malls Online app, and with a minimum purchase of P700, save an extra P100 on your delivery order when you key in the voucher SHOPNOW on checkout.