I cannot believe that perfume is so expensive. I bought my first bottle of perfume two years ago with a Macy’s gift card – it was my all-time favorite campaign, Diesel’s Fuel For Life. After a few catastrophic and intense life events (and a post with amazing reader insight), I decided… it was time for a change.

Scent is a powerful force, and the olfactory powers that be are not to be ignored. That said, I don’t know if the air-bound liquid particle method is the way I’m destined to go. After a stroll through Ballard’s [adorable, craving-inducing] boutique, Blackbird, and a dip into their gorgeous apothecary – I think I was destined for a more compact, controllable method of fragrance: solid perfume.

They’re easy to carry, won’t dump out in your purse, and for the love of God, they’re so much cheaper than your average bottle of stink. Plus, the aesthetic value of most solid perfumes is about equal to its bottled counterpart. Only more cute.

After falling head over heels for Diptyque’s Eau Duelle solid perfume (luxury! duality! white vanilla and black frankincense!), I immediately became heartbroken upon seeing the $48 price tag. Oh, cruel world.

I love the idea of solid perfumes, though! Purse-friendly, and such concentrated fragrances. The packaging plus the smell and the control over exactly where that stuff goes is immensely appealing. No more spraying into the air, then holding your breath as you flail in the mist.

I’ve compiled a healthy list of some of the neatest places around the neighborhood (read: internet) to get some affordable, beautiful solid fragrances.

L’Occitane

You may recall L’Occitane from my review of their Brightening Cleansing Foam, but I was pretty surprised that they had such a hefty collection of solid perfumes!

L’Occitane Roses et Reines Solid Perfume $12

“A floral tale that celebrated the flowers of queens” This touts the rich history and beauty of the ever-reining rose. All of their solid perfumes are alcohol free which means they won’t evaporate and will therefore last all day. Swoon!

And, you’ll notice, all L’Occitane’s solid perfumes are one quarter of the price of Diptyque…!

L’Occitane Pivoine Floral Solid Perfume $12

Lovers of peonies, pay attention. This solid perfume is made from the extract of peonies from Provence. One of the most beautiful flowers truly produces one of the most beautiful scents.

Lush

Oh, Lush. I will never tire of your beautiful, creative pairings, products and packaging. It should be no surprise to me that you offer delectable solid scents (aka Gorilla Perfumes) and I’m pretty sure I need all of them. Please prepare to get really, really excited because many of their amazing soap/shampoo scents are available in solid fragrance form. Holy. Crap.

Karma Solid Perfume $10.95

First and foremost: Karma. This is clearly the most exciting of the line (that I’m aware of). I have been in love with the Karma scent for years, and I would snap this up in a heartbeat.

Lush Vanillary Solid Perfume $9.95

This is one of the most popular Lush scents (if not the most popular). And for good reason! Vanilla might be codeword for “safety,” but this is safety with the volume turned up. Vanilla with little hints of sandalwood and caramel? Who doesn’t want to smell like a woodsy French confection?

Soap & Paper Factory

I’ve never heard of this store before, but after perusing their wares, I’m a bit more than enamored with their offerings.

Soap & Paper Factory Bella Solid Perfume $18

Oh, Bella, Bella! Not only is the packaging of this scent adorable and purse-friendly, but the scent is said to be amazing and complex. We’re playing with Bergamot again, but this time with citrus (grapefruit) and… black pepper. Yes, black pepper. I can only imagine – doesn’t it sound dreamy?

Soap & Paper Factory Gardenia Solid Perfume $18

The combination of fragrant Gardenia, coconut, and citrus seem like a combination that is instantly transportive. To where is up to you.

Have you tried solid perfume? Where is your favorite place to snag it?