While I was away last week, I checked out some airport prices of fragrances – bearing in mind this is supposed to be the tax free bit, it is really quite shocking how much price variety there is for exactly the same thing.
Miss Dior Cherie (100ml) was EU93 – converted at today’s rates to £81.50. In Boots today, the same product is £69.50.
Chanel Chance (100ml) was EU95.50, making that £83.50. But, oddly, today, in Debenhams, it costs £86!! More than Valencia airport.
I’ve got no idea how these price variants occur, but if you are considering buying fragrance on holiday at tax free prices in the airports, I’d really do your research first.
Similar to this
Transparency Disclosure
All products are sent to me as samples from brands and agencies unless otherwise stated. Affiliate links may be used. Posts are not affiliate driven.
7 comments
I’ve always wondered if tax free shopping was really that much cheaper, it’s kind of crazy how much perfume especially, costs sometimes no?
Over this last year Debenhams have had 20% off fragrances so I wonder if this would make them cheaper than Duty Free when you consider Euro fluctuations etc:
I do think people get caught up in the holiday mood & my mother has often found in some places you can find the fragrance cheaper at your destination especially France – so like you say well worth a look round
I completely agree with you and feel the same way about buying fragrances and cosmetics in duty free. Most of the time I just use duty free stores to test fragrances then go home and buy them steeply discounted on the internet. On the contrary, luxury items really seem to be a more cost effective buy in duty free. I was looking to buy a Gucci bag at Heathrow yesterday for 20% less than what their website or Harvey Nick’s both asked for it.
Apparently some of the cruise ships sell fragrance at half the price or less, than normal retail. No idea how they manage that.
I’m presuming it’s got something to do with taxes and duty.
European airports are far more expensive than UK airports, especially with the euro conversion.
I fly from Gatwick and the duty free shop there offers some fragrance at up to 40% off the high street and all others at 20% off.
I tend to buy the more premium fragrance and so these are always cheaper at the airport. I wear Chanel too and checked out the price in Gatwick it’s only £68.50 for the EDP or £57.20 for the EDT. Much better than Boots and the one you spotted.
You mentioned in your blog about doing your research, I agree as I think World Duty Free are in most UK airports and if you go to their website you can check the price using their Fragrance Search before you get to the airport.
The reason for this is that everything just is so much cheaper in the UK than in the Euro area. For instance, a MAC Lipstick costs here in Northern Europe 19 Euros, in France 17.50, and if I buy it in the UK, it is in Euros less than 15.50! In fact, it is cheaper for me to order from the MAC UK and pay 18 pounds for the postage, if I order at least 7-8 items, than to buy from my country.
It seems to me fragrance pricing is the best in US duty free stores. But it is bizarre that they vary so much.