It’s not just M&S’s fashion that has gone viral in recent years; the British retailer’s fragrances have become equally covetable. Scents from the Discover range cost as little as £12, while the more premium Apothecary line rivals the likes of Le Labo, and regularly sells out.
Promising the same affordability but with extra luxury appeal, M&S’s new in-house brand, Studio, is an edit of eight fragrances, packaged in chic glass bottles reminiscent of Byredo and Dior.
The lineup includes a discovery set (£12, Marksandspencer.com) and features refined, modern scents evoking vanilla, musk, amber, and tonka. Each unisex fragrance costs £22 and is designed to be worn solo or layered.
Naturally, the Studio scents have already garnered attention on TikTok – particularly for their layering versatility and comparisons to classic fragrances. Some have noted similarities to Tom Ford, Byredo and Jo Malone fragrances, while others have said that certain combinations create a custom scent.
How I tested
The full Studio line-up
Daisy Lester/The Standard
Since the collection launched, I’ve swapped go-to luxury fragrances from Chanel, Diptyque and Jo Malone for M&S affordable alternatives day-to-day. Five of the Studio scents have earned me countless compliments. After spritzing, layering and identifying the notes in each fragrance, here’s everything you need to know about M&S’s new Studio line – plus which luxury scents each of my favourite bottles nods to.
M&S Studio vanilla silk eau de parfum
Daisy Lester/The Standard
★★★★☆
M&S’s vanilla silk shares the same covetable blend of vanilla and soft musk as Phlur’s TikTok-viral vanilla skin parfum. Featuring top notes of lemon and orange blossom, M&S’s scent avoids being overly sweet thanks to “buttery shortbread” aromas.
M&S Studio salted haze eau de parfum
Daisy Lester/The Standard
★★★★★
My favourite fresh scent from the Studio line, salted haze boasts a warm, creamy base and top notes of pear blossom. Seaweed, fig leaf, and lavender round out the scent, while cedarwood, sandalwood, musk, and tonka bean add depth. A stellar, affordable option for your work bag, M&S’s fragrance evokes a similarly crisp feeling to Jo Malone’s wood sage and sea salt scent.
M&S Studio amber creme eau de parfum
Daisy Lester/The Standard
★★★★☆
M&S Studio’s amber creme eau de parfum shares the same top notes of warm amber and a veil of patchouli as Dolce & Gabbana’s velvet amber. Both feature a rich, creamy base that appeals to gourmand lovers, rather than sharp or citrusy scents. To enhance the fragrance, it’s a nice one to layer over M&S Studio’s sheer musk (£22.50, Marksandspencer.com).
M&S studio dewy rose
M&S
★★★★☆
Drawing floral comparisons to Byredo’s luxury young rose fragrance, the M&S studio dewy rose is a fresh scent that combines delicate rose with soft notes and subtle warmth. While perfectly light for summer days, it’s an elegant and uplifting choice for year-round wear – and not overly sweet.
M&S Tonka Tabac
Daisy Lester/The Standard
★★★★★
Blending the warm, smoky richness of tobacco with creamy tonka bean, the M&S Studio Tonka Tabac is a sophisticated fragrance with a luxurious feel. Juicy plum and hazelnut add a subtle sweetness, while vanilla, cinnamon and myrrh create a deep, warming finish. Perfect for cosy autumn days and evening wear, it’s a rich, inviting scent that feels indulgent without being overly sweet