i like cheap perfume well while it doesn not last a long . ralph meeker convict character ( lawson ) tell this to barbara stanwyck helen character and after he get a whiff of the perfume that she pick out w or her husband in tijuana . this line crack me up and and also seem like a metaphor for this film that cheap be good than expensive and because a cheap perfume love man who have a way with a 2 x 4 be a good man to have around in the long run . i agree with some of the other comment post about helen attraction to lawson . even though her narration state that she want lawson to be put away and she do seem attract to his fiery nature and and that passion he stir up in her wouldn not likely wash away with the tide .