You know that feeling when you fall in love with a particular perfume but then find out it’s outside of your budget? Or you keep hearing about an appealing new scent but aren’t sure you want to splurge on it without a trial period first? Fear not, you’ve got options.
From fragrance brands that focus entirely on dupes to more affordable mass perfumes that are inspired by the pricier originals, there are plenty of ways to enjoy your favorite fragrance affordably. To find the best dupes of some of the most popular fragrances, we sniffed, consulted, and researched. Here they are:
Best Baccarat Rouge 540 Dupe
The Original: Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 Eau de Parfum
Perfume designer Francis Kurkdjian was quoted as saying, “I wanted a heavy perfume that was both bright and light” for Baccarat Rouge 540. This truly fascinating and unique best-selling blend has notes of amber, jasmine, cedar wood, and its hallmark, saffron, and though it’s only been around for 10 years, it’s already considered a true classic.
Dossier Ambery Saffron
Dossier straight up admits that its Ambery Saffron fragrance is meant to evoke Baccarat Rouge 540 vibes (the brand refers to it as “our impression of MFK’s Baccarat Rouge 540” on the website). The dupe, thanks to the distinctive saffron, as well as jasmine, amber, orange blossom and cedarwood, totally succeeds.
Ariana Grande Cloud
Though a bit sweeter than Baccarat Rouge 540, Cloud by Ariana Grande is also a warm, spicy, rich fragrance that fans say reminds them of Baccarat Rouge 540, particularly once it dries down a bit and sits on your skin. Though it’s not identical, it is quite close, and besides, smells lovely all on its own — and that bottle is so cute it’s hard to resist!
Best YSL Black Opium Dupe
The Original: Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Eau de Parfum
A coffee -floral – vanilla fragrance that is rich, mysterious and extremely sophisticated. (One fan calls it “sexy in a bottle.”) Black Opium launched in 2014, though the original Opium was released in 1977, and it manages to be classic and elegant but not at all stuffy.
Zara Gardenia
Zara’s really made a name for itself in the world of affordable fragrances, many of which its fans swear are wallet-friendly replicas of pricier favorites. Gardenia reminds people of Black Opium, thanks to the orange blossom and coffee notes, alongside the fruitiness of peach and raspberry.
Dime Felt Cute Eau de Toilette
A yummy, clean blend of coffee, vanilla and pear, the brand announced this launch with a note on TikTok that it’s absolutely inspired by the OG YSL scent.
Best Glossier You Eau de Parfum Dupe
The Original: Glossier You Eau de Parfum
Glossier explains its best-selling fragrance is made up of “mostly base notes,” so that it smells incredibly different from one person to the next — it really lets you be you. The perfume is a mix of pink pepper, iris, ambrox, and ambrette seeds and it’s warm, subtle, and lovely.
Do bear in mind that Glossier reformatted You a few years ago to remove certain ingredients and comply with regulatory updates, and some fans of the beloved fragrance say that the longevity is no longer the same.
Montagne Parfums Moi?
This straight-up copycat, made with iris, ambrette, and musk, will fill your You bucket for less $$$.
Urban Outfitters Gourmand Fleur de Blonde Eau De Parfum
Another popular dupe is this extremely affordable fragrance from Urban Outfitters, Fleur de Blonde. It is a woody scent with notes of ambrette, violet and cashmere musk.
Bath & Body Works If You Musk Fine Fragrance Mist
A light body spray, with notes of iris, pink pepper, and of course, musk, If You Musk is definitely in the same family tree as Glossier You. Since it’s a body mist, it may not offer the same staying power as a more concentrated perfume or eau de toilette, so fans are hoping Bath & Body Works will offer a lotion in the same fragrance so we can layer. (Are you listening, BBW?)
Best Heretic Parfum Scandalwood Dupe
The Original: Heretic Parfum Scandalwood
For all your sandalwood lovers, check out natural perfume brand Heretic’s Scandalwood, a seductive, musky scent with coriander, rose, cardamom and sandalwood. This is a collaboration with burlesque performer Dita Von Teese, designed to be both sweet and spicy.
Dossier Woody Sandalwood
Though Dossier’s Woody Sandalwood was made as a dupe for Le Labo Santal 33, it also has quite a lot to it that feels similar to Scandalwood, including the musk, cardamom and sandalwood of the original.
Best Creed Aventus Dupe
The Original: Creed Aventus
This cologne is just the greatest, perfect blend. It’s got fresh and crisp notes from apple, blackcurrant, and pineapple, along with bergamot and warm patchouli, and a base of cedarwood, birch and ambroxan. Though it sounds like there’s a lot going on, it’s a cohesive, wonderful scent. No wonder it’s Creed’s best selling men’s fragrance — and for sure can be worn by women, too.
Montblanc Explorer
A versatile men’s cologne that certainly pulls from the same Aventus well, Montblanc Explorer contains bergamot, patchouli, and woodsy, citrusy notes.
Best Jo Malone London Wood Sage & Sea Salt Dupe
The Original: Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt
Love standing by the sea? Pick up this classic, fresh fragrance from Jo Malone, with its gorgeous blend of sea salt, ambrette and sage.
Fine’ry Before the Rainbow Fragrance Perfume
Fine’ry is exclusive to Target, and is making spot-on duplicates for some of our favorite, albeit pricier scents. Before the Rainbow is a Jo Malone mini-me, intended to evoke the smell of fresh, salty air, tree moss and bergamot for under 30 bucks.
Best Tom Ford Lost Cherry Dupe
Tom Ford Lost Cherry Eau de Parfum Fragrance
Mmmm — black cherry, rose, jasmine and almond. Tom Ford’s decadent and delicious Lost Cherry is something special (and yes, very pricy, too).
Bath & Body Works Oh, Cherry Fine Fragrance Mist
Another successful BBW dupe, Oh, Cherry is such a fun, juicy, bright and bold body mist, with notes of black cherry, magnolia and tonka bean (which is very reminiscent of almond).
Best Killian Paris Angels’ Share Dupe
The Original: Killian Paris Angels’ Share Eau De Parfum
Angels’ Share, from Kilian Hennessy (heir to the cognac family) had made a truly spectacular scent here. Naturally, it has essence of cognac, in a nod to the Hennessy business, as well as cinnamon, tonka bean, oak, vanilla and sandalwood. Boozy, cozy, warm, sensual — a true splurge that’s worth every drop.
Oil Perfumery Our Impression of Kilian Angels’ Share
This dupe of Angels’ Share offers the same scent profile that makes the original so compelling, including cognac, cinnamon, tonka bean, oak and sandalwood, but in a convenient, slim, roller top bottle for a mere fraction of the price.
The post Discover the Best Dupes for Your Fave Designer Fragrances appeared first on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.
