The unrivalled Dolly Parton once famously declared “It takes a lot of money to look this cheap”, but when it comes to fragrances, one could argue the opposite.
Smelling good needn’t cost the earth, and when it comes to famous classic scents, there are plenty of thrifty dupes on the market at a snip of the cost.
Sure, they probably won’t linger for as long as the pricier ones and they’re probably missing one or two of the more premium ingredients, but dupes are a good way of working out whether you really like a fragrance before dropping megabucks in a beauty hall. They’re also kinder on your bank balance, offering a way to cut back without seriously denting your personal beauty standards.
If you like the vibe of your favourite scent but it’s too expensive to wear every day, a similar version means you can spritz with abandon and save the real deal for those push-the-boat-out occasions.
If you’re afraid of being caught out with a “faux”, you needn’t be. Unlike clothing and accessory copies, your sprayed scent doesn’t come with a label so few, barring the nasally superhuman, will be able to sniff out the truth.
When it comes to shopping for dupe scents, the richest hunting grounds are high street fashion retailers and supermarket own-brand lines who use, ahem, heavy inspiration from top tier brands to create their own formulations.
Then there are famous noses who have started other enterprises: the most famous of which in the fragrance world is Jo Malone CBE. She sold her eponymous company, Jo Malone London, to beauty giant Estee Lauder, and she now sits at the head of her own brand Jo Loves. While the two labels share a similar price point, it’s worth noting that Malone has also worked on a high street fragrance line with Spanish fashion brand Zara with plenty of EDTs, EDPs and colognes ready and waiting at purse-pleasing prices.
If you’re looking for a new signature scent that won’t put you in the red, we’ve rounded up some of the best options below.
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Zara Red Temptation
Dupe of: Baccarat Rouge 540, £235
The seriously luxe Baccarat Rouge 540 by Maison Francis Kurkdjian is an excellent way to blow the best part of £300 - if you’ve got it to spare, that is. The fragrance, made to mark French fine crystal specialist Baccarat’s 250th birthday, has achieved cult status thanks to its heady mix of floral and spicy notes. A single sniff can spark an obsession, but for those without such deep pockets, Zara has served up a tribute in its Red Temptation EDP. Both possess jasmine, saffron and woody notes, giving them a similar fragrance.
Buy now £22.99, Zara
M&S Midnight Blossom
Dupe of: YSL Black Opium, £92
A cult favourite since its launch back in 2014, YSL’s Black Opium is loved for its floral gourmand scent, bolstered by sensual notes of black coffee and vanilla. High street favourite M&S has captured its delicate spirit in Midnight Blossom for a fraction of the price with both bottles bringing the beauty of jasmine flowers to the fore. Zara’s Gardenia is also a good shout.
Buy now £10.00, M&S
Zara Applejuice
Dupe of: Chanel Chance eau Tendre, £98.90
Fans of fruity-floral scents have no doubt been seduced by Chanel’s Chance eau Tendre - but the nearly £100 price tag is not so enticing. Ease the burden on your bank balance by heading to Zara instead and picking up Applejuice which is as juicy and fresh as its pricier muse. It’s a garden in a bottle with notes of rose, jasmine, violet and peony with cedar and sandalwood anchoring it down.
Buy now £17.99, Zara
& Other Stories The Lost Chapter
Dupe of: Tom Ford Cherry Smoke, £280
Dark and seductive, Tom Ford’s Cherry Smoke is a hypnotising mix of sweet cherry and wood notes. & Other Stories The Lost Chapter feels inspired by Ford’s genius; expect a vibrant and spicy opener with a warm, woody drydown. Okay, it’s not as aesthetically pleasing as the angular ruby red Cherry Smoke bottle, but at £29 for 50ml - it’s a no-brainer.
Buy now £29.00, & Other Stories
The Perfume Shop Lime & Basil
Dupe of: Jo Malone Lime, Basil & Mandarin, £110
With some of the best fragrance houses available to shop under one roof, it’s no wonder that The Perfume Shop has released its own line of scents at a far lower price point. This light, aromatic formula bears an obvious resemblance to Jo Malone London’s famed Lime, Basil & Mandarin cologne which is squarely down to the formulation of ingredients. Bright and fresh, the unisex EDP may not come in Jo Malone’s fancy packaging, but the simple square bottle can still hold its own in any #shelfie.
Also see Aldi’s Hotel Collection no.1 lime, basil and mandarin eau de parfum, £6.99.
Buy now £19.99, The Perfume Shop
M&S Under The Palm Trees Eau De Parfum 100ml
Dupe of: Maison Margiela Replica Beach, £110
With summer here, it’s only natural to seek out an olfactory step change. Something lighter, warming, and ideally full of holiday feels.
Maison Margiela’s Replica Beach fires on all cylinders with floral notes mixed with a tropical heart and a warm, woody base. It’s an enticing prospect, but if you’d rather put your money towards an actual getaway, you can find a decent dupe for less on the shelves of M&S. Fans have likened Under The Palm Trees, with hints of vanilla, almond milk and musk, as a cheaper twin.
Buy now £15.00, M&S
& Other Stories Moon Fiction
Dupe of: Byredo Gypsy Water, £140
Both mysterious scents for when you want to channel witchy vibes, sandalwood sits at the heart of the fragrance venn diagram between Gypsy Water and Moon Fiction. They’ve also both got bright citrus and sugared notes for a burst of freshness against the woody base.
Buy now £29.00, & Other Stories
