In the past year, I’ve searched high and low across the high street to find the best ever perfume dupes for luxury fragrance brands such as Tom Ford and Maison Francis Kurkdjian – scents that are iconic and timeless, but not always accessible. While I don’t think you can ever truly replicate the real thing, fashion brands like Zara and Next are coming through strongly with affordable alternative fragrance blends that are notably similar.
But while I continue to compile a directory of the best high street dupes (in the words of our office master perfumer Tivina, I am responsible for “letting out the biggest perfume gatekeeping story ever!”), I often get asked about alternatives for people’s favourite luxury fragrances, and there are certain names that come up again and again, from the scents that you can’t walk through Soho, London without smelling to the niche French fragrance that’s beloved by beauty editors.
More on dupes:
- The best Jo Malone dupes on the high street, from candles to perfume
- The editor-approved Charlotte Tilbury dupes, including this viral £10 buy
- The best Drunk Elephant skincare dupes to shop now
So, in the spirit of not gatekeeping (sorry, Tivina), I’ve compiled the most popular fragrances I get asked about and the closest affordable scent alternative you can find, for those ‘office top-up fragrances’ or when you need a backup to see you through until payday.
The extra bonus? You can get all these dupes for under £30.
The best perfume dupes of all time 2023
These are the best perfume dupes for the most popular fragrances of all time, from Le Labo’s Santal 33 to Gucci Flora Gorgeous Gardenia.
Best dupe for Baccarat Rouge 540: Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 68
Baccarat Rouge 540 is one of my favourite perfumes of all time, with an intoxicating and expensive woody and amber fragrance that has a price tag to match. I eek my coveted bottle out as much as possible, reserving it for special occasions, but that does mean I need a more bank account-friendly option for more liberal everyday spritzing.
The original Baccarat Rouge 540, £235
I’ve tried quite a few ‘dupes’ for Baccarat Rouge, from Zara’s Red Temptation to Ariana Grande’s Cloud, and while they’re both worthy adversaries, Sol de Janeiro’s Cheirosa 68 and & Other Stories Deja Vu Mood are the closest scent profile matches I’ve found.
The best dupe under £25
Saving: £213
Cheirosa 68 is a sweeter, more playful version of the sophisticated Baccarat Rouge, with additional fruity floral notes of litchi and hibiscus, but it truly doesn’t differ as much from the original as the notes would have you believe. I also have this in the body cream and always receive compliments when I’m wearing it as the scent continues to wear throughout the day (and night).
The best dupe under £15
Saving: £222
The notes of jasmine, cotton candy, resin, ambroxan and driftwood make this an immediately recognisable scent dupe for Baccarat Rouge. Although again the notes aren’t precisely the same, the sweet amber and woody accords create the same overall vibe as BR 540. The Roll-on Perfume format of this fragrance has a better longevity and silage than the EDP in my experience, and the size is ideal to pop in your bag on a night out.
Best dupe for Le Labo Santal 33: Energetically New York Zara
The running joke in the beauty industry is that you can’t walk through Soho in London without getting a whiff of Le Labo Santal 33, and it’s true.
The original Le Labo Santal 33 perfume, £157
You can’t knock the leathery and powdery combo of this fragrance though; it’s an absolute classic that I see as a fragrance embodiment of ‘quiet luxury’.
The best dupe under £20
Saving: £141
Energetically New York by Zara has borrowed the same notes of cardamom and sandalwood, with middle notes of jasmine for a fresh woody scent. It’s lighter in scent and has less longevity than Le Labo, but a very close scent match nonetheless, and a great office fragrance.
Saving: £136
For something a little different in format, beauty editor Rebecca waxes lyrical about Evolvetogether’s Havana Natural Deodorant, £21, Revolve, which she says resembles the same soft, woody palette of Santal 33.
Best dupe for Carolina Herrera Good Girl: Zara Deep Garden
I didn’t realise just how popular Carolina Herrera’s Good Girl was until I stumbled across its loyal fanbase on TikTok. An amber floral fragrance, Good Girl is an incredibly complex and addictive scent.
The original Carolina Herrera Good Girl, £112.50
It combines sensual and warm notes of almond, coffee, tonka bean, cacao and vanilla with floral tuberose, jasmine sambac and patchouli that give it an irresistible quality. If you love sweet gourmand fragrances, chances are you’ll fall head over heels for this.
The best dupe under £20
Saving: £94.51
Another great fragrance dupe from Zara, Deep Garden is a lighter, better day-time version of Good Girl, but the similarities are unmistakable, with notes of tuberose and tonka bean alongside pear, which gives it a hint of freshness. For under £20, this has impressive wear throughout the day and sits close to the skin thanks to the tonka bean.
Best dupe for Gucci Flora Gorgeous Gardenia: Ariana Grande ARI
While this perfume only launched in 2021, Flora Gorgeous Gardenia has quickly risen to become one of the most sought-after fragrances around.
The original Gucci Flora Gorgeous Gardenia, £91
It’s a timeless feminine floral scent that’s sweet yet delicate, with notes of pear blossom, mandarin, gardenia and jasmine that settle down to brown sugar and patchouli.
The best dupe under £30
Saving: £61
Ari by Ariana Grande is a bit of a marmite dupe as some people agree there is a substantial similarity between the two, whereas others can’t smell it – so goes the subjectivity of fragrance. While the floral and fruit notes are slightly altered between the two (Ari contains mandarin while Flora contains grapefruit), the overall impact is that of a fruity, floral fragrance that dries down to leave a soft sweetness.
Dupe for Kilian Paris Love, Don’t be Shy: Noted. Aromas Venice
More of a niche perfume, but one that has become famous for being a fave of Rihanna’s.
Kilian Paris Love, Don’t be Shy Eau de Parfum, £205
Upon spritzing you’ll be met with an immediate rush of amber and florals, but this dries down into sweet and gourmand accords with base notes of sugar, vanilla, caramel and musk that leave an irresistible, indulgent scent.
The best dupe under £20
Saving: £185
Noted. Aromas is a brand that takes fragrance duping pretty seriously; in fact, the majority of its perfumes are… ‘inspired’, shall we say, by the most popular luxury fragrances on the market. Whether you disagree with obvious dupes or not, the similarities are abundant with this fragrance, which hides nothing in comparing itself to the original. Notes of vanilla and marshmallow take centre stage here and give it that unmistakable Love Don’t Be Shy sweet smell.
Dupe for Diptyque Eau des Sens: Zara Fleur d’Oranger
Diptyque’s range of fragrances is one of my favourites in terms of unique blends and distinctive scents. Its perfumes tend to hone in on one particular note or fragrance, which makes them ideal for layering or complimenting with a partner’s scent.
Diptyque Eau des Sens Eau de Toilette, £125
One of the brand’s most popular fragrances is Eau des Sens, a fresh yet deep and sophisticated citrus fragrance. It’s one of the ultimate ‘grown up’ clean perfumes that makes you smell like you have your life together, combining notes of orange blossom, juniper berries, bitter orange, angelica and patchouli for an aromatic and herbal citrus scent.
The best dupe under £20
Saving: £109
Yes, it’s another Zara perfume (I told you they were good), but this time created by legendary perfumer Jo Malone. Zara’s Fleur d’Oranger is an elegant and clean citrus fragrance that contains notes of orange blossom, neroli and ylang ylang. The perfect scent to accompany hot summer days, it’s slightly more floral and less aromatic than Eau des Sens, but an undeniable dupe nonetheless.
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