The world of fragrance is an incredible yet slightly bonkers place. I wasn’t much into perfume before I started my job in the beauty industry, but since then I’ve become obsessed, hoarding a now-slightly obscene personal arsenal of fragrances that I add to whenever I get the chance.
I’m no snob when it comes to perfumes either; a £25 scent can be just as intoxicating as a £300 one (just browse these beauty editor-approved scents under £30), but there are definitely certain brands that just get it when it comes to smelling, well, expensive.
One such brand that has people in an olfactory obsession is Tom Ford. The American fashion designer has had hit after hit with his perfume line, which contains beautiful fragrances that are embraced by all genders.
Now, there’s no denying that Tom Ford is pricey. Personally, fragrance is the one category in beauty I’m most willing to invest in and will save up to splurge on my favourite boujee perfume.
However, with the cost of living crisis forcing us all to reconsider what little luxuries we can afford and which we must live without, there are several clever hacks you can look to for saving with your scents.
Firstly, Tom Ford offers alternative formats to his eau de parfums; for example, many of the brand’s iconic scents also come in deodorant sticks, body oils and sprays; all of which come in at a fraction of the price of an EDP.
The Best Tom Ford Perfume Dupes
But if you’re a perfume lover through and through (I don’t judge) and want to get as close as possible to your desired scent without draining your bank account, these are the best Tom Ford dupes out there.
Dupe for Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille: Oakcha Torrid Day, £33
Notes: tobacco leaf, spices, tonka bean, vanilla, dry fruit, woods
Not only is Tobacco Vanille one of Tom Ford’s most iconic fragrances, but it’s also rumoured to be the scent that Harry Styles wears. While some of you might be prepared to pay anything to smell like Mr Styles, you actually may not need to.
Torrid Day by Oakcha is an almost spot-on match, featuring a warm vanilla blend that dries down to a sweet, smoky and leathery trail. What you do with this perfume once you have it on is up to you…
Dupe for Tom Ford Fucking Fabulous: Alexandria Perfumes Funtastic, £37
Notes: clary sage, lavender, leather, vanilla, amber, white woods
Tom Ford’s Fucking Fabulous is punchy by name and in nature, culminating in a leather scent that emits an irresistible, aromatic allure.
Alexandria UK also pulls no punches when it comes to citing its inspiration for this fragrance; it’s meant to be a Tom Ford dupe through and through.
If you’re looking for a perfume that really takes you on a journey, it’s this one. An initial spritz weaves through lavender, almond, leather and amber. It isn’t immediately obvious as a FF dupe, but wait for the fragrance to settle on your skin and you’ll be hard-pressed to tell the difference.
It’s a marmite scent for sure, but if you love it, it’s unforgettable.
Dupe for Tom Ford Neroli Portofino: Zara x Jo Malone Amalfi Sunray, £15.99
Notes: bergamot, mandarin, orange flower
A heads up if you didn’t know: Zara does some of the best perfume dupes in the game, so the next time you’re in need of a new scent, scurry on down to your nearest store. Jo Malone actually collaborated with the fashion giant on a perfume collection and is the nose behind the Amalfi Sunray fragrance.
Talking about the fragrance, she describes it as, “so many happy memories of summer and Italian Riviera holidays.”
While Tom Ford’s Neroli Portofino has some additional aromatic and fresh depth to it, there’s no denying that the citrus and white floral notes shared by these two scents read extremely similarly.
Dupe for Tom Ford Lost Cherry: Zara Cherry Smoothie, £11.99
Notes: cherry, plum, heliotrope, black vanilla, tonka beans
Yes, Zara does feature twice in this piece, but I did tell you the brand was the dupe destination for perfumes, did I not?
Tiktok lost its collective mind over discovering the Cherry Smoothie eau de parfum was extremely similar to Tom Ford’s Lost Cherry, drawing on the same cherry-sweet accords for an irresistible and flirty aroma.
Dupe for Tom Ford Soleil Blanc: Sol De Janeiro Cheirosa Tan Lines, £16.15 (down from £19)
Notes: white flowers, coconut milk
Sol De Janeiro is another favourite brand of mine when it comes to more affordable alternatives to my favourite scents (Cheriosa 68 is a close cousin of Masion Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540).
When a sample of the new Tan Lines fragrance came across my desk recently, I was pretty excited to discover its olfactory resemblance to Soleil Blanc.
It’s one of those holiday scents that transports you to applying sun cream on a Caribbean beach with a Pina Colada in hand and the sunshine warming your skin; think soft white floral and coconut accords.
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