20 best perfume dupes that smell just like designer scents
Want a designer scent for a pocket-friendly price tag? Then check out these beauty bargains because these are the best perfume dupes of all time!
These days bagging the best perfume dupes is something to be proud of. Sharing that you can smell just like the real (ahem, designer) deal for a fraction of the price tag is big bragging rights. Great news, we've sniffed high and low for the best 20 bargain buys.
Perfumes have impressive power - with just one spritz you can boost your mood, inject a heavy dose of self-confidence and travel back in time to your favourite memories. So it's no wonder why the best perfumes of all time are a dressing table staple for many. While we respect that designer scents will always be a mainstay on beauty shelves, there's nothing like finding the perfect perfume dupe for half the price for daily wear. Of course, if beauty bargains are your thing, you'll know it's not easy to find a good knock-off. So, you might be wondering what's the difference between cheap and expensive perfumes?
The main difference is that higher-priced perfumes have 'levels' of fragrance and tend to linger much longer than more affordable alternatives. That's why more expensive perfumes make up our list of the best longer-lasting perfumes. However, when compiling this guide, we did a shedload of spritzing and sniffing to see what top picks smell just like their designer counterpart — without compromising on the scent, price and staying-power. So keep scrolling to find out the best perfume dupes that you (and your bank balance) will wish you discovered sooner, plus we've shared some amazing bargains on the designer bottles too, in case you fancy splashing that cash...
20 perfume dupes that smell like designer scents
Best perfume dupe for Chanel No.5
Notes: Neroli, White Flowers, Amber
Emulating the iconic perfume that sits on the dressing tables of women the world over, Marks and Spencer's newest Velvet Amber fragrance is made up of notes has a rich scent just like its inspiration, and blends top notes of neroli with bold white to give it the classic womanly fragrance.
A little lighter than the original, it's also a hell of a lot cheaper too, at just £10 for 100ml. So, if you're looking for a budget version of one of the world's most popular perfume, this M&S buy has you covered.
Best perfume dupe for Chanel Coco Mademoiselle
Notes: Bergamot, Jasmine, Citrus
Everybody loves a bit of Chanel and one of the brand's most iconic fragrances has to be Coco Mademoiselle. And Suddenly Madame Glamour is a bargain perfume dupe that many scent obsessives have claimed smells exactly the same as the iconic fragrance, sharing notes of patchouli, tonka bean, vetiver, rose ylang-ylang and more with the Chanel favourite.
Best perfume dupe for Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium
Notes: Jasmine, Tuberose, Amber
M&S is a winner when it comes to dupes of some of the most iconic designer fragrances, and YSL's Black Opium is no exception. It was the seventh most Googled fragrance worldwide in 2022, but you can smell the same for over £100 less thanks to M&S' Midnight Blossom.
Both share notes of white flowers with musky undertones, but Midnight Blossom lacks the vanilla fragrance you'll find in Black Opium. This makes it slightly less sweet than the designer version, but we still think it's a great dupe.
Best perfume dupe for Le Labo Santal 33
Notes: Cardamom, Cinnamon, Cedarwood, Sandalwood
So much cheaper but just as delicious smelling, Apothecary Warmth shares notes of cardamom, cedarwood and sandalwood with Le Labo's Santal 33.
These unisex scents are both rich and spicy, one is a whopping £158 cheaper. Le Labo may have become a cult favourite - with celeb fans including Alexa Chung, Jodie Comer and Ryan Reynolds - but the M&S version will be the one making it onto our wish list.
Best perfume dupe for Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir
Notes: Raspberry, Pomegranate, Lily of the Valley, Jasmine, Rose, Pink Pepper, Musk, Amber
If you're a fan of Jo Malone fragrances but not of their steep prices and are looking for cheap perfumes instead, you might want to check out this Aldi Luxury Eau De Toilette.
They launched three scents including Lime, Basil & Madarian and Freesia & Pear, but it's the Pomegranate that's said to be inspired by Jo Malone’s Pomegrante Noir Cologne. Whilst it sold out online and instore, we've spotted the scent available at Amazon for under £20 still...
Best perfume dupe for Baccarat Rouge 540
Notes: Saffron, Coriander, Bitter Orange
Baccarat Rouge 540 is a cult fave, but at a whopping £245 for 70ml, it's a little out of our price range. Fortunately, Zara Red Temptation is a convincing dupe. Notes of saffron and jasmine paired with woody tones are shared across these two fragrances, leaving a sophisticated fragrance on the skin.
The warm and spicy scent is perfect for autumn and winter evenings, and while the Zara bottle might not look quite as impressive on your dressing table, at less than £23 for 100ml we think this swap is a no-brainer!
Best perfume dupe for Marc Jacobs Daisy
Notes: Vanilla, Sandalwood, Gardenia, Grapefruit
Marc Jacobs' Daisy fragrance has become a modern icon, rivalling the likes of Chanel and Jo Malone favourites. But M&S has really come through with the perfume dupes (as you can probably tell from this roundup!) and fans say Gardenia & Vanilla smells just like the designer scent - for a fifth of the price!
The pair share base notes of sandalwood along with a floral scent. As one reviewer put it, "Lovely perfume, very similar to Marc Jacobs Daisy but a much better price."
Best perfume dupe for Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess
Notes: Sweet Orange, Petitgrain, Coconut, Tiare Flower, Vanilla, Musk
This gorgeous summer scent will have you feeling as if you're on the beach, even if you only make it to the back garden. Expect sweet notes of orange, while coconut and tiare flowers add accords of sensuality, while vanilla and musk create a heady finish.
It's a scent that's reminiscent of Estée Lauder's Bronze Goddess, which also mixes Coconut, Vanilla and Orange to evoke balmy summer evenings.
Best perfume dupe for Chloe Eau de Toilette
Notes: Jasmine, Orange Flower, Rose, Musk
The packaging of these two light, feminine scents is very different, but inside the bottle, the smell is remarkably similar - clean and very wearable with musky and floral notes - and both are an ideal holiday perfume.
Not only does this Milton Lloyd perfume make a great designer perfume dupe, it comes at a fraction of the price, saving scent lovers as much as £60.
Best perfume dupe for Lancome La Vie Est Belle
Notes: Orange Blossom, Pink Pepper, Jasmine, Patchouli, Vanilla, Amber, Musk
This bargain fragrance from M&S has been compared to Lancome's best-selling La Vie Est Belle thanks to its notes of orange blossom and jasmine. Both fragrances boast a fresh and uplifting scent that's floral but still packs a punch, as well as coming in a charming shade of pink.
Best perfume dupe for Paco Rabanne Lady Million
Notes: Neroli, Bergamot, Musk
These two fragrances have base notes of - you guessed it - neroli, as well as citrus scents. It's a warming scent that surrounds you, and the original fragrance is known to many, and famous for its gold diamond bottle.
While this dupe comes in much simpler packaging, it smells very similar for just £10 per 100ml.
Best perfume dupe for Byredo Gypsy Water
Notes: Bergamot, Lime, Peach Sandalwood
Sharing notes of bergamot, citrus and sandalwood with Byredo's cult-favourite fragrance, Moon Fiction is a great dupe for Gypsy Water - and it costs almost five times less at £29 for 50ml.
The bottles look similar too, so you could even pass it off as the real thing while it sits on your dressing table.
Best dupe for Dior J'adore
Notes: Jasmine, Vanilla, Coconut
Okay, so the Zara product won't look quite as impressive on your dressing table, but on the skin, it really is almost the same thing.
Dior J'Adore and Zara's Wonder Rose share floral and fruity notes with hints of pear and vanilla, and are popular as summery, daytime scents. We also can't get over the value for money of this particular perfume dupe, with 180ml setting you back less than £20.
Best perfume dupe for Thierry Mugler Alien
Notes: Jasmine, Rose, Violet, Amber, Sandalwood, Patchouli
Thierry Mugler might have the edge design-wise, but we can't believe the Milton Lloyd version costs less than a tenner.
Milton Lloyd's Stars shares notes of Jasmine, Wood and Amber with Alien, meaning the pair smell pretty much identical.
Best perfume dupe for Ralph Lauren Romance
Notes: Mandarin, Cassis, Muguet, Jasmine, Musk, Patchouli
Both these scents have a rich, rosy base that suits almost every woman - and from a distance, you couldn't tell the packaging apart either.
The Next fragrance is available at £28 for a 100ml bottle, meaning shoppers can save over £70 when swapping out Ralph Lauren's Romance for this perfume dupe.
Best perfume dupe for Estée Lauder Sensuous Nude
Notes: Bergamot, Freesia, Rose, Muguet, Musk
Both these pretty, powdery perfume have a comparable luxurious, musky base - the bottles are equally lovely and we had a hard time telling the scents apart too.
But we can definitely see a difference in the price - while a 50ml bottle of Estée Lauder's Sensuous Nude will set you back as much as £70, the Next scent costs just £16 for 100ml. One reviewer said: "People often remark how lovely it is and they cannot believe it's by Next, they are convinced it's a very expensive and exclusive perfume."
Best perfume dupe for YSL Cinema
Notes: Grapefruit, Mandarin, Ylang, Muguet, Musk, Amber
These gorgeous gold perfumes are just as Oscar-worthy as each other, and once you've sprayed them on, you'll have trouble telling them apart. One of the most uncanny perfume dupes out there!
Amber-led and full of blossom, either will smell great on your skin - but one costs a whopping five times as much as the other. While the YSL fragrance is priced at over £100, Next Gold costs just £20. For a scent that will make you feel a million bucks, that's a perfume bargain too good to ignore!
Best perfume dupe for Jo Malone Lime, Basil & Mandarin
Notes: Mandarin, Basil, Lime
Jo Malone's Lime, Basil & Mandarin is one of the luxury brand's most popular scents, and it will set you back over £75. But thankfully, there's a very similar fragrance from The Perfume Shop that makes a tempting copycat.
This fresh, zingy fragrance from The Perfume Edit shares notes of - you guessed it - lime, basil and mandarin and is perfect for everyday wear. At less than £20 for 100ml, you can spritz as much as you want of this fabulous perfume dupe.
Best perfume dupe for Paco Rabanne Olympéa
Notes: Rose, Jasmine
Superdrug shoppers have been raving about the retailer's Layering Lab body mist range. The Blossom body spray has been likened to Thierry Mugler's Alien, the Exotic body mist has been compared to YSL Black Opium and the Paradise scent is said to smell just like Paco Rabanne's Olympéa.
Each body mist is 100ml and costs just £3.99, so not only are the bottles much bigger than the perfumes, but they're a lot cheaper too!
Best perfume dupe for Tom Ford Soleil Blanc
Notes: Citrus, Apricot
A summery fragrance if ever there was one, H&M's Sunray shares its solar floral scent with Tom Ford's Soleil Blanc. It's an ideal daytime perfume to take on holiday if you're looking for a cheaper dupe - or just don't want to travel with a more expensive bottle.
At just £4.99 for a 20ml, this particular fragrance will set you back a lot less than the Tom Ford scent, which is priced at a fairly steep £106 for 50ml.
Are perfume dupes worth it?
Why you can trust GoodtoKnow.
Depending on what you look for in a fragrance, perfume dupes can be a better option than splashing out on a designer scent. If you want to smell great on a budget, perfume dupes are a worthwhile purchase, but make sure you do your research into the ingredients first.
Hayley Walker, fragrance expert for beauty retailer Justmylook, says: "Whilst buying perfume dupes can be tempting as a cost-effective alternative to your favourite scents, it’s important to be aware of the possible downfalls or risks of using a clone fragrance. The quality and safety of the ingredients in a dupe could be an area of concern, with lower quality and unsafe ingredients within the fragrance potentially a cause of an allergic reaction or irritation."
Hayley adds that some dupes won't last as long or smell as strong as their designer counterparts. "However, dupes can also be a great alternative to expensive perfumes, with the main advantage being that you get your fave scent for a cheaper price," she goes on to say. "Not everyone can afford expensive fragrances, so an option to strut around smelling chic on a budget is what many consumers search for nowadays. Buying a perfume dupe is also useful for trying out new fragrance notes without having to splash out."
Looking for more guidance on the best beauty buys? We've tried and tested the best eye creams for dark circles, and the best red lipstick shades for every complexion. You could also check out these night creams for glowing skin too.
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Ellie is GoodtoKnow’s Family News Editor and covers all the latest trends in the parenting world - from relationship advice and baby names to wellbeing and self-care ideas for busy mums. Ellie is also an NCTJ-qualified journalist and has a distinction in MA Magazine Journalism from Nottingham Trent University and a first-class degree in Journalism from Cardiff University. Previously, Ellie has worked with BBC Good Food, The Big Issue, and the Nottingham Post, as well as freelancing as an arts and entertainment writer alongside her studies. When she’s not got her nose in a book, you’ll probably find Ellie jogging around her local park, indulging in an insta-worthy restaurant, or watching Netflix’s newest true crime documentary.
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