I tested eight perfume dupes – from Body Shop version of Jo Malone to Next’s take on Alien, do they pass the sniff test?
FRAGRANCES are top of our Christmas wish lists this year.
And research by escentual.com shows YSL Black Opium, Marc Jacobs Daisy and Mugler Alien are some of our most-wanted scents.
But quality perfume doesn’t come cheap and we will spend almost £530million on smelling sweet this festive season.
Luckily, there are dupes available for almost all the designer brand, meaning you could save tons of cash.
Kirsten Jones sniffs out some swaps and says which should be scent to the bottom of the class, giving them star ratings out of five.
FLOWER POWER
Gucci Flora eau de parfum, £85 for 50ml, The Fragrance Shop: This balanced floral scent is addictive.
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The delicate gardenia flower is lifted by a touch of jasmine and pear blossom, plus a dash of brown sugar.
A light mist lasted all day and people showered me with compliments.
DUPE – PS Soft Rose eau de parfum, £6 for 50ml, Primark. SAVE £79: A whole lot cheaper than the big brand and deliciously moreish.
Primark has paired peach with a tickle of musk and patchouli to get close to Gucci. And I only topped it up once.
Rating: 4/5
EXOTIC CHANCER
Mugler Alien refillable eau de parfum, £92 for 60ml, Boots: One whiff of this woody, jasmine-filled fragrance takes me back to the nightclubs of my twenties.
A timeless hit with exotic scent lovers.
DUPE – Silver Aura eau de parfum, £16 for 100ml, Next. SAVE £76: It is a strong match, with a little less oomph.
Instead of those earthy base notes, Next has served up a hit of cassis and mandarin for a more energising scent that clings to your skin.
Rating: 5/5
OLYMPIC GOLD
Paco Rabanne Olympea, £77.60 for 80ml, John Lewis: If you are dressed to impress, you need a perfume to match.
Olympea has gone for gold with a powerful kick of tangerine, jasmine and ginger flower.
DUPE – Oriana Pour Femme eau de toilette, £3.99 for 100ml, B&M. SAVE £73.61: That is what I call a dupe.
You would be forgiven for thinking this B&M bargain was the real deal.
It is cheaper than the Paco Rabanne scent, but apply sparingly – too many spritzes will leave you smelling like hairspray.
Rating: 3/5
GODDESS FOR LESS
Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess eau de parfum, £64 for 50ml, Boots: The go-to scent for sophisticated women, this warm fragrance blends notes of bergamot, amber and vanilla with a kick of coconut.
It’s creamy, decadent and, I think, perfect for mature skin.
DUPE – H&M Sunray eau de toilette, £4.99 for 20ml. SAVE £59.01: I got less summer warmth and more sunscreen vibes from this budget bottle.
It smells almost medicinal – not what I’d like to sniff.
Rating: 2/5
VANILLA THRILLER
YSL Black Opium eau de parfum, £125 for 90ml, The Perfume Shop: A deep fragrance with vanilla and coffee notes.
It may be sweet, but the bottle has some real class. I would wear this for a first date.
DUPE – Layering Lab Exotic eau de toilette, £7.99 for 100ml, Superdrug. SAVE £117.01: This bottle isn’t as pretty, but at this price, you can’t complain.
It is a lighter scent that needs topping up a lot – and is a bit too sickly for me.
Rating: 2/5
SPRING IN YOUR STEP
Marc Jacobs Daisy eau de toilette, £70 for 50ml, Superdrug: Daisy is easy to wear and stands out with that fab flower design.
Sandalwood, wild berries and white violet make it a gift every girl will love.
Avon Eve Truth eau de parfum, £14 for 50ml. SAVE £56: While it might not look much like the Marc Jacobs design, this is a near perfect dupe.
Refreshing and youthful with a zesty edge.
Rating: 5/5
COMING UP ROSES
Red Roses cologne, £118 for 100ml, Jo Malone: Nothing comes closer to the beautiful scent of a country garden.
Jo Malone has magically bottled rose petals.
DUPE – The Body Shop British Rose eau de toilette, £25 for 100ml. SAVE £93: This fresh fragrance smells like sherbet – so good I could eat it.
I had to top up every few hours as it is not as strong as the Jo Malone classic, but very pleasing and comes in a pretty bottle to boot.
Rating: 3/5
GET LEATHERED
Le Labo Santal 33 eau de parfum, £168 for 50ml, Liberty: Musk, sandalwood and leathery notes make this one of the most sought-after scents.
The strong perfume suits men and women and has a touch of violet to keep you coming back for more.
DUPE – Apothecary Warmth eau de parfum, £10 for 50ml, M&S. SAVE £158: This has the same woody, cardamom notes, with a dash of cinnamon for a warmer smell that lasts – a decent match.
Rating: 4/5