There are now a whole range of perfumes that are considered dupes – that is, fragrance twins – of well-known designer scents. These imitations aim to match the character, notes and even the aura of the original as closely as possible, while usually costing only a fraction of the price. Here are some well-known examples of such dupes that are particularly popular among fragrance lovers:
La Rive has established itself as one of the best-known dupe brands. For example, La Rive In Woman is considered a dupe of Lancôme La Vie Est Belle, a sweet, vanilla-floral classic. La Rive Cash is strongly reminiscent of Paco Rabanne Lady Million, while La Rive Extreme Story is frequently compared to Dior Sauvage.
Zara also surprises with high-quality dupes in minimalist packaging. Zara Red Temptation is one of the best-known fragrance twins of Baccarat Rouge 540 by Maison Francis Kurkdjian. Zara Gardenia is often seen as an alternative to YSL Black Opium, a popular gourmand scent with a coffee note. For men, Zara Vibrant Leather is a dupe of Creed Aventus, making it an insider tip for anyone who loves this iconic fragrance but is not willing to spend several hundred euros on it.
Another insider tip is Ard Al Zaafaran, a brand from the Arab region. Dirham, for example, reminds many of a mix of Versace Eros and Dior Sauvage, with a fresh, spicy character. Midnight Oud is often mentioned as an alternative to Oud for Greatness by Initio – a fragrance with oriental depth.
There are also specialized niche dupe brands such as Divain, L’ARÔME and Paris Corner, which deliberately focus on interpreting luxurious fragrances. Divain, for example, offers numbered scents that can be directly matched to specific originals – such as Divain 624 as a twin to Carolina Herrera Good Girl or Divain 222 to Baccarat Rouge 540.
Of course, the similarities are not always 100% identical, especially in terms of depth, development and longevity. Nevertheless, these dupes offer an exciting way to discover high-quality fragrance worlds – without the luxury price tag.
