9 summer perfume dupes
From high street heroes to Aldi perfume dupes, we’ve scoured the shelves for fragrances that smell just like designer perfumes – at a fraction of the cost.
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LACURA EMPRESS EAU DE PARFUM (100ml)
Where: Aldi
Price: £5.99
Dupe perfume of: Olympéa Eau de Parfum by Paco Rabanne
Introducing the newest of Aldi perfume dupes, currently making huge waves in the #PerfumeTok world.
Empress from the store’s own Lacura range is incredibly similar to Paco Rabanne’s Olympéa; both enjoy a sensual, elegant combination of fresh jasmine, sandalwood and sweet vanilla.
In fact, much like Cuthbert the Caterpillar and his M&S cousin, the resemblance between the two fragrances is uncanny. But you already know Aldi perfume dupes don’t hang about for long.
You save: £91.01
Only available in stores
SOFT IRIS EAU DE TOILETTE (100ml)
Where: M&S
Price: £10.00
Dupe perfume of: Coco Mademoiselle by Chanel
If it’s a clever Chanel dupe perfume you’re after this summer, then look no further than M&S’ Soft Iris.
To say this scent gets away with murder in perfume duping form is an understatement; the flavour profile of Soft Iris and Coco Mademoiselle both see orange blossom intermingle with notes of jasmine, patchouli and vetiver to create a spirited, voluptuous and feminine fragrance.
You save: £126.00
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WONDER ROSE (100ml)
Where: Zara
Price: £9.99
Dupe perfume of: J’adore by Dior
While we can all agree on its merits for high street fashion finds, Zara perfume dupes are an underrated national treasure. And their latest release – Wonder Rose – is no exception.
Revealing all the embellishment of a fruity cocktail, with notes of red fruits and peach wrapping themselves around the creaminess of a vanilla, jasmine flower and coconut concoction, it’s instantly addictive.
Oh, and its scent is rather reminiscent of Dior’s iconic fragrance. Winner, winner.
You save: £127.01
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MIDNIGHT BLOSSOM EAU DE TOILETTE (100ml)
Where: M&S
Price: £10.00
Dupe perfume of: Black Opium by YSL
Explore layers of soft florals and warm, musky undertones with the Midnight Blossom eau de toilette from the M&S Discover collection.
An added perk is that your mates may just think you’ve invested in YSL’s famous Black Opium fragrance – whose notes of black coffee and sensual vanilla have made it an evergreen bestseller.
We won’t tell if you don’t.
You save: £115.00
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HAWAII BY MILTON-LLOYD (150ml)
Where: Amazon
Price: £3.80
Dupe perfume of: Chloé eau de Toilette
We’ll forgive you for being as surprised as we were that so close a dupe perfume on Chloé’s signature fragrance is weighing in at under £4.
And yet, here we are. And while Milton-Lloyd’s Hawaii is a body spray, it nevertheless gives the impression of a luxury fragrance akin to any of the designers on this list.
Fresh and musky, top notes of bergamot mingling with white rose, magnolia and cedar in its base create a flavour profile startingly similar to the powdery white rose and heady magnolia notes in Chloé. Talk about a steal.
You save: £78.20
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GOLD (100ml)
Where: Next
Price: £20.00
Dupe perfume of: Cinéma by YSL
Another unsung hero of the high street, Next often delivers on the perfume dupes front, too. And this smart gift set of their Gold fragrance is an affordable yet characteristic take on a YSL classic.
Both Gold and Cinéma enjoy fruity top notes – the former, from grapefruit and mandarin, and the latter with nectarine and lychee. These each intermingle with earthier, musky tones at their base, centring around a rose harmony which works to create a sophisticated, elegant scent that will easily see you from day to night.
You save: £90.00
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VELVET ROSE EAU DE TOILETTE (100ml)
Where: M&S
Price: £10.00
Dupe perfume of: Chanel No.5
Another top entrant to this list of summer 2023’s best perfume dupes from M&S, Velvet Rose is a stunning reincarnation of ‘the very essence of femininity’ itself: Chanel’s famous No.5 scent.
Both enjoy a soft, floral scent emanating from a fragrant top note – ylang-ylang and neroli in Chanel, rose in M&S – with a warm, vibrant trail to finish. And while these, too, differ in their ingredients, (Chanel favours vanilla, vetiver and sandalwood, while M&S turns to fresh bergamot), the overall likeness is striking.
You save: £106.00
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HOTEL COLLECTION NO.1: LIME, BASIL & MANDARIN EAU DE PARFUM (100ml)
Where: Aldi
Price: £6.99
Dupe perfume of: London Lime, Basil and Mandarin Cologne by Jo Malone
If you’ve walked past this perfume dupe a few times on the weekly food shop already, stop! The first of Aldi’s Hotel Collection is well worth your attention.
Much like the Jo Malone bestseller that it’s considered a proper perfume dupe of, Aldi’s No.1 is crisp, light and seems made for summer. And, just as Jo Malone fragrances are known for their potency and longevity, one spray of Lime, Basil & Mandarin will fill your room for hours.
You save: £103.01
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WARM NEROLI EAU DE TOILETTE (100ml)
Where: M&S
Price: £10.00
Dupe perfume of: Lady Million by Paco Rabanne
The final entrant from M&S’ enviable dupe perfume collection may well be the most disarming.
The Warm Neroli scent expertly blends citrusy notes of neroli and bergamot with an earthy, dry-down of musk to create an elegant scent suspiciously reminiscent of Paco Rabanne’s sensual, fruity fragrance, Lady Million.
You save: £88.00
BUY NOWAll savings estimates are based on buying 100ml (or less than, but as close to 100ml as possible) of the designer perfume stated from their brand websites at full price.
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