Perfume dupe brands compared: 26 clone houses
26 houses that make perfume dupes, from Dossier to Lattafa and Armaf, side by side on how Fragrantica rates the perfumes on their lists, how many of those its readers tie to a designer original, and who sells them on Amazon US.
Which perfume dupe brand is the best?
Khadlaj, Arabiyat Prestige, and Al Wataniah: among the clone houses with 10 or more perfumes rated, theirs have the highest median Fragrantica rating, 4.31, 4.25, and 4.22 out of 5. Dossier's clones, the most voted on, last as long as their originals in 1 of 18 pairs and rate as high in 12 of 17. Where you can buy them matters as much: Alt. Fragrances and Alexandria Fragrances sold every listing of theirs we opened on Amazon US, while for 12 of the 17 houses we checked every listing we opened was a reseller's.
1. Zimaya Sharaf Blend Extrait de Parfum
for Kilian Paris Angels' Share Eau de Parfum
$35vs $295−94% per oz
The same praline, vanilla and tonka bean as Angels' Share, spiced with nutmeg and saffron instead of cinnamon.
What it does worse: There is no cognac or oak, so dates and tuberose leave it fruitier, creamier and less boozy; on Fragrantica about half of voters say it reminds them of Angels' Share, and nearly nine in ten say it reminds them of Lattafa Khamrah.
2. Twist Rosa Lina No. 58 Eau de Parfum
for Parfums de Marly Delina Eau de Parfum
$39.60 $45vs $410−93% per oz
Twist names Delina as its model and keeps its opening note for note, lychee, rhubarb and bergamot, then rose over musk and cashmeran.
What it does worse: Delina's nutmeg and vetiver aren't on Twist's list, and Twist adds peony, muguet and vanilla.
3. Dossier Floral Marshmallow Eau de Parfum
for Kilian Paris Love, Don't Be Shy Eau de Parfum
$59vs $305−90% per oz
Dossier names Love, Don't Be Shy as its model and keeps its core: neroli and bergamot, orange blossom, honeysuckle, jasmine and orris, marshmallow, vanilla and musk; on Fragrantica 440 of 510 voters say it smells like it, far more than for any other perfume on its page.
What it does worse: Kilian's caramel, rose, labdanum and civet, which give it depth, are left out.
4. Alt. Fragrances Cherry Smash Extrait de Parfum
for TOM FORD Lost Cherry Eau de Parfum
$49vs $405−90% per oz
Alt names Lost Cherry as its model and keeps its opening, ripe cherry with a touch of bitter almond.
What it does worse: Alt names nothing of Lost Cherry's rose, Peru balsam or sandalwood, though its ingredient list has coumarin, the molecule that smells of tonka; it is an extrait de parfum, No. 12 in Alt's numbering.
5. Al Haramain Amber Oud Gold Edition Eau de Parfum
for Xerjoff Erba Pura Eau de Parfum
$46.14vs $290−87% per oz
On Fragrantica 1,309 of 1,447 voters say it smells like Erba Pura, more than for any other perfume on its page, and it is built the same way: bergamot over a sweet fruit heart, on amber, vanilla and musk.
What it does worse: Erba Pura opens on Sicilian orange and lemon too and stays brighter; Al Haramain names melon and pineapple for its fruit and adds green notes, a gourmand accord and woods, so it dries down sweeter.
6. Armaf Club de Nuit Woman Eau de Parfum
for CHANEL Coco Mademoiselle Eau de Parfum
$27.47 $30.02vs $190−86% per oz
#44 in Women's Eau de Parfum on Amazon
Nine of Coco Mademoiselle's notes by name: orange and bergamot on top, rose, jasmine and litchi in the middle, patchouli, vetiver, musk and vanilla underneath.
What it does worse: Armaf opens sharper and sweeter (grapefruit and peach where Chanel has mimosa), and the first ten minutes smell more alcoholic before it settles.
7. Rayhaan Nava Sol Perfume
for BYREDO Mojave Ghost Eau de Parfum
$53.99vs $330−84% per oz
#87 in Men's Eau de Parfum on Amazon
Fragrantica lists the same eight notes for both: sapodilla and ambrette on top, magnolia, violet and sandalwood in the heart, musk, ambergris and cedar at the base.
What it does worse: Its voters lean to Mojave Ghost Absolu, 118 to 10, and 81 to 8 say it smells like the original Mojave Ghost.
8. Khadlaj Cream Velvet Extrait de Parfum
for Giardini di Toscana Bianco Latte Eau de Parfum
$39.95vs $170−77% per oz
On Fragrantica 310 of 353 voters say it smells like Bianco Latte, more than for any other perfume on its page, and it keeps Bianco Latte's whole pyramid: caramel on top, honey and tonka in the heart (coumarin, Bianco Latte's listed note, is the scent of tonka), vanilla and musk at the base.
What it does worse: Khadlaj adds butter, jasmine and amber, so it is richer and less milky-clean, and it is an extrait, a stronger concentration than an eau de parfum.
9. Alexandria Fragrances Crystal Peak Eau de Parfum
for Creed Silver Mountain Water Eau de Parfum
$112.99vs $490−77% per oz
Alexandria names Silver Mountain Water as its model and lists bergamot and mandarin over blackcurrant and green tea, on musk and sandalwood.
What it does worse: It names no marine note, though Creed files the perfume under marine.
10. Ajmal Sacrifice for Her Eau de Parfum
for Mugler Alien Eau de Parfum
$32.99vs $75 $100−74% per oz
The clone Alien's fans vote for: on Fragrantica it is the perfume outside Mugler's own Alien line that the most members say smells like Alien, 502 votes net, with jasmine up top and amber in the base on both.
What it does worse: Ajmal adds watery notes, orange blossom, vanilla and musk where Alien's heart is a dry cashmere wood, so it reads softer and sweeter.
The 26 houses side by side
| House | Fragrantica rating | Lasts as long | Perfumes listed | Amazon US |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Khadlaj | 4.31 (15 rated) | 2 of 5 | 20, 15 matched | 4 we link |
| Arabiyat Prestige | 4.25 (18 rated) | 1 of 5 | 20, 16 matched | Resellers only |
| Al Wataniah | 4.22 (11 rated) | 1 of 2 | 13, 9 matched | Resellers only |
| Maison Alhambra | 4.21 (16 rated) | 2 of 10 | 20 | 1 of 8 by the house |
| Fragrance World | 4.21 (11 rated) | 1 of 3 | 11 | Resellers only |
| Rasasi | 4.20 (15 rated) | – | 17, 13 matched | 1 of 8 by the house |
| French Avenue | 4.19 (15 rated) | 0 of 2 | 20, 17 matched | Resellers only |
| Al Haramain | 4.17 (16 rated) | 3 of 7 | 23, 20 matched | 1 we link |
| Lattafa | 4.16 (15 rated) | 2 of 3 | 20, 12 matched | Resellers only |
| Paris Corner | 4.16 (16 rated) | 3 of 3 | 20, 16 matched | Resellers only |
| Afnan | 4.11 (16 rated) | 1 of 3 | 20, 12 matched | Resellers only |
| Swiss Arabian | 4.11 (16 rated) | 3 of 4 | 24, 10 matched | Not checked |
| Armaf | 4.09 (15 rated) | 3 of 5 | 25, 18 matched | 1 we link |
| Rayhaan | 4.08 (10 rated) | 2 of 2 | 10, 9 matched | 1 we link |
| Ajmal | 4.06 (12 rated) | 0 of 2 | 12, 8 matched | 1 we link |
| Zara | 3.99 (18 rated) | 2 of 8 | 30, 17 matched | Resellers only |
| Alt. Fragrances | 3.87 (17 rated) | 2 of 4 | 107 | Sold by the house |
| Pendora Scents | 4.34 (8 rated) | 0 of 2 | 8, 7 matched | Resellers only |
| Zimaya | 4.27 (9 rated) | 1 of 3 | 9, 7 matched | 1 we link |
| Alexandria Fragrances | 4.27 (5 rated) | 3 of 5 | 41 | Sold by the house |
| Dossier | 4.23 (6 rated) | 1 of 18 | 60 | 31 we link |
| Ard Al Zaafaran | – | – | 8, 5 matched | Resellers only |
| Al Rehab | – | – | 30, 17 matched | Resellers only |
| Oakcha | – | – | 39 | Resellers only |
| Dua Fragrances | – | – | 60 | Not checked |
| Twist | – | – | 143 | 38 of 45 by the house |
How this list was made
Above the table, the clone with the biggest saving from each house we carry. A median over a handful of rated perfumes says little, so a house with fewer than ten rated comes after the rest.
