Which? perfume tests reveal the dupe that’s better than the original - and £70 cheaper
Which?’s first ever perfume tests showed that one popular dupe perfume was preferred to the original - meaning shoppers could save £70 by opting for a dupe fragrance this Christmas.
The consumer champion had a panel of more than 40 people blind-smell four popular luxury perfumes - Jo Malone Peony & Blush Suede, Miss Dior, Paco Rabanne 1 Million and Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium - against budget rivals to see which scents people preferred without any pre-existing assumptions.
These dupe perfumes are not knock-offs. They have their own branding and offer a cheaper alternative to well known and often expensive perfumes.
There was one dupe that most testers preferred over the original perfume. People preferred The Essence Vault 82 (£24.99 for 100ml) over Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium (£95 for 50ml). The Essence Vault is a popular online retailer specialising in fragrances which are ‘inspired by’ popular designer and high-street scents.
Like a lot of the cheaper fragrances tested, people noted a slightly chemical or alcoholic opening for The Essence Vault 82 but this faded and left behind a sweet and slightly spicy scent. As it aged, woody and musky notes came out that testers who did not initially like the scent warmed to.
Black Opium was more floral and sweet on first spray but the issue for most of Which?’s testers was how the scent settled. Some said they found it generic, with one person saying it smelled “like old soap”.
For both Miss Dior and Jo Malone Peony & Blush Suede, the original luxury perfumes were slightly preferred over the dupes.
Miss Dior opens with a bright scent with well-blended citrus and fruity notes. Perfume Parlour's Realistic for Women has some similarities, but no-one identified it as being similar to Miss Dior. People found it sweet but not as citrussy as Miss Dior.
At £32 for 100ml, Perfume Parlour's Realistic for Women costs £75 less than Miss Dior (£107 for 50ml) so could be a good option if you are looking for a similar scent on a budget.
Testers also preferred Jo Malone Peony & Blush Suede over Aldi Hotel Collection Peony Blush - but it was very close. Both perfumes were described by several testers as 'feminine' with a floral and fruity scent. Several people found Aldi's perfume had a sharper, more chemical, hint when initially sprayed, but this went away and left behind what was considered a fairly complex smell for the price.
Jo Malone Peony & Blush Suede costs £86 for 50ml while Aldi Hotel Collection Peony Blush costs just £6.49 - meaning shoppers could save £79.51 by opting for the dupe.
Most of Which?’s testers preferred Rabanne 1 Million (£66 for 50 ml) over its dupe, Noted Aromas Las Vegas (£29.99).
With 1 Million, a small number of people described a slight chemical smell when initially sprayed, but most loved its fruity start with cinnamon and ginger notes. More and more people warmed to the scent as it aged, becoming deeper and slightly sweeter.
Las Vegas, on the other hand, had a distinct ethanol smell according to Which?’s testers. When faded it left behind a sweet and strongly citrus scent. The spicy notes were much more subtle in Las Vegas, and the overall scent faded quickly - it was noticeably less strong after just 15 minutes than 1 Million.
Overall, longevity was where luxury perfumes outshone their cheaper counterparts in Which?’s tests. Participants all noticed the dupes' smells were weaker after about an hour of wearing them. Most of the originals only started to fade after three or more hours.
However, with many of the dupes costing a fraction of the price of the original and coming in larger sizes, this may not be an issue for those who are willing to top up their perfume throughout the day.
Natalie Hitchins, Which? Home Products and Services Editor, said:
“Our research has found that if you’re on a budget this Christmas, it’s well worth considering a dupe version of your favourite designer fragrance.
“While the scent might not last as long, if you’re willing to reapply you can get a scent you love for less this Christmas.”
-ENDS-
Notes to editors
Which?’s perfume tests
Which? decanted all the perfumes into unbranded atomiser bottles and gave them to over 40 participants to try and rate. For the longevity test, testers applied the perfume and assessed how strong the scent remained and how it changed over time.
The perfumes were chosen based on market analysis of the most popular perfume brands in the UK and bestselling products at key UK retailers
About Which?
Which? is the UK’s consumer champion, empowering people to make confident choices and demand better. Through our research, investigations and product testing, we provide trusted insight and expert recommendations on the issues that matter most to consumers.
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