Dupe Houses
A dupe house sells its own perfume built to smell like a famous one, and the better ones tell you which. Pick a house by the original you love, the style you want, or whether you'd rather spray or roll on.
The houses worth knowing
Dossier
Dossier names the luxury original behind every perfume. Ten of them checked against their references, from Ambery Saffron (BR540) to Woody Tobacco (Jazz Club) and Woody Oakmoss.
Read about Dossier
ALT Fragrances
ALT names the original behind each extrait. How Executive No.26, Crystal No.23 and Bohemian Water compare with Aventus, Baccarat Rouge 540 and Byredo Gypsy Water.
Read about ALT Fragrances
Oakcha
Oakcha sells its dupes as extrait de parfum and names the original on every page. How Sweven, Sweet Addict, Sinful and Madame Rose compare with BR540, Kilian, Lost Cherry and Delina.
Read about Oakcha
Alexandria Fragrances
Alexandria goes after niche references like Aventus, Roja Elysium and Virgin Island Water. Brasilia, Zion, Hawaii Volcano, Black Panther and Afternoon Splash checked against their originals.
Read about Alexandria Fragrances
Montagne Parfums
Montagne launched in 2019 and compounds every bottle to order. How Le Bonbon, Another 14 and Eau Matcha compare with Baccarat Rouge 540, Le Labo Another 13 and Thé Matcha 26.
Read about Montagne Parfums
The Dua Brand
Dua started as a kiosk in 2016 and now lists over 3,500 fragrances. How its inspirations, originals and hybrids work, with Desert Reflection, Leche de Rose and Casino Elixir.
Read about The Dua Brand
CA Perfume
CA Perfume sells hundreds of dupes as spray, alcohol-free body oil or both. Its Tobacco Vanille, Oud Wood and Sandal 333 checked against Tom Ford and Le Labo, and what oil changes.
Read about CA Perfume
Oil Perfumery
Oil Perfumery sells alcohol-free roll-on versions of famous perfumes. Its BR540, Tobacco Vanille and Santal 33 oils checked against the originals, and what the note lists can and can't tell you.
Read about Oil Perfumery
Armaf
Armaf never names a reference, but its Club de Nuit range lines up with Aventus, Coco Mademoiselle, Bleu de Chanel and Green Irish Tweed. Six Armaf perfumes checked note by note.
Read about Armaf
Lattafa
Lattafa's best-known perfumes are sweet, spicy and cheap enough to try on a whim. Khamrah, Asad, Yara and Fakhar, what's in them, and the luxury perfumes they get compared with.
Read about LattafaFour kinds of dupe house
Some print the original on the label, some go their own way, and some only sell oils.
They name the original
Dossier, ALT Fragrances, Oakcha
The reference is on every product page: Ambery Saffron for Baccarat Rouge 540, Executive for Aventus. The easiest place to start if you already know what you love.
Middle Eastern houses
Armaf, Lattafa
Sweet, spicy and generous. Club de Nuit Intense Man sits in Aventus territory with pineapple and birch; Lattafa's Khamrah is dates, cinnamon and praline and doesn't need a reference to make sense.
Niche interpreters
Alexandria Fragrances, Montagne Parfums, The Dua Brand
They take on niche houses like MFK and Le Labo as well as designer bestsellers. Catalogues are big, so judge each scent rather than the house.
Oil instead of spray
CA Perfume, Oil Perfumery
Alcohol-free roll-ons named "Impression of", for people who would rather dab than spray. CA Perfume sells many of its impressions both ways.
The Rise of Dupe Houses
Why dupes became a category after 2019, how a gas chromatograph helps make one, and where courts in the US and Europe draw the line.
Read the full storyWhere to start
Compare side-by-side
116 side-by-side comparisons of originals, flankers and alternatives, with the notes that set them apart.
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