Prompted by my video and post about perfume clones versus handbag fakes, I decided it might serve my readers if I produced an alphabetical list of options for people who are not averse to purchasing clones. Please note that I do not personally vouch for anything that follows, unless otherwise noted. As I stated before, while I don’t go out of my way to support clone houses, I am not against them either. I will try my best to keep this post updated to reflect any changes or additions.
Alexandria
Alexandria (https://alexandriafragrances.com) is a clone house that was created from a member of the Dua team who decided to branch out on his own, perhaps due to creative differences (that is a rumor I heard).
Overall, I think the two brands offer similar quality. In a battle between an original fragrance, a Dua fragrance, and Alexandria fragrance, opinions differ depending on the fragrance at hand and the reviewer. I have not purchased enough fragrances from either house to know. I have owned excellent clones from both houses. Neither was 100% perfect as a clone, but close enough. I could fool myself! Interestingly, I have also found that performance has in some cases been better than the original (I think I’m speaking of Alexandria’s take on Nassomato’s Baraonda)
I have experienced excellent customer service from Alexandria, by the way. They were very generous to me one time during a minor delivery delay. They’ve also been generous with their samples. I have always preferred their packaging to Dua, but now they have switched out their caps to look a lot better, too (they are wood-covered).
One thing of note that is very true of these two houses is that they also offer up their own original creations. I have yet to try any of them, but I do know they seem to be well-received. I don’t know if Dua started this, or some other clone house, but some companies create blends of famous fragrances – nice idea! I bought one Dua blend a few years back of BR540 mixed with By the Fireplace. Yes, I’d buy that again!
ALT Fragrances
ALT Fragrances (https://altfragrances.com) has a clever name and clever packaging. It’s next on my to-try clone list.
Armaf & Al Haramain
You’ll probably recognize the Middle Eastern houses of Armaf (https://www.armaf.ae) and Al Haramain (https://shop.alharamainperfumes.com). They have received much hype over the years for their clones, although they don’t overtly state publicly that a given perfume was “inspired” by any fragrance. The packaging and naming are completely different from the originals, too. Indeed, in many cases, I feel the perfumes are more inspirations of originals than clones.
Babylon Fragrances
Babylon Fragrances (https://www.babylonfragrances.com) has a smaller offering than Dua or Alexandria, but appear to follow a similar vein in terms of presentation.
Copy Cat Fragrances
There is no lack of clarity in conveying what it is that Copy Cat Fragrances (https://copycatfragrances.co.uk) sells.
Dapper Fragrances
Dapper Fragrances (https://dapperfragrances.com) tempts you to smell like a million bucks, for a fraction of the price.
Dossier
With its simple packaging and also candle offerings, Dossier (https://dossier.co) is an attractive-looking clone site. Their bottle choices look like the offspring of Frederic Malle and Byredo. I’ve got my eye on some to try. The prices start from a mere 29USD for a 50ml bottle.
Dua
Dua (https://theduabrand.com) was the first clone house I learned of. Eventually I did try of few of their offerings, and yes, they were pretty good. The prices are now much higher than I remember them being originally (I think they proven themselves now and can justify the prices) and I am not a fan of their new branding, though. they all have similar bottles and packaging, but the labels differ widely, and I find them a little tacky. The juice is good, though!
The Essence Vault
The Essence Vault (https://www.theessencevault.co.uk) names all its fragrances with numbers and offers diffusers and car scents, too.
Fragranza
There is a decent Tom Ford Lost Cherry called Amarena Cherry from the house of Fragrenza (https://www.fragrenza.com). But actually, many clone houses also do that fragrance… The 60ml bottles are understandably priced a little higher
Genre Parfums
Genre Parfums (https://www.facebook.com/groups/406118473237999/) are available via Facebook. I could find no dedicated website.
Julianna’s Perfume
Julianna’s Perfume (https://www.juliannasperfume.com) is yet another dupe house that offers several amazing clones.
KDJ Inspired
KDJ Inspired (https://kdjinspired.com) is a family run clone house making “legal dupes NOT illegal fakes.”
Oakcha
Oakcha (https://www.oakcha.com) offers up a similar concept to Dossier, only the uniform packaging of its 30ml bottles come in sleek black bottle like Chanel’s Coco Noire, only opaque and smaller. While this looks great, the drawback is you cannot easily assess how much you have left!
Parfums Vintage
Parfums Vintage (https://www.parfumsvintage.com) is most known for its multiple versions of that pineapple fragrance from Creed (with its many batches) that so many male perfume lovers lust over – Creed’s Aventus (I think it’s a good fragrance, by the way, but so overhyped!)
Paris Corner
Paris Corner (http://www.pariscornerperfumes.com) is a Dubai-based clone house that bundles several sub-brands or lines (hard to tell) on its site, including Pandora Scents and Monster Fragrance. I have purchased a dupe (Charuto) for Tom Ford’s Tobacco Vanille through these guys. It was not identical – much more honey, but it was well worth it and I am still enjoying the bottle. It doesn’t look like they sell it anymore, though.
Scentual Obsessions Perfume
Through its more bare-bones website Scentual Obsessions Perfume (https://www.scentualobsessionsperfume.com) offers three lines of clone perfumes, each having a higher concentration of different quality of oils.
The following sites specialize in perfume oils. I prefer alcohol sprays, so I haven’t considered any of these (well, perhaps Zohaar’s take on Bond. No. 9’s New Haarlem, since the real one is so hard to find):
- Zohaar Aroma (http://zohaaroma.com)
- Oil Perfumery (https://ca.oilperfumery.com)
- Perfume Parlour (https://perfume-parlour.co.uk)