What is a perfume dupe?
Perfume dupes have become a common way to find a scent in the style of a well-known perfume. Here we go through what the word means, how a dupe differs from a copy and how to find the right one.
What does dupe mean?
Dupe is short for duplicate. A perfume dupe is a scent inspired by a well-known designer or niche fragrance with a similar scent profile. It is sold under its own name and in its own bottle.
Dupe, inspired or copy?
The words dupe and inspired perfume are often used for the same thing: a scent of its own that is similar to an original. A copy or counterfeit is something else. It pretends to be the original, with the same name, logo or packaging. A dupe does not, and should not be mistaken for the original.
At Amara Odores every scent has its own name, such as Pinnacle or Golden Delight, and the product states which well-known perfume it is inspired by.
How is a dupe made?
A dupe is built from the original's scent profile: which notes come through in the top, heart and base, and how the scent develops on the skin. The result is a composition of its own. It can be very reminiscent of the original, but it is not identical.
Our scents are developed and made at our place in Borås, and all are extrait de parfum with 30% perfume oil. Read what that means in the guide to EDT, EDP and extrait de parfum.
Why a scent can smell different
A perfume reacts with the skin. Skin type, warmth and climate affect how the scent develops, so the same scent can smell slightly different on two people. That goes for dupes and originals alike.
How to find a dupe of your favourite
Start with the perfume you already like and look it up among our inspired perfumes. There you can see which of our scents is inspired by it. You can also start from a scent family, such as sweet & gourmand or fresh, or take our perfume guide.
A few examples: Pinnacle is inspired by Creed Aventus, Golden Delight by Parfums de Marly Althaïr and Vanilla Dusk by Kayali Vanilla 28.
Amara Odores is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the brands mentioned. The names are used only to describe the scent profile. Our perfumes are original compositions, not copies.