Fragrance dupes are in vogue, and while they might not be the real thing, the perfume impersonators still pack a punch – and for a tenth of the price.
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Brand reviewer Tilly Alexander hit Marks and Spencer to find the best deals.
The multinational retailer offers a plethora of dupes but the most sought after copies are of Chanel No.5, YSL Black Opium and Lancôme La Vie Est Belle.
And for an 100ml bottle, it will set you back £9.50.
Tilly set out to set the record straight, reviewing each dupe to see how close they compared to the originals.
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Chanel No. 5 dupe: Velvet Rose
Chanel No. 5 is the most famous perfume in the world but M&S’s clone is pretty close and it’s called Velvet Rose.
Tilly said: “Clean, soapy and definitely not stereotypically feminine all sprang to mind.
“Bold and fresh but also kind of like you’ve just washing the dishes with Fairy.
“Despite this dramatic price difference, M&S’s product nails the vibe reasonably well.”
At only £9.50 for 100ml, Velvet Rose is an impressive £116.50 cheaper than the real Chanel No.5.
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Lancôme La Vie Est Belle dupe: Pink Pepper
Lancôme’s famous La Vie Est Belle has been copied with a dupe called Pink Pepper.
Tilly said: “The fragrance profile is described as floral, fruity and gourmand.
“There was a definite sweet undertone from the praline, vanilla and Tonka bean and and fainter notes of flowers.
“The undercurrent of cold spiciness was unexpected but gave it added strength and flair.
“In light of this, I can see why Marks and Spencer’s £9.50 Pink Pepper fragrance is considered a ‘dupe’.”
A bottle of Lancome La Vie Est Belle Eau de Parfum will set you back £97.20.
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YSL Black Opium dupe: Midnight Blossom
YSL’s Black Opium Eau De Parfum dupe is another top seller and is called Midnight Blossom.
Tilly said: “Even with only the minutest of spritzes, the scent was unmistakably a deep, heady floral.
“This one was warm, sensual and comforting, the kind that makes you feel as if you’re wandering down a cobbled European street in lamplight with jasmine blooming somewhere.”
Marks and Spencer’s Midnight Blossom costs £9.50 for 100ml compared to YSL’s for £108 for 90ml.