Best perfume dupes to buy for Christmas presents including bottle that’s just like iconic YSL scent but £70 cheaper

SAVVY shoppers looking to save a bundle this Christmas can bag a fragrance that actually smells better than the designer version – and costs a fraction of the price.

New tests from consumer champion Which? have revealed that you don’t need to splash out hundreds of pounds to smell expensive this festive season.

In a shock result, a blind smell test involving 40 participants found that a £24.99 “dupe” beat a £95 designer classic from Yves Saint Laurent.

With the cost of living biting, fragrance fans are turning to “inspired by” scents.

These aren’t illegal knock-offs.

Instead they have their own branding and packaging but mimic the notes of iconic perfumes.

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The biggest winner in the study was The Essence Vault 82, which retails for just £24.99 for a large 100ml bottle.

When blind-tested against the iconic Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium, which costs £95 for a smaller 50ml bottle, the cheap alternative took the crown.

Shoppers opting for this dupe could save £70 and get double the amount of perfume, making it a perfect stocking filler.

While Black Opium is famous for its floral and sweet hit, some testers found the way it settled on the skin disappointing, with one harsh critic claiming the £95 bottle smelled like “old soap”.

The Essence Vault 82 won people over despite a slightly chemical opening note.

Once it settled, it left behind a sweet and spicy aroma that developed into woody and musky notes which the testers loved.

And if you are looking for an even bigger bargain, the battle between Jo Malone’s Peony & Blush Suede and Jo Malone Peony & Suede proved that price isn’t everything.

While the original £86 Jo Malone scent was slightly preferred by the panel, the results were incredibly close.

The Aldi version costs just £6.49, representing a massive saving of £79.51.

Both scents were hailed as feminine, floral, and fruity, and while the Aldi bargain had a sharper start, it settled into a fairly complex smell that defied its rock-bottom price tag.

The consumer panel also tested Miss Dior against a budget rival called Realistic for Women by Perfume Parlour.

The original Miss Dior, which costs £107 for 50ml, edged out the win thanks to its well-blended citrus notes.

However, the Perfume Parlour version is a solid runner-up at just £32 for 100ml.

Testers found it sweet, though it lacked the zesty kick of the Dior, yet it remains a brilliant option for those shopping on a budget who want to save £75.

Not every dupe outshines the original

The tests showed that you sometimes get what you pay for, particularly with men’s fragrances.

The panel compared the legendary Paco Rabanne 1 Million against a dupe called Las Vegas by Noted Aromas.

Most testers preferred the original £66 Rabanne bottle, praising its fruity kick of cinnamon and ginger.

The £29.99 dupe disappointed noses with a distinct ethanol smell that came across as boozy and faded fast, meaning the designer bottle is likely worth the extra cash in this instance.

There is also one general area where the luxury giants still rule, which is longevity.

Which? found that across the board, the expensive perfumes stayed on the skin much longer, with originals fading after three hours compared to dupes which weakened after just one hour.

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.”