COLLECTING perfume isn’t a cheap hobby.
Much like fine wine or cheese, many good perfumes carry a hefty price tag – thanks to high concentrations of perfume oils, luxury packaging, brand clout, or a mixture of all three.
But here’s the thing – whilst there are some brilliant, expensive fragrances out there, there are also some amazing cheap options, too.
I’ve spoken about my love of M&S Beauty before, and here I go again – because M&S own-label fragrances are excellent.
Not only are M&S Discover fragrances affordable (they cost just £10 a pop), but many of the brand’s offerings have been compared to designer fragrances.
Social media is teeming with claims that some M&S fragrances are dupes of popular perfume labels like Le Labo and Chanel.
So, I grabbed my Sparks card and popped down to my local M&S branch to see what all the fuss was about.
M&S Apothecary Warmth Eau de Parfum, £10
Couting celebs like Ellie Goulding, Justin Bieber, and Ryan Reynolds as loyal fans, Le Labo Santal 33 (£230) is a bit of a bougie buy.
This unisex EDP is leathery and woody, with cosy aromatic notes and a powdery finish.
Santal 33 is warming and reassuring – and M&S Apothecary’s aptly named Warmth EDP is a known dupe.
M&S Apothecary Warmth Eau de Parfum, £10, is a rich, comforting EDP with tangy spiced notes alongside a heavy, creamy base.
Despite its £10 price tag, I was surprised by how complex and intricately layered this perfume is.
Whilst it doesn’t quite have Le Labo Santal 33‘s delicate, powdery notes, I love M&S Apothecary Warmth EDP‘s spicy, herbaceous notes, which remind me of a steaming cup of chai.
M&S Discover White Coconut Eau De Toilette, £10
Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Crush Cheirosa 62 Perfume Mist (£38) is a beach bag essential.
This juicy, sumptuous body mist has gourmand notes of pistachio, salted caramel and almond – making it nearly good enough to eat.
It’s the perfect summertime fragrance, making it perfect for a light refresh, but it will set you back £38.
So, fans of the fragrance have found a dupe in budget M&S Discover White Coconut Eau De Toilette (£10)
One shopper says: “I’m a frequent buyer of another well-known brand, but no longer – this is £10 for 100ml compared to £30 – great smell and long-lasting, even use as a room spray.”
Other shoppers love its holiday-esque aroma, with one saying: “Lovely scent. This is gorgeous. Fresh with a hint of coconut. Gives me memories of holidays!”
Whilst M&S White Coconut Eau De Toilette (£10) isn’t quite cut out for a beach bag (thanks to its glass bottle), it certainly sent me to warmer climes.
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M&S Warm Neroli Eau De Toilette, £10
Rabanne 1 Million was the smell of the 00’s, with its iconic gold-bar bottle making its way into bathroom shelves across the country.
So, when the designer label launched Rabanne Lady Million EDP (£86) in 2010 – the female equivalent – it was met with applause.
This floral, fruity fragrance has sugary notes of honey and citrus, alongside a heavier, warming amber base.
Sumptuous and elegant, with a sultry musk dry down, beauty fans can’t help but compare M&S Warm Neroli Eau De Toilette (£10) to Rabanne Lady Million EDP.
Despite being an EDT – which tends to be lighter and fresher – M&S Warm Neroli Eau De Toilette (£10) is a well-known dupe of Rabanne.
I’d consider this M&S Warm Neroli Eau De Toilette as an evening fragrance – think late-night dinners and dashing in and out of taxis.
M&S Velvet Amber Eau De Toilette, £10
As possibly the most famous fragrance in the world, Chanel No.5 (£104) needs no introduction.
It’s thought that the EDP earned its name after being the fifth sample Gabrielle Chanel smelt when creating her namesake fragrance, but this is widely disputed.
It has a gorgeous, balanced aroma which pairs floral notes of jasmine and rose with a creamy base of vanilla and sandalwood.
However, shoppers have noticed that M&S Velvet Amber Eau De Toilette (£10) is a dupe.
One shopper says: “I’ve been a Chanel buyer all my life but I refuse to pay £100 now.”
Whilst the fragrance doesn’t have the same staying power as Chanel, shoppers still say it’s great value for money.
One adds: “A lovely scent, it is very similar to Chanel No 5. It does not last very long but at that price you can afford to re-apply!”
M&S Discover Seasalt & Neroli, £12.50
If there’s one beauty brand my friends and I go wild for, it’s Jo Malone.
Whether it’s the elegant fragrances or charming bottles that do it for them, this brand is indisputably one of the nation’s favourites.
For me, I love how diverse and full of character the fragrances are – plus they look great on your dressing table.
Bright and breezy Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt (£118) is no exception and has a delicate aroma that reminds me of fresh laundry, alongside tangy sea salt.
M&S Discover Seasalt & Neroli (£12.50) is a good, budget alternative that has a light, fresh feel.
Whilst it won’t last long (this is often the case with EDTs as they contain smaller concentrations of perfume oil), I love spritzing it onto skin and clothes for a quick refresh.
M&S Soft Iris Eau De Toilette, £10
With its summery notes of rose and patchouli, Chanel Coco Mademoiselle (£104) is both elegant and playful.
The luxury fragrance is one of Chanel’s lighter fragrances, with a youthful feel, and is a real crowd-pleaser, thanks to its sweet yet balanced aroma.
It’s the perfect summer fragrance – ideal for outdoor weddings and posh picnics in the park – but it will set you back a hefty £125.
Fortunately, though, M&S Soft Iris Eau De Toilette (£12.50) has earned its name as a Chanel Coco Mademoiselle dupe.
Just like Chanel’s offerings, this EDT has scrumptious notes of floral iris and jasmine, which are balanced with a lightly spiced base of vetiver and amber.
Whilst I’m hard-pressed to pick a favourite M&S perfume, the crown goes to this one – thanks to its uplifting, floral aroma that reminds me of holidays and hotel lobbies.
M&S Black Pepper Eau De Toilette, £10
Whilst it isn’t the priciest EDP on this list, beauty fans love Davidoff Adventure (£27.50) and its citrusy, aromatic aroma.
The fragrance balances notes of orange and lemon with zippy pepper and sultry white musk, which come together for an energetic, fresh finish.
At £25, Davidoff Adventure is already a budget buy, but fans have found an even cheaper alternative.
Hailed as a Davidoff dupe, M&S Black Pepper Eau De Toilette (£10) has similar notes of spicy peppercorns and a warm amber base.
Shoppers love the EDT, with one saying: “Has a fresh, citrus smell with Smokey undertones which I assume is the black pepper.”
Adding: “I use it every day after showering and to work.”
Other shoppers love its staying-power, with one adding: “The smell lasts a long time on clothes, and is still present the next day.”
M&S Midnight Blossom Eau de Toilette, £10
Synonymous with late nights and dinner dates, YSL Black Opium Eau de Parfum (£79) is the ultimate evening fragrance.
This creamy fragrance has notes of vanilla, matched with warming woody notes and spicy pink pepper.
Whilst M&S Midnight Blossom EDT (£10) has a slightly sharper finish, which isn’t quite as well balanced as YSL Black Opium Eau de Parfum, it’s a great budget alternative.
When first spritzed onto my skin, it has a heavy, intoxicating feel, but has a lighter, powdery dry down.
I wouldn’t wear it during the day, thanks to its rich aroma, but I’d give it a spritz before clattering out the door in heels.
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