How it works

How we match scents

A perfume is a list of notes: what you smell first, its heart, and what stays with you. We compare fragrances on those notes, show you the notes for every perfume, and tell you honestly how close we think each one is, so you can decide before you buy.

Last updated 16 October 2026

What we compare

Top, heart and base notes, the three stages of how a perfume smells over time.
Signature notes: the two notes that define a perfume's character, shown as the coloured chips on every card.
Its character: vibe, season, intensity (Light to Intense) and who it's made for.

Where matches come from

We start from alternatives that the fragrance community widely recognises, researched with AI-assisted search across public sources, and compare their notes with the original's. Each match is then published by our team. We add and update matches as new perfumes come out.

How close is it?

Every alternative carries one of three levels. They're our estimate, not a lab measurement, which is why we don't show percentages.

Closest match: Our closest matches: the same character and most of the same notes.
Close match: Clearly the same direction, with some differences in the notes or how it develops.
Same family: Takes the original as a starting point, with its own character.

What kind of match

Alongside the level, each alternative has a profile type:

Same structure: Follows the original from opening to base.
Same key notes: Built on the original's key notes, with its own details.
Own twist: Starts from the original, then goes somewhere new.
Loose take: Uses the original as a reference rather than following it closely.
Similar notes: Another designer perfume with notes in common. We don't say either was inspired by the other.

How we check prices

Next to our price we show the original's UK retail price, struck through, only when we've checked it with UK retailers, and only when our bottle is at least as big as the one that price is for. Both bottle sizes are always shown. Where we haven't checked a price, we don't show a saving.

What we don't claim

We never say an alternative is identical to the original. Every perfume is its own product.
Perfume smells different on different skin, and can vary between batches.
Our notes data is compiled from public sources and can contain mistakes. If you spot one, email contact@dupeorium.com and we'll fix it.
Dupeorium isn't affiliated with, or endorsed by, the brands we compare against. Their names are used only to describe which scent an alternative is compared with. All trademarks belong to their owners.