These Zara perfume dupes will remind you of your fave luxe fragrances
We're going to start this dive into Zara perfume 'smell-a-like's with a disclaimer. We aren't dupe-crazy here at Cosmo. While we do love a genuine, affordable option that is *just like* an expensive favourite, some things just can't be replicated! And in recent years, dupe frenzy on social media has led to lots of tenuous links between products that weren't really all that similar. That being said, we can't all afford to drop £245 on a bottle of Baccarat Rouge 540, and no one should be priced out of smelling delicious!
With fragrance, we have the advantage of looking at the notes to establish whether the latest comparison really smells like luxury options, and there are no affordable brands we've been hearing more about than Zara's. The high street giant's perfume line has been heaped with praise for its quality, sophisticated scents and affordable price points, even before being compared to high-end scents.
So, we're going to get stuck in sharing some of the retailer's most raved-about eau de parfums; some smell indistinguishable from luxury faves, some have a strong resemblance, but what we can assure you, is that each one has the same essence and energy of your pricey faves, at a fraction of the cost.
FYI: We've used the closest size for our price comparison, but also included prices for the smallest size of the high-end fragrance you're coveting, just in case you decide to splurge...
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Red Temptation, 80ml
The frenzy over Baccarat Rouge 540 should be studied in the history books, and the hunt for an affordable alternative was next level. This is one of the most famous of the Zara comparisons and sharing notes of saffron, jasmine and amberwood, it's adding up. It doesn't last quite as long as the luxury cousin, but you could buy 11 bottles for the price of one, so top-ups won't be a problem.
Red Temptation, 90ml: £22.99
Baccarat Rouge, 80ml: £245
Treat Yourself to Maison Francic Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540: From £245 for 70ml
Red Vanilla, 90ml
If you want to smell like a fresh bouquet of spring flowers (I know I do), then Red Vanilla's floral notes are sure to entice you. With a blend of peony, iris, tangerine and sweet raspberry, this light fragrance echoes the cocktail of jasmine, patchouli and orange blossom you'll find in a spritz of Lancôme's La Vie est Belle.
Red Vanilla, 90ml: £15.99
La Vie est Belle, 100ml: £125
Treat yourself to La Vie est Belle: From £67 for 30ml
Waterlily Tea Dress, 100ml
Byredo's Gypsy Water is a firm favourite of mine. But, when I'm low on le funds, a spritz of Zara's Waterlily Tea Dress does the trick. Sharing notes of vert de bergamot and spearmint, these fragrances are a citrus delight with a warm, woody undertone.
Waterlily Tea Dress, 100ml: £29.99
Gypsy Water, 100ml: £220
Treat yourself to Byredo Gypsy Water: From £150 for 50ml
Energetically New York, 100ml
With Zara's Energetically New York EDP, you'd be forgiven for thinking you'd spritzed Le Labo's fan-favourite Santal 33. Both fragrances share enticing earthy accords, stirring up an aura of spicy cardamon, jasmine and sandalwood.
Energetically New York, 100ml: £29.99
Santal 33, 100ml: £234.00
Treat yourself to Le Labo Santal 33: From £74 for 15ml
Gardenia, 90ml
This £15.99, yes £15.99 eau de parfum is sultry, deep, and shares so much of what we love about YSL Black Opium. You can thank shared notes of orange blossom and coffee, as well as sweet fruit accords. Gardenia is sweeter but we honestly love both.
Gardenia, 90ml: £12.99
Black Opium, 90ml: £125
Treat Yourself to YSL Black Opium: From £53.60 for 30ml
Oriental, 90ml
Fruity and sweet with the same top notes of bergamot and freesia, Zara's Oriental is a great choice if you love Victor & Rolf's Flowerbomb.
Oriental, 90ml: £7.99
Flowerbomb, 100ml: £130
Treat Yourself to Victor & Rolf Flowerbomb: From £95 for 50ml
Ebony Wood, 100ml
Aromatic and musky, Jo Malone London's popular Wood Sage & Sea Salt was created to "bring the ocean closer to home". But, if a vacay to the seaside isn't within your price range, opt for Zara's Ebony Wood and feel transported with notes of grapefruit, cypress and pink pepper.
Ebony Wood, 100ml: £29.99
Wood Sage & Sea Salt, 100ml: £118
Treat yourself to Jo Malone London Wood Sage & Sea Salt: From £55 for 30ml
Cherry Smoothie, 100ml
Cherry; check! Tonka bean; check! Vanilla; check! Plum; check! Almond... check!
Comparing Cherry Smoothie's notes to the incredibly luxe Tom Ford Lost Cherry, it doesn't take a master perfumer to see that these two are going to smell pretty similar. It's a great alternative (and a whopping 17x cheaper), but full transparency, it is sweeter than Lost Cherry and doesn't have its rousing peppery notes. But seeing as most of us don't have the best part of £400 to spend on fragrance... we'll take it.
Cherry Smoothie, 100ml: £43.30
Lost Cherry, 100ml: £386
Treat Yourself to Tom Ford Lost Cherry: From £90 for 10ml
Applejuice, 90ml
There's some debate about which fruity and floral Chanel Chance iteration this smells more like. Some are convinced it's just like Eau Fraiche, while others argue for Eau Tendre. The truth is it's a lot like both, which makes sense as the two fragrances are both reinventions of the original Chanel Chance. While Zara Applejuice shares jasmine and cedar with both, that grapefruit note aligns it more strongly with the Eau Tendre.
Applejuice, 90ml: £15.99
Eau Tendre, 100ml: £145
Treat Yourself to Chanel Chance Eau Tendre: From £104 for 50ml
Golden Decade, 80ml
Sharing notes of mandarin, jasmine, orange and lavender, fans swear this shares the elegant floral musk of YSL Libre. So if you're partial to Libre, you'll likely enjoy Golden Decade too.
Golden Decade, 80ml: £22.99
Libre, 90ml: £135
Treat Yourself to YSL Libre: From £55.20 for 30ml
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