Save major ₹₹₹ with Middle Eastern dupes of your favourite luxury fragrances

Save or splurge, the choice is yours habibi

I never imagined I’d have something in common with Snoop Dogg. The rap legend is known for his dynamic music career, Gin and Juice-inspired cocktails, unlikely friendship with Martha Stewart, hilarious nature commentary, and most recently, his Olympic escapades, which have proven more entertaining than any new comedy film releases. But it turns out we do share one commonality: our current go-to scent is the ‘it’ perfume of 2023, Delina by Parfums de Marly. I discovered our shared love for this floral-woody fragrance while watching Vogue’s Olympics special ‘In the Bag’ video featuring Snoop Dogg. However, unlike his, my bottle didn’t cost ₹31,400. I had scoured the internet for a dupe until I found the Middle Eastern fragrance Delilah by Maison Alhambra for ‎₹1,749. Having sampled the original’s sweet and sensual notes, I couldn’t differentiate between Delina and Delilah. I’d hit the jackpot.

This revelation got me thinking about the world of luxurious designer perfumes, and their more accessible counterparts. I willingly dove head-first into the rabbit hole of Middle Eastern fragrance dupes, and discovered fragrance houses like Maison Alhambra, Paris Corner, Swiss Arabian, Al Haramain, and more, with Lattafa being the crowd favourite. Maison Alhambra (under the Lattafa parent company) even took cloning a bit too far and landed in trouble over their copied creations.

The rise of Middle Eastern fragrances

Middle Eastern perfumers and fragrance houses have mastered the art of crafting clones and dupes of popular luxury scents. By combining craftsmanship with affordability, these perfumes have found a wide online fanbase. Viral TikToks and Instagram reels gush about their longevity and sillage (the scent trail left behind by a perfume), often outperforming both ‘originals’ and other dupes in the market. While this attention might have been sparked by the Western market’s interest in oud-based perfumes, the Middle Eastern fragrance hype has since taken on a life of its own.

One primary reason for the popularity of Middle Eastern fragrance dupes is affordability. High-end perfumes often come with hefty price tags, making them a luxury not everyone can afford. Both fragrance clones, which attempt to replicate the original scent profile as closely as possible, as well as dupes, which offer budget-friendly formulations of designer perfumes, provide a more accessible route to enjoying luxe scents.

What’s the catch?

While Middle Eastern perfumes continue to rise in popularity, there is a catch. Countless Reddit threads (read here, here and here) emphasise that these fragrances need about a month or so for maturation and oxidation (often called maceration) to reach their desired scent profile, a process that luxury fragrance houses complete in-house before releasing their products in the market.

However, if you don’t mind the waiting period, are willing to compromise (slightly) on packaging aesthetics, and love a good dupe—whether in skincare or makeup—you’ve come to the right place. Consider this your introduction to the intoxicating world of Middle Eastern fragrance dupes, complete with popular crowd favourites for you to try.

Middle Eastern fragrance dupes of luxury perfumes

Oriana by Parfums de Marly (₹29,400 for 75 ml) vs Ansam Gold by Lattafa (₹2,899 for 100 ml)

This one is perfect for those who love floral fragrances with a hint of dessert. Much like Oriana, Ansam Gold by Lattafa is a gourmand’s sweet treat, featuring standout marshmallow and floral notes. It opens with a zesty splash of mandarin orange and pear, setting the stage for a fruity, playful scent that slowly envelops you. As it blooms, the sweetness of marshmallow mingles with jasmine and rose, transforming into a dreamy floral affair. The grand finale is a creamy mix of vanilla, musk and raspberry that lingers like a warm hug, offering opulence without the splurge.

Black Opium by Yves Saint Laurent (₹8,500 for 90 ml) vs Opera Noir by Maison Alhambra (₹1,549 for 100 ml)

Once it’s had time to mature, Opera Noir by Maison Alhambra enchants from the first spritz with its sassy blend of pink pepper and sweet pear. You then dive into a coffee note mingling with jasmine and bitter almond, adding irresistible depth. It finishes with a warm, comforting base of vanilla, patchouli, and cashmere wood, leaving a long-lasting, sophisticated trail. The bold coffee note with a sweet twist makes both Opera Noir and YSL’s Black Opium a perfect choice for those who adore deep, sensual fragrances that are anything but subtle.

Eilish by Billie Eilish (₹6,600 for 100ml) vs Nebras by Lattafa (₹2,899 for 100ml)

Have you ever walked past a Häagen-Dazs ice cream store and thought, “Wow, I’d love to smell like that.” Well, these perfumes will get you there. Nebras by Lattafa offers a similarly indulgent experience to Billie Eilish’s fragrance, Eilish, by focusing on rich notes of vanilla and cocoa, further enhanced by a sweet, inviting burst of red berries. The dry down is warm and comforting, with musk, tonka bean and amber providing a cosy, long-lasting finish—ideal for those who love dessert-like scents.

Dama Bianca by Xerjoff (₹24,900 for 100 ml) vs Junoon Noir by Al Haramain (₹6,500 for 75 ml)

If you’ve ever tried Sol De Janeiro 40 body mist and wished for a similar-smelling, longer-lasting alternative, we have two options for you. Both Dama Bianca and Junoon Noir share a powdery, floral profile with a creamy, musky base that mirrors Sol De Janeiro 40. However, Junoon Noir by Al Haramain opens with a light and airy introduction featuring a citrusy burst of lime, kumquat and delicate violet. The heart reveals a floral bouquet of iris, adding a powdery elegance to the scent. The musk, vanilla and sandalwood base notes provide a creamy, comforting finish that lingers gently on the skin—a winning choice for those who appreciate soft, powdery florals with a touch of sweetness.

Velvet Tonka by BDK Parfums (₹22,600 for 100 ml) vs Oud Tonka by Swiss Arabian (₹7,199 for 75 ml)

Can’t decide if you want tonka in your scent? Snif.co describes the aroma of a tonka bean as a nutty and resinous, blending the spice of cinnamon and nutmeg with the warmth of vanilla. Both Velvet Tonka by BDK Parfums and Oud Tonka by Swiss Arabian highlight the richness of tonka bean with floral and oriental elements. Oud Tonka opens with a luxurious blend of almond and saffron, creating an exotic introduction. The heart reveals Bulgarian rose and jasmine, adding floral depth, while the base of tonka bean, vanilla and oud provides a warm, creamy finish with a hint of smokiness. A must-have for those who enjoy rich, oriental fragrances with a gourmand twist.

Baccarat Rouge 540 by Maison Francis Kurkdjian (₹27,950 for 70 ml) vs Ana Abiyedh Rouge by Lattafa (₹1,449 for 60 ml)

My first reaction to Baccarat Rouge 540 (BR540) was, “This smells like a Dubai mall”. Having grown up familiar with the scents of the city from summer vacations spent visiting my grandparents, I recognised that distinctly luxurious, saffron-heavy aroma that has become the hallmark of a signature ‘Arab’ scent. While there are more Middle Eastern dupes of this French perfume than I can count (and a great one from Zara, too), a crowd favourite is Ana Abiyedh Rouge by Lattafa, which opens with a striking blend of saffron and jasmine. The heart of amber wood adds a warm, woody depth, while the base of fir resin and cedar provides a resinous, smoky finish. Tailor-made for those who love bold, woody fragrances with a touch of sweetness.

Libre Intense by Yves Saint Laurent (₹11,800 for 90 ml) vs Tharwah by Lattafa (₹2,999 for 100 ml)

Don’t judge a perfume by its bottle. While Tharwah by Lattafa comes in a bottle that seems more suited to a science lab than a dressing table, the fragrance matures into an impactful scent. It shares the bold, floral profile with warm, sweet undertones of YSL’s Libre Intense, but falls somewhere between Libre and Libre Intense, leaning more towards the latter. It opens with an uplifting burst of lavender and mandarin orange, then reveals a blooming heart of jasmine, orange blossom and orchid, adding a rich floral complexity. The base of vanilla, tonka bean and ambergris provides a warm and sensual finish that lingers beautifully on the skin. Tharwah fragrance is ideal for those who enjoy bold, floral scents with a touch of sweetness, though it does emphasise lavender more than Libre Intense.

Bal d’Afrique by Byredo ​​(₹20,300 for 100 ml) vs Vibrant Vetiver by Paris Corner (₹2,499 for 100 ml)

One reviewer described Bal d’Afrique by Byredo as “showering in sunshine”, and once you examine those notes (or get a whiff of the scent itself) this description starts to make perfect sense. In a similar vein, Vibrant Vetiver by Paris Corner opens with a fresh blend of bergamot, lemon and neroli, creating a bright and invigorating introduction. The heart features jasmine, violet and orange blossom, adding a floral flair, while the base of vetiver, amber, and musk provides a warm and earthy finish. This fragrance is an excellent choice for those who adore fresh, citrusy fragrances with a floral heart and an earthy base.

Coco Mademoiselle by Chanel (₹16,750 for 100 ml) vs Club de Nuit Woman by Armaf (₹3,700 for 100 ml)

Coco Mademoiselle is a cult classic for a reason, embodying elegance with its immaculate blend of sensuous florals, citrus and subtle yet complex fruity notes. Club de Nuit Woman by Armaf matures into a similar scent profile, opening with a fresh and lively blend of citrus fruits and peach. The blooming heart reveals a bouquet of rose, jasmine, lychee and geranium, adding a fruity, floral touch. The base of patchouli, vanilla, musk and vetiver provides a warm and sensual finish that lingers on the skin. While we don’t believe perfumes need to be gendered, when most people talk about ‘classic femininity’, this is the scent profile they’re talking about.

L’Interdit EDT by Givenchy (₹11,100 for 80 ml) vs Fakhar Rose by Lattafa (₹1,699 for 100 ml)

Givenchy’s L’Interdit Eau De Toilette (EDT) and Lattafa’s Fakhar Rose share a floral heart featuring a bouquet of white flowers that creates an alluring core. Unlike the L’Interdit Eau de Parfum (EDP), which has a higher concentration of perfume oils, Fakhar Rose offers a more youthful and playful appeal due to its bubblegum-like tuberose. While Fakhar Rose focuses on a straightforward white floral theme compared to Givenchy’s more complex creation, it’s an ideal match for lovers of tuberose and white florals. If that sounds like you, this might be the only perfume you’ll find yourself reaching for.