Designer and Niche Fragrance Dupes: 4 Popular Pairs (2026)
A "dupe" is a cheaper fragrance that people commonly compare to a pricier one. It is not the same perfume, and it will not smell identical on your skin. Here are four widely discussed pairs, each shown with published notes, a rough notes-overlap score and an Amazon link for both sides.
Short on time? Browse every pair in the Dupes Database or run any two through Compare.
The four pairs at a glance
| Original | Alternative | Match | Gender | Alt. price tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jean Paul Gaultier Ultra Male | Afnan 9PM | ~93% reported similarity | Men | Under $50 |
| Creed Aventus | Armaf Club de Nuit Intense Man | ~88% reported similarity | Men | Under $50 |
| Creed Aventus | Montblanc Explorer Eau de Parfum | ~85% reported similarity | Men | Not rated |
| Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 | Maison Alhambra La Rouge Baroque | 44% notes overlap | Unisex | Under $50 |
| Kilian Angels' Share | Lattafa Khamrah | 22% notes overlap | Unisex | Under $50 |
Pair by pair
Jean Paul Gaultier Ultra Male vs Afnan 9PM
Jean Paul Gaultier Ultra MaleOriginal
Published notes: Pear, Lavender, Mint, Bergamot, Cinnamon, Clary sage, Cumin, Vanilla, Amber, Woods
Commonly compared with: Afnan 9PM. ~93% reported similarity. Compare side by side.
Afnan 9PMAlternative
Top: Apple, Bergamot, Cinnamon, Wild lavender · Heart: Orange blossom, Carnation · Base: Vanilla, Tonka bean, Amber, Patchouli
Main accords (as listed): Vanilla, Amber, Sweet, Fruity, Warm, Spicy, Powdery, Cinnamon
Commonly compared to: Jean Paul Gaultier Ultra Male. ~93% reported similarity. Compare side by side.
Creed Aventus vs Armaf Club de Nuit Intense Man
Creed AventusOriginal
Top: Bergamot, Black currant, Apple, Lemon, Pink pepper · Heart: Pineapple, Patchouli, Moroccan jasmine · Base: Birch, Musk, Oakmoss, Cedarwood, Ambroxan
Main accords (as listed): Fruity, Sweet, Woody, Leather, Citrus, Smoky, Musky, Fresh, Tropical, Mossy
Commonly compared with: Montagne Parfums Pineapple Intense. ~89% reported similarity. Compare side by side.
Armaf Club de Nuit Intense ManAlternative
Top: Cassis, Lime, Green apple, Pineapple leaf · Heart: Rose, Jasmine, Birch · Base: Ambergris, Patchouli, Vanilla
Commonly compared to: Creed Aventus. ~88% reported similarity. Compare side by side.
Creed Aventus vs Montblanc Explorer Eau de Parfum
Creed AventusOriginal
Top: Bergamot, Black currant, Apple, Lemon, Pink pepper · Heart: Pineapple, Patchouli, Moroccan jasmine · Base: Birch, Musk, Oakmoss, Cedarwood, Ambroxan
Main accords (as listed): Fruity, Sweet, Woody, Leather, Citrus, Smoky, Musky, Fresh, Tropical, Mossy
Commonly compared with: Montagne Parfums Pineapple Intense. ~89% reported similarity. Compare side by side.
Montblanc Explorer Eau de ParfumAlternative
Top: Bergamot, Pink pepper, Clary sage · Heart: Haitian vetiver, Leather · Base: Ambroxan, Akigalawood, Indonesian patchouli leaf, Cacao pod
Main accords (as listed): Woody, Citrus, Aromatic, Amber, Musky, Fresh spicy, Soft spicy, Oud, Warm spicy, Earthy
Commonly compared to: Creed Aventus. ~85% reported similarity. Compare side by side.
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 vs Maison Alhambra La Rouge Baroque
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540Original
Top: Saffron, Jasmine · Heart: Amberwood, Ambergris · Base: Fir resin, Cedar
Main accords (as listed): Woody, Amber, Spicy, Sweet, Floral, Resinous
Commonly compared with: Zimaya Itqan Noir. ~95% reported similarity. Compare side by side.
Maison Alhambra La Rouge BaroqueAlternative
Top: Jasmine, Saffron · Heart: Bitter almond, Cedarwood · Base: Ambergris, Musk, Woody notes
Main accords (as listed): Sweet, Oriental, Spicy, Gourmand
Commonly compared to: Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540. 44% notes overlap (4 shared notes). Compare side by side.
Kilian Angels' Share vs Lattafa Khamrah
Kilian Angels' ShareOriginal
Top: Cognac · Heart: Cinnamon, Tonka bean, Oak, Hedione · Base: Vanilla, Praline, Sandalwood, Candied almond
Main accords (as listed): Warm spicy, Woody, Sweet, Vanilla, Cinnamon, Amber, Powdery
Commonly compared with: Maison Alhambra Kismet Magic. ~99% reported similarity. Compare side by side.
Lattafa KhamrahAlternative
Top: Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Bergamot · Heart: Dates, Praline, Tuberose, Mahonial · Base: Vanilla, Tonka bean, Amberwood, Myrrh, Benzoin, Akigalawood
Main accords (as listed): Sweet, Gourmand, Spicy, Warm, Vanilla, Woody, Amber, Creamy
Commonly compared to: Kilian Angels' Share. 22% notes overlap (4 shared notes). Compare side by side.
How to shop for a dupe
- Treat the notes as a starting point. Two fragrances can share many notes and still smell different, because of the ratio of notes and the base materials.
- Check the concentration and size. EDT, EDP and parfum differ in strength, and sizes vary by listing.
- Buy from Amazon or an authorized seller. Counterfeits exist for popular originals, so a very low price on a designer bottle is a warning sign.
- Start small if you can. A sample or small size is a cheap way to find out whether it suits you.
Quick answers
What is a fragrance dupe?
A dupe is a fragrance that people commonly compare to a more expensive one because they share some notes or a similar style. It is a different product from a different brand, not a copy of the original bottle.
What does the notes overlap percentage mean?
It compares the published note lists of two fragrances and shows how much they share. It is a rough guide only and does not measure how similar the two smell.
Are dupes the same as counterfeits?
No. A counterfeit pretends to be the original brand. The alternatives listed here are sold under their own brand names. Our buttons go to Amazon, and you should check the seller and the listing.
Will a dupe smell exactly like the original?
Probably not exactly. Fragrances change from person to person and from batch to batch. Use our notes and the community comparisons as a guide.
Where this guide comes from
We have not tested these fragrances ourselves. Notes, release years and "commonly compared to" links come from the published sources below, and notes lists differ between sources, so treat them as a guide. The overlap percentage is a rough comparison of two published note lists. It is not a measure of how similar the two smell. Fragrances can smell different on different people and from batch to batch. Price tiers are approximate. Check the Amazon listing for the live price, size and seller.
- Fragrantica: Creed Aventus
- Reported similarity figure as supplied to Dupes Base (not our testing)
- Bespoke Unit: Armaf Club de Nuit Intense Man
- Vivir: Kilian Angels' Share
- Vivir: Lattafa Khamrah
- Intense Oud: Kilian Angels Share dupe, Lattafa Khamrah
- Vivir: Baccarat Rouge 540
- Parfumo: La Rouge Baroque
- Vivir: Ultra Male
- Dubai Aroma: 9PM by Afnan review
- Vivir: Afnan 9PM
- Brand page: Montagne Parfums
- Brand page: The Dua Brand
- Fragrantica: Montblanc Explorer
- Fragrantica: Seduction 1 by AK France (notes as supplied)