I don’t know if it’s just my algorithm, but right now, everyone I know is obsessed with M&S. A lot of the chat is about the clothes and the designer dupe sandals and accessories, but, in my opinion, not enough is said about the beauty offering from the store. I know, I know, I am biased, being that my job is all things beauty, but honestly, the beauty hall is stocked with incredible brands (hello, Color Wow, Benefit and Clinique to name a few) and the shop’s own brand products are some of the best quality and best value. And this is especially the case when it comes to M&S perfumes.
They start at just £10 for a 100ml eau de toilette (or £8 when on sale!), and while the staying power isn’t always incredible, the scents smell expensive, and at just a tenner, doing a spritz top-up doesn’t feel like an assault on your bank account. Now, we aren’t the biggest fans of dupe culture at Cosmo, and we do think these fragrances are beautifully created in their own right, but there are some scents that do smell eerily familiar to our pricey faves like Le Labo Santal 33 and YSL Black Opium. So, if your interest has been piqued, here are some of our M&S perfume picks below and the scent that they remind us of…
How I tested the M&S perfumes
Having over a decade of beauty journalism under my belt, I’ve probably sniffed more scents than I have had hot dinners, so you can rest assured I know my notes. To find the similarities, I first looked at the key notes that the M&S fragrances have and the olfactory family they sit in (i.e., woody, floral, etc.), then I narrowed down some of the most cult fragrances I know in those families and with those notes.
I tested the wear time of each scent by always applying to my pulse points, but it’s important to say, that these fragrances will wear different if you are comparing a Eau de Parfum (EDP) to an Eau de Toilette (EDT) as an EDP has a higher concentration of perfume oil in it compared to an EDT which has more alcohol and so will wear off of the skin quicker.
The best M&S perfumes
Apothecary Warmth Eau De Parfum 50ml
Smells like... Le Labo Santal 33 Eau de Parfum 50ml, £170
If you’re into warm, snuggly, woody scents, this is a must-buy. It’s the brand’s bestseller for a reason, with the earthy notes also translating well into home fragrance, too (you also have to check them out). As a huge Le Labo Santal fan, I can definitely smell the similarity. I would say this scent has a sweeter, spicier element to it, thanks to the cinnamon in the formula, which Santal 33 doesn’t have.
Notes: Cardamom, Cinnamon, Cedarwood and Sandalwood
What reviewers say: “I was intrigued to try this product. It's a deep, long-lasting scent that reminds me of cinnamon and essential oils. It's perfect for every day in winter. Would recommend and buy again. Great value for money.”
Apothecary Restful Eau De Parfum 50ml
Smells like... Tom Ford Café Rose Eau de Parfum 50ml, £108
I was so surprised by how much the dry down of this scent reminded me of Café Rose. They share a couple of the same notes (rose and frankincense, namely), but Café Rose also contains some other punchy notes that make the first sniff smell different, but once it settles, you’ll really can smell the similarity, and it’s a tenth of the price.
Notes: Rose, Black pepper, Frankincense, Cedarwood
What reviewers say: “Awesome! Absolutely love the scent. It isn't overwhelming and doesn't cling. But it's so affordable you can spray yourself as often as you want!”
Discover White Coconut Eau De Toilette 100ml
Smells like… Maison Martin Margiela Beach Walk Eau de Toilette 100ml, £120
Now, many people online say that this smells like Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 62, but I really disagree. Yes, it has the coconut and the vanilla that give it that vibe, but it’s way more similar to this classic holiday scent by Maison Martin Margiela. Both fragrances have a heavy dose of coconut and vanilla, but the layer of citrus in them adds a zingy freshness.
Notes: Coconut, Orange and Vanilla
What reviewers say: “Beautiful smell … and lasts, cheers you up, as it reminds you of sunshine and summer!”
Discover White Coconut Eau De Parfum 50ml
What reviewers say: "Really like this fragrance and delighted to have it in the stronger eau de parfum. It’s not just a summer fragrance and is soft, slightly salty and not cloying or too sweet. It also lasts well on my skin."
Discover Warm Neroli Eau De Toilette 100ml
Smells like... Van Cleef & Arpels Collection Extraordinaire Neroli Amara Eau de Parfum 7ml, £153
I feel like Van Cleef & Arpels scents are slept on, but that’s an article for another day. If you have smelt this fabulous scent, you’ll know that it's a citrus scent through and through, but it’s not sharp and has no edges, it’s light and sparkly but has warmth thanks to the white musk at the base. Warm Neroli has that same scent profile.
Notes: Neroli, Bergamot, Musk
What reviewers say: “Light and slightly floral - perfect as a spring scent. Full Perfume can sometimes be overwhelming for others, so this is light & subtle. I do a big spray before I leave the house. It's a good price at £10, so great value for money.”
Discover Warm Neroli Eau De Parfum 50ml
What reviewers say: "Great smelling perfume at a great price. This is a stronger perfume than the previous one I bought. Very pleased."
Discover White Jasmine Eau De Toilette 100ml
Smells like… Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Eau Fraîche Skinscent, £75 and Jo Malone Frangipani Flower Cologne, £58
Marks & Spencer White Jasmine Eau De Toilette 100ml
This smells like a holiday in a bottle and has super similar notes to the cult classic scent, Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess and this summer scent from Jo Malone, which includes jasmine and sandalwood. If you like a delicate beachy floral scent that has a subtle creamy twist, you need to add this to your basket asap.
Notes: Bergamot, Jasmine and Sandalwood
What reviewers say: “A lovely summery smelling scent that reminds you of holidays. Excellent value for money and colourful, highly recommended. I love all the M&S perfumes that are available.”
Discover Intense Seasalt & Neroli Eau De Toilette 100ml
Smells like… Tom Ford Neroli Portofino Eau de Parfum 100ml, £297
Notes: Sea salt, Neroli, Mandarin, Musk
Neroli Portofino is a sexy AF scent, but it's pretty citrusy at first spritz, which, for a woody scent lover like me, isn’t normally a vibe. So, while Seasalt & Neroli shares a real similarity, I actually prefer it to the spenny Tom Ford scent. That’s because it has a warmth to it (thanks to the musk) that radiates as it dries down. Also, although not similar enough to call it a good dupe, if you like Jo Malone Wood Sage and Sea Salt, you’ll also love this scent.
What reviewers say: "Fantastic smell, definitely worth a purchase, great value."
Discover Soft Iris Eau De Toilette 100ml
Smells like… Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Eau de Parfum 100ml, £155
Notes: Iris, Patchouli and Tonka Bean
Just like Coco Mademoiselle, this scent is super soft and floral – the perfect feminine spring scent. Both scents share the same notes that give them that balance of powdery and citrusy, but Soft Iris definitely wears off more quickly than Coco Mademoiselle – a few spritzes throughout the day keeps the scent alive.
What reviewers say: "Lovely floral fragrance which smells very similar to Coco Mademoiselle. It needs to be reapplied a few times throughout the day, but as it’s such a great value, I don’t mind. Also, it’s cruelty-free. I have bought several bottles and highly recommend them."
Discover Soft Iris Eau De Parfum 50ml
What reviewers say: "Saw a recommendation for this on an Insta reel- very similar to my favourite iconic perfume. I love it, and it will definitely become a regular purchase."
Discover Sweet Pistachio Eau De Toilette 100ml
Smells like… Kayali Fragrances Yum Pistachio Gelato Eau de Parfum 100ml, £107
Marks & Spencer Sweet Pistachio Eau de Toilette 100ml
Notes: Pistachio, Tuberose and Tonka Bean
If you prefer your fragrances on the sweeter side, this is the pick for you. It contains all of the same notes as this Kayali big-hitter, except that the rose note in Kayali is called Turkish Delight Accord, while in Sweet Pistachio it's called tuberose. The pistachio, alongside warmer notes such as tonka bean, makes Sweet Pistachio very dessert-like, but thanks to the tuberose, it’s not sickly sweet.
What reviewers say: "Very sweet & pleasant summer fragrance. I tend not to take my expensive perfumes on holiday & this one is perfect"
Discover Midnight Blossom Eau De Toilette 100ml
Smells like... YSL Black Opium Eau de Parfum 90ml, £78
Marks & Spencer Midnight Blossom Eau De Toilette 100ml
Notes: White flower, Mandarin, Tuberose
Floral fans rejoice as here we have a bloomin' sexy scent (sorry, not sorry). The mix of floral notes like white jasmine and tuberose, meeting sensual and musky amber, makes it a date night scent for sure, and YSL's most famous scents share the same vibe. The two perfumes have matching notes of jasmine and orange, but Black Opium is a little creamier thanks to the dose of coffee and vanilla you can pick up as it dries down.
What reviewers say: "I love this range of perfumes, this one in particular is a favourite. They’re such good value, smell amazing and last a long time. It’s also great to have two different size options available."
Discover Pink Pepper Eau De Toilette 100ml
Smells Like... Lancôme La Vie Est Belle 50ml, £97
Notes: Petitgrain, Pink Pepper, Vanilla
The M&S Pink Pepper Eau de Toilette is the unexpected hero of my fragrance collection. With its spicy kick of pink pepper, it immediately grabs attention, but then it settles into a warm, subtly sweet scent that lingers without being overpowering. It's the kind of fragrance that feels like you're wearing confidence in a bottle – perfect for day-to-night transitions, whether you're at the office or meeting friends for cocktails. Oh, and as a longtime lover of Lancôme's La Vie Est Belle, I can confirm that they smell exactly the same. All in all, I would highly recommend this scent for anyone who loves a little spice with their sweetness.
What reviewers say: "This is an incredible dupe for La vie est belle! Why bother buying from Lancôme when this dupe is a fraction of the price? The smell is incredible. Whilst you should expect to reapply every couple of hours, I don’t mind considering how much the designer stuff has gone up in price!"
Discover Pink Pepper Eau De Parfum 50ml
What reviewers say: "I love this product, it’s a great dupe perfume and lasts all day long. Great value for money too!"
Keeks Reid is the Beauty Director at Cosmopolitan UK. While she loves all things beauty, Keeks is a hair fanatic through and through. She started her career in beauty journalism in 2013 as editorial assistant at Blackhair and Hair magazines working her way to Acting Editor of Blackhair magazine at 23 years old. She spent much of her career working in trade hairdressing media at Hairdressers Journal, Salon International and the British Hairdressing Awards. Which is why she is a regular contributor to Cosmo's Curl Up franchise. Now, alongside her Cosmo work, she presents, creates content on social media and works with a range of beauty companies; from magazines and websites to beauty brands and salons.
