Maison Margiela Replica perfumes are the height of affordable luxury – 11 best fragrances you need to try now

I wore this viral scent on a solo date night last month, and even though I was alone, a man still paid for my £150 dinner… Literally because he walked by and said I smelled like an angel. So, essentially, this perfume is *magical* and will make anyone fall in love, I'm convinced!

Notes of black currant liquor accord, bergamot, and pink pepper make this scent sparkle from the first spritz. It initially kinda smells like wine, but not in a gross alcohol-y way. I’d compare it to a refreshing sip of crisp rosé in the summertime. As it sits, a bouquet of roses and geraniums emerge before patchouli and musk warm the skin. It’s equal parts effervescent, flirty, and sexy, which is a hard mix to emulate in the perfume world, IMO.

Scent family: Warm florals

Sizes: 30ml, 100ml

Key notes: Pink pepper, bergamot, rose, patchouli, moss, musk

Glowing customer review: “I got this ironically before I actually went on a date. But I loved the scent. It’s warm and just makes you feel comfy. Did I knock my travel size off the counter of my bathroom and have a puddle of this scent? Yes. But my bathroom has never smelled better. 10/10 will buy again.”

Already dreaming of your tomato girl summer? Same, which is why I'll be spritzing Replica's newest perfume, From the Garden, without abandon for the next few months. It was inspired by the earthy yet fresh scents of walking through a garden, thanks to notes of tomato accords, patchouli, and green mandarin essence. It's very fresh, but not necessarily fruity. TBH, it kinda smells like a really fresh and delicious salad, and I'm hooked.

Scent family: Earthy

Sizes: 30ml, 100ml

Key notes: Tomato leaf, green mandarin, geranium, patchouli

Glowing customer review: "If you want to smell like you've been leisurely working with tomato plants all day, this fragrance is for you. It's wild how spot-on this fragrance is with its description."

Replica's earlier 2023 perfume release may be their most mysterious and captivating fragrance to date (considering the whole inspiration was the infinite night sky – equally intriguing and terrifying if you ask me). The opening notes of black pepper and cinnamon come out really bright and intense, but once the perfume dries down, a mix of Labdanum Resinoid (a natural ingredient that smells warm and ambery), oud, and leather creates a spicy, deep, and comforting aroma that definitely leans masculine in the traditional sense.

Personally, I wouldn’t wear this on the reg, but I’m about to go all ‘Mastermind’ on my next boyfriend to make sure Under the Stars becomes his signature fragrance. On another note, the sillage is especially impressive. While testing, I could still catch whiffs of this after a full day's wear, which is almost unheard of for EDTs.

Scent family: Warm and spicy

Sizes: 30ml, 100ml

Key notes: Black pepper, leather, labdanum

Glowing customer review: “I love the scent of this perfume! It’s a very wood-like, nostalgic scent. It reminds me of camping or just night time. It’s not overpowering and it hasn’t made my head hurt like other smells. It does last a long while too! Great for everyday.”

Any list of the best Replica perfumes wouldn’t be complete without the best-selling Jazz Club. This smells like the classiest night out you could ever experience, complete with high-end cocktails, expensive cigars, and, of course, bumping jazz music. The boozy rum note interlaces with pink peppercorn and tobacco leaf for a strong, smoky potion that is then mellowed out with just a touch of vanilla. If Jay Gatsby were real, I know this is the fragrance he’d wear.

Scent family: Warm and spicy

Sizes: 30ml, 100ml

Key notes: Pink pepper, rum, tobacco leaf, vanilla bean

Glowing customer review: “This fragrance is top tier. It’s so sexy, mysterious, and seductive. It’s a smoky fragrance. It’s bold and makes a statement but it’s not too much. It’s long lasting as well. I gifted this to my husband years ago and it’s his favorite.”

Under the Lemon Trees was the first Replica perfume I ever fell in love with, and five years later, I still find myself reaching for it more than any other scent in my collection (which happens to include over 20 fragrances, FYI). It transports me back to some of my happiest memories frolicking through Italy’s coastal lemon groves. The uplifting citrus notes meld beautifully with cardamom, coriander, musk, and green tea. It has a bit of kick from the spices, while the hints of green tea and musk give it an earthy twist and offer some calming aromatherapy action. I find it perfect for those hot, sticky days when I want a scent that’s prominent but not too overpowering. Although I often wear it in the winter to momentarily bring me to a warmer place.

Scent family: Fresh and fruity

Size: 30ml, 100ml

Key notes: Lime, cardamom, green tea, white musk, cedar

Glowing customer review: “I don’t know what it is about this fragrance but it immediately transported me back to growing up in the late 90’s, flipping through my teen magazines with the perfume samples inside. I mean this in the best possible way, it took me on a journey in time. On my skin, it dried down to a very subtle and lovely powdery scent, not overpowering, just a gentle hint to be enjoyed by yourself and those that get close to you. Very happy about this purchase.”

During the winter months, there’s a 100 per cent chance you’ll catch a whiff of By the Fireplace on my skin. This perfume is the epitome of cosy nights spent by the fire, and no, I promise it doesn’t smell like straight-up campfire smoke. Clove oil, guaiac wood oil, and cashmere are at the heart of the earthy woody scent, while the addition of roasted chestnuts and vanilla adds just a tinge of smokiness and an extra layer of warmth. One spray evokes the same comforting energy of being wrapped up in my favourite sweater or getting a hug from my BFF.

Scent family: Warm and spicy

Sizes: 30ml, 100ml

Key notes: Cloves, pink pepper, orange blossom, chestnut, juniper, vanilla, cashmeran

Glowing customer review: “Love this scent! Many of the Replica scents are amazing...and many evoke a sense of the scent it is trying to represent. But this one is exactly as it seems. When someone has been around a firepit, or a bonfire...their clothes take on a certain scent. This is a pleasant embodiment of that. My spouse and I can share this scent because it is so versatile.”

Wearing this perfume is like walking into your favourite coffee shop in the middle of a cold, winter day. Think: Cosy and comforting, with espresso machines whirring and the smell of freshly brewed coffee wafting through the air (except you don't have to pay for a £££ cappuccino). Heavenly, right?

The strong coffee accord is lightened and brightened with tinges of fresh lavender and herbaceous spearmint, which mostly just give this a little crispness. As it settles, you can also smell a creamy, milky vanilla to make this all the sweeter. While it falls into the gourmand category, it won’t make you smell like a pastry, though, which is great for those who like a soft, sweet scent. That said, you will smell like the most luxurious high-end latte – you know, like the ones with the special latte art on top and everything.

Scent family: Gourmand

Sizes: 30ml, 100ml

Key notes: Pepper, orange blossom, patchouli, coffee, milk, tonka bean, vanilla, cedar

Glowing customer review: “This perfume is the yummiest, sexiest, most decadent fragrance I’ve ever had. Finished the entire bottle and loved it just as much as I did the first time I sprayed it. The lasting power is phenomenal. I spray it in the morning and can still smell hints of it when I go to bed. I get so many compliments on this scent. I think the people who rated it poorly are people whose chemistry didn’t work well with the perfume, because this is AMAZING. 10/10!”

TBH, if I could take a long bubble bath every night, I would. That’s not quite possible in my tiny city apartment (rip), but thankfully, a quick spritz of Bubble Bath EDT mimics the stress-relieving feeling of slipping into the warm water. This perfume leads off with soap bubble accord – yep, that’s a very real perfume note, and it literally smells like a clean, foamy bath – before floral hints of lavender, rose, and jasmine peek through. It smells like expensive soap in the best way, especially once it dries to a smooth and creamy finish, thanks to a blend of coconut milk, white musks, and warm patchouli.

Scent family: Fresh floral

Sizes: 30ml, 100ml

Key notes: Soap, bergamot, lavender, jasmine, rose, coconut, white musk, patchouli

Glowing customer review: “I bought this to accompany me when traveling to Europe this past summer. I have previously enjoyed Maison Margiela's Beach Walk fragrance, and Bubble Bath might be taking the top spot for my fragrance go-to's. A few spritzes left me feeling refreshed and had a beautiful, clean scent. If you are a fan of Le Labo's Santal 33, Byredo's Gypsy Water + Mojave Ghost, this scent is for you!”

If Barbie had a signature scent, it would be Springtime in the Park – and not just because of the juice’s bubblegum-pink hue. This sparkling fragrance has a fun, happy personality (um, yes, perfumes do have personalities and you can’t convince me otherwise) that demands attention in an effortless and chill sort of way. Fruity and floral notes of pear, blackcurrant, lily of the valley, rose, and jasmine intertwine, creating a luminous, joyful scent. While floral fragrances tend to smell a bit grandma-ish to me (no offence, grandma), the fruity hints give this one a youthful, vivacious vibe, making it a great "first" perfume for those who are just starting to build out their fragrance wardrobe.

Scent Family: Fruity floral

Sizes: 30ml, 100ml

Key notes: Lily-of-the-valley, pear, musk

Glowing customer review: “I am in love with this scent! It's the perfect amount of floral without the overpowering chemical smell. It smells so fresh and clean and I have gotten tons of compliments! A little goes a long way which means it will last me a long time. Absolutely in love and its definitely my new signature scent!!!”