8 viral Aldi perfume dupes that will save you £100s on luxury scents, tested and reviewed

Smells like… Rabanne Olympéa Eau De Parfum 80ml, £80.25
Savings: £73.26

When looking at the notes Aldi’s Empress and Rabanne’s Olympéa share, there is admittedly quite the crossover. Both feature sandalwood, vanilla and jasmine, resulting in an olfactory experience (when spritzing the Aldi version) that is certainly reminiscent of its more expensive counterpart.

The bottles are also noticeably similar, from the colour of the pink elixir inside to the spherical shape of the glass. For me, this is far too sweet and settled up my nose uncomfortably – but I don’t tend to get on with sweet scents in general.

Notes: ‘Boasts base notes of Vanilla, Tonka Bean and Sandalwood paired with delicate floral notes of Iris, Peony, and Lily of the Valley.’

What reviewers say: “A great dupe I’d highly recommend.”

Smells like… Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s Baccarat Rouge 540 35ml for £155
Savings: £149.01

I know people who both love and hate MFK’s iconic Baccarat Rouge 540. But even for those who can’t get enough of the scent, they may rarely wear it due to its hefty price tag: in short, it’s an expensive habit. While I’d always advocate for investing in luxury perfumes you adore and will wear everyday, in this economy sometimes that’s just not possible. For this reason, Aldi’s Cardinal Red is a worthy dupe to fill the void: it replicates the warmth and sweetness of the OG fairly well.

That said, it doesn’t last long on the skin (IMO) and you can tell it’s not been made with the love and care (and luxury touch) of Maison Francis Kurkdjian, so it’s important to manage expectations.

Notes: ‘Offers a symphony of Saffron and Jasmine notes, underscored by hints of Amberwood and Cedar, creating an amber floral yet woody signature scent.’

What reviewers say: “Cardinal Red is BR540 [Baccarat Rouge 540], it's so accurate and has incredible longevity – and it's only £6.00.”

Smells like… Hugo Boss Pacific Eau de Parfum 50ml, £30
Savings: £23.01

Ok, I’ll say it: this fragrance smells like a sexy man. And that’s sort of no surprise when considering that it’s been compared time and time again to Hugo Boss Pacific, a men’s cologne that similarly boasts aquatic notes and refreshing accords. If you’re looking for a gift for a man in your life or prefer fragrances that are unisex or more masculine, you actually can’t go wrong with this one for only £7. I quite rate the bottle too, from its cubic shape to the deep blue hue of the glass.

Notes: ‘Notes of Sea Salt, Ripe Coconut, and zesty Lemon Essence awaken the senses, while warm undertones of Cashmere Wood and Sandalwood linger on the skin.’

What reviewers say: “This has to be one of my best finds so far, great for holidays.”

Smells like… Givenchy Gentleman Society 100ml, £90.95
Savings: £83.96

For fans of Givenchy’s beloved Gentleman Society, this can be a more affordable stand-in for times when the real thing might be a little out of reach. It’s incredibly warm and woodsy, making it a nice addition to your Autumn/Winter fragrance wardrobe, featuring notes of sage, cardamom and French narcissus. It may not be an exact dupe for Givenchy’s, but I have to admit I took to this one well.

Notes: ‘An intriguing blend of fresh herbal and deep, musky notes. Invigorating Cardamom, Sage, and French Narcissus awaken the senses.’

What reviewers say: “This smells unreal and the scent lasts for hours.”

Smells like... Lancôme La Vie Est Belle 100ml, £130
Savings: £123.01

Je Suis Femme has been heavily lauded as a like-for-like with La Vie Est Belle, and for good reason. The fragrance has notes of blackcurrant and pear (the same top notes of the Lancome bottle) which give it a sweet and delicate scent. It then blends jasmine and orange blossom to bring depth to the fragrance. It's a great date-night scent as it's soft and feminine, but also a great option for spring since it's light and fresh.

Notes: Blackcurrant, pear, jasmine, orange blossom

Smells like… Jo Malone London Peony & Blush Suede Cologne 100ml, £122
Savings: £115.51

This was always going to be a bit of a hard sell for me, because I’m such a fan of Jo Malone London’s version, which is one of my favourites from the brand’s extensive line. With Aldi’s version, you can definitely tell it’s been designed to smell like Jo Malone London’s, and there are certainly similarities. But it’s just not as warm, a little too sweet and slightly synthetic in my opinion, so not my favourite.

Notes: White flowers, apple, peony and soft suede.

What reviewers say: “It’s nice, bright and floral; a pretty convincing dupe.”

Smells like… Jo Malone London Pomegranate Noir Cologne 100ml, £122
Savings: £115.51

Aldi’s fragrance range is perhaps best-known for its year-round permanent Hotel Collection range, which tends to dupe popular Jo Malone London colognes and candles. This one – which is an attempted replica of Pomegranate Noir – is often touted as one of the most impressive supermarket scent copies ever.

I do have to admit that it smells very similar, and while I’m a huge JML fan who’d always back buying the real thing, I can’t deny the two have a lot in common.

Notes: It has "top notes of raspberry, pomegranate, plum, rhubarb and watermelon, sumptuous middle notes of lily of the valley, jasmine, rose, pink pepper and cloves and luxurious base notes of virginia cedar, patchouli, musk and amber.”

What reviewers say: “I replaced my Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir perfume with the Aldi one and I honestly can’t tell the difference in the scent. However, the Aldi one lasts LOADS longer – I find that JL wears off after a few hours nowadays whereas it used to last far longer when I first started using it.”