We tried a fragrance brand that makes affordable dupes for luxury labels like Dior, YSL, and Baccarat, and we couldn't tell the difference

Business Insider

6 days ago

While luxury brand perfumes and colognes are certainly of a higher quality than the watered-down body mists of our youth, high-end fragrances are often marked up astronomically. Alongside quality ingredient costs, you also end up paying for the brand name, packaging, and the extravagance associated with it.
Thankfully (because we don't like paying full price either), we discovered Dossier — a New York-based fragrance brand founded in 2018 that specializes in recreating popular high-end fragrances at an accessible price point. All of Dossier's perfumes are vegan, cruelty-free, and sustainably produced. Starting at just $29, you'll find scents inspired by brands like YSL, Le Labo, Baccarat, Chanel, Gucci, Tom Ford, Maison Margiela, and many more.
Dossier Floral Lavender
This perfume, inspired by YSL's Libre, opens on a sunny mandarine, neroli, and orange blossom accord and then evolves with warm notes of jasmine and vanilla.
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The verdict on Dossier
Three members of the Reviews team tested a variety of Dossier fragrances next to their luxury counterparts, and we unanimously agreed that the perfumes were spot on. Even our loved ones, who are familiar with the fragrances we wear regularly, couldn't tell the difference. Here's what we tested:
Dior Sauvage vs. Dossier Aromatic Star Anise
Amir Ismael/Insider
One of the most significant benefits of shopping at Dossier is getting your favorite scents for far less than the authentic brand name version. Dior Sauvage Eau de Toilette is one of my favorite fragrances, but at $100 for a 2-ounce bottle, I don't like to use it every day. I tried Dossier Aromatic Star Anise, which is the brand's interpretation of Dior Sauvage, and it smelled identical.
At $29 for a 1.7-ounce bottle, I'm not as reserved with how often I spray it. I can buy three bottles from Dossier for the price of one from Dior. Once I finish my current bottle of Dior, I will not replace it with another. With Dossier Aromatic Star Anise, I have no reason to. — Amir Ismael, Reviews editor
YSL Black Opium vs. Dossier Ambery Vanilla
Kayla Bickham/Insider
YSL Black Opium (usually $95 an ounce) was my first introduction to perfumes after I grew out of body sprays as a teen. Learning the hard way what it means to put on too much perfume has now permanently engraved its rich vanilla scent into my brain. After years and years of wear, I know Dossier's Ambery Vanilla is its sister scent without even having a bottle of YSL Black Opium of my own anymore. A yummy fall scent is the best way to describe what both bottles smell like. However, there's a difference or two that sets the two scents apart.
There's something about the warmth of YSL's take on a seductive vanilla that's a bit more subtle than its dupe from Dossier. While the spicy gourmand is at the forefront of both perfumes, the vanilla sneaks up and takes over once settled on the skin in Black Opium, while Ambery Vanilla is more of a mix of the two scents it's named after. Although the licorice and black coffee notes linger a bit long in Ambery Vanilla, the perfume itself doesn't last all day. — Kayla Bickham, former Reviews fellow
YSL Libre vs. Dossier Floral Lavender
Sally Kaplan/Insider
I tested Dossier's dupe for YSL Libre perfume, which I wore on my wedding day and use for many special occasions. My wife couldn't tell the difference at all, and I could barely tell myself after 2 years of using YSL! I also tested several other fragrances against their original inspirations and had the same reaction to each of them. I will never order expensive perfume again — I don't know how or why Dossier didn't exist sooner! — Sally Kaplan, Reviews executive editor
Immediately after I began testing Dossier, my girlfriend ordered a few dupes of fragrances in her collection — one of which also being YSL Libre. I did a blind side-by-side smell test, and I, too, can confirm that YSL Libre and Dossier's Floral Lavender smell exactly the same. — Amir Ismael, Reviews editor
Other Dossier men's fragrances we tried
Dossier Citrus Ginger
Inspired by Chanel's Bleu de Chanel, this minty fresh cologne with a sophisticated woody base from Dossier is timelessly elegant.
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I was so happy with how closely Dossier matched the Dior fragrance I already had, I decided to try a few scents that I didn't already own. I've always liked to try new scents, but more often than not, steep prices turned me back to the fragrances that I already knew I liked.
Although I received a few samples for the purpose of this review, I've already purchased a few extras myself.
I tried Spicy Vanilla, Musky Oakmoss, Aquatic Lime, Citrus Ginger, and Woody Sandalwood, and while I like some more than others for daily wear, I like having options at a low cost. I might not have a familiar point of comparison for all the these, but it sure beats spending upward of $1,000 on brands like Tom Ford, Chanel, and Giorgio Armani to create the same variety. — Amir Ismael, Insider Reviews editor
Other Dossier women's fragrances we tried
I also opted to try Dossier's Floral Marshmallow (a dupe of By Kilian's Love, Don't Be Shy) and Woody Sandalwood (inspired by Le Labo Santal 33). Both are scents on the warmer side. While I don't have the luxury versions to compare the scents to, I would happily repurchase both fragrances. I still fight the urge to apply more mid-day. — Kayla Bickham, former Reviews fellow
How does Dossier maintain affordable prices?
As consumers, we've been conditioned to expect premium colognes and perfumes to cost a lot. Purchasing a high-end fragrance is a luxury splurge. So, naturally, the first thing you probably want to know is how Dossier can make these fragrances so cheaply.
First and foremost, the brand was founded with a direct-to-consumer model using relatively generic packaging, which allows them to reduce a lot of costs. There's no inflated cost because there's no luxury brand name on the bottle, nor are there special designs. All of the bottles are also made from simple, 100% recycled glass and come in a 100% recycled cardboard box.
Dossier also has a membership program that offers a bunch of savings opportunities — best for the fragrance-obsessed, not the casual fan. For $39.90 per month, the membership gets you store credit for that amount, free samples, free returns and exchanges, plus additional discounts on bottles and a free full-size bottle for every three months of membership.
Does Dossier perfume have staying power?
In former Reviews fellow Kayla Bickham's experience, Dossier's Ambrey Vanilla perfume did not last all day long. However, her tip to stretch all perfumes is to apply them fresh out of the shower, air dry, and then lock the scent in under an unscented body lotion.
Executive editor Sally Kaplan's experience was a little different — in her experience, the Floral Lavender scent that was based on her YSL wedding perfume lasted as long as the original.
Cons to consider
The only point that might deter some people from Dossier is the generic packaging. If you enjoy collecting unique bottles to display on your vanity or bathroom countertop, you won't be able to accomplish that with Dossier. If you're okay with all of your bottles looking similar — and the tremendous amount of money you'll save — then there shouldn't be anything stopping you from buying Dossier. And if our reviews of Dossier compared to popular fragrances aren't enough to convince you, try it for yourself. Dossier's risk-free returns allow you to try fragrances and send back full-size bottles for a full refund with no questions asked.
The bottom line
Overall, we can't recommend Dossier enough for anyone looking for affordable cologne or perfume. We each tried scents that mimic name-brand fragrances that we know and love and were impressed with how close they match. Some of us have also loved using Dossier to discover new fragrances without the luxury price tags.
Shop all of Dossier's luxury fragrance dupes here.