I’m in my saving money era right now and nothing tests my resolve quite like perfume. I adore fragrance. It’s the finishing touch, the invisible accessory, the thing that makes me feel pulled together.

But have you seen perfume prices lately?

My favourites are the classics:

Chanel Coco Mademoiselle – £149 for 100ml
Jo Malone Peony & Blush Suede – £122 for 100ml
Armani Si (150ml) – £160
I also love Tom Ford Black Orchid, YSL Opium, Viktor and Rolf Flowerbomb (though that was my sisters scent so I loved it but never wore it IYKYK)

And all I can say is: when did this happen? when did prices get so high? I swear it wasn’t that long ago that £89 or maybe £100 got you a 100ml bottle. Now it’s creeping up to nearly £150 a pop (don’t get me started on the cost of Victoria Beckham’s fragrance). I simply cannot justify it especially because I’m a serial sprayer. I don’t do two delicate dabs; I do six, sometimes eight, top-ups all day long. I go through bottles quickly, and at those prices it feels impossible.

My Perfume Crisis

So what happens when the price of your favourites starts making you wince? Well, in my case, I sheepishly went back to my teenage ways. I bought a So! Kiss body spray (£4.99). One spritz and I thought: absolutely not. It was too sweet, too synthetic, and gone within 30 minutes. A full nostalgia hit, yes, but not wearable.

Then I picked up a Vera Wang Princess (100ml for £20). And actually? It’s… not bad, I really like it. A little powdery, a little too sweet, but surprisingly wearable for everyday. But it’s not Coco Mademoiselle or Black Orchid is it?

I thought maybe I’d just have to wait for birthdays and Christmases to get “the real thing” and suffer (I use this word dramatically) through the rest of the year.

The Recommendation

Then I was on the phone to a friend, moaning about perfume prices, and he said: “Have you seriously not tried Noted?”Apparently, Noted does inspired-by fragrances, dupes of all the big classics at a fraction of the cost. And he swore I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.

Now you might be thinking hang on…. you are anti dupes and fakes. I am.

But, I don’t mind perfume dupes from legit companies — because perfume isn’t about craftsmanship in the same way a handbag is. A bag needs years of skill, quality leathers, and expert construction to be worth the price. Perfume, on the other hand, is essentially a formula developed long ago, and the big brands are still cashing in on it. If a reputable company can recreate that same scent for a fraction of the price, I don’t see the harm. They aren’t exploiting people to make it etc, etc.

Anyway back to Noted - Reader, I was sceptical. But, my friend is fancy and loves a Tom Ford, so I trusted his rave reviews.

Three Bottles Later…

When I saw their buy 2, get 1 free deal on 100ml bottles, I thought, why not?

I ordered:

Brussels Inspired by Flowerbomb
Bangkok Inspired by Black Opium
Rio Inspired by Black Orchid

All three (100ml each) for £60. That’s less than half the price of one bottle of the real Chanel.

The Excitement

They’ve just arrived, and I’m honestly excited to put them to the test. Will they be as good? Will they last? Will they give me that same “I feel put together” feeling as my favourites?

If they even come close, this could be the start of a new era for me one where I can spray as generously as I like without guilt, and save the £149 splurge bottles for true special occasions (and keep the real bottles on the shelf).

The Review

Packaging: Bottles and Labelling 10/10. Heavy glass bottles and the labels look chic. They arrived very quickly and were packaged exceptionally well.
Brussels Inspired by Flowerbomb I don’t think they’ve quite nailed this one. In fact, I had to double check which one it was meant to smell like on the website. That said, it’s still a perfectly nice scent for the price, just not a dead ringer for the OG. I gave it a 7/10. It does make me wonder if some notes are harder to replicate?
Bangkok Inspired by Black Opium This one smells very similar to YSL’s Black Opium, but it doesn’t quite pack the same punch or intensity as the original. The DNA is there that sweet, addictive coffee-floral hit but it wears softer on the skin and fades a little faster. If you love Black Opium but don’t want to splash out on the full price tag, this is a really decent stand-in. For me, though, it’s missing that bold strength of the OG, so I’d give it a solid 8/10.
Rio Inspired by Black Orchid. This doesn’t just smell like Tom Ford Black Orchid — it is Tom Ford Black Orchid. No off notes, no “almosts.” You genuinely cannot tell the difference. If I’m being really picky, I’d say the Rio version wears a little lighter, so you’ll find yourself spraying more often than with the OG. With Tom Ford’s Black Orchid, one spritz on the neck and one on the wrist will last you hours (and any more risks giving everyone around you a headache). With Rio, you might fancy a top-up in the afternoon — but honestly, that’s no bad thing. Factor in a price difference of £120, 100ml for the OG is £150. For me, it’s a solid 9/10. Nearly a 10

Final Thought

Luxury perfume will always have my heart. The heavy glass bottles, the smell and also all the memories that come with those perfumes. But the prices have spiralled beyond what feels reasonable, especially for those of us who don’t ration our perfume like liquid gold. I will still absolutely request the OG’s at Christmas time and feel the absolute thrill of a real Chanel or Armani.

But, I have to say Noted….I do not have notes.

Next time I plan on adding to basket:

Marseille Inspired by Mademoiselle

Saint Tropez Inspired by La Vie Est Belle

Madrid Inspired by Si

Alice xxx

My Honest Perfume Switch - Saving £371!! Is it too good to be true?