Note: a fragrance “dupe” is another scent that smells the same (or, at least, is supposed to smell the same) as the product it is a dupe for. They can be other mass-market products (like how Soap and Glory’s The Righteous Butter is said to be a dupe for Miss Dior Cherie,) or “knockoffs” from small independent retailers (which this one is.)

After I was sent a small vial of Skindecent’s Spiritueuse Double Vanille dupe from a lovely friend (no, not by the company,) I had to compare the two for you (of course!) With the price of the original topping $200 US, I’d do pretty much anything to find a fragrance that if not identical, is at least very similar… minus the price tag. 


Here’s the thing: the Skindecent dupe is… decent. I mean, it’s nice, it really is — I’d go so far as to say that it’s very nice. It has the “mature vanilla” vibe that the Guerlain has, with a similar woodsy, deep base, and diffuses a bit farther from the skin than the original does (which I like — the Guerlain seems to play it a bit too close to the skin, at times, for me.) But there’s a catch. It’s missing the same booziness and fizziness. It has hints of both, I suppose, but it in no way sparkles the way real SDV sparkles. 

What I’d do:

• If you haven’t smelled Spiritueuse Double Vanille and don’t want to be tempted, this is still a wonderful vanilla that I think would be great to have in your collection, both to wear alone and to layer (which it does do, and beautifully at that.)
• If you haven’t smelled Spiritueuse Double Vanille and are silly enough that you still want to (oh, your poor wallet!) this just won’t do. Order a sample of the Guerlain!
• If you have smelled Spiritueuse Double Vanille and are looking for an exact dupe, this isn’t it. So, perhaps you’d be better off skipping it.
• If you have smelled Spiritueuse Double Vanille and are looking for something fairly similar, but much, much cheaper, try this — the difference in cost is $77 per ounce (or, in other words, $192.50 per 2.5oz bottle of SDV.)

My verdict? Personally, I’m in the last category. This is by no means a perfect dupe (or even a replacement) for the real thing, but I know I’ll be using this reguarily and saving the Guerlain for special occasions. It is a gorgeous vanilla in its own right!

This doesn’t mean that I’ll stop looking, though — I hear that the CBD dupe is lovely, and I’ve found a few others online as well!

Availability: this dupe is sold through Skindecent — I have the 100% perfume oil 2ml sample, but it is also available in many other forms, from EdP sprays and roll-ons to scented body powder.