Best Perfumes for Women

8 Perfumes that Smell Similar to Mojave Ghost

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Mojave Ghost is an extremely popular option from Byredo and one that has a rather unique aroma versus much of what is offered up today. The downside for many, is the price of the Byredo scent.

For others, they want something that smells similar or at least in the same ballpark, while still being different from Ghost. On this page, I will keep updated with a list of potential alternative options to this perfume.

What Fragrances Smell Similar to Byredo Mojave Ghost?

Mojave Sand by The Dua Brand– So, Mojave Sand is Dua’s ‘inspired’ version of the Mojave Ghost formula.

Now, I can’t personally speak to whether or not that they accomplished in matching the right scent to be a great alternative to the Byredo, since I haven’t tried this one out. However, I have tried plenty of other perfumes from this brand and they usually get it pretty darn close. The reviews are also positive, in this regard.

If you want a cheaper alternative to Ghost, this is one that you should consider.

Desert Glass by Oakcha– Here’s another ‘inspired’ option that I’ve found of Ghost. Between this and the Dua perfume above, those who want a very close aroma to the Byredo, seem to have things covered.

I don’t have any experience with this brand’s fragrances, as of yet. So, I can’t vouch for their quality. But, they’ve got a ton of positive reviews, and Mojave Ghost’s scent isn’t overly difficult to get close to.

They have two sizes available, currently starting at $30 (as of writing). Not too much risk in giving Desert Glass a try.

Guess 1981– Guess 1981 does present you with another cheaper option, but this one isn’t as on target as the Dua in terms of trying to smell like Mojave.

Though, this one has plenty of overlap. The sapodilla isn’t here in the Guess, nor is the magnolia. In 1981, you get a nice sparkling pear note to start things off and a greater use of the violet note throughout.

Less greenish floral, this one also strikes me as more powdery. Muskier than the Byredo, while still utilizing that musk mallow note found in Mojave. The wood isn’t much of a factor with Guess. It supposedly has cedar too, just not really getting much, if any.

Still, this is a really solid cheapie, giving you much of what you get with Mojave Ghost…just taken to a somewhat different end point.

Eclat de Fleurs by Lanvin– This one is closer to Chanel Eau Tendre (listed below), so don’t expect a massive overlap with Ghost.

Eclat de Fleurs moves away from the muskiness and woodiness, giving you instead a more floral clean representation. Plus, you get another use of pear, as in the Guess scent listed above.

More of a light floral with elements of soapiness thanks to the jasmine and limited musk. But, the freesia note really leads the way in this Lanvin perfume. Fruity floral to start, more floral musky in the end.

I’d say that this is connected distantly to Ghost. Like on a chain between the three perfumes it would go: Ghost-Eau Tendre-Eclat.

Santal Glow by Zara– Santal Glow is now discontinued. At least for now, since I cannot find a bottle on Zara’s website anymore.

Yet, this deserves a spot on the list, as it is another one that gets very close to what we want. It’s not exact, but a strong sandalwood and heavier use of a powdery violet note. Soft, comforting, and clean.

The sapodilla isn’t there, so don’t expect the fruity touch or much of any sweetness. As the name suggests, sandalwood is a major player here. Actually, it’s more about the violet note in terms of weighting, and there isn’t any cedar.

If you can find a cheap bottle, it’s worth picking up. I wouldn’t overpay, otherwise. Just get the Dua or Mojave itself.

Nirvana French Grey– Nirvana French Grey is definitely not a 1 to 1 match with Mojave Ghost. But, there are similar elements here that make it worthwhile to check out, as sort of a ‘distant cousin’ to our target.

This has a sweetness, muskiness, and citrus elements to it that overlap with the Byredo…just in a more heavily weighted version. French Grey is a simple mix of neroli, lavender, and musk. It’s simple and stripped down.

French Grey is a different floral blend, producing a soapy and somewhat reminiscent result to the Byredo. Again, not the one that you want if you want an ‘inspired version’ of Mojave, but a very likeable perfume that should bring one plenty of joy to wear.

Chance Eau Tendre– The Eau Tendre fragrances aren’t exactly like our target, but share plenty of style. The base of cedar and amber is the same, the floral composition features different notes, and the Chanel is less woody.

That being said, if you want something along the same lines arranged differently Eau Tendre can be a great option. I actually like the EDT better, as a fresher more citrus heavy composition.

Though, either the EDP or EDT is an easy to wear and versatile perfume for those who enjoy what the Byredo scent has to offer.

Memoire d’une Odeur by Gucci– This is another one that I feel is pretty similar in style, but not particularly in how it smells. Both are unique and this one has a lighter feel to it.

Memoire and Mojave Ghost are both clean-ish, soapy, woody, musky, floral fragrances. They just approach things from different angles. With this Gucci fragrance, you get a greener and a slightly bitter aroma up top. Bitter almond mixed with a chamomile note, that can give Memoire a tea-like aroma.

It settles into something with more musk and jasmine. Along with, cedar and sandalwood in the base which matches up with the Byredo fragrance. Again, if you’re looking for something that’s a dead ringer for Mojave, this won’t be it. But, I do think if you enjoy one, there’s a good chance that you’ll like the other.

9 Fragrances Similar to Coco Mademoiselle

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Coco Mademoiselle has been a top seller for two decades now, even at Chanel prices. However, as time goes on there are of course going to be those trying to mimic its success or just create a somewhat similar fragrance. In this post, I want to highlight 9 fragrance options that offer a cheaper comparable smell to Coco Mademoiselle by Chanel.

Perfumes Close to Coco Mademoiselle

 

The First Inspiration

Woody Oakmoss by Dossier– If you want a cheaper alternative, that’s inspired by the scent of Coco Mademoiselle, this and the next are what you want to go with.

This is one of the Dossier’s that I haven’t tried out, but others from the brand do inspire the confidence that the match will be very near…or you can try the Fragrenza below, if not.

In either case, my biggest concern would be matching the right tone with the citrus notes. That’s a big factor and easy to screw up, by just throwing a screeching citrus in the blend. But, by the reviews on their site, it doesn’t seem to be the case with the Dossier. For the current, $29, it’s worth giving a shot.

Live the Fantasy

Pompeii Fantasy by Fragrenza– Here’s another ‘inspired by’ option, this time from Fragrenza. I haven’t tried this one in particular from the brand, but I did buy a number of samples of other perfumes from them and they really did come close to the scents that gave them inspiration.

Here, you get the bold mandarin and bergamot citrus blend to kick things off. Mimosa, orange blossom, jasmine, and patchouli follow. So, about what you’re looking for. Usually with these sorts of blends, the weightings of the notes might be slightly off, but come extremely close to matching.

Fragrenza at least comes up with a thematic storyline with their blend, “Imagine yourself at an opulent and enchanting masquerade ball in the heart of ancient Pompeii.”  The good news, is their scents are very affordable, and you can even pick up an even cheaper 3 mL sample size.

The Third

Serene by Alexandria– Here’s a third inspired scent that presents a take on the Coco Mademoiselle structure, “Serene is a soft floral fragrance that captivates your senses and transports you to a world of utter bliss.”

I like the Alexandria fragrances that I’ve tried out and this one is also priced (as of writing) at $39.99 for the smallest size. But, they have three options, if you happen to want to size up. Also, their sample pack allows you to try 7 of their perfumes, for about the same price.

Mimosa, jasmine, rose, orange, and all of the other notes are here. Another scent that I’ve found since my initial posting, that I figured I’d update the list with.

Super Cheap Glamour

Suddenly Madam Glamour Eau De Parfum for Women 50ml New Sealed– If you want a cheap comparable scent, Suddenly Madam Glamour is going to be the closest experience to our target.

Now, the performance and sillage aren’t going to be to the same level, but when you’re paying around $15 or so…who cares? 

The patchouli seems a bit stronger in this one (which is closer to Mademoiselle Intense) and probably a stronger vanilla aroma. Though, all in all it gets the weightings in the formulations pretty darn close. 

A Take On Intense

Club de Nuit by Armaf– This women’s version of Club de Nuit leans more towards Coco Mademoiselle Intense in terms of how it smells, but sort of splits the difference between the two.

Like Intense, this one goes heavier on the patchouli note, than the original Coco Mademoiselle. However, Club de Nuit, is also not exactly like either of them. The rose note is pretty heavy in this one, more so than the Chanel.

Feels like less of a vanilla influence to soften up the notes as well. It’s high enough quality and Armaf supplies good performance with their perfumes. It won’t be a complete one to one match, just one that brings a lot of the same sort of style. 

Another Cheap Tutu

Milton-Lloyd Cosmetics | Miss Tutu | Parfum De Toilette | Spray for Women | Chypre Fruity Scent | 1.7 oz– Milton Lloyd usually has pretty good inspirations of popular designer scents and Miss Tutu is the one for our target scent.  

This one gets the floral notes better than Madame Glamour. A bit more sheer than the Chanel, but it has solid performance. Really, between this the one listed above, you’ve got two dirt cheap options for under $30 or so combined.

The Dior Alternative

Christian Dior Miss Dior, 50ml/1.7 oz.– I personally like Coco Mademoiselle better than its similar Miss Dior option, but it is a solid alternative at a somewhat more reasonable price.

Miss Dior or the Cherie variation (or whatever Dior is calling it now) features a blood orange (and lemon?) top note with a stronger use of patchouli and a greater rose note. The jasmine is also an ingredient here, just not to the same extent.

Miss Dior isn’t as strong, but has some nice depth provided by a warm pink pepper note. Again, a lighter sillage, but I still get 8 hours from Miss Dior. Miss Dior (Cherie) Review

 

 

Bit of This, Bit of That

Perry Ellis Love Eau de Parfum Spray for Women, 3.4 Ounce– Love by Perry Ellis has similarities to both Chanel Chance and Coco Mademoiselle. It leans to the Chance side of things, but has enough going for it to be on this list, and is affordable.

This is a bit heavier on the spices, while still retaining a great citrus aroma. The rose is the similar floral with base notes overlapping (musk, vanilla, and patchouli). Plus, that opening orange note, just not to the same level. 

Love has a somewhat light projection once it settles. However, the performance overall is good and it’ll last for most (if not all) of a workday.

An Expensive Similarity

Darcy by Parfums de Marly– First off, I don’t think this is nearly the same as Coco Mademoiselle, as some might make it out to be. Quite similar in style with some overlap in the notes (mainly citrus and patchouli).

That being the case, I also don’t think this PdM fragrance is as good as the Chanel either. That might not be a problem if it were cheaper, but this can be even more expensive.

The pros? The citrus here is smooth and the patchouli is rather good too, if you don’t want something that feels too earthy/dirty. 

It’s not too intense and becomes muskier and soapier in the dry down. Darcy is a pretty good perfume at a lofty price point. But, I’ll add it to the list, as some might want to check it out.

9 Best Smelling Michael Kors Perfumes for Her

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Michael Kors is a designer who is well known in the fashion world, especially for his popular handbag line. However, Kors also makes some great fragrances for both men and women. This line of perfumes for ladies, seems to focus mainly on white floral notes as a base and then creating something wholly unique off of that.

For this post, I have selected nine options from the Michael Kors line which are among the best that the designer has released.  Other posts to consider: Best Juicy Couture Fragrances

Favorite Michael Kors Perfumes

Most Popular Fragrance

Michael Kors Wonderlust Eau de Parfum Spray, 3.4 Ounce– Wonderlust is super smooth with a sweet almond note milk and light resin. Heliotrope is going to a main attraction here for a time, and while there is musk, it isn’t a heavy note within the perfume.

It is sweet, but not overly so, with a very light spice at times during the wear. That is thanks to the dianthus flower. An attractive perfume with good sillage and performance.

Wonderlust opens up with almond in charge and paired mainly with the jasmine note.  There is also a light citrus. Then, come the heliotrope and sandalwood, it becomes a mix of creaminess and powder. Wonderlust Full Review

Top White Floral

Michael Kors By Michael Kors For Women. Eau De Parfum Spray 3.4 Ounces
A fresh and somewhat heavier than usual, white floral fragrance, that features some musk/woodsy spice.

Tuberose, peony, musk, cashmere woods, and freesia are some of the featured notes. Daytime, casual wear.

The tuberose dominates the composition, with light musk, and a noticeable freesia note. It gives off a semi-sweet and creamy sort of aroma, that is none too complex, but quite well done.

During the dry down, more lily emerges from the floral accord. Michael Kors for Women, is delightful, and a good daily wear for any age group.

It’s a great option for those who love tuberose, as it is the main attraction, but also lily. It’s got enough sweetness to not be a totally green stem kind of floral fragrance.

Best Wonderlust Flanker

Michael Kors Wonderlust Sublime by Michael Kors Eau De Parfum Spray 3.4 oz– Sublime takes the Wonderlust DNA and gives it a beachy twist. Tiare and orange flowers are the highlights of this perfume.

Now, it isn’t a salt water aquatic or anything like that, it is instead a sunny and tropical aroma. As the brand describes it, a radiant new fragrance evoking the time of day when sunlight turns magical.

The floral notes are sweet and creamy with a great amber base note bringing it all together. It opens up with a orange citrus aroma, that feels warm and juicy. Wonderlust Sublime is a great pick for the summer months, that isn’t too complicated, but smells delicious.

Dark Oud and Sweet Fruit

Michael Kors Twilight Shimmer Edp Spray for Women, 3.4 Ounce– There are a few well done options in the Shimmer line from Michael Kors, but I think that Twilight Shimmer has mostly flown under the radar.

It opens up with its sweet red fruit, acting as a light support for the plum note, that takes center stage early on. It is a dark and rich sort of aroma, that begs to be worn during the autumn and winter months.

As it moves forward, the oud and praline notes come up from the base. The oud here isn’t too intrusive and a lot more comfortable to wear versus the more niche oud fragrances. The praline and plum give it a gourmand quality, but the oud gives Twilight Shimmer distinction.

May not be for everyone, but it can be a gem for those who adore this type of perfume.

Top Pick for Winter

Michael Kors Sexy Amber Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.4 Ounce
As the name suggests, the main note is amber which is combined with white floral notes and sandalwood. Sexy Amber is a warm perfume that is quite seductive and alluring, with a powdery finish.

Sandalwood is the main attraction, as it wears on, but enough jasmine peaks through to make things interesting. A fairly linear fragrance, overall, but one that smells really good within that simplicity.

The amber and floral notes are at their peak in the beginning, then, the sandalwood begins its ascent. The amber note hangs around, though, it is uplifting and does provide a great example of this note.

Great Spring/Summer Scent

Michael Kors Very Hollywood Women Eau De Parfum Spray, 1.7 Ounce
A different take on a white floral fragrance. Very Hollywood features raspberry and mandarin notes to give it a fruity sweetness that will grab attention, at the top of the wear.

The fruits are cool and juicy. They hang around long enough for the flowers to begin to emerge fully, but the raspberry does stay for the duration. Gardenia wrapped in a warm dry amber, with some additional jasmine, and lightly woody base.

Fresh and feminine with a really attractive opening phase. This is a solid choice for the springtime, as you get a very nice gardenia note, but enough fruity sweetness to keep it from becoming just another floral fragrance. Not too heavy, but a nice projecting sillage and performance, overall.

For Jasmine Lovers

Michael Kors Glam Jasmine for Women 3.4 oz Eau de Parfum Spray
Jasmine, white flowers, and sandalwood are the highlights of this perfume. This is a lighter, and more subtle fragrance, than some of the other options from Kors. Glam Jasmine is clean and feminine.

Obviously, you’re going to get a lot of jasmine from this perfume, but there is also some black currant which gives Glam Jasmine at least some footing in the fruity floral camp.

Instead, of just a straight up floral. While it is a subtle perfume, Glam Jasmine has a certain sexiness to it, and can for sure grab attention.

The Other Shimmer

Starlight Shimmer by Michael Kors– So, Starlight Shimmer is another worthwhile scent from this series by Michael Kors. It’s not for everyone, but does have attractive components for someone looking for something a bit more niche.

Vanilla, amber, and saffron are the big players here. Pretty simple, right? Well, Starlight also adds a rose note, which never fully takes over, but adds a delightful touch to the warmth and slight spiciness.

The sweetness of this scent is really the highlight. Not sugary sweet or anything, but the vanilla and amber are great. Up top, this one has some oud, which will fade in fairly short order.

The rose, oud, amber, and saffron sorts of fragrances are all over the place; seemingly to be a part of every designer’s high end offerings. Starlight Shimmer is much more approachable, with the rose and oud not being outlandish with their intensity.

Something Different

Super Gorgeous! by Michael Kors– This is the flanker to the original Gorgeous that came out a few years back. It is better than that one, has some unique elements, and comes pretty heavy with the amber notes in the dry down.

Nonetheless, I do like this one as a fragrance. The initial spray has a nice blend of citrus notes, orange blossom, ylang-ylang, and jasmine coming through. It’s initially sweet and citrusy, but, the addition of myrrh and other amber highlights really makes this interesting.

More of a colder weather wear, but not overly heavy. I do get reminded a bit of one of the old YSL men’s flankers, except this is more feminine and the floral heart really comes out when the initial citrus has faded.

There is a cured tobacco note here. It’s adding to the sweetness and boosts the amber warmth. Not a major player, mind you, but the note is definitely there.

Super Gorgeous isn’t a completely safe blind buy as some of the others on the list. I’d try it out, if possible, because for some this might be their favorite from Kors.

5 Perfumes Similar to Good Girl Gone Bad

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Good Girl Gone Bad is one of the more popular fragrances from Kilian’s lineup. It’s floral and fruity, yet has its own rather unique aroma, while doing a pretty tried and true concept.

However, it can also be pricey or you may want to wear something that smells similar, but not exactly the same. This is my ongoing page of perfume alternatives to Good Girl, Gone Bad. Plus, the flankers Extreme and Eau Fraiche since they’ve also become popular.

Fragrances that Smell Like Good Girl, Gone Bad

kilian good girl review

Sheba Jasmine

The Queen of Sheba– This is one that is similar to the Kilian, really, quite close. But, I don’t think that it is as good. Nevertheless, some may want to give The Queen of Sheba a try.

The start is probably the weakest part. It is greenish with a peach note and some more bitterness. I don’t know, it just doesn’t work for me. But, it does get much better during the dry down.

Light, peach, less green with a nice jasmine burst and tobacco making an appearance. The light tobacco does distinguish it from the Kilian. I like it, not the same, more jasmine heavy and less complex. Still has a pretty high price tag, as well.

Close and Inexpensive

Kismet for Women– This is a very inexpensive alternative, which strikes pretty close to what you get with the Kilian (not entirely the same, though).

The main differences are the osmanthus note strength here and Good Girl Gone Bad has more of a greenish aroma in the opening (in part from the osmanthus). So does Kismet, just not to the same extent.

I’m not sure this fragrance ‘officially’ has an osmanthus, but something quite similar is there.

But, with that, you do get a stronger showing from the apricot (especially early on, part of that osmanthus complex). The dry down is closer, as we have a strong tuberose with Kismet, amber, and jasmine/rose.

Another difference, is the orange blossom which in the Kilian does have a period where it shines. Here, the white florals feel even more generic and less distinct.

The performance is pretty average. I only got around 7 hours with Good Girl Gone Bad, and this will most likely not hit that mark, by an hour or so. Not terrible, just middle of the road.

Gone Extreme

Extreme Rebellion by Dua– This one doesn’t try to replicate the original, but it does its rendition of the Extreme version of Good Girl, Gone Bad.

This one is milkier and creamier than the original. Still, has the osmanthus up top, but a greater use of tuberose and jasmine in the mix. Less fruity, more smooth floral. A different take, while still be very close to Good Girl, Gone Bad.

Extreme has a closer starting aroma to the original. Still green and fruity, but the absence of the orange blossom and less fruitiness give this a different feel. Mainly, the floral dry down has more jasmine in the mix, that milk note, and a greater woodiness.

Now, I haven’t tried Dua’s Extreme Rebellion, but they usually do a very good job with the other ‘designer inspirations’. I’ve owned a bunch of them and would expect that this indeed comes close to matching Good Girl, Gone Bad Extreme.

Almost, Close Enough

Almost Nude by Oakcha– Updating this page, I’ve found another potential alternative option that is inspired by Good Girl, Gone Bad.

Oakcha has you covered if you want something that is trying to be like the original. While Dua has Extreme and Eau Fraiche style perfumes of their own.

It opens up with the osmanthus, jasmine, and rose notes; finishing things off with amber and cedar.

The tuberose and narcissus are there, but one thing that I’m interested in checking out is if there is an orange blossom in the Oakcha version. That isn’t listed, but was quite prominent when I wore the Kilian scent.

On the Road to Eau Fraiche

Road to Rebellion by Dua– So Dua still hasn’t put out a version based off of the original as of now, but they have added one that tries to closely mimic Good Girl Gone Bad Eau Fraiche.

A lighter and more aquatic take on the Gone Bad formula. This one has a fairly prominent Turkish Rose and musk notes coming through in addition to Lily of the Valley. Very floral and great for the summertime.

Orange blossom sticks out more in the Kilian version of this and I suspect the same is true with this one. Less tuberose in Eau Fraiche, it’s still there but the dry down becomes more balanced between the floral notes and less tuberose dominant.

So, if you want an alternative to Eau Fraiche, Road to Rebellion can cover that base.

 

Light Blue for Women vs. Eau Intense Comparison

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Light Blue continues to be a top seller in the ladies’ fragrance space, well over a decade after its release. Obviously, it is going to spin off some flanker scents, most notably Light Blue Eau Intense. Is this ‘beefed up’ version, a better one? Does it actually outperform the original? Which one is a better buy?

Tale of the Tape

Light Blue

Notes include: rose, apple, musk, lemon, jasmine, and more

Click here to try: Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue By Dolce & Gabbana For Women. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.3 Oz

Read my original review: D&G Light Blue Review

Light Blue Eau Intense

Notes include: lemon, granny smith apple, amberwood, marigold, and jasmine

Click here to try: Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Eau Intense For Women Eau De Parfum Spray 3.3 oz

Read my review: Light Blue Eau Intense

Opening

The original Light Blue starts off with lemon, a nice apple note, and some rose. It’s sharp, somewhat aquatic, crisp, with a decent amount of rose aroma, to give it some depth.

The lemon and the apple create a slight lemonade aroma to it. Slightly sugary, but not ever overwhelming with it, more like an undercurrent. 

Later, it will shift more floral and musky with less of the in your face impact of the fruit notes. But, they do start with a bang.

Eau Intense also begins with lemon and apple. It’s a Granny Smith apple and is actually stronger than the lemon, at first, reversing the original. Also, the rose is replaced with marigold, here.

This gives it a different feeling, while still being fairly familiar. The absence of the rose helps, as does the toned down lemon note. The amberwood note does appear too, early on, in place of the cedar from the original. It’s not massive, but the freshness is already peaking through.

Which is better? I actually prefer the start to Eau Intense. I like the apple note more, it doesn’t feel as sharp, and the marigold is a nice change of pace from the usual rose.

Edge: Eau Intense

Projection

Obviously, with the name Eau Intense, the sillage should be stronger than the original. It is. The original is pretty light to moderate, anyway, but Eau Intense does indeed have a bolder character to it.

Edge: Eau Intense

Longevity

While Eau Intense is certainly stronger, I don’t know if it actually lasts any longer on the skin. For both of them, I get somewhere in the 9-10 hour range, which is great.

Though, I really don’t notice Eau Intense going on beyond what I get from Light Blue. The original EDT has always been one of the better performers, as far as mainstream perfumes go.

They really didn’t need to do much and it doesn’t seem like they did anything to improve the longevity with Eau Intense.

Edge: Push

Versatility

Being two versions of the same basic scent, they’re really not going to be different, in terms of usage. Both are best in the spring and summer months. Both are suited to being a fresh daily wear, casual fragrance, or other events along those lines. No real distinction.

Edge: Push

 

Overall Scent

I do like Light Blue. I think it has some really strong positives about it, which is why it has become a classic. The lemon and cedar combination can be sharp, but it is ultimately fresh, and clean.

I enjoy the floral notes like rose and jasmine, and it provides really good performance. It’s a simple reach for daily wear.

That being said, I prefer Light Blue Eau Intense. I will say, it won’t be for everyone. It can be a bit too bold, and amberwood is an ingredient which can bother folks. It’s got a synthetic freshness, that I think can give it a unique freshness versus cedar, but some may not like it. 

Personally, I like the boldness of Eau Intense. I also really like the apple note getting a boost in this version. Yes, the lemon is stronger later on in the wear, but I enjoy that opening apple. 

It’s a close battle, but I’d take Eau Intense. There’s obviously a lot of overlap, but the composition just smells nicer in this version, versus the original. Plus, there are a lot more perfumes that are similar to Light Blue versus the Intense version.

Winner: Eau Intense