Best Perfumes for Women

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.

 

Fame by Paco Rabanne

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Fame is a sample that I got from Paco Rabanne, when I ordered 1 Million Royal. It’d been a while since I have put out a new review from their women’s line, so, I was interested to see what this one was all about. It was released in 2022. How does it smell? Does it last long? Is Fame worth a buy?

What does Fame by Paco Rabanne Smell like?

Notes include: mango, jasmine, incense, vanilla, sandalwood

Click here to try: Fame EDP

My Full Review

Here’s how Paco Rabanne describes it: Fame pays tribute to a new era of femininity. Playful. Sensual. Empowered. The quintessence of avant-garde luxury…

So, with the opening of this fragrance, the main comparison that I can make is Alien Goddess. They’re not the same, though they have some of the same notes, It’s really about a similar style to one another in the beginning. That’s the sort of perfume that we’re working with here.

Personally, I like Goddess more after testing Fame out.

The similarities extend to the tropical feeling that each perfume provides. However, with the Paco Rabanne that vibe comes from a mango note, with perhaps a touch of sour bergamot. The coconut water isn’t here and after the start, the comparison is essentially over.

Actually, when I saw that this one was going to be a mango and vanilla-centered fragrance, I thought of Cruz del Sur II. Nope. That’s a much juicier mango note, a sharper sourness, and very milky finish.

With Fame, the mango feels more subdued and part of the mix. I do think that it is pretty and sets a nice tone at the start. But, a lot of the beachy or tropical feeling doesn’t stick around all that long.

The mango is quickly wrapped up in the jasmine, light incense, and vanilla which will grow stronger.

After 15-20 minutes, the jasmine note is totally in the top spot. Kind of fresh, with the fruity sweetness still lurking in the back. The mango does take an hour or two to really burn off, on my skin at least.

Jasmine, mango, vanilla that will shift more into a creamy jasmine with sweetness and a little bit of sandalwood. Nothing all that complex. The end is basically jasmine and vanilla with a vague hint of the former tropical smell.

It’s nice and never gave me any strange smells in the dry down. But, pretty basic stuff.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage is moderate for an hour or so, before turning lighter. It wasn’t a skin scent until deep into the wear, though.

With full bottle sprays, you’d get a nice scent trail going. Spraying this on clothes, I was able to pick Fame up from the 4-7 foot range, but not much beyond that.

On my skin, Fame stuck around for 6-6.5 hours. Really, not all that great. I certainly would expect a few hours more, if I were paying full price for a bottle.

Seasonally, the tropical and floral aroma of this works well in the spring and summer time. It’s not a heavy scent, even with the vanilla creaminess, I never thought it was cloying or getting me bogged down in a cloud of sugary sweetness.

It’s more of a pretty daytime wear. Not a formal fragrance, but it could work for just about anything else you’d want to wear it for during the warmest days. It’s attractive without being super sexy, a romantic, or nightlife wear.

You could, but there are better options than Fame.

Overall Impressions of Fame EDP

Overall, do I like Fame? Yes, it’s a nice enough fragrance, that should have some mass appeal. I like it more with some distance. Like, if I press my nose to the skin where I sprayed, this one feels messy. Put some space in between and it is a pretty floral with a sweet creaminess.

I do wish the mango note would’ve gotten some more time to shine on its own. It kind of gets consumed by the vanilla and jasmine. Still works well, I just was expecting more from that note.

Fame EDP isn’t all that complicated. If you like jasmine and vanilla as a combination, this one should be a nice pick up, as that’s a lot of the dry down. It’s good for the warmer days, has some versatility, and is basically pleasant.

I don’t think it hits the ‘avant-garde luxury’, that the ad copy was talking about. Plus, the performance could be better.

I think that Fame is at least worth a try. Maybe not a blind buy at full price, but with a solid discount, it probably wouldn’t be a complete disappointment. Fame didn’t break any new ground for me, but it is a perfume that I found enjoyable for the most part.

6 Perfumes that Smell Similar to Eilish

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Eilish EDP is a celebrity fragrance that has really taken off in popularity since its release. Testing it out myself, I have to say, it is one of the better examples of musicians launching a perfume brand. That being the case, there are now those who want something that smells similar or very close to what you get with Eilish EDP (or No. 2) for cheaper. This is my ongoing list of scents that meet the qualifications.

What fragrances smell similar to Eilish EDP?

eilish perfume review

A Good Impression

Nebras by Lattafa– Lattafa is a brand that has been putting out a lot of pretty close impressions of some famous scents. Nebras is one that smells an awfully lot like Eilish EDP, though, with some slight differences.

The cacao in Eilish seems more prominent to my nose and that minty/menthol sort of coolness, smells better in the Eilish version.

But, the vanilla and overall experience is a bit smoother with Nebras. It’s like a slightly altered and more refined version, with a few more hours of wear. Personally, I get over 8 hours with Eilish EDP, and think the performance is really solid.

This one might not save any money in comparison, but it might be preferable or easy to find than Eilish is at times.

Bill-ish Inspired

Bill-ish by Dua Brand– It’s interesting to see that brands like Dua are now doing their own ‘inspired version’ of Eilish. Well, Bill-ish, is their take on the sweet perfume blend.

I haven’t tried this one out. But, I’m putting it on the list anyway, since I’ve tried a ton of Dua’s scents and they usually get very close to the fragrance that they’re aiming at. It has all of the same notes, but the weighting may just be slightly off.

I’d say expect 85-95% similarities, based on my past experience with this brand. So, if you want another cheaper option that closely tracks what Eilish EDP does, this is probably a safe bet.

A Slight Mod

Mod Vanilla by Ariana Grande– This is another scent with a similar style, that’s not going to be a one to one match. Personally, I prefer Billie’s perfume versus this Ariana fragrance.

Vanilla, cocoa butter, praline, musk, and plum. The latter note adds a light tartness, to a sweet and musky vanilla mix. This one is somewhat sugary, just not to the same extent. It feels a bit messy in the opening, but I like this more when the vanilla note gets going.

It’s almost like a different version of Cloud, where the vanilla note is ramped up, and some sugar/powdery elements are infused into the mix. Sort of a mid-point between Cloud and Eilish.

The performance here is good, lasting on my skin for about 8.5 hours during testing. Not amazing, but another likeable perfume option. Mod Vanilla Review

mod vanilla review

Sugary Vanilla

Vanilla 28 by Kayali- Vanilla 28 isn’t an exact one to one match, but with its use of brown sugar, vanilla, musk, and woods…it certainly inhabits a similar space to our target. But, I actually do like this one, it’s one of Kayali’s better fragrances.

Early on, it’s about the tonka bean and brown sugar notes. This one doesn’t have the red berries or cocoa, that are found in Eilish. Later, it’ll be more of a mix of vanilla, sugar, and musk notes.

Not a super complicated perfume, but the scents from this brand are also built to be layered. Doesn’t have the same level of depth as Eilish, just an easy to wear mix of sweet sugary vanilla, that’s a lot of fun. Vanilla 28 Review

Nutty Chocolate with a Spice

Yes I Am Delicious– Another similar style entry to the list. But, be advised that this one doesn’t come with the major vanilla note like Eilish. That’s a pretty big difference, but it is still there, just not nearly in the same amount. Creamy and sweet, blended with the other ingredients.

Yes I Am Delicious  really goes heavy with the chocolate, more so the hazelnut. You get both a refined sort of dark chocolate, raw cacao, and the nuttiness. Super rich and delectable.

Up top you will get mandarin orange with a spicy cardamom before the sweets-fest begins. The floral notes are more present in the back end. Jasmine and orange blossom. Warm and cozy for the colder months.

It’s a nice and easy to wear perfume from Cacharel, that gives you more spice and an added hazel nut.

Eilish No. 2 Similarities

6 Place Saint Sulpice by YSL– 6 Place Saint Sulpice is deep and rich, more niche than the rest on this list. Leather, saffron, lavender, labdanum, and tonka bean.

It doesn’t favor the original Eilish, rather, it is a more well put together version of Eilish No. 2. The less heralded and very different perfume from Billie.

At times it’s creamy. Then, it’ll be smoky and very woody while sitting on top of the ever-present leather note. I’ve only come across this scent once, the leather almost felt more of a suede to me.

One aspect, that Eilish 2.0 definitely doesn’t have. Eilish isn’t as smoky with its woods either and has a definite sweeter aroma, in comparison to the YSL.

It’s warm, spice, nutty, woody, smoky. and has a lot of depth. But, for the right person, this is gold.

Now, this is going to run you in the $250 per bottle range. So, Saint Sulpice probably won’t be for most folks, but it’s a very good perfume for some.