louis vuitton

5 Fragrances Similar to Imagination by Louis Vuitton

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Imagination has become one of the most popular releases from Louis Vuitton, over the past few years. It’s also my own personal favorite thus far from the designer. Though, sometimes, you may not want to pay the LV prices for a bottle and want to find something cheaper.

Or, you like the style, but maybe one note bothers you. So, you want something similar, but that takes this citrus type of fragrance in a different direction. In either case, I am going to use this page to keep track of colognes that I find which can fit the bill and be an alternative to Imagination.

What fragrances smell like or are similar to Imagination by Louis Vuitton?

The Inspired Imagination

#Imagine by Dua– #Imagine is the Dua Brand’s inspired take on the Imagination formula. This is one that I bought to test and it ended up being a great and near identical match of our target fragrance.

The notes are the same and the weightings of each are almost perfect. The black tea, the citrus, the amber, etc. All here and all are wonderful.

#Imagine is the one that I would recommend going with first, if you want a cheaper alternative to Imagination, that tries to do the same things.

imagination dupe

Mirror Mirroring

Mind’s Mirror by Oakcha– Here’s another option for an inspired cheaper take on the Imagination fragrance idea.

Now, I haven’t tried this one out from Oakcha. But, the brand has some good stuff and they usually do a good job at matching what they’re going for.

I’d go with #Imagine above, since it’s a known quantity for me. But, here’s a different one for you, if you want to go with another brand for whatever reason.

Cologne Similarities

Dior Homme Cologne– Dior Homme Cologne is another of the fresh citrus warm weather fragrances. Not going to be the same as Imagination, but it’ll give you a similar style.

Here, you’re going to share the bergamot note with the Louis Vuitton scent. But, the floral note here is a grapefruit blossom, instead of neroli. So, instead of an orangey aroma its grapefruit.

Greatly simplified and doesn’t have the same level of depth as Imagination. Basically: citrus, citrus blossom, and musk. However, it all comes together for a great summertime wear.

I have a bottle of this, also. It’s a part of my rotation with #Imagine in the warmer months of the year. Maybe give this one a go, if you want a more streamlined option of this type of cologne. Dior Homme Cologne Review

Ideal Alternative

L’Homme Ideal Platine Prive by Guerlain– Another French designer, that brings out a reworking of one of its older offerings. Platine Prive is very much like the old Ideal Cologne, that was discontinued years ago.

However, to me, that was the best of the series. And I’m very happy that Guerlain decided to give us this enhanced version.

This one gives you a citrus top that is very much like Imagination’s starting notes. However, here you’re going to get almond as the centerpiece instead of the black tea note.

Clean, some level of greenish aromas, smooth, and nutty. No, it’s not going to smell exactly like Imagination, and that’s the point. It provides its own awesome wear experience, while occupying the same sort of space as our target.

Finding a bottle, will probably require you to order it online. As this one, isn’t available in all countries.

Alluring Chanel

Allure Homme Sport Cologne by Chanel– This Chanel actually has a tremendous overlap with Dior Homme Cologne. Though, I like the Dior slightly more than it. In general, I’d go with that one, as it’s more readily available and usually cheaper.

This is probably the least well known offering in the Allure Homme series. It really gets overlooked.

Sport Cologne, however, does utilize a resinous elemi note that can give you a bit of a different feel and replicates this sort of summer scent in an attractive package.

Again, this isn’t an option that is going to be a close match to Imagination. It’s one that can give you a great alternative option for those who want something in the same ballpark. Allure Homme Sport Cologne Review

Cactus Garden by Louis Vuitton

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Cactus Garden is another one of the Les Parfums Louis Vuitton fragrances which came out in 2019. Another scent built for the warmer weather of summertime and housed in a cactus green bottle. What does this one smell like? How does it perform? Is Cactus Garden worth a try?

What does Cactus Garden Smell Like?

Notes include: mate, lemongrass, bergamot, incense, geranium

My Full Wear Review

Before we get into my thoughts about this fragrance, let’s see how Louis Vuitton describes it: The enthusiasm of mate to exalt the emotions. The cool freshness of an exotic patio. A breath of leaves defies the heat wave like an enchanted frisson on the skin.

The opening act of Cactus Garden is so utterly pleasant and has a bright summery attractiveness. I was kind of disappointed that the fragrance doesn’t actually contain a cactus note, which would’ve been an interesting touch. Though, it also doesn’t really need it.

Instead you get a delicious bergamot note, with lemongrass, and the herbal tea-like aroma of mate. The lemongrass in Cactus Garden is absolutely beautiful and it takes the lead, after the first few minutes from the bergamot.

As I get a bit deeper into the wear, the geranium freshness becomes more pronounced. Cactus Garden starts to feel more refreshing and cold than it had with the opening citrus brightness.

I know that Louis Vuitton says that there is an incense note, but it must be very light, because I don’t really get it. Maybe it’s just my nose, however. 

Eventually, the bergamot fades. Then, the lemongrass starts to bow out. Eventually, the last note standing is the mate. I mean, I do like the smell of that note, but the dry down is definitely the weakest of the entire composition. 

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here isn’t overly powerful, but it also isn’t weak. The first few hours are on the upper range of what could be considered moderate, before it settles much closer to the skin. Not a complete projection monster, but very decent.

The longevity is also pretty good, just not incredible. It will go for 7 hours on my skin, mostly as the remnants of the herbal aspects of the scent, but it is indeed still there.

Seasonally, this is spring and summertime in a bottle. Preferably, late spring and into the days of summer. It’s a well put together casual or semi-formal scent for either men or women. Very easy to wear and quite balanced for everyone. 

It does have an attractiveness to it, but it’s not a nightlife powerhouse or a date night scent either, really. 

 

Overall Impressions of Cactus Garden

Do I like this scent? Yes, I think that it is unique and the opening act is really outstanding. It’s such a great mix of citrus and that herbal aroma. Cactus Garden is a nice change of pace from the never-ending cycle of aquatics and other standard summer fare.

It actually has a similar style to Creed’s Green Irish Tweed, but I think that this Vuitton is the better smelling of the two. Again, the dry down isn’t at the same level, but I liked wearing this a lot. 

Is it worth the price? It isn’t a must have for everyone, that they should run out and pay LV prices. That being said, if that’s not an issue personally, I can recommend at least giving this fragrance a try…if not just grabbing a full bottle. 

I enjoy the smell and the longevity is decent for this type of perfume, but maybe not the price itself.

Update: As of 2023, Cactus Garden is now discontinued by LV. The 100mL bottle is listed as unavailable and it appears that it is gone for good. 

For potential dupe alternatives of Cactus, Dua has one called Garden of Thorns for sale. That should be a good one to go with for a very similar smell and ingredient list based on the Cactus Garden formula.

8 Best Louis Vuitton Fragrances for Men

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Louis Vuitton is always among the top selling or the exact best selling luxury brands in the world. Mainly known for its fashion, bags, and leather goods; it has recently begun to launch a whole host of fragrances for men and women.

The other LVMH maison, Christian Dior, is already a powerhouse in the perfumes space, and Louis Vuitton is seemingly positioning itself as an upmarket option here.

In this post, I want to give my suggestions as to the best smelling LV colognes for guys, for those who are looking for a place to get started in their search. I’ve linked up my full review of each, where applicable (I still need to finish one). 

What are the Best Smelling Louis Vuitton Colognes?

Most Unique Option

Nouveau Monde– Nouveau Monde is an interesting fragrance and which has quite a unique profile. Two of its main notes, are cocoa bean and saffron. I enjoy a good saffron, an ingredient that doesn’t get used enough, but I can’t recall it being paired with cocoa bean in any other scent.

Along with that you get a smokiness from oud and incense. This Louis Vuitton scent does open up with a bit of sharpness, which I take is from the listed black currant note. However, thereafter Nouveau Monde has a bit of a sweeter undertone, blended with a light spice.

This is a bold scent with great staying power and a deep richness. It won’t be for everyone. I’m honestly not a huge fan of oud, but I did like this one and how it developed. 

Most Mass Appealing

Imagination– I’m replacing L’immensite on this list, in favor of Imagination, after testing it. Frankly, the notes are similar, but Imagination is just better to me all around.

In fact, it might be the best of the bunch. (Update: Yes, this is my favorite, as of this revision)

Imagination is a beautiful fragrance, quite stunning at times. The amber is less intrusive than in L’immensite and the citron note here is simply awesome when paired with the crisp black tea note. 

Up top, you get the citron and other citrus notes, including mandarin orange. The citron sticks out the most, but there is a definite neroli floral infusion in the heart. Between that and the ginger note, there is a very clean and cold aroma here.

Early on, it a greenish citrus blend. Then, you get the floral touches. But, ultimately tea and the lighter amber get surrounded by the remaining citrus to create an easy to wear gem. Full Review

The Beast Performer

Ombre Nomade– I feel like every high-end designer needs to have their oud and rose fragrance. This is the Louis Vuitton version of that.

But, it’s actually not dominated by those two notes entirely, which is a good thing. It starts off smoky with incense and that oud note. Then, the smoke clears out and you get a blend of raspberry, rose, leather, and benzoin (though, I also pick up saffron). 

Ombre Nomade is very rich, balanced, and smooth. The rose and raspberry really help to keep it from being a oud bomb. Though, the sillage here is absolutely massive, and this is one to go light with the application. 

Not my personal favorite, but Ombre Nomade is one that I really appreciated, when I reviewed it: Ombre Nomade. 

Best Pure Fall/Autumn Fragrance

Nuit de Feu– Yes, this fragrance does capture a dark mood. Lots of incense in Nuit de Feu, so, you’re going to get a great smoky aroma, that is paired with oud and leather. Warm and resinous, with an overall dry profile. 

I like this one just a tad more versus Ombre Nomade, but that one is a lot more powerful.

The incense are really the star up top. Then, the leather carries the scent home.

The leather here, comes across as stronger than does the oud. Simple in its presentation, but I can imagine that this would really shine, when it gets colder out. It is more of a unisex fragrance, while it does have some power, Nuit de Feu didn’t strike me as overbearing

Actually, this Vuitton reminds me of the older batches of Dirty English, with a bit less wood and an incense infusion. Not the same smell exactly, but a similar style. Nuit de Feu Review

 

Best Pure Summer Wear

Afternoon Swim– This fragrance is summertime the whole way. Not super complex, but attractive and has a very refreshing energy. Afternoon Swim is a citrus-laden cologne, so, if that’s not your thing it won’t be for you.

Does remind me a lot of Dior Homme Cologne (or an Acqua di Parma scent, like Bergamotto di Calabria, only with a dominant orange note), with some exceptions. First, Dior Cologne has more of an iced lemonade profile.

Second, this has somewhat of an aquatic vibe. There is a saltiness here (ambergris), that isn’t too intense, but is noticeable. Also, I dig the light ginger touches.

The orange note here is fantastic, along with its flanking citrus notes. Ginger doesn’t tend to last all that long in most fragrances and here it’ll be there for the opening act.

With these sorts of summer scents, you cannot really expect great performance. Though, Afternoon Swim from Louis V, holds up pretty well.  Afternoon Swim Full Review

Clean and Naturalistic Citrus

Sur la Route– This one is another citrus based fragrance, but definitely separates itself from the others on the list, in terms of how it smells.

It comes across as a bit watery, along with some green-ish grass notes. Not an aquatic or a refreshing drink, sort of cologne.

The opening does have a pretty powerful blast of the bergamot note and there is a strong leathery aroma, which LV doesn’t list in the actual notes, but it is there. The cedar note really adds that fresh woodiness to the already bright and watery citrus mix. 

Sur la Route should enjoy some mass appeal and popularity, out of the offerings from the Louis Vuitton collection. Very subtle spice from nutmeg and a dash of pepper, for at least some of the wear.

Mostly a classic clean woody citrus with some spring/summer naturalistic smelling notes. 

Louis Vuitton describes this one as, “A metaphor for each individual’s personal path: the journey is as important as the destination.”  Sur la Route Full Review

Another Awesome Summer Vuitton

Cactus Garden– Cactus Garden is a fairly unique summertime wear, led by lemongrass. That naturalistic aroma is paired with a fresh bergamot citrus and mate note, which gives this Louis V scent an herbal tea sort of aroma.

The geranium note helps to steer the ship and transition from the citrus and lemongrass notes towards when the mate becomes the lead in the dry down.

This is a great change of pace for the summer. Has some similarities to Green Irish Tweed by Creed, but still different and really beautiful.

The scent is particularly bright and energetic at first with the bergamot. Though, when it dries down you get a much colder and refreshing vibe coming through. That’s most of the wear, it’s a very simple blend that brings so much to the table within its limited confines.

Cactus Garden is perfectly unisex, awesome in warmer weather, and balanced enough for daily wear. Read my Cactus Garden Review

Starlight, Star Bright

City of Stars– City of Stars is another of the unisex options, on the list. It sort of leans slightly feminine, but is still one that can totally be worn by anyone.

Lime, blood orange, and bergamot are the citrus top notes. Lime, will be the strongest of the bunch, City is blended well throughout the wear.

This LV cologne isn’t a pure citrus blend, however. Tiare gives this one a tropical flower influence, which when paired with the citrus and musk, gives City of Stars a beachy and sunny sort of feeling.

It’s a great mix of the juicy freshness, with periods of powder and creaminess sitting underneath. The latter stages are more powder (still not massively) with some of that lime juice still attached to the aroma.

Maybe one that you try out to see if you vibe with it. City of Stars is a very nice experience, though. City of Stars Review

city of stars review

California Dream by Louis Vuitton

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California Dream was one of the Louis Vuitton fragrances that I was looking forward to trying, since its release in 2020. Maybe it was the bottle or wondering what that name would actually smell like, but I was intrigued. I came into trying this completely blind and didn’t know anything about the notes or style of this perfume. What does it smell like? How long does it last? Is California Dream worth a try? Note: I am updating this original review, years after the fact.

What does California Dream Smell Like?

Notes include: mandarin, ambrette, benzoin, musk

My Full Review

Here’s how Louis Vuitton describes this scent: Mandarin as passionate as a sunset. It’s the lengthening of a perfect day. Watching night fall. Drinking in colours. Standing before the horizon.

California Dream opens up with its juicy mandarin orange note on full display. There is also a bit of an orange peel smell in there too. It doesn’t have the sharp punch that the citrus of Sun Song had and is quite mellow and naturalistic. Retaining that clean sensibility and brightness.

California Dream is a citrus scent that is going to give you a zesty aroma with the mandarin. It’s not my favorite type of orange, but it works well enough in this Louis Vuitton offering, and actually is one of the better examples that I’ve come across.

There may be some other unlisted fruit or other citrus notes lightly in the mix too. Mostly, it’s that mandarin.

It’s smoother later on and rounded out by the addition of the musk note. Honestly, I don’t get much benzoin standing out in the mix in California Dream, until the end. The musk is pretty pronounced for much of it, though, it never is overwhelming.

Opening act of zesty fresh mandarin. Then, mandarin sitting on top of musk with some ambrette coming into play.

To me, it’s a citrus with musk and ambrette during most of the wear. Less juicy as it dries down and and just a finish of benzoin after a few hours. Musk with a slight powdery sweetness in the latter stage.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, this isn’t a super powerful scent. It’ll project maybe 5-6 feet, at its zenith, before moving back closer to the skin. Not a powerhouse and really it shouldn’t be.

The opening with the mandarin can certainly grab some attention within that limited space, but it is one that is going to give you more of a personal scent bubble .

The longevity will go 6-6.5 hours, on my skin. Pretty average and not something that is going to stick around from morning until the evening.

When compared to some of the other Louis Vuitton summer scents, Dream isn’t too shabby with its performance. I never really expect this kind of citrus perfume to be a monster performer, but this one holds up fairly well.

Seasonally, this is another spring and summer release from the designer. Mostly, it strikes me as a hot weather in the summertime wear. Just going about my day, California Dream lightly surrounding me.

Quite safely unisex and one that can be worn casually or more semi-formal occasions during the day.

Though, it probably leans more toward the traditionally feminine and may not be what many guys are looking for. It’s also marketed as a woman’s perfume, so, just keep that in mind.

California Dream isn’t a sexy nighttime beast or a romantic kind of perfume. Pleasant and attractive. It seems familiar, but has its own unique scent versus many others of this style.

Overall Impressions of California Dream

Do I like this fragrance? Sort of. It’s pretty good in totality and I really like the opening mandarin orange. However, it doesn’t wow me, once it dries down. The musk is good, but do I need to pay $265 for a fresh musky citrus perfume?

It is unique and fairly attractive, but the performance is also completely middle of the road. Outside of a collector or someone wealthy, I’m not sure how many people this would appeal enough to. If this price range is a reach for you, I don’t really think you’re getting your money’s worth.

California Dream comes across to me, as being ‘just fine’. It has its moments and charm, but ultimately doesn’t bring enough to the table to be a must have scent. I think Afternoon Swim and Cactus Garden are better summertime options from Louis Vuitton.

Unless this formulation just happens to speak to you, California Dream isn’t a must have. It’s in the same camp for me as On the Beach, fine, just nothing too amazing.

I do enjoy the cleanliness and overall vibe of it, but for the price there are plenty of better options. Particularly, if you want a summertime citrus and musk. You can pick up 2-4 options for the same price, that covers the same ground and more.

On the Beach by Louis Vuitton

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Louis Vuitton went from having a spotty history at releasing scents to going full court press with its releases over the past few years. On the Beach was brought out by the design house in 2021. I grabbed a sample of this, as a part of my catching up with LV’s newer perfumes. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it worth a try?

What does On the Beach by Louis Vuitton Smell Like?

Notes include: yuzu, neroli, cypress, rosemary, sand, pink pepper, thyme, cloves

on the beach review

My Full Review

Here’s how Louis Vuitton describes it: The ecstasy of the sun, the rhythm of the sea and the gentle warmth of sand on the skin. Master perfumer Jacques Cavallier Belletrud blends the infinite emotions of a day spent on a sunny beach. Yuzu, a rare citrus from Japan, is a burst of bliss on the skin. Its surprising freshness and brightness glides into the softness of neroli. Thyme, rosemary, pink pepper, cloves… a sandy note of aromatic herbs perfects the olfactory landscape, while a veil of cypress brings generous, woody shade to a pure summer day.

The opening act is a blast of the yuzu and neroli notes. Sharp and has an herbal spiciness to it from the notes sitting underneath. Not a big punchy spice, just a good baseline amount.

Definitely get more of the rosemary and pink pepper. However, early on I do detect a tiny amount of thyme, that will fade away thereafter.

The other note that really plays a big role here is cypress. Lots of Tom Ford and some Acqua di Parma fragrances use cypress a lot in their summer scents, so it is interesting to see Louis Vuitton doing the same for On the Beach.

The cypress, herbal notes, and that ‘sand’ element thrown in really do give this a warmth and dryness versus that bright and juicy yuzu start.

The rest of the way is pretty straightforward. Neroli, cypress, yuzu, and that mix of green/sand. This really does have a sandy quality to it, which is kind of strange. Not bad, just unusual.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, it is pretty moderate like most scents of this type. However, it isn’t weak. You can absolutely get a nice scent trail with On the Beach, with a pretty normal amount of sprays.

The projection isn’t massive, maybe 4-7 feet from the skin, at it’s peak. A nice amount of time, with its power still intact. For a summer perfume, it does well at holding up.

The longevity is pretty average, though. It’s different, as it doesn’t quickly turn into a skin scent on me. While at the same time, it doesn’t last extremely long. It’s more of an abrupt ending versus a slow decline, maybe it’s just my skin though?

I get 5-6.5 hours of wear from On the Beach. Not terrible. Not great. Though, one would probably expect more from an expensive perfume like this.

Seasonally, spring and summer. Definitely lean much more towards summer. As the name suggests, this embodies being on the coast or on the beach itself. I want to wear this outside in the heat, as it seems wasted being stuck inside all day.

This is a unisex fragrance. All really are welcome with On the Beach, not straying too far one way or the other.

Casual to maybe semi-formal events outside. Daytime perfume all the way. Attractive and interesting, but not a fragrance that is going to be confused with being sexy.

Overall Impressions of On the Beach

Overall, do I like On the Beach? I like it, but I don’t love it. I would sooner go with Afternoon Swim or Cactus Garden or Imagination from this house, as far as pure warm weather plays.

This is fine. The sandy note here is interesting, but really doesn’t do much for me, as far as enjoyment. Citrus, herbal notes, green woods. On the Beach isn’t super complex, but isn’t jaw dropping good, in its simplicity. Especially for $280 per bottle (update: now, $300).

The yuzu is very nice and I also like the cypress here. Though, it’s not really enough to completely sell me on this Louis Vuitton perfume. The thyme and other touches do help this to have a unique kind of aroma, while being a familiar type of summer fragrance.

The performance is okay. 5-6.5 hours is about what you get with a lot of summertime fragrances, so it’s not too much of a knock on Louis Vuitton. These aren’t really heavy notes that we’re dealing with.

On the whole, I wouldn’t recommend most people acquiring On the Beach for their fragrance needs. It’s nice, but expensive and has a limited use case. There will be people who love the scent, but outside of them, there are better options.

But, samples aren’t too expensive, so I’d go that route before blind buying.