Since we started with this whole passion for perfumery and for these past 8 years, the dupe scene has been like a chatter in the background. Lots of controversy, heated drama, endless debates, and pure curiosity about what’s actually real behind the curtain. As context, we’ve never really tried to buy any dupes ourselves. Not because we’re above it. Only because there wasn’t a real chance or time. We’ve been so wrapped up in creating content and enjoying traditional niche, artisanal, and author-driven scents that the whole “controversial” dupe world stayed on the sidelines for us.
That changed now. With the website refresh into a more editorial space, we decided to go all-in on the perfumery world without picking sides or pointing fingers. So this time, we’re giving proper room to the dupe scene featuring with one of the most known and respected houses out there: Alexandria UK.
How this even came along?
Our knowledge of the brand goes way back to those early days when the OG perfume reviewers were talking a lot about them as they emerged. We were always curious because their “inspired by” takes on legendary hitters like Aventus and other gems seemed scarily accurate from what people said. It always stayed in the back of our minds. Even as we tested some niche fragrances that clearly borrowed the formula and took inspirations from other famous frags, Alexandria was the one we kept discussing in our conversations.
Luckily, we reached out, asked if we could feature them and finally scratch that long standing itch and see how close their creations really get. They were super kind and let us pick two. We went straight for personal favorites from years ago: Virgin Island Water (a longtime Maruša love) and Spice and Wood (one of Daniel’s good scented memories). Those two were extra special. Tied to amazing moments, vacations, coziness, so yeah, perfect picks to test head to head.
So let’s cut to the chase, because that’s why we’re here.
Our opinions about these gems
We have to say we were pleasantly surprised by Hawaii Volcano. On a 0–10 similarity scale to our memories of Virgin Island Water, we’d give it a solid 6. This version leans more citrusy and fresh, and it’s a bit more linear than the original. The evolution is quite straightforward: it opens with a blast of citrus and quickly changes into what will be the rest of the experience. The coconut here is creamy but feels more like shredded coconut rather than the fresh coconut you find in the Creed version. The base has a soft woody touch. Still very nice and pleasing to the nose, with performance/longevity as good as the original was known for.
Then there’s Arabian Forest. This one is somewhat similar to Creed Spice and Wood. On a 0–10 similarity scale, this one gets a 4. You still get a bit of an elegant, sophisticated wearing experience, but this version is HEAVY on vetiver. It is also very linear. The opening is a bit harsh, but it takes only a minute until it becomes more pleasant. It’s more accurate in the air than on the skin to its inspiration. Overall, a nice and more affordable way to get a sense of what Spice and Wood smells like.
Just keep in mind: these comparisons are based purely on our memories from old bottles. We have no idea whether recent Creed versions are weaker or different now. Take it with a pinch of salt, as always with personal opinions.
Presentation
Presentation is fine with the bottle. It’s not like a fancy décor item we’d praise, but we’re surprised at the effort put in by a dupe company. We’ve seen some pretty lame bottles and boxes even from fairly well-known niche brands. These feel solid and clean for the price. Our only advice would be to engrave or print the name of the fragrance on the bottle label instead of using a sticker glued to the bottom of each bottle. (But hey, the price is lower, remember?)
The sprayer is great! And the value you get for the price they ask for is worth every cent, at least with these two fragrances. What’s even more amazing is that if you’re into niche fragrances because of how they smell and how they make you feel, but you’re tight on budget, then don’t stress too much about going bankrupt. Try some of these dupes. They’ll give you a solid idea of how the original smells and feels, and maybe later you can level up to the version they drew inspiration from. So we see this more as an opportunity rather than a rip-off.
Our final thoughts
To finalize this blog post, if you’re curious whether we’ll continue featuring dupes on the new website? The answer is: Probably Not. This was more of a “personal project,” and we’re happy to have finally featured a brand that was on our radar for so many years. Oh, and if you’re in Europe… here’s the good news: Alexandria is set up to make access easy without the whole customs and Brexit mambo jambo. They handle clearance and VAT upfront (via their Netherlands hub), so no surprise fees on delivery. When any bigger updates drop, we’ll share on our socials.
If you want to see all the things they have available (IT’S A LOT!), you can check the link HERE
Living fully, lightly scented
Thanks for reading. See you next time 🙂
