I'm a Huge Fan of M&S Perfumes—These 10 Could Easily Pass for Designer
I know what you're thinking: Marks and Spencer perfume? I was also sceptical when I first heard the Who What Wear UK beauty team go on about how good they were. Especially when I found out that most of them retailed for around £10 to £15. However, I have to admit that they were right. M&S genuinely makes some of the most expensive-smelling perfumes on the high street, and I've added quite a few to my collection since discovering the goods. Wearing these scents on a daily basis, I've noticed that they smell very similar to some particular high-end fragrances that we all know and love. In fact, I think that some of them could pass for exact dupes.
The best Marks and Spencer perfume dupes:
1. Apothecary Warmth vs. Le Labo Santal 33
2. Discover Soft Iris vs. Chanel Coco Mademoiselle
3. Discover Seasalt & Neroli vs. Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt
4. Discover Midnight Blossom vs. YSL Black Opium
5. Discover White Coconut vs. Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess
6. Discover Intense Red Berries & Rose vs. Armani Si
7. Discover Pink Pepper vs. Lancôme La Vie Est Belle
8. Discover Intense Gardenia and Vanilla vs. Marc Jacobs Daisy
9. Discover Velvet Amber vs. Chanel No. 5
10. Discover Warm Neroli vs. Rabanne Lady Million
Now, I'm not saying that you need to go out and replace all of your perfumes with M&S alternatives, but what I will say is that if you're looking for a similar fragrance to pop in your handbag to use throughout the day, or you simply want to try a more affordable version to save yourself shelling out for the expensive original, then I would highly recommend that you keep on scrolling. Below, I've listed all of the best Marks and Spencer perfume dupes for you to choose from. From TikTok recommendations to personal finds, I've included only the most luxurious of options. Trust me: the below bottles will soon be earning you so many compliments.
The Best M&S Perfume Dupes to Try
1. Apothecary Warmth vs. Le Labo Santal 33
Pros: Smells expensive, beautiful unisex scent
Cons: Mixed reviews on longevity
Customer reviews: "I really like this perfume, it has a very calming fragrance which reminds me of posh hotels! The fragrance also lasts really well throughout the day."
Apothecary Warmth is possibly one of the most well-known M&S perfumes. Everyone compares this fragrance to Le Labo Santal 33, and not just because of the chic bottle. The perfume itself contains notes of cardamom, cinnamon, cedarwood and sandalwood, designed to bring about feelings of comfort. Le Labo's iconic scent is also super comforting thanks to cardamom, iris, violet and sandalwood, and both would make beautiful additions to your collection.
2. Discover Soft Iris vs. Chanel Coco Mademoiselle
Pros: Beautiful lightweight scent that's perfect for everyday wear
Cons: It's very floral so won't be for everybody
Customer reviews: "This is absolutely beautiful and I can’t believe how inexpensive this is. It definitely smells like the dupe it is meant to. Although it's not as concentrated, but that’s what you expect for the price. I will definitely repurchase."
We all love a little bit of Chanel, and whenever I spray M&S Soft Iris, I'm always reminded of Chanel's Coco Mademoiselle. Both fragrances contain notes of jasmine, orange blossom, vetiver and patchouli, making these fresh, floral scents perfect for spring.
3. Discover Seasalt & Neroli vs. Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt
Pros: Fresh, uplifting and will appeal to many people
Cons: Smells very summery
Customer reviews: "The perfumers have nailed it. Smells like an expensive summer evening perfume, not too sweet, not too musky. Light but with depth. Highly recommend."
Jo Malone's Wood Sage & Sea Salt fragrance is one of my absolute favourites, so I was delighted to find an affordable alternative from M&S. It has all the saltiness and freshness that Jo Malone's perfume has to offer thanks to notes of neroli, mandarin and musky sea salt.
4. Discover Midnight Blossom vs. YSL Black Opium
Pros: Smells so luxurious—a real head-turning scent
Cons: It's a bold fragrance so best suited for evening
Customer Reviews: "Loved the scent and was very impressed by the length of time it remained on my skin—usually only found with an eau de toilette costing 3 or 4 times the price! Great product and great value!"
Looking for more of an evening option? You can't go wrong with Midnight Blossom, which reminds me so much of YSL's Black Opium. Think notes of sensual jasmine and amber that linger beautifully on the skin.
5. Discover White Coconut vs. Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess
Pros: This is summer in a bottle
Cons: It's quite a sweet scent
Customer Reviews: "This smells absolutely delicious. Like beach holidays and not unlike a Brazilian rival product—though it doesn’t last as long so you need to reapply. For the price I can live with that. Give it a try."
Summer might have been and gone, but bottle of Bronze Goddess is a go-to for recreating holiday vibes. If you're looking for an affordable alternative, I recommend Marks and Spencer's White Coconut. This fragrance smells just like a tropical vacation, with creamy coconut, sweet vanilla and refreshing citrus notes.
6. Discover Intense Red Berries & Rose vs. Armani Si
Pros: A warm and sophisticated fragrance
Cons: Not as deep and intense as a designer scent
Customer reviews: "I really love the Red Berries and Rose Eau de Toilette and am so pleased with my purchase. It smells lovely ! Not an overpowering smell, which I like, rather more delicate. A handy sized bottle and great packaging design too."
A great option for all year round is Marks and Spencer's Red Berries & Rose perfume. With hints of sweet red berries and warming vanilla, this could definitely be mistaken for Armani's Si fragrance. Luckily for us, it's a fraction of the price.
7. Discover Pink Pepper vs. Lancôme La Vie Est Belle
Pros: A bright, joyful scent
Cons: It's quite heavy on the vanilla, so might not appeal if you don't like gourmand scents
Customer Reviews: "Absolutely in love with this little perfume ! Very long lasting and gets me many compliments."
While the notes aren't like for like in this pairing, I have always loved how bright and sparkly Lancôme's La Vie Est Belle Eau De Parfum is—a sweet floral with vanilla, patchouli and tonka. M&S's Pink Pepper has the same sprightly feel thanks to citrusy orange blossom and sweet vanilla
8. Discover Intense Gardenia and Vanilla vs. Marc Jacobs Daisy
Pros: Easy-to-wear daytime scent
Cons: Does need reapplying throughout the day
Customer Reviews: "This perfume is light fresh and delicious. Perfect for everyday use. And not forgetting the brilliant price."
Daisy is an iconic spring scent that's beloved for its uplifting nature and blend of white florals, creamy vanilla and cosy white woods. Gardenia & Vanilla has a similarly youthful spirit—a subtly sweet, floral fragrance that's perfect for everyday wear.
9. Discover Velvet Amber vs. Chanel No. 5
Pros: A rich, elegant fragrance that smells way more expensive than it costs
Cons: The amber is strong, which some might find too overpowering
Customer Reviews: "This perfume is perfect for the evening and is long lasting. Expect compliments!"
Fragrances don't come more iconic than Chanel No. 5, so whilst many TikTok videos tout Marks and Spencer's Velvet Amber to be a dupe I have to be straight up and say that you're not going to get the same complexity of scent from a £6 bottle of perfume. However, both have that same rich, heady floral feel and a timeless elegance to them that will undoubtedly appeal.
10. Discover Warm Neroli vs. Rabanne Lady Million
Pros: Sweet, musky fragrance
Cons: Lasts for a few hours, but bring the bottle with you to reapply
Customer Reviews: "Absolutely gorgeous! I love all of the new fragrances M&S have recently put out. I will never pay for expensive perfumes again and have told everyone i know about them!"
Rabanne's Lady Million scent is an iconic fragrance—a bold white floral perfume with a musky sweetness that is so alluring. Warm Neroli has that same feminine appeal with bucketloads of neroli, citrus-fresh bergamot and a comforting musk notes that lends the fragrance an almost earthiness once it's dried down.
Shop More M&S Perfumes:
New from the Apothecary collection is Restful, with notes of black pepper and warming frankincense.
Another new fragrance from the Apothecary collection is Reassure, with hints of tonka bean, orange flower, patchouli and cedar leaf.
Amber and orange blossom are two of my favourite notes, so I already know that this perfume is going to be a winner.
The perfect autumn/winter scent, this fragrance leads with expensive-smelling oud and lush roses, but contains base notes of amber and vanilla for added sweetness.
Another ideal option for spring is French Mandarin from the Discover collection. It's fresh, it's zingy and it's bound to earn you compliments.
Grace Lindsay is the junior beauty editor at Who What Wear UK. At the age of 18 she decided to train as a makeup artist before going on to study english and media at Goldsmiths University. It was during that time that she explored her love for journalism by interning at a small beauty start-up based in Shoreditch. Since then, she has worked at a number of publications including Marie Claire and Hello!, where her love for all things beauty continued to grow.
As Who What Wear UK's junior beauty editor, she covers everything from the latest hair trends to the stand-out makeup products of the season.
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