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Which two scents are the closest to identical?

post #1 of 76
10/11/12 at 10:09am
Thread Starter 
Like the topic says. Out of all the scents you've tried in your time as a fragrance enthusiast, which two do you think come closest to actually being the same scent, either in terms of the note pyramid or the scent itself?

My picks, from my admittedly limited experience:

Mont Blanc Legend and Curve For Men. I'm giving MBL a full wearing today for the first time and I'm continually struck by the astounding similarity. The notes diverge quite a bit but still, this basically feels like the same fragrance to me.

Molinard's Teck and Juicy Couture's Dirty English. Sampled these side by side the other day and I honestly would not be able to tell them apart in a blind test. Though the two share more notes than MBL and Curve do, they're still not identical. Regardless, to my nose the same thing is going on here: these feel like carbon copies of each other.

Then there are the knock-offs everyone knows about - MJ Legend, Unforgivable et al - but though they are similar to their predecessors I personally would have no difficulty telling them apart (though admittedly Legend is quite a bit closer to New Haarlem than Unforgivable is to MI). Certainly I don't find them anywhere near as similar as MBL/Curve and Teck/DE.

But enough jibber-jabber from me. What are yours?
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post #2 of 76
10/11/12 at 10:11am
Fuel for life & fuel for life denim edition.
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post #3 of 76
10/11/12 at 10:13am
pavarotti and givenchy gentleman
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post #4 of 76
10/11/12 at 10:23am
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From some of the old threads here (doesn't necessarily mean I agree with them):


  • Green Irish Tweed by Creed and Coolwater by Davidoff
  • Silver Mountain Water by Creed and Silver by Al Rehab



From what I've tried:
  • Givenchy Play Intense and Givenchy Play (sampled only)
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post #5 of 76
10/11/12 at 10:46am
For me: Lotus Thé Vert & Boum Homme
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post #6 of 76
10/11/12 at 10:47am
Tuscan Leather & Charles Street?
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post #7 of 76
10/11/12 at 10:51am
Carolina Harrera Chic ~ Boss Soul
Dsquared He Wood ~ Burberry Touch (Not Exact copy but somewhat similar..to my nose atleast)
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post #8 of 76
10/11/12 at 11:05am
Gucci pour homme 1 & CDG Man2......almost.
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post #9 of 76
10/11/12 at 11:28am
Egoiste Cologne Concentree and Opium Pour Homme EDP
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post #10 of 76
10/11/12 at 11:41am
I get striking similarities with Loewe Solo Loewe and Prada Amber Pour Homme.
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post #11 of 76
10/11/12 at 11:49am
Tuscany per Uomo/Azzaro pour Homme
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post #12 of 76
10/11/12 at 11:54am
mont blanc individuel - creed original santal
chanel platinum egoiste - paul smith optimistic
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post #13 of 76
10/11/12 at 11:57am
Cartier Roadster Sport and Escada Sentiment. If you smelled both of them, you couldn't tell the difference.
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post #14 of 76
10/11/12 at 11:59am
Mugler Cologne = Creed Original Vetiver

Mont Blanc Individuel = Creed Original Santal
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post #15 of 76
10/11/12 at 12:31pm
Bond No. 9 Hamptons and Creed Silver Mt. Water
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post #16 of 76
10/11/12 at 12:41pm
Barbasol and Rive Gauche
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post #17 of 76
10/11/12 at 1:11pm
Fahrenheit and Olympios
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post #18 of 76
10/11/12 at 1:19pm
Mugler Cologne to Original Vetiver
Charles Street to Tuscan Leather
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post #19 of 76
10/11/12 at 1:24pm
Mont Blanc Individuel and Creed Original Santal are 99% identical
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post #20 of 76
10/11/12 at 1:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nersh View Post

Barbasol and Rive Gauche


I only recently realized that Azzaro PH is very similar to Rive Gauche. I have never sampled barbasol.
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post #21 of 76
10/11/12 at 2:08pm
Neroli Portofino and Mugler Cologne.
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post #22 of 76
10/11/12 at 2:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by alfarom View Post

Fahrenheit and Olympios

From a thread here, apparently also:

Fahrenheit and Metal Jeans (Beverly Hills 90210, not the Versace one)
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post #23 of 76
10/11/12 at 3:11pm
GIT and Cool Water.
MI and Unforgiveable.
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post #24 of 76
10/11/12 at 4:39pm
Invasion Barbare - HdP 1725
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post #25 of 76
10/11/12 at 4:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by comfortablynumbbg View Post

Mont Blanc Individuel and Creed Original Santal are 99% identical

+1

This would be my vote. Still, I do smell a slight difference. I must say though, this is the only case of a cheaper clone where I don't think the Creed fragrance smells noticeably more expensive.

I have done side by side comparisons of GIT and CW, MI and Unforgivable, and Al-Rehab Silver and SMW. Individuel gets the closest to Creed in my opinion.
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post #26 of 76
10/11/12 at 4:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by darren1 View Post

pavarotti and givenchy gentleman

Yes.

- - - Updated - - -

Quote:
Originally Posted by Trauerkraut View Post

Tuscany per Uomo/Azzaro pour Homme

Especially the drydowns - very similar.
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post #27 of 76
10/11/12 at 5:33pm
I agree with a lot of the ones already posted.

I would also add:

Clive Christian C ~ Tom Ford Tuscan Leather
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post #28 of 76
10/11/12 at 5:35pm
my bad, delete
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post #29 of 76
10/11/12 at 6:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2ndBakeryAttack View Post

I have done side by side comparisons of GIT and CW, MI and Unforgivable, and Al-Rehab Silver and SMW. Individuel gets the closest to Creed in my opinion.

Since the Mont Blanc was released 2 years earlier, it seems the Creed struck quite close to it, rather than the reverse. Another Bourdon composition, too. Hmmm...

<shrugs into SAC-flamethrower-proof Nomex coveralls>
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post #30 of 76
10/11/12 at 6:35pm
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Coriolan/Barbier des Iles
Yatagan/Éloge du Traître
Knize Ten/Gomma
Diorella/Cristelle(edp)
Vétiver Oriantal/Eau Sauvage Parfum(drydown)
Drakkar Noir/Duc de Vervins
Acqua Classica Borsari/Monsieur Balmain
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post #31 of 76
10/11/12 at 6:37pm
Creed Original Santal and Mont Blanc Individuel are incredibly close, I'd say 99% as well.
Rive Gauche PH and Ruehl No 925 Signature are near identical at 99.9% similar.
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post #32 of 76
10/11/12 at 8:00pm
Mont Blanc Legend, to me, smells identical to Abercrombie and Fitch Fierce.. So much that I had to exchange Legend because A&F lasts longer on my skin and dries down better.
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post #33 of 76
10/11/12 at 8:42pm
Sycomore/Encre Noire
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post #34 of 76
10/11/12 at 8:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mesaboogie View Post

Creed Original Vetiver and Mont Blanc Individuel are incredibly close, I'd say 99% as well.
Rive Gauche PH and Ruehl No 925 Signature are near identical at 99.9% similar.

I think you mean Santal not Vetiver
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post #35 of 76
10/11/12 at 8:54pm
Wow, 32 posts and no one mentioned AdG and Perry Ellis Red?
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post #36 of 76
10/11/12 at 9:10pm
Eau Duelle and Spiritueuse Double Vanille
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post #37 of 76
10/11/12 at 9:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thematt202 View Post

GIT and Cool Water.
MI and Unforgiveable.

+1 for these and to my nose MontBlanc Legend and A&F Fierce are very close
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post #38 of 76
10/11/12 at 11:58pm
Bvlgari Black
=
VC&A Midnight in Paris

-------------------------------------

Hildi Soliani's "Il Duo Tulipano"
=
Peter Thomas Roth's "460 Park"
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post #39 of 76
10/12/12 at 12:48am
Quote:
Originally Posted by El_Guapo View Post

I think you mean Santal not Vetiver

Yes Santal. I was going to mention original vetiver and mugler cologne and got the names mixed up.
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post #40 of 76
10/12/12 at 1:29am
Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeJ View Post

Wow, 32 posts and no one mentioned AdG and Perry Ellis Red?

I was thinking the same thing. I didn't mention it because it's not my top pick, but no doubt they are very close.
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post #41 of 76
10/12/12 at 1:44am
I find Original Santal and Individuel pretty similar. OS is richer and a little spicier to my nose, but similar nonetheless.
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post #42 of 76
10/12/12 at 2:00am
Quote:
Originally Posted by dougczar View Post

I agree with a lot of the ones already posted.

I would also add:

Clive Christian C ~ Tom Ford Tuscan Leather

Completely agree. Smelt this in Selfridges the other day and the SA was babbling on about how unique it was, and the first thing I said was "It really reminds me of Tuscan Leather by Tom Ford". She went quiet... Her stall wasn't selling any of the (much cheaper) Tom Ford Private Blend range.
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post #43 of 76
10/12/12 at 2:13am
Molecule 02 and JHAG's Not a Perfume.

I win!
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post #44 of 76
10/12/12 at 2:26am
Creed Original Santal and Joop Homme

- - - Updated - - -

Paco XS = Himalaya
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post #45 of 76
10/12/12 at 2:59am
WestSide = Noir de Noir
A la Nuit = Jasmal
Nemo = Antidote
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post #46 of 76
10/12/12 at 3:03am
Various scents nowadays seem to copy Paco Rabanne One Million, including Antonio Banderas Golden Secret and Zara Gold
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post #47 of 76
10/12/12 at 3:16am
Versace PH and Chanel Allure Homme Sport
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post #48 of 76
10/12/12 at 3:21am
ADP Essenza = eau sauvage
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post #49 of 76
10/12/12 at 3:23am
- Paco 1 Million to Antonio Banderas Golden Secret but als 'The Secret' which is AB another scent that is smelling like 1 Million!
- Versace pour homme and Chanel Allure Homme Sport
- Himalaya = Paco XS (not! Black XS)

and:

- Cuba Black is exactly like a less rich Azzaro pour homme!
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post #50 of 76
10/12/12 at 3:53am
Yatagan and Les Copains Homme (closer to vintage Yatagan, apparently).
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post #51 of 76
10/12/12 at 8:41am
Perry Ellis white = Le male 96.97698%
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post #52 of 76
10/12/12 at 4:01pm
Caesars Man and Drakkar Noir are very close. CM is a little greener but for those who know Drakkar only casually, you could get away with the much cheaper Caesars.
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post #53 of 76
10/12/12 at 4:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SculptureOfSoul View Post

Molecule 02 and JHAG's Not a Perfume.

I win!

+1 This is what I came to say
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post #54 of 76
10/12/12 at 4:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Profumo Saggio View Post

Caesars Man and Drakkar Noir are very close. CM is a little greener but for those who know Drakkar only casually, you could get away with the much cheaper Caesars.

yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyep!
also bogarts one man show and krizia uomo
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post #55 of 76
10/12/12 at 4:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SculptureOfSoul View Post

Molecule 02 and JHAG's Not a Perfume.

I win!

That's so interesting! This is one I've been meaning to try. JHAG's Not a Perfume is listed as "for women" whereas Molecule 02 is listed as unisex. I realize that's just marketing, but still, it's interesting. I guess it's impossible to prevent anyone from selling diluted Ambroxan as a scent.

- - - Updated - - -

Quote:
Originally Posted by Slayerized View Post

Versace pour homme and Chanel Allure Homme Sport

Personally, I don't find them to be that similar. AHS has a more fruity/citric candy sweetness whereas Vph is floral. Both are worth sampling, that's for sure!
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post #56 of 76
10/12/12 at 5:58pm
Three more sets:

Le Male and Cuba Gold and Perry Ellis 360 White
Chanel Platinum Egoiste and A&F Fierce
Express Reserve and D&G The One
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post #57 of 76
10/12/12 at 7:41pm
Tom Ford's Italian Cypress and Halston Z-14 are exactly the same fragrance.
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post #58 of 76
10/14/12 at 6:25pm
Chanel Allure Homme & Polo Big Pony #4. There is a central accord that's very similar for both, though CAH has more complexity or "decoration" surrounding the center.

For me, Gucci pour Homme II has a similar center, but it is much more complex than the above, so much so that the "decoration" predominates much of the time.

I would like to know if that's really an "accord" I'm smelling as the dominant thing, or is it one specific note.
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post #59 of 76
2/27/13 at 5:25pm
Dirty English and Malaise of the 1970s (aka Sex Pistols)
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post #60 of 76
2/27/13 at 5:30pm
AdG and Halston Unbound ---> 99%

Chanel Platinum Egoiste and Paco Rabanne XS (original) ---> 97.652414%
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