Affordable Dupes For The Most Spenny Cult Perfume... Baccarat Rouge 540
Browse through fragrance TikTok right now, and you’ll find one bottle making cameos in the majority of the fragrance wardrobes on display. One could go as far as saying that it might be one of the biggest self-selling scents in the world.
View this post on Instagram
The story of Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s Baccarat Rouge 540 began in 2014 as a collaboration between Maison Francis Kurkdjian and luxury crystal manufacturer Baccarat. At the time, the now famous EDP was launched as a limited edition release to celebrate Baccarat’s 250th anniversary. Fittingly, only 250 crystal bottles were created, which instantly sold out, but the buzz surrounding the scent was so loud that Kurkdjian proceeded to relaunch it as a permanent fixture in the Maison Francis Kurkdjian collection.
Seven years later, the bottle continues to take social media and the fragrance world by storm. A recent study by Hey Discount revealed that the scent has garnered just under six million Google searches in 2022 alone. And on TikTok today, the hashtag #baccaratrouge540 sits at an insane 165,7 million views.
What does Baccarat Rouge 540 smell like?
View this post on Instagram
Gen-Z perfume heads say it smells like wealth, and that’s honestly one of the most accurate descriptions. Words can’t really describe it, but one whiff of it and the notes are immediately ingrained in your brain. So much so that you’ll even begin to recognize its trail on strangers passing by. Baccarat Rouge 540 is a gorgeous unisex blend with the perfect amount of spiciness, woodiness, and sweetness. And despite its deep notes of amber wood, ambergris, fir resin, and cedar, it still manages to be surprisingly airy. But sadly, there’s a catch…it’s a little on the pricey side. And by pricey, we’re talking $325 for a 2.4-ounce bottle. As a result, this has given room for dupes to piggyback on the scent’s success, and these three aren’t exact replicas, but they smell close enough to the real thing.
1. Burberry Her, $142
The nose behind Burberry Her is actually Francis Kurkdjian himself, which explains its likeness to Baccarat Rouge 540. It’s a playful floral-fruity mix with amber and woody olfactory notes at the base resulting in a drool-inducing trail that’s more on the sweeter side. Its composition is a little more complex than Baccarat Rouge 540, consisting of double the accords and a fruitier profile that leans more towards feminine than a unisex blend. Strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, sour cherry, and mandarin form the top notes, while violet and jasmine sit at the heart. And at the base are woods, vanilla, a bit of musk, and amber, which add a delicious and delicate creaminess that smells EDIBLE. This is a definite crowd-pleaser and gets us compliments wherever we go.
2. Zara Red Temptation, $14
Many TikTokers swear by Red Temptation as an affordable Baccarat dupe, and after recently smelling it on a friend, we totally get the resemblance. Surprisingly, it shares a top note with Baccarat Rouge 540: saffron, which explains its similar bittersweet opening that’s elevated further by a burst of bitter orange. For a $14 fragrance, it smells surprisingly expenny, and unlike Burberry Her, it takes on a more unisex profile, making it the true and more accurate Baccarat replica. However, online reviews show mixed reactions towards the scent — the vast majority love it, but some people don’t. And this is due to its slightly medicinal opening. But we promise you, once it dries down, you won’t. stop. sniffing. your wrists. Its gourmand salted caramel-like mix of praline, amber, and musk is ridiculously addictive! 10/10 recommend.
3. Ariana Grande Cloud, $45
This is another budget-friendly fave that gives off nuances of Baccarat Rouge. It’s cozy, fluffy, cottony, creamy, and not overwhelmingly sweet. Like Red Temptation, you’ll find praline in the mix, which gives off a semi-sweet burnt sugar aroma softened by a pillowy dose of whipped cream, coconut, and vanilla orchid. Once it rests and settles on the skin, its woody notes slowly seep through, and with each whiff, it switches between marshmallowy and musky with a slight tropical quality. Cloud is beautiful enough to be worn solo but if you’re a fan of fragrance layering, definitely add this to your perfume rotation.
Speaking of layering, ICYMI, check out our list of KAYALI perfume combos that are perfect for fall!
Disclaimer: Every product we review has been independently selected and tested without bias by our editorial team. We never take payment to review products, although some brands allow affiliate links, so we may earn a commission if you purchase a product by clicking on one of our links.
Leave a comment