Breakups are hard. Harder when it’s your favourite perfume breaking up with you.
Brands can choose to retire fragrances for several reasons, including reformulation, insufficient sales, changing trends, and difficulty sourcing key ingredients. Perhaps you stocked up when the discontinuation announcement was made, and you’re holding on to the last available bottle dearly. You can find some very close alternative perfumes in Dubai to fill the hole in your heart left by a discontinued fragrance.
1. Rive Gauche Pour Homme Yves Saint Laurent
| Highlights | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Yves Saint Laurent |
| Best for | Men |
| Fragrance Family | Aromatic Green |
| Key Accords | Aromatic Fresh Spicy Woody Earthy Lavender Mossy Patchouli Herbal Warm spicy Rose |
| Release year | 2011 |
| Longevity | 9-10 hours |
| Projection | Moderate |
| Perfumer | Yves Saint Laurent |
Close your eyes and imagine this– you’re in a barbershop in the good old days. It’s more than just a haircut; it’s the atmosphere, the company, the satisfaction when you leave a renewed man. Every barbershop is different, but YSL bottled the experience into a synthesis of lavender, oak moss, and patchouli in a fragrance that’s…discontinued. It’s heart-shattering news for the distinguished man who is smooth without trying to be, much like what one could waft from this 80ml bottle. This alternative could replace the void it left in your heart:
A Close Match: Azzaro pour Homme
| Highlights | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Azzaro |
| Best for | Men |
| Fragrance Family | Aromatic Fougere |
| Notes | Top: Lemon, Anise, Lavender, Iris, Caraway, Bergamot, Clary Sage & Basil Middle: Juniper Berries, Sandalwood, Patchouli, Cedar, Cardamom & Vetiver Base: Leather, Oakmoss, Amber, Tonka Bean & Musk |
| Release year | 1978 |
| Longevity | 4-6 hours |
| Projection | Moderate |
| Perfumer | Gerard Anthony & Richard Wirtz |
The masculine, refined bottle reveals the qualities of the fragrance within. Mature, confident men can look towards Azzaro Pour Homme for a new signature fragrance. The star anise makes this fragrance a star amongst its fellow classics– it meets you at the first spritz and mellows but never disappears. Goes to show why it’s a popular perfume in the UAE. Both products share spicy, woody, fougere, fresh qualities, but through diverse ingredients. Will this bottle of Azzaro find a place in your heart the way the YSL did? There’s only one way to know.
2. Fleur du Mâle Jean Paul Gaultier
| Highlights | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Jean Paul Gaultier |
| Best for | Men |
| Fragrance Family | Aromatic Fougere |
| Notes | Top: Petitgrain Middle: Neroli Base: Chamomile and Basil |
| Release year | 2007 |
| Longevity | 8-10 hours |
| Projection | Moderate |
| Perfumer | Francis Kurkdjian |
This bottle of Jean Paul Gaultier is reminiscent of marble sculptures, the likes of Michelangelo’s David. This is an easy choice for those with a self-assured masculinity that only looks inward for approval.
As the name suggests, the Fleur du Mâle pulls you in with its floral aura and leaves you lingering with its mellow sweetness. It’s not for every man and that is what makes the men who wear it special. Its alluring yet comforting constitution makes it the right perfume for men who stand out from the crowd while putting those around them at ease. Ease, sadly, is not a word that fans of this perfume would use to describe its availability. Perhaps this next one would give you what this beautiful bottle of JPG did before it left the shelves.
A Close Match: Amouage Reflection EDP For Men
| Highlights | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Amouage |
| Best for | Men |
| Fragrance Family | Woody |
| Notes | Top: Rosemary, Pink Pepper and Petitgrain Middle: Neroli, Orris, Jasmine, Ylang Ylang Base: Vetiver, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Cedarwood |
| Release year | 2007 |
| Longevity | 6-12 hours |
| Projection | Heavy |
| Perfumer | Lucas Sieuzac |
Amouage Reflection exudes the soft masculinity of the discontinued JPG released in the same year. If you like the floral qualities of the du Mâle but feel it comes off too strong or loud, you will find Amouage Reflection to be its grown-up, settled-down friend. The first spritz of this Lucas Sieuzac composition whisks you away into a garden of creamy, fresh florals.
Rosemary is a solid player that makes the fragrance interesting but doesn’t overwhelm the senses. It exudes a pleasant quality that makes it ideal to wear anywhere from work to a casual date. It transitions smoothly from day to night as a solid, dependable fragrance.
3. Fragile Jean Paul Gaultier
| Highlights | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Jean Paul Gaultier |
| Best for | Women |
| Fragrance Family | Floral |
| Notes | Top: Tunisian Orange Blossom, Ginger, Italian Tangerine, Star Anise, Coriander, Bulgarian Rose and Bergamot Middle: Tuberose, Jasmine, Indian Ginger, Ylang-Ylang, Carnation, Iris and Rose Base: Amber, Vanilla, Cinnamon, Musk and Cedar |
| Release year | 1999 |
| Longevity | 10 hours |
| Projection | Above Average |
| Perfumer | Francis Kurkdjian |
Don’t let the Fragile wearer fool you with the name of this fragrance for she is strong from the get go. The snowglobe bottle and its state on your countertop may be fragile, but its longevity certainly isn’t. Lucky fragrance enthusiasts who grabbed this bottle before its discontinuation would still have it displayed when it radiates luxury long after its fragrance has been lost to the air.
The orange blossom and tuberose build intrigue while the coriander, anise, and ginger work to bring a surprising sparkle, much like the gold flecks in the bottle. Much like its place on your vanity, Fragile is quite special and has you saying yes to special occasions just so you can grace your skin with it. While this Francis Kurkdjian creation has left the market, his Elie Saab creation could satisfy your fragrance needs.
A Close Match: Elie Saab Le Parfum EDP
| Highlights | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Elie Saab |
| Best for | Women |
| Fragrance Family | Amber Floral |
| Notes | Top: Orange Blossom Middle: Honey, Ylang-Ylang and Rose Base: Amber and Patchouli |
| Release year | 2013 |
| Longevity | 8 hours |
| Projection | Moderate |
| Perfumer | Francis Kurkdjian |
Much like Fragile, this Fracis Kurkdjian creation is not here to sit back and blend in. This champagne colored luxury keeps your sparkle on all day and night, lingering on your clothes the next day. The honey brings a sweet femininity to the heart, making it perfect for special occasions like weddings. Reunite with the orange blossom, tuberose, and amber you miss from the fragile bottle of JPG through its creator’s modern concoction for Elie Saab.
4. Miss Dior Cherie
| Highlights | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Dior |
| Best for | Women |
| Fragrance Family | Chypre Fruity |
| Notes | Top: Cherry, Strawberry, Pineapple, and Mandarin Orange Middle: Popcorn, Caramel, Rose, Jasmine, and Violet Base: Patchouli, Musk, and Amber |
| Release year | 2005 |
| Longevity | 6-12 hours |
| Projection | Moderate |
| Perfumer | Christine Nagel |
Coming in a classic Miss Dior bottle with a bow around the neck, this fragrance boasts a harmony of fruity scents. Popcorn and caramel bring a youthful girly charm, while jasmine and violet promise a future of maturity in the wearer. The fruity scent with its patchouli base brings it under the ‘fruitchouli’ category– fragrances that are a delightful mixture of edible fruits and patchouli to contrast with its slight dark quality. You can depend on it to create a bubble of joy that trails behind even when you’ve left the room. Perhaps this older model can be replaced by a more modern fragrance:
A Close Match: Burberry Her
| Highlights | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Burberry |
| Best for | Women |
| Fragrance Family | Floral Fruity Gourmand |
| Notes | Top: Strawberry, Raspberry, Blackberry, Sour Cherry, Black Currant, Mandarin Orange and Lemon Middle: Violet and Jasmine Base: Musk, Vanilla, Cashmeran, Woody Notes, Amber, Oakmoss and Patchouli |
| Release year | 2018 |
| Longevity | 6-12 hours |
| Projection | Moderate |
| Perfumer | Francis Kurkdjian |
If you like a fruity scent, Burberry Her brings the whole orchard with a wide array of fruits. The Mandarin orange, strawberry, and cherry of the Miss Dior follows into this modern pink bottle but gives you double the fruity fun. Though lacking the fun of popcorn and caramel, I feel that it makes up for it with a deliciously youthful vanilla. This Kurkdjian creation creates a youthful cheer balanced by the woody notes and musk that gives depth and sophistication.
5. Versace Blonde
| Highlights | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Versace |
| Best for | Women |
| Fragrance Family | Floral |
| Notes | Top: Gardenia, Pittosporum Flowers, Violets, Orange Blossom, and Bergamot Middle: Tuberose, Daffodil, Ylang-Ylang, and Carnation Base: Benzoin, Musk, Civet, and Sandalwood |
| Release year | 1995 |
| Longevity | 8 hours |
| Projection | Heavy |
| Perfumer | Nathalie Feisthauer |
Just like its muse, Donatella Versace, this perfume is for the woman who effortlessly turns heads and commands respect. A single blossomed gardenia is enough to command a room with its heady scent. Tuberose, while a middle note in this fragrance, competes with the gardenia in bringing an aura of luxury. It’s no wonder this late 90s perfume oozes a quiet authority and an old Hollywood charm. The white flowers that usually play polite beg to differ as they weave into an adventurous, mischievous dance in this golden medley.
A Close Match: Elizabeth Taylor Diamonds and Emeralds
| Highlights | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Elizabeth Taylor |
| Best for | Women |
| Fragrance Family | Oriental Floral |
| Notes | Top: Gardenia, White Rose, Apricot, Mandarin, Peach, Sage, Hyacinth, Orange Blossom, and Green Accords Middle: Tuberose, Rose, Magnolia, Carnation, Tiger Lily, Jasmine, Lily-of-the-Valley Base: Vanilla, Amber, Musk, Patchouli, and Tonka Beans |
| Release year | 1993 |
| Longevity | 8 hours |
| Projection | Moderate |
| Perfumer | Elizabeth Taylor |
If the old Hollywood quality of the Versace Blonde is what you miss most about it, Elizabeth Taylor’s Diamonds and Emeralds brings it right back. What it lacks in appearance, it makes up for in fragrance.
Though not an exact match, their strong players, gardenia and tuberose, bring their magic to this golden elixir. Carnation complements the gardenia with its spicy sparkle once again. Its peach and apricot bring a fuzzy, velvety texture that Blonde lacks for the wearer partial to classic, early Arab perfumes. It’s the bottled-up summertime of floaty summer dresses and biting into a juicy peach.
Nothing can be a perfect dupe for the perfumes you loved and lost. But some alternatives can carry forth components of what you liked most while introducing you to novel combinations. Who knows? You might forget your old love with a spritz of its close match. Is your favorite discontinued perfume not on this list? Tell us what you’re looking to replace and we can find close alternatives exclusively from the best perfume shop in Dubai.
