6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
7 best Lidl perfumes dupes that smell designer but cost just £5
As someone who's a self-proclaimed fragrance snob, I'm pretty hard to impress when it comes to copycat perfume. But, in the past year, all I've been hearing about in the world of beauty dupes is Lidl – most specifically, the supermarket brand's scents. Said to rival the likes of Dior J'Adore, Lancôme La Vie Est Belle and – of course – the Sol de Janeiro mists everyone can't get enough of, Lidl dupes are meant to be IT.
So naturally, I had to give them a go. While I may have my own thoughts and feelings in regards to dupes (it's a murky sub-section of beauty that's definitely not clear-cut), I also believe these opinions make me the most qualified to test them. You see, if one of these impresses me, you can really trust it's worth dashing to the shops for. And if not? Well, I'm just being an honest Leo queen.
As a huge fragrance fan with over ten years' experience working as a beauty editor, I have smelt a huge variety of perfumes over my time. I also have a level of synesthesia, which means I connect smells to visuals, making the olfactory experience more pronounced for me personally.
When testing Lidl's perfumes, I took a look at the notes on paper and which designer scent each has been most commonly compared to on social media, before actually spritzing the fragrances and making my own judgments. As well as initial impressions, I waited for each scent to dry down for a well-rounded, balanced opinion to form, and also assessed how they wore as the day went on for longevity points.
Smells like…Lancôme La Vie est Belle Eau de Parfum 50ml, £77.60
TikTok is rife with comparisons of Femelle and La Vie Est Belle. There's definitely some overlap (both live in the floral-gourmand family), but Lidl's is noticeably sweeter with more of a fruity undertone. It's a little syrupy, but still manages to maintain its refreshing, somewhat lightweight feel. Ultra-pretty and perfect for those who adore a feminine spritz, Femelle is a safe bet for daytime wear if you're looking for something simple.
Notes: Iris, vanilla, sweet praline.
What reviewers say: 'Femelle is a long-lasting EDP, not bad for a budget one, which can leave its mark for most of the day and evening with no recurring reapplications. It lasts several hours, and it is a suitable perfume to wear daily in the office or for business lunches.'
Smells like… Chloé Eau de Parfum For Her 50ml, £80.75
Listen, as someone who actually counts the OG Chloe perfume as one of their top 10 scents of all time, I'm a little wary of harping on too much about Chalou's similarity; I must respect an icon, you'll understand. Both do hit you with soft peony accords upon initial application, but Lidl's dries down a little more generically with hints of musk and broader florals. It also doesn't deliver on longevity nearly as much as Chloe's bestseller. However, it's still one of the better dupes I've smelt, and one which may come in handy between purchases of the more expensive iteration.
Notes: Rose essence, sweet lychee, magnolia.
What reviewers say: 'Chalou is a light, fresh, and powdered floral with notes of citrus, aquatic flowers, and mellifluous accords.'
Smells like… Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 68 Perfume Mist 90ml, £24
Fans of Sol de Janeiro's beloved body mists went wild for Lidl's duped versions in 2024. Not only do they smell similar, they are also a complete steal, priced at £3.99 for just 250ml. What I find most entertaining about this one, is that it's sort of a 'dupe of a dupe.' Sol de Janeiro's Cheirosa 68 is known to be reminiscent of Francis Maison Kurkdjian's Baccarat Rouge 540, and Lidl's version definitely has a similar feel, too. It's very sweet and super potent (clinging onto fabric in particular), so just be sure you love it before spritzing everywhere!
Notes: Jasmine, dragon fruit.
What reviewers say: 'This smells exactly the same as the pink Sol de Janeiro. It [also] smells quite like Baccarat Rouge.'
Smells like…Yves Saint Laurent Libre Eau de Parfum 50ml, £77.60
Rumoured to smell just like Yves Saint Laurent Libre, Rebile is one of Lidl's newer and lesser-known scents. It definitely has similarities with YSL's bestseller, but perhaps is not quite as sophisticated – but for the price, you'd not really expect it to be. There are strong hints of white florals in there, with plenty of sweetness and a touch of fruitiness. This is akin to a floral spring garden, which will either delight you or slightly overpower you – depending on your taste.
What reviewers say: 'I love this perfume so much that I have bought 2 bottles and [am] planning to get more because I'm wearing it all the time and my bottles won't last long. It lasts all day and I wear it no matter what [the] occasion is. It has some similarities with YSL Libre, but it is different in its own way.'
Smells like… DIOR J'adore Eau De Parfum 50ml, £88.40
In terms of dupes, this was the one I was perhaps most impressed by in terms of its resemblance to a well-known designer scent. When you initially sniff 'Lovely,' you'll actually be hard-pressed to point out differences between this and J'adore (unless you're incredibly nose-sensitive or a perfumery expert!). For this reason, it's worth picking up if you like the OG – just be warned, you have to reapply it every couple of hours to keep the smell going.
Notes: Jasmine, ylang-ylang, rose.
What reviewers say: 'Lovely meets as a (very pleasing) modern, fresh, cool, somewhat sporty fragrance.'
Smells like… Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 62 Perfume Mist 90ml, £24
Clearly made to smell like the Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 62 Perfume Mist, Lidl's take on this warm, summery spritz is similar, but not an exact dupe IMO. It nails the smooth, creamy salted caramel accords, but you struggle to detect any pistachio or vanilla due to how overpowering the caramel is. At £3.99, it is certainly more affordable than SDJ's body mists however, meaning you can spray liberally without worry. Perfect to chuck in your gym bag.
Notes: Pistachio, salted caramel.
What reviewers say: 'For the price, it's a really good spray. It's got a good smell to it and it lasts a long time.'
Smells like… Chanel Coco Mademoiselle au De Parfum Spray 50ml, £92
An old classic, Madame Glamour is best known for its apparent likeness to Chanel's Coco Mademoiselle. It was one of Lidl's first foray's into perfume dupes, and is still best known today. It features sweet florals and fruity accords, giving it an end result that's somewhat similar to Chanel's, but for me personally, that's where the comparisons end; there's a clear difference in quality and longevity here. To my nose, it feels a little musty and old-fashioned, but I'm generally more of a fan of fresh, lightweight scents, so this isn't geared towards my taste in the first place.
Notes: Patchouli, orange, bergamot.
What reviewers say: 'One day I was walking around an antiques market and I heard this older lady saying 'oh, someone is using Coco Mademoiselle,' and then she asked me directly if it was me (I just nodded because I was to[o] stunned to speak to be honest)... This was in France and the lady was also French. So if anyone is wondering if this is a good dupe, here's your answer.'
