If you’ve ever wandered through the perfume section of a department store, you’ll know the feeling: a spritz of something divine, a flutter of excitement… and then the price tag hits you like a cold shower.
$445 for a bottle of luxury fragrance? For most people, that’s a special-occasion splurge—if not a pipe dream.
But what if you could get that same high-end scent for a fraction of the price? According to one Chemist Warehouse manager, you absolutely can.
A high-end scent without the price tag
Jess, a retail manager from Melbourne, has set the internet abuzz with her discovery of a $29.99 ‘dupe’ for the cult favourite Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540.
For those not in the know, Baccarat Rouge 540 is the stuff of legend in the fragrance world—coveted by celebrities, influencers, and anyone with a nose for luxury.
But at $445 for just 70mL (or a jaw-dropping $881 for 200mL), it’s not exactly budget-friendly.
Enter Made in Lab No. 115 Eau de Parfum, available exclusively at Chemist Warehouse for just $29.99 for a 100mL bottle.
Jess claims it ‘smells identical’ to the luxury original, and she’s not alone—her video review has sparked a frenzy among fragrance fans.
What makes it stand out?
‘We’ve got a new Baccarat Rouge dupe for you,’ Jess announced. ‘And it’s up there with one of the best. Why? It’s $30, it lasts so long on the skin, and it just smells identical.’
What’s the secret? According to Jess, the scent profiles are nearly a match.
‘The Made in Lab No. 115 has almost the exact same notes as Baccarat Rouge, except it’s missing the ambroxan and oak moss notes,’ she explained.
‘But I still think it smells exactly the same and it has great longevity. It’s not as overpowering as some of the other dupes out there, but the longevity is still insane. It smells so good.’
Shoppers are loving it
The response from shoppers has been enthusiastic, to say the least. ‘OMG I need it,’ one fan exclaimed. Another chimed in, ‘Sooo good.’
And it’s not just the price or the scent that’s winning people over—the formula is unisex, so anyone can enjoy it.
Jess’s knack for sniffing out affordable alternatives doesn’t stop there. Just weeks earlier, she revealed that Made in Lab No. 18 Eau de Parfum is a near-perfect dupe for Giorgio Armani’s Si, another luxury favourite that retails for $299.
‘I just found the closest dupe to Giorgio Armani Si I have ever smelt,’ she said.
‘Like when I mean “the closest”, I mean Giorgio Armani has six notes… Made in Lab has six notes. To say I was shocked at how good this fragrance smelt is an understatement.’
She added, ‘This fragrance (Giorgio Armani Si) is one of the top sellers, and for a reason. It’s a beautiful, vanilla, woody scent. Made in Lab 18 is a brand new scent too—only available at Chemist Warehouse, might I add. If you’re not already convinced, it’s only $30.’
‘Now I know what you’re saying… a $30 fragrance? I bet it doesn’t last. Well, let me tell you… the longevity is so good. It lasted on my skin for hours.’
Video Credit: @jessfromchemistwarehouse / TikTok
Try it before it’s gone
Whether you’re a fragrance enthusiast or simply looking for a more budget-friendly scent, the growing popularity of perfume ‘dupes’ offers an interesting alternative to high-end brands.
While preferences may vary from person to person, comparisons like these continue to spark curiosity among shoppers keen to find quality without the hefty price tag.
Have you come across a fragrance that surprised you with how closely it resembled a designer scent? Do price points influence your perfume choices, or is it more about the overall experience? We’d love to hear your thoughts—feel free to share your take in the comments below.
Also read: Could this secret Chemist Warehouse hack save you serious cash?
How about we all just shower and, when necessary, wear deodorant rather than assailing our community with more chemicals? God bless Chanel, but it ought to have stopped with her.