Sponsored by Dossier. All opinions are my own.
Perfumes have always been a justified splurge for me. Most bottles last so long, and you just can’t match the comfort– or confidence– splashing on your favorite scent brings. But at the end of the day, there’s no denying a huge chunk of the cost is merely due to the brand name, celebrity endorsement, and maybe a fancy bottle… and that’s why Dossier is shaking up the fragrance industry.
Dossier is a brand with a mission to make premium fragrances accessible. They’ve identified the crazy markups on the most popular perfumes, and have been able to create similar scents to sell at a fraction of the cost. Not only are they able to reproduce signature fragrances, but they do so with 100% vegan, cruelty free, clean and ethically sourced formulas.
You can find perfumes inspired by some of the most talked-about scents, like Dior Sauvage, Juliette has a Gun’s Not a Perfume, and Chanel’s Coco Mademoiselle. But… do they actually smell like the real thing?
I decided that I wanted to try Dossier Floral Honeysuckle, which is inspired by Gucci Bloom– a designer perfume I currently own and wear. Gucci Bloom costs $118 for 1.6 oz, while Floral Honeysuckle is $39 for 1.7 oz.
Upon first spray, I was shocked at how closely Dossier’s version resembled the designer original. Not just the fragrance but the strength, as well. One spray was all I needed for it to be very noticeable on the skin.
Floral Honeysuckle captures what’s special about Gucci Bloom in that it smells like a garden full of thriving flowers– a very natural, yet rich scent. What really surprised me was how Floral Honeysuckle developed throughout the day. Gucci Bloom unfolds to reveal a warmer undertone as you wear it, and the Dossier fragrance mimics that hint as well with the sandalwood and vanilla notes.
If I had to point out a difference, I’d say that the Dossier perfume takes a little bit longer to “settle” on the skin and reveal the deeper notes versus Gucci Bloom. The difference is too minimal, though, for me to continue to buy the designer version.
I also decided to try out Ambery Vanilla, which is inspired by YSL’s Black Opium. This is a perfect fall perfume for me, with sweet notes of mandarin and pear paired with cozy notes like vanilla, coffee, and cedarwood. The floral middle notes tie it all together for a well balanced and multi-faceted fragrance. While YSL’s version is $110 for a 1.6 oz bottle, Dossier Ambery Vanilla is only $29 for 1.7 oz.
While I do acknowledge that some of the fun of collecting fragrances is in the unique bottles, I don’t mind the stripped-back, clean packaging of the Dossier bottles. The size is generous as well, and the magnetic cap is a luxurious touch for such an affordable product.
Now knowing how well Dossier can capture the essence of iconic scents, they’re definitely going to be a first stop in fragrance shopping for me moving forward. No more swallowing high price tags and rationing my most expensive fragrances. Will I still buy the name brand once in a while? Probably. But Dossier makes enjoying fragrance more guilt-free, and my collection will definitely be growing after this discovery.
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