Have you ever read a book where your character is described as wearing the most elaborate niche and luxurious scent, only to look up the price later and find your jaw hanging slack? Just me? Okay.
A few years ago, when I stumbled onto Dossier, I was in pursuit of a budget-friendly dupe for Tom Ford’s Lost Cherry. I wasn’t quite sure I wanted to commit to the price when even the smallest bottle came in at around $90.
Little did I know this side quest would be one of my favorite internet discoveries.
Dossier Perfumes: Amazing Dupes Or Just An Overhyped Internet Obsession?
If you’ve never heard of or are new to Dossier, they are a perfume membership/high-end perfume recreater. You don’t have to use their subscription plan to benefit from or buy their designer-inspired and original perfumes. But they’ve certainly taken the perfume world by storm with their abundance of dupe options that rival and often exceed the quality of the originals.
Now, if you’re thinking, Savvy – is it really still luxury if it doesn’t have the price? Well, welcome. This is certainly a question I address frequently. And to be fair, for me, luxury is a state of mind. I love chatting about money around these parts. And helping you decide if the “value” of a product matches the “investment” you’re wanting to make at this time.
In the case of Dossier, I think you’ll be surprised. I’ve got loads to share, and I know you’re curious to see if it’s worth it. It’s time for another entry into “is the luxury or dupe better?” diaries.
Where can you buy Dossier online?
The dossier website is of course, well-stocked. But I’ve also seen it available online at Walmart, on TikTok shop and a handful of other spaces.
What is the experience of buying Dossier like?
If you’ve ever experienced the joy of buying a luxury perfume in stores, it can be quite an experience itself. During our shopping trip at Bloomingdale’s last year, we spent quite a while at the Tom Ford counter doing a mini deep dive on all the scents, notes, and testing all the fragrances.
We were offered champagne and bites to eat. Honestly, it was a reminder of what the luxury shopping experience once was that feels rare when so much is done online these days.
That being said, you won’t quite get that same experience at home. And shopping is fairly easy. Everything about the actual Dossier website is fairly straightforward.
Where should you buy Dossier Perfumes from?
I’ve only shopped via the Dossier website, and I think it’s probably the best unless there’s a super special deal you happen to come by. Or someone gives you a gift card.
It’s rather common to sign up as a member the first time, but isn’t required simply to maximize on the discounts. And it’s easy to cancel your membership at any time.
The added benefit of shopping directly is the increased discounts for buying more. Plus, members get even more off the original price and free returns.
What makes Dossier so good?
The most obvious: the price. Compared to the designer versions, you’re getting an amazing version for maybe ⅛ of the cost. And I know on paper, that sounds good to be true. Because then you start wondering what could possibly be so different that the higher-end brands charge that price.
I’m sure that you could take an educated guess on why. But at the end of the day, it always comes down to do you feel like it’s worth the financial exchange in your life.
That being said, I’ve been testing the Dossier perfumes for a good few years now, and some of them just get better with time.
Which Dossier Perfumes Have I Tried, And Which Do I Recommend?
My original desire was to try the dupes for 3 specific perfumes: YSL Opium (Dossier Ambery Vanilla), Tom Ford Lost Cherry (Dossier Ambery Cherry), and Baccarat Rouge 540 (Dossier Ambery Saffron).
I’ve since then tried Tom Ford’s Fucking Fabulous (Dossier Ambery Sage), Le Labo’s Santal 33 (Dossier Woody Sandalwood), Kilian’s Love, Don’t Be Shy (Dossier Floral Marshmallow), and Sage & Black Tea Renew (a Dossier original).
I adore Ambery Saffron and get compliments on it wherever I go. Ambery Cherry comes in as a close second. And then I probably grab for Floral Marshmallow or Ambery Vanilla, alternatively, so it’s safe to put them in third.
I don’t think Ambery Sage or Woody Sandalwood works well for me. I love a santal scent, but I think I need it to be more feminine. And Sage & Black Tea isn’t quite my vibe. It’s a part of their wellness collection, and I’m just not loving it.
How do the Dossier perfumes stack up to the original ones?
This varies a bit with each formula. However, I have either bought the high-end version to test side by side or have gone with the sample options you can try via Luckyscent.
The biggest differences I notice are how it mixes with my personal body chemistry and what that does to the notes. And of course, the extended wear time.
I did a more in-depth breakdown of the Tom Ford Lost Cherry one here. But the biggest takeaways when comparing to the originals were the difference in the blend of notes once you put it on.
I found when doing my side-by-side of Lost Cherry vs Ambery Cherry, the OG maintained its seamless blend more. But the Dossier version pulled stronger with a few notes.
However, the scent of the Dossier one holds on a lot longer. I can put the Tom Ford perfume on and I feel like I no longer smell on myself within a few minutes. But with the Dossier one, it stays strong.
Someone did ask me in the comments the other day about the perfumes getting better over time and I would definitely say that about Ambery Cherry. I put it on again last week and it is more appealing to me.
Do you have to have a Dossier subscription to buy their perfume?
Not at all. They will show you the discounted price if you were to buy with the subscription. And you have the option for free returns if you have it. But there are other retailers available if you want free returns. So go wherever suits you best.
Can you return Dossier perfumes?
You can! I originally intended to do this, but I knew I was going to get around to writing this post eventually, so I kept them. But if you buy without the membership, you have the option for a free exchange.
Returned products are donated to charity. So even if you don’t love it, there’s the option that someone else will.
Where are Dossier perfumes made?
In France!
Truly, Dossier has been one of my favorite discoveries over the last few years. It’s been well-loved by me and my closest non-internet friends. If you enjoyed today’s post and want to join for more exploring of luxury and mid-luxury life, make sure you’re subscribed to the newsletter. Until next time. Xoxo, Savvy
