Le Labo’s highly coveted perfumes blend unconventional notes with classic undertones, resulting in a sensual range of scents that are hard to mimic. However, these budget-friendly alternatives will have everyone fooled.
Founded in a New York lab in 2006 by two friends, Le Labo has exploded to cult status, particularly over the past few years. Despite the ubiquity of its scents, there’s still an ‘in the know’ feel about the brand and its luxurious, unisex perfumes.
The most popular scent is undoubtedly Santal 33, an alluring smoky sandalwood scent that’s both sophisticated and cool, but Thé Noir 29, Rose 31 and Another 13 are also popular choices, each with their own complex and unique scent profile.
When you buy Le Labo perfumes, you’re paying for an artisanal experience; each bottle is hand-poured and labelled in the brand’s labs after your order is placed. However, that artisan experience and shelf appeal come at a cost, with 15ml bottles starting at £75.
So, if your budget doesn’t stretch that far, these convincing dupes are the next best thing.
Read more: 7 best Aesop hand wash and perfume dupes — starting from just £2.99
Le Labo Santal 33 Eau de Parfum (£172 for 50ml) vs M&S Apothecary Warmth Eau de Parfum (£12 for 50ml)
Fragrance notes: Australian sandalwood, papyrus, cedarwood, cardamom, iris, violet, ambrox, leather
Santal 33’s complex and addictive scent profile, featuring woody notes of sandalwood and cedarwood, along with musky leather and sweet-spicy notes of cardamom, is hard to rival. However, the Warmth Eau de Parfum from M&S comes remarkably close, featuring the same prominent sandalwood and cedarwood notes, balanced with sweet cinnamon and cardamom.
Warmth has been widely hailed as ‘identical’ to the real deal on social media. We’re not sure we’d claim that level of closeness, but for just 7% of the price, it’s a no-brainer.
We also like that the bottle isn’t trying to replicate Le Labo, and its amber bottle, black cap and subtle typography give it serious shelf appeal of its own.
Read more: 10 best M&S perfume dupes — save up to £135 on designer scents
Le Labo Santal 33 Eau de Parfum (£238 for 100ml) vs Zara Energetically New York Eau de Parfum (£35.99 for 100ml)
Fragrance notes: Australian sandalwood, papyrus, cedarwood, cardamom, iris, violet, ambrox, leather
Another high street alternative to Santal 33, Zara’s Energetically New York combines cardamom, floral jasmine notes and warm sandalwood for a spicy but sophisticated fragrance that smells similar to Santal 33, but for a fraction of the price.
It’s also created by Jo Malone CBE, founder of Jo Loves, so comparisons aside, it’s a beautifully balanced scent that smells far more high-end than its price tag suggests.
Read more: 23 best Zara designer perfume dupes — save up to 96% on luxury scents
Le Labo Santal 33 Eau de Parfum (£238 for 100ml) vs The Essence Vault Inspired by Santal 33 – 421 Eau de Parfum (£24.99 for 100ml)
Fragrance notes: Australian sandalwood, papyrus, cedarwood, cardamom, iris, violet, ambrox, leather
This dupe is more brazen than some of the others on this list, as it literally takes its name from the real thing. So, how does it match up? The scent profile is pretty close to the real version, and reviewers agree, too — it has an impressive rating of 4.8 from nearly 300 reviews.
Fans of the cult scent can also buy the Inspired by Santal 33 candle for £14.95, meaning you can score both a candle and perfume for nearly £200 less than a single bottle of Santal 33.
Buy from the Essence Vault for £24.99.
Le Labo Thé Noir 29 Eau de Parfum (£172 for 50ml) vs Dossier Citrus Tea Eau de Parfum (£39 for 50ml)
Fragrance notes: bergamot, fig, and bay leaves, transitioning to a woody heart of cedarwood, vetiver, musk
Thé Noir 29 is an enticingly intense perfume, perfect for winter and romantic date nights. At £172 for 50ml, it’s an expensive spritz, though, so if your budget doesn’t stretch, we suggest the Dossier Citrus Tea instead.
The scent profile is impressively similar, with notes of bergamot, fig and black tea, along with bay leaves, tobacco, vetiver, cedarwood and musk — all housed in a minimalist bottle that’s inspired by the real deal.
It may not have the longevity or complexity of Thé Noir 29, but it’s a great budget-friendly alternative.
Le Labo Another 13 Eau de Parfum (£238 for 100ml) vs Aldi Addition Eau de Parfum (£9.99 for 100ml)
Read more: pear, apple and citruses, heart notes of ambrette, moss, jasmine
A velvety, refreshing scent, Another 13 was created in 2010 in collaboration with Jefferson Hack, editor-in-chief of An0ther Magazine. It’s tough to find an exact replica, but Aldi’s Addition, which launched in March 2025, is recognisably inspired by the real thing. Featuring delicate florals, pears, amber and musk, Aldi’s version is a great everyday alternative.
Admittedly, it’s not a like-for-like swap, but if you want an affordable bottle of perfume that you can spray liberally, or keep in your work locker, you could do worse for a tenner
Available at selected Aldi stores across the country.
Le Labo Bergamote 22 Eau de Parfum (£238 for 100ml) vs Amour Scents Bergamot Parfum (£20 for 100ml)
Fragrance notes: bergamot, petitgrain, grapefruit, amber, musk, vetiver
With a floral character of petite grain, Le Labo’s Bergamote 22 is a vibrant, sophisticated scent. Luckily, we’ve discovered a far more affordable alternative, retailing at over £200 less. The Amour Scents option from Amazon promises ‘90% similarity to the original’, using identical notes. Reviewers agree, with many saying they’ve retired their Bergamote 22 for the cheaper alternative.
Others are more sceptical, saying the formula is far weaker and doesn’t compare in terms of longevity. But, for £20, we’re willing to accept that — until we can afford to splurge on the real thing.
Le Labo Lys 41 Eau de Parfum (£172 for 50ml) vs Nuxe Prodigieux Le Parfum (£47 for 50ml)
Fragrance notes: jasmine, tuberose absolute, lily, noble woods, Madagascan vanilla, musk
Le Labo’s Lys 41 is a powerful, aromatic white floral fragrance. And while we wouldn’t exactly call the Nuxe Prodigieux perfume a dupe, it’s a more affordable (but still luxurious) alternative. Any fans of the Huile Prodigieus Oil will be familiar with its warm aromas, packed with notes of orange blossom, bergamot, rose, magnolia and vanilla. This is essentially that, but in perfume format.
What we really like about this perfume is that it features similar floral, vanilla and musk notes, but it’s not trying to replicate the Le Labo scent. However, we’re confident fans of Lys 41 will love this elegant option from Nuxe.
It’s also long-lasting, but more subtle than the Le Labo option, which might actually be preferable for some.
Feature image: Cult Beauty
