I Don’t Need A Prince By My Side To Be A Princess is a gourmand vanilla fragrance released by Kilian in 2018. Princess embodies a sweet, youthful vibe that smells like a cozy mix of warm matcha tea and marshmallows combined with benzoin and a vanilla dry-down. It’s a scent to wear during colder months.
Princess is one of Kilian’s top-selling fragrances and but the price tag, which goes over $100, might be too steep for some. If like me you’ve fallen for this fun, youthful scent but are looking for similar and more affordable options I’ve rounded up nine perfumes you can try that smell very similar to Princess.
What Similarities Are We Looking For in Princess by Kilian
The smell of Princess reminds me a bit of sipping on a mug of hot matcha green tea while snacking on toasted marshmallows on a cold winter’s day. Its blend of marshmallow creaminess and matcha green tea makes Princess a popular fragrance since it creates a smooth gourmand vibe without becoming too overwhelming. Princess is warm and comforting with a feminine, soft scent that lingers close to the skin.
When looking for dupes similar to Princess, I make sure the accord contains a bright, citrusy opening, a green tea note, and a sweetened marshmallow aroma. I look for fragrances with hints of spicy ginger in the accord but I don’t want this note to overpower the rest of the composition. Princess is a light perfume that doesn’t project too boldly, so I look for soft and more subtle dupes. Vanilla and amber notes also evoke a powdery vibe like that in Princess.
Now that we know what we’re looking for I’d like you to check out my list of nine fragrances to try if you enjoy Princess.
9 Dupes of Princess By Kilian
1. Our Impression of Kilian – Princess by OilPerfumery
While I enjoy the gourmand vibe of the original Princess, I’m not particularly impressed by its longevity. OilPerfumery’s replica is spot on in terms of formulation and the longevity is outstanding. I get about three hours of wear with the original Princess. OilPerfumery’s dupe carries throughout the day and seems to project much better too. The citrus opening and gourmand dry-down are similar to the real thing. I also noticed a subtle hint of tonka bean, which is slightly different from Kilian’s Princess. Overall, I think this is a good option if you’re not ready to splurge on a bottle of the original and need a fragrance to last you throughout the day.
2. Secret Duchess by Oakcha
Next on my list is Secret Duchess by Oakcha. Right away, I noticed a similar citrusy opening to Princess, while the green tea, ginger, and peach notes developed soon after that. The marshmallow and vanilla notes developed a few minutes after the first spray, and I found the dry-down experience a bit more powdery than the original. Secret Duchess is also softer with minimal projection. If you’re looking for something more subtle than Princess, which becomes more of a skin scent after the first hour of wear, then check out Secret Duchess. However, if you want something more noticeable, you may want to try another option.
3. Princeless Therapy by The Dua Brand
Princeless Therapy by The Dua Brand is their hybrid version of Princess by Kilian and Musk Therapy by Initio Parfums. In general, if you enjoy the gourmand sweetness of Princess but also like a muskier dry-down, then try this one out. The opening is similar, with strong citrus notes. However, I noticed that the musky base develops simultaneously as the sweet marshmallow and vanilla notes, which softens the gourmand vibe. I find that Princeless Therapy smells fresher than Princess, and the citrus and tea notes linger throughout wear. The longevity is comparable to the original, and the projection is also similar. If you’re looking for something sweet like Princess with a musky dry-down, I highly recommend trying Princeless Therapy.
4. Princeless Princess by The Dua Brand
The scent of Princeless Princess smells much more potent than Princess right out of the bottle. It took some time to settle before I got a true sense of its essence. Marshmallows, peaches, and vanilla notes dominate the overall accord, while the amber base slowly develops throughout the day. I found that the green tea and ginger notes are less prevalent in Princeless Princess. After about six hours, the scent became very subtle, and I noticed it took a muskier turn. The sillage and projection are comparable to the original. However, I found it lasts longer when sprayed on my clothes instead of directly on my skin. If you enjoy the Princess, try this fragrance, but prepare for a muskier finish.
5. I Don’t Need A Prince By My Side To Be A Princess – Rose de Mai by Kilian
Released in 2019, this flanker of the original Princess features a full-bodied rose heart while omitting the citrus and fruity notes. I noticed that the ginger notes are somewhat more pronounced which gives it a slightly spicier vibe. The rest of the fragrance develops quite similarly to Princess, although the deep rose notes give this flanker an even more feminine sweet but powdery quality. The marshmallow and matcha tea reveal themselves at the base and deliver a similar gourmand sweetness. I feel its projection is more powerful than the original. However, the rose tones down the overall sweetness. If you enjoy the original Princess and like rose-based fragrances, I believe this flanker is worth a try. It’s a good year-round option.
6. Prada Candy Collector’s Edition by Prada
For something with a similar gourmand vibe, a muskier heart, and a vanilla dry-down, you may want to check out Prada Candy. However, it isn’t an exact copy. Instead of opening with a citrusy punch, I notice a sweeter caramel note that lingers for a while before moving through a familiar combination of vanilla and benzoin notes. While the marshmallow is absent in this fragrance, the caramel scent gives Prada Candy a sweet vibe that reminds me of Princess. Like Princess, the base is warm and cozy, though its projection is slightly stronger. When I tried this perfume, I received about five hours of wear, which is slightly longer than Princess. However, the sillage is high, so I recommend trying this fragrance before purchasing it.
7. Marshmallow by Calgon
For more of a linear fragrance experience that still has a marshmallow gourmand vibe, check out Marshmallow by Calgon. There isn’t a citrusy opening with Marshmallow, and the sweet gourmand vibe develops immediately after spraying it. A robust brown sugar note lingers throughout the drydown, and the vanilla notes create a creamy vibe. Overall, Marshmallow is more synthetic, and because it’s a body spray, there is a noticeable alcohol smell that takes time to disappear. However, I believe this is a good option for those looking for a similar marshmallow-based fragrance like Princess but want something inexpensive they can pop in their gym bag for a quick refresher.
8. Sintra by Memo Paris
While Sintra lacks the matcha tea vibes that Princess is known for, I feel this fragrance is a very comforting marshmallow-based option for those looking for that kind of vibe. It has a similarly sweet opening thanks to bergamot and red fruits. However, I sensed a heavier floral presence due to the addition of rose. The base is less spicy than Princess. However, the drydown is creamier. This attribute could be due to a milky undertone that elevates its gourmand vibe. Overall, I believe Sintra is a good option for those who love the marshmallow essence in Princess but are looking for something a bit more floral.
9. Lira by Xerjoff
While the overall vibe of Lira is more buttery with caramel notes, the drydown is very gourmand, similar to Princess. The opening features bright bergamot citrus notes, which lend a similarly fresh vibe like that of Princess. What I found most noteworthy about this smell alike is Lira’s longevity. I experienced about eight hours of wear with Lira, much longer than Princess. If you’re looking for a scent like Princess that lasts even better, give Lira a try.
