I don’t think any perfume lover could deny the timelessness of Chanel–the classic brand has practically aged alongside the perfume and fashion industry since our parents were young.
It’s no surprise that Coco Chanel’s perfume line feels like a god-tier experience, but while the double C’s are so enticing, some might think as I do and wish there were some more affordable alternatives out there.
I’ve compiled a guide with my favorite alternatives if you are looking for something that won’t break the bank but will still leave you smelling like Coco Mademoiselle.
Chanel Coco Mademoiselle: A Brief Introduction
Debuted in 2001, Coco Mademoiselle hit the market and immediately became a timeless classic. Adding actress Keira Knightley to the mix for the campaigns, the fragrance was immediately sought after by just about every perfume lover. With Jaques Polge (Chanel’s perfumer from 1976 to 2005) as the head of the fragrance, Coco Mademoiselle embodied the classic style that Chanel has always been known for, but focused now on a bit younger audience.
The fragrance itself starts with a burst of citrus–reminiscent of mandarin orange and bergamot and then has a dry down settled in strong patchouli notes and white musk.
It is a perfect signature fragrance not only because of its versatility for day or night, but also because its longevity is something out of this world–lasting sometimes for a 24 hour period.
The classic style of the fragrance always makes me want to wear it for a chic night on the town, but it certainly can handle all situations. The bottle is also as timeless as the Chanel brand, which is a simple jewel-styled square–a vintage throwback to their original fragrances.
The fragrance may be targeted at a younger audience, but Coco Chanel’s essence is still a decades-old company with its own signature scent.
In today’s world, Coco Mademoiselle can be somewhat polarising, as some wearers find it still mature despite the fact that it is a lighter scent than Chanel’s fragrances of the past.
Still, others (like me) enjoy the sense of vintage timelessness that comes with the brand and the fragrance.
If the hefty price of a big fashion house has got you sweating, or maybe you just need something a bit more versatile, you’re in luck: I have compiled a roundup of all the fragrances that can compete with the signature double C.
Top 11 Dupes of Coco Mademoiselle
1. Raindrops Ajmal
An affordable dupe that takes Coco Mademoiselle to a bit of a woodier spectrum, Raindrops from Ajmal is a good alternative for someone who wants to tone down the patchouli in Coco Mademoiselle, and instead, have a bit more smoothness in the fragrance.
The florals are lovely and fresh while still giving that mature feminine feel and the dry down is deep and warm with hints of sweet rose.
This dupe is definitely a contender if you don’t want something that sweetens the original Coco Mademoiselle blend but instead leans into the freshness of woods and dry florals.
Extremely affordable although the bottle looks a bit cheap, this dupe will certainly still smell as expensive and classic as Chanel Coco Mademoiselle.
2. Dossier Woody Oakmoss
From the moment I first spritzed Dossier’s Woody Oakmoss on my wrist, I knew I was in for a treat. The woody and subtly sweet smell was surprisingly similar to Chanel’s Coco Mademoiselle. The top notes of bergamot, orange, and peach had a lively kick, reminiscent of the vibrant citrus opening of Chanel’s creation.
Transitioning to the heart of the perfume, the composition of jasmine, rose, and patchouli beautifully echoed Coco Mademoiselle’s rich floral scent. Although the base notes deviated slightly from the original, the oakmoss, vanilla, and vetiver melded well to create a warm, alluring finish.
When it came to longevity, Woody Oakmoss pleasantly surprised me. It clung to my skin for most of the day, although it didn’t quite match Coco Mademoiselle’s staying power. The scent’s projection was softer than Chanel’s but still noticeable enough to draw compliments. The perfume held its character well on my skin, but keep in mind, individual experiences may vary.
When I looked at the ingredient list, I saw familiar elements like bergamot essence and patchouli essence. The addition of sandalwood essence added a touch of mystique, enhancing the perfume’s overall depth.
The price point was a clear win for me. At $29, Dossier’s Woody Oakmoss is a steal compared to Coco Mademoiselle’s hefty $105 tag. While the packaging didn’t quite match Chanel’s elegant aesthetic, its practicality overshadowed this minor point.
The online purchase was a breeze, and the Dossier brand’s ethos resonated with me. The clean ingredients and their cruelty-free stance make it an ethical choice. Dossier offers a free return policy within 30 days after delivery, which felt like a safety net in case the perfume didn’t meet my expectations.
My verdict? If you enjoy the allure of Coco Mademoiselle but cringe at the price, Dossier’s Woody Oakmoss is worth a shot. It may not be an exact replica, but it captures the essence brilliantly and gets close enough to turn heads.
3. Suddenly Madame Glamour
This Coco Mademoiselle dupe went viral for its cheap price and ability to stand up to its inspiration. Designed exclusively for Lidl, this dupe hits all the same notes as Coco Mademoiselle, without actually being the real thing.
Suddenly is definitely less layered than Coco Mademoiselle, the fragrance will kind of just hit you in one with its patchouli, orange and floral notes, but once it dries down it really holds the same floral musk that most people expect from the Coco Mademoiselle.
Being a grocery store dupe, Suddenly is definitely the most affordable on the list–perfect for anyone who truly is working on a tight budget. The design is a little above what you’d expect, but nothing to marvel at. In my opinion, this one is the best for those who want an affordable everyday fragrance that can pass as a high price tag fragrance.
4. Miss Dior Cherie
So close in scent, if you’d smell it with eyes closed, you’d mistake it for a dupe; Miss Dior Cherie has the same type of timelessness to its aroma with just hints of differences.
Also a mature fragrance, Miss Dior skips the citrus opening that Coco Mademoiselle has and instead adds fruitier tones such as strawberry. The dry down is very similar in the two, with patchouli and vetiver taking center stage. There is a debate about which fragrance has greater longevity; needless to say you won’t have to reapply it.
To me, Miss Dior is a little less grounded in musk and has just a tad lighter sides of fruit and rose florals. In my opinion, Miss Dior would be better suited for an everyday signature scent, although the similarities are so close it’s hard to really feel strongly about one vs. the other.
The bottle design in my opinion, is a little less classic beauty than that of Coco Mademoiselle with a smaller rectangular shape and bow accent. Still, a beautiful bottle to display in a collection and certainly a well-known brand to boast.
5. Yves Rocher So Elixir
Despite being on the spicier side than Coco Mademoiselle, Yves Rocher So Elixir holds the same base notes in patchouli but switches out the opening citrus notes of Coco Mademoiselle, with bergamot and pink pepper.
In my opinion, So Elixir is an excellent lighter alternative to Coco Mademoiselle as the dry down is more based on florals. The rose notes are also less present than Coco Mademoiselle so it adds a spicy airiness to the fragrance– pretty great for warmer months.
A big plus is that So Elixir is very affordable without straying too far away from the build of Coco Mademoiselle, though the bottle is a little bland for me with just a light gold curved design. Still, definitely a good contender for anyone who wants to keep a fragrance with the essential structure of Coco Mademoiselle, but updated to be a little more youthful.
6. John Varvatos For Women
Another good option for those seeking out the “fruitchouli” essence of Coco Mademoiselle, John Varvatos opens with the bursts of orange and plum and dries down into patchouli and florals like Turkish rose.
John Varvatos barely misses the mark for me as a modern style chypre, with its top notes being a little less noticeable than that of Coco Mademoiselle.
John Varvatos’ slightly sweeter take on the top notes also allows this fragrance to be more suitable to day wear than Coco Mademoiselle, coming just a little short of that mature structure that Chanel is known for.
Definitely a more budget-friendly fragrance, I think John Varvatos is a good pick for someone who wants a little less mature of an odor but still that vintage throwback type structure.
Also, the bottle is a beautiful exaggerated oval shape in salmon tones that I think just stands out well in a personal fragrance collection.
7. Shiseido Zen
It is debatable whether or not Shiseido Zen is an exact dupe of Coco Mademoiselle, but there is no doubt that the two are pretty similar.
The opening fragrance mixes the same citrus and bergamot of Coco Mademoiselle but with just the lightest touch of pineapple, giving it a more sweet twist to the opening.
It also has a nice patchouli dry down, but there’s a sort of woody sweetness to it that Coco Mademoiselle doesn’t have–leaving the entire fragrance to evoke a lighter airiness than Coco Mademoiselle.
Still, there’s a reason for all the commotion over its originality–anyone crossing you on the street will probably not be able to detect the difference unless they were a serious fan of Chanel.
The bottle’s design is my only gripe (which some will love). A heavy, cubic structure; I find the design a bit clunky and perhaps a bit too modern looking for such a classic fragrance. Still, I’ll overlook the bottle design of this perfume any day for a lower price with the same longevity as Coco Mademoiselle.
8. Milton Lloyd Miss Tutu
Another dirt cheap clone that can hold up to the double C’s, this one hits the floral dry down just right while being a more summery, fruity version of Coco Mademoiselle.
The citrusy top notes are a bit sweeter in this one, but the distinct patchouli base note shines through in Miss Tutu. The dry down settles into a clean white floral, fruity essence that I think better suits the Spring and Autumn months.
This fragrance is definitely a lighter, sweeter version of Coco Mademoiselle that can easily be worn on a daily basis and comes at a low price.
Miss Tutu is also slightly less mature, so younger wearers might prefer it to Chanel’s vintage chypre.
Again, being a cheaper fragrance, the bottle leaves a lot to desire with almost a mascara-like appearance, but its benefit is that it can easily fit into a purse for on-the-go application.
9. Club de Nuit for Women by Armaf
Out of all the clones and dupes on this list, this one is by far my favorite.
Unlike the other scents that lean into the fruity florals of Coco Mademoiselle, I think Club de Nuit keeps that nice middle ground of all its layers–starting with a nice burst of bergamot then transitioning into a light rose and patchouli.
Some hints of vanilla can be detected, which gives it just a pinch of sweetness, but overall, the vintage classic feeling is really at the essence of this fragrance.
With great longevity and sillage, Club de Nuit is perfect for everyday wear at the office or nights out; definitely a contender for a signature scent.
While Club de Nuit is a bargain, I really like that they did not skimp on the bottle’s design. A pale pink cubic design with a gold chain hanging from the cap, this dupe does look like it could hold its own on any collector’s shelf. Club de Nuit just checks all my boxes.
10. Perry Ellis Love
Another affordable similar fragrance, Perry Ellis Love takes Coco Mademoiselle and makes it a bit spicier with hints of pepper.
There is a layer of sweet rose that evens out the opening of citrus to the patchouli dry down that feels very feminine but overall, I get a lot of spicy complexity from Perry Ellis that isn’t 100% there in Coco Mademoiselle.
Definitely a close match since the dry down relies on patchouli, so be aware if that was your least favorite note in Coco.
Still, I like that Perry Ellis, while a dupe, still chose a different avenue to accentuate than the other dupes on this list.
While not the cheapest clone on this list, it is very affordable and comes in a sweet-looking pale pink jeweled bottle.
11. Bath & Body Works Black Amethyst
I am a long-term BBW user, going back to my childhood, and even I was a little skeptical of Black Amethyst, but it is a surprisingly great match to Coco Mademoiselle.
The opening holds more white floral than citrus for me, but overall the notes of bergamot do come through and the dry down of patchouli and vetiver are undeniably reminiscent of Coco Mademoiselle.
In my opinion Black Amethyst is a bit sweeter than Coco Mademoiselle, albeit just a touch–overall it is a great mature scent that really does hold up to a Chanel product.
Extremely affordable and found in a variety of products from hand cream to parfum, Black Amethyst is designed to be an everyday signature scent. The bottle is a clear cube which I think is somewhat sweet in its simplicity. I’d definitely recommend giving this one a try for something just as mature but completely accessible.
In Conclusion
Coco Mademoiselle is one of those fragrances that hit the shelves and people immediately clamored for it–and for good reason. The timelessness of the fashion house that created it to the distinct chypre smell evoked the feeling of elegance and class to anyone who came across it. It’s no wonder that even now people continue to try to recreate it.
There are a lot of ways to achieve that Chanel feel without having to shell out the cash and because there is such a wide variety of little changes within each dupe, you can find the one that fits absolutely right with you.
So next time you think about pulling the trigger on those double C’s, consider trying one of the next best things.
