PERFUME Discounters & DUPE Houses I Trust - Why I DUPE. Do YOU Dupe? Do YOU Discount? NOT SPONSORED!

Today I just wanted to chat about why I dupe and why I discount shop. Here are the websites and companies mentioned. Your experiences may vary, but I've had really great luck with these folks.
oilperfumery.com
oakcha.com
belayered.com
alexandriafragrances.com
fragrancenet.com
fragrancebuy.ca
perfumeonline.ca
*I am not affiliated with any of these brands or websites nor am I sponsored by them. They have no clue who I am.

[@playsintraffic2]

I’ll probably never own TF lost cherry, but I love my dupe.

[@ScentSiblingsDotCA]

Hi Ann. I'm kind of like that with Oud for Greatness - I keep saying it's the next one I'm going to buy, and then I look at the price and I just...can't. Yet. I will, though. I have some weird sense of guilt with that one in particular for some reason. I should probably spend the money on therapy instead of perfume, eh? OR... I could just pretend the perfume IS therapy? (Send help!) xo I love having you here, my friend.

[@julieg_quebec-julesselivre8641]

Bonjour belle dame! 🥰 I buy everywhere! The Bay, Shoppers, grey market and I even buy on Marketplace. It’s just normal to seek the best price on an item, right?! I love dupes when I know I’ll never have the guts to pay over 250$ for a perfume and it’s ok, I can live with a 90% accurate. 😅😂 Excellent video mon amie! ❤

[@ScentSiblingsDotCA]

Awww, bonjour belle Julie! What's Marketplace? And yes, it's normal to want to get a good deal!!! Dupes exist for a reason, and truly, follow with me here, it would be WASTEFUL to just let them rot, right? I do love a good 90% dupe! $250 for a bottle of perfume is LUDICROUS, and yet...I find myself loving them more the more they cost. Ugh. Good thing I'm getting older if not wiser and am able to stop myself most of the time. :) Thanks for being here for me always, mon amie!! xoxoxo

[@dr.claire.perfume]

How on Earth do you ever unsubscribe from fragranceX, I can't escape 🤷‍♀️

[@ScentSiblingsDotCA]

Right??!!

[@sweetpeace5]

😂😂😂

[@aspen1214]

Great topic! I, like you, test very expensive perfumes that I think I would love by buying a dupe. If it works for me, I will buy the original happily. But I also like the dupe to throw in my bag, add to body lotion, spray my sheets etc. - something I would probably be resistant to do with a very expensive fragrance. It’s like listening to and enjoying a great cover band but always paying the $ to see your favorite musician if you can. 💕

[@ScentSiblingsDotCA]

Lovely Lynda! How are you? Yes, the dupes are SO versatile because they're so...easily replaced I guess. What a FANTASTIC analogy about the cover band vs the og musician! You're amazing! Sending love your way! xo

[@AndyBravura]

Nice sharing new friend....thanks and have a great weekend😊🙏

[@scentedsnowdrops]

As a supermarket brand Snickers lover I'm on board with this. Also... The Black Phantom one you sent me, yes, yes it was close. I think this is a secret not so secret thing... It benefits the big brands cos if you love the not actual version it's human nature to want the actual thing. And people know their Dna who would never in a million years go near the real thing. I just won't mention the fragrance we shall not name 🤣. Well sadly not Jo Malone... It's pesky EL so who cares 🤣. I like the couple of Alexandrias I have but yes not 1:1 at all. Plus I'm shooting randomly, so called "luxury" brands get a grip make samples easier and not such a complete rip off... Just saying, why are you scared of us sampling? Ey ey. I do have a line that's a no no. You "clone" "dupe" Indie or very small niche then you're worse than a tory. Yes selling testers is naughty... Yes hardselling is an ick. Like black Friday. Well... Alot of these big brands also completely insanely rip us off with insane markups and profit margins... Yes EL you again. So why not use discounters... I'm not gonna lie I'm gonna go sniff a fragrance in a department store and let them spend all their time on me if they insist... Then buy it on ebay 🤣. My feeling also is, we aren't responsible for people's employment and shudnt feel bad. It's for the mass profit companies to feel bad about paying directors insane wages and bonuses. Great video Julija

[@ScentSiblingsDotCA]

Hi Jon. THANK YOU. I was so curious about the Black Phantom. I know that one's not your favourite, but I know you do still like it, and it's good to know it was close. What's the supermarket brand of Snicker's called? One day I WILL get my arse to your side of the pond and THERE WILL BE SHENANAGINS! Why INDEED are they afraid to send samples? Especially if given the CHOICE of samples, it shows that you're already interested. A good-sized sample would help one pull the trigger! Cloning an INDIE or small niche = NO NO! I agree. I don't judge you for going and letting them spend their time. It's probably funnier to you than a good ol' re-run of Fawlty Towers. Joss and I had quite an experience once at a posh department store. We still laugh about it to this day. SO. FUNNY. Love having you here, my british nephew. :) Thank you for the thorough commentary. :p

[@tammyroxanne.]

Some really good points here Julija! I do dupe 😊 I just ordered a bunch of samples of some of these Middle Eastern dupes.. I love sampling so much I sample the samples 😅😅 And you’re right.. you’re never going to miss the sale on FN.. why do they do that?? 🤪

[@ScentSiblingsDotCA]

RambleTamble! Thank you. I KNOW you dupe because I watched your video where you talk about Julianna's and out of your 4 picks I think that La Capitale is the one I'm most curious about. :) ("I sample the samples"

[@musicbydesign1]

A very intelligent and informative conversation. I enjoy fragrances and found myself spending way too much money to satisfy my craving for the olfactory desires. Oil Perfumery, Alexandria Fragrances, are my absolute favorites to give me what I need. I've tried others and rate those two as 9.5 out of 10.

[@ScentSiblingsDotCA]

Hello, Sir. Thank you so much for your comment. You have a way with words. I fairly SWOON at "satisfy my craving for the olfactory desires." I love that we share a love for Oil Perfumery. I'm Julija. Nice to meet you. :)

[@musicbydesign1]

@ScentSiblingsDotCA Indeed, we do. It's a major part of the lingering memories we create for the future while we are yet in the present. The sensory has the highest degree of recollection. Let them remember you. 😊

[@chandracox6814]

Hello, lovely!! I definitely DUPE!! DUA is my favorite right now, along with Middle Eastern fragrances. I love them all and I cannot get enough of them!!!! Of course DUA and some Middle Eastern fragrances are originals as well, and I love those too!!

[@Kellergirl]

I agree. I'v tried many dupe houses, and Dua is the best. Plus the have original scnets as well.

[@ScentSiblingsDotCA]

Hello lovely Chandra!!! I know that I've sampled DUA, but I can't remember exactly which ones. They are well loved for a reason! I think one called A Night In the Desert was an original from DUA? I have to go revisit it because I got the sample quite a few years ago and my tastes have started changing. (I still LOVE my Dewberry, though! Thank you so much!! I'll never get over how generous that was of you!) So happy to have you along with me, my friend.

[@ScentSiblingsDotCA]

@@Kellergirl I'm going to have to try them for real. :)

[@valeriekearney74133]

Oh my goodness 🤭😲🧐😳😱 I am a Dua addict 🥰. I am online and ready every Friday at 6pm PST 😂

[@danielleshadlow891]

I love this. I do buy gray market and TJ Max, Ross, etc. I will buy retail for a gift for my husband sometime. I have had luck with the few dupe houses of Genre Parfums, Julianna’s, and Oil Perfumery. I have had more misses than hits with Middle Eastern houses because I do not enjoy the musk that so many of them use. I do blind buy niche or sample them. It depends on so many factors that I can’t say one way is more common than the others. Love the subject.

[@ScentSiblingsDotCA]

Hi Danielle. "I love this" is up there with my other favourite compliments (which, although you didn't ask for, I'm sharing here for free: 1. Your skin is so soft. 2. You smell good. 3. Can I have that recipe? And 4. I love this. :) I get buying retail as a gift, and I think I should have mentioned that. If it's for us and it's not at a discounters, or they're out, or whatever, we won't do it, but if it's a gift? Well, then...The gloves come off! I've heard a lot of folks say they don't enjoy the musk in the M.E. fragrances. I don't enjoy a lot of musks, so I feel lucky that the ones I've gotten have been good. I was blind-buying niche at one point, too, and probably still will. I just blind bought (and love, thankfully) Absolute Aphrodisiac from Initio, but I got it at the discounters, so...Thanks SO MUCH for this comment! It's really wonderful to have you here and to know that we have so much in common!

[@danielleshadlow891]

@@ScentSiblingsDotCA not every ME fragrance has it. I have 5 loves and 1 on the fence. I have decluttered 16 though and most had a base musk that was just grating to my nose. I am so happy to see your face pop up on my feed and am happy you found your balance.

[@laurenzieger9617]

Last summer I went to Perfumology in Philadelphia with a couple friends. They are not into fragrances like I am, but enough to humor me and spend two hours spraying and sniffing. One fell in love with Lira and the other fell in love with Sunset Hour. I own both, so ended up making them 10 ml decants from my bottles. I ended up purchasing Rose all dae at retail because I couldn’t leave without making a purchase at retail price in exchange for experiencing the store. It was a fun time we talk about on occasion and would definitely go back! That said, I love to save money so the grey market or buying second hand is generally how I come about my bottles. I love a good dupe, but sometimes find myself using a dupe for a bit and then buying the OG anyway. So now I have to declutter the dupes and once my school year is over I will have a lot of work ahead of me to downsize!

[@jessande6804]

I’m thinking about going there sometime this year, did you feel pressure to purchase, do they offer samples? Just wondering for when I go

[@laurenzieger9617]

@@jessande6804 no pressure to purchase at all, it was just my own self expectation! We also went around the store at our own pace sampling everything we wanted on our own, but the sales associate was available if we had any questions. I got two samples with my purchase- one they had already made and one I got to select!

[@jessande6804]

I don’t live far, and I just found about it recently so I’m excited. I was just curious, Ty:)

[@jessande6804]

And I would go to leave with a purchase too!

[@ScentSiblingsDotCA]

You went WHERE? WHAAAA? Hang on. I have to google "perfumology." . . . Okay. I'm back. I'm salivating! I've only ever been to a couple shops like that overseas, and I remember being SO ill-prepared that I got overwhelmed. The photo of the store looks like my idea of HEAVEN. YOU are the most generous human. 10mL of Xerjoff and Goldfield&Banks. You're amazing, and I'm lucky to have been the recipient of a bunch of that amazingness. I bought Wicked Good TWICE from the website. I think that because they're indie (I didn't even know you could get Gallagher anywhere but their website!) I will always pay retail, even if it does come up somewhere else. And I TOTALLY get you: the price of the bottle in exchange for the experience is fair (and something my conscious would make me do regardless!) I love that we're similar like that. I have given away my dupes, but in all honesty, I keep them around and use them in the air or on the sheets or in the bathroom. Unless they're AWFUL. And then I give those away, too. :p The end of the year draws nigh. Be strong, my friend. (And send me the strength to start thinking about downsizing!!! I'm such a wimp!) Sending love and light your way, beautiful Lauren. xo

[@CathyVaughn-ph3lr]

I have bought from Dua, Alexandria, Juliannas, Oakcha, and Middle Eastern and have to say I have been happy with all for the most part. I personally do not have a problem with dupe houses. I think designer and niche fragrances are far too expensive and feel if they had more reasonable pricing the dupe houses would not be. You are right about the grey market stores, they are emailing me on a regular bases with hurry up and get it before it's gone deals, I have been sucked in if it is a fragrance I am really wanting and the price is good but for the most part I just ignore them. So far I have not had a dirty deal. Truly appreciate this video, very informative:))

[@ScentSiblingsDotCA]

Hi Cathy. I was really anticipating some hate in the comments, but so far, it's all been positive. I guess we chose our community well, you and I. You're right about the prices on designer and niche fragrances being unreasonable. And yet I love to spend my money on them and on other things that aren't practical. A good dupe goes a long way in my books, though. Those emails need to STOP. They already know they have our money because NOBODY can beat their prices. Why do they need to be sneaky like that??? Still, I'll happily ignore the emails for the discount. I'm so happy to have you here. It means the world to me that you took the time to let me know that we have so much in common. :)

[@breannacarels6479]

Yes. I use oil perfumery similar to you, to experience the scent profile and get a sense of it. Often I end up buying the original bottle in the end. If it is a strong like, but not a love I’ll take the oil and make a little spray for myself with some perfumers alcohol. I’ve done this for Oud Bouquet or Our Silk Mood or even Babycat. Scents I’d only reach for a couple times a year and I absolutely would not purchase the full bottle. I use the “misses” to scent a variety of things around the house. I’ll have to watch you video and see what you do with your oils. I’ve sold about half my Oakchas, but a couple stay in my collection. Same with Dua’s… I have only kept a handful. Middle eastern fragrances often don’t work for me. The only one I have left is Junoon Noir. My nose is becoming more sensitive as I go so I’m beginning much more selective about what I buy and what I keep.

[@ScentSiblingsDotCA]

Hi Breanna. We are so alike in this regard. I keep meaning to make sprays for myself, and I've not done it yet. I loved Junoon Noir for the performance, but that one was almost TOO strong and long-lasting? I too like Oud Bouquet and Oud Silk Mood, but like you, only, like, once in blue moon. As for Babycat, I fairly HATED it when i tried it. I'm actually wearing it as I type, and I'm glad I kept trying - I'm loving it. I think? I hear you about the sensitivity. I used to love a BEAST and now I'm happy with, like, a domesticated scent? Thanks for taking the time to comment today. I really enjoy knowing we share a love for the diversity of the dupe. :)

[@Joss-Fragrance-Mixology]

Great video Jul and info (and thank you for the mention)♥️♥️♥️I totally agree that dupes and “reals” are marketed to different people and the “reals” probably aren’t missing our business anyway (for the big houses like pdm, kilian, Jo Malone, xerjoff, etc.)

[@ScentSiblingsDotCA]

Hi beautiful Joss! Thank you for being here with and for me! I really do believe that somehow all of these companies are linked, but that's more of a conspiracy theory than anything. :p

[@bethgeibe8844]

Awesome video.

[@ScentSiblingsDotCA]

Hi Beth. Thank you so much! That's kind of you to say! :)

[@valeriekearney74133]

Thank you for this video. I shop from all the places mentioned here today and have enjoyed my buying experience.

[@ScentSiblingsDotCA]

Hi Valerie. Thank YOU for this comment!!! I love that we shop at the same places and that we're both very satisfied with our experiences. There have been so many times when I've wanted to film this video, but I was afraid of the conflict in the comments, so I didn't. I'm so glad that I finally did it so that we could chat!! I hope you're having a great day!

[@valeriekearney74133]

@@ScentSiblingsDotCA You are very welcome 🤗 keep up the good work!!

[@CatherineBriseboisCatWoods]

I definitely agree with you. Sometimes I buy a dupe as a tester. A fake Delina or Lost Cherry that costs me 20, 30 or 40 dollars can sometimes cost the same as some decant that's only a few ml. Definitely, dupes are not fakes... Fakes try to fool you in thinking you bought the real thing. Thanks for the video! 🙂

[@ScentSiblingsDotCA]

Hi Cat. Thank YOU for the comment! I love that we agree on this. I was anticipating some conflict here in the comments, but it's all been wonderful feedback. I'm so glad to have found this community. I totally appreciate you being here!

[@CatherineBriseboisCatWoods]

@ScentSiblingsDotCA Glad to be here too. I've heard your name here and there on other channels and about a week ago, my TV KZbin recommendations had one of your latest videos suggested.

[@stellarose5887]

I buy a lot of perfume samples. I have such weird body chemistry so I never blind buy. Lucky Scent is the best for samples!! I rarely buy full bottles, if I find something I love, I'll just puchase a decant in my price range if available. Scent Split has lots of decant sizes. I I love Oil Perfumery, out of the 20+ I have bought, there was only one that was a fail. I refuse to fall into the middle eastern craze, I just don't want to wait months for the perfume to macerate, and the two I've tried (after maceration) were horrible. BTW....I love your fireplace figures, where did you get them!!???!!!

[@ScentSiblingsDotCA]

Hi Stella! I applaud your commitment to not blind-buying. I've been to Lucky Scent but have never pulled the trigger with them. Fragrancenet.com does have samples, too, and I've gotten some good ones from them that have turned into full bottles. Travel sizes make so much more sense than full bottles, and I'm not really a sucker for packaging, but I just NEED the full bottles? I want them for some weird reason. I MUST know - which oil perfumery was not good?! Also, the fireplace figures were found at Winners, which is the Canadian equivalent to, like, Marshall's. We fell in love with them and grabbed them right away. Then we started researching them and found out that they're a set of FOUR, but they only come as a set. I found them on Amazon, but you can't buy them individually, so we need to just bite the bullet for the set! I keep adding it to cart, and then taking it out, and then adding it. Here's the description from Amazon.ca: "Deco 79 Polystone Musician Tall Long Legged Jazz Band Sculpture with Black Base Stand, Set of 4 5"W, 40"H, Brown". :) Thanks for hanging out with me today!

[@stellarose5887]

@@ScentSiblingsDotCA OMG...THANK YOU so much for the fireplace figures info!!! I'm off to Amazon!!! Oil Perfumery's version of BabyCat was a big fail. If you've tried BabyCat, the magic is in the drydown, and their version was only the opening. I was so disappointed until my sister gifted me with a full bottle of the real perfume for my birthday!!! I love your channel, and look forward to watching more.

[@moonlitdi]

Another thing I really appreciate about oil perfumery is their dupes of discontinued fragrances! I'm not paying extra to get a discontinued fragrance second hand!

[@ScentSiblingsDotCA]

I'm sorry it's taken me three weeks to respond to this!!! I love this comment, because it really IS a wonderful thing to be able to have your favourite scent that's been discontinued back in your life for a fraction of the cost! Hurrah!

[@dr.claire.perfume]

I've bought a fake vintage Alien and some bad Chanel fakes on eBay. One Chanel I knew about but it came In a bundle of genuine other fragrances so I just got it and used it as a room spray but probably even that is unadvisable. I didn't know oakcha was the same company as oil perfumery.

[@ScentSiblingsDotCA]

I've never bought from Ebay, but I have from Amazon, and it was a legit Alexandria dupe, which is what it said it was, so I was happy. Did you pay lots of money for the fakes??? I can't imagine something so bad that it would be unadvisable after Ryan was in the lou!!!

[@dr.claire.perfume]

@@ScentSiblingsDotCA I did for the Alien, I got my money back for that. The bundle was cheap and I wanted the other things and the other Chanel, so no worries, but I also got my money back on, but the person claimed it was genuine still, yet also didn't want it back 🤷‍♀️

[@lukeparfums]

Hi Claire! Lesson learnt, right? I don’t have a problem with eBay and I don’t have a problem with buying preloved, but Chanel is literally the only brand that I don’t ever buy second hand because of the ubiquity of fakes. I order from the Chanel website even though that means paying retail.

[@dr.claire.perfume]

@@lukeparfums I've bought three real ones there too 😊

[@sararogers6705]

I am going to look to see if you have a tutorial on how you do your hair because I LOVE IT!! If you do not have one would you consider doing one PLEASE!!

[@ScentSiblingsDotCA]

Oh, Sara, your comment is making so happy! I have never done a tutorial for hair (or anything else, for that matter). I get comments on my hair daily because I wear it differently almost every day. I always say my hair is like T.J. MAXX, "never, ever the same way twice." I will consider your request, even if I just make the video for you only just because you asked so nicely. :p

[@sararogers6705]

@@ScentSiblingsDotCA Oh my goodness! Fingers crossed XX! Thank you for considering it.

[@CraftySheryl]

Such a hotly debated topic! Of course, I can see both sides of the argument. I personally own a few dupes, but prefer to own originals if possible. But I’m certainly aware that not everyone who loves fragrance is as fortunate in their financial situation as I am. The only dupe house I’ve tried is Genre. I tried his original Apples & Aces and fell in love with it, so I tried his dupes. They are very good quality and very close to the originals, at least for the ones that I’ve been able to compare. Devin also refuses to dupe things from small indie houses. He prefers to dupe discontinued or very expensive scents that are out of the reach of many people. I hope this video sparks a lively discussion in the comments! ❤❤❤

[@CathyVaughn-ph3lr]

I have not heard of this dupe house, is it Genre?

[@ScentSiblingsDotCA]

Hi Sheryl. I thought it would be, too, but people are nothing but nice here. Isn't that weird?? I prefer to own the originals, too, for sure. I think the original houses count on that, as Jon said above. Yours was the first comment on this video (something that doesn't go unnoticed and unappreciated, my lovely friend who has been with me since the start!) and a few others after you have commented about Genre. I've never heard of that brand. Devin sounds like a decent fellow, and I applaud his choice to never dupe small indie houses. :) Thanks for introducing Genre to me. And thanks for just being wonderful to me in general. I'm lucky to have you here! xo

[@sweetpeace5]

OMG HUGE GENRE FAN-GIRL HERE❤ I think I’ve about tried them all & there’s A LOT! 😂 I’m exaggerating (somewhat) but I’ve honestly had like 2 misses out of so many. I’m highly impressed! I even bought organizers for his bottles from an Etsy seller😂😅❤

[@ScentSiblingsDotCA]

@@sweetpeace5 I shall check them out right after I thank you for this comment! :) THANK YOU!

[@CraftySheryl]

@@ScentSiblingsDotCA Would you like me to send you some samples? I have quite a few of them!

[@lukeparfums]

Hi Julija! This was a great discussion. We love a good deal and we love a good dupe! We don’t support fakes! I also use discounters. Here in Europe, we have Notino (legit) as well as some other really shady sites based in Eastern Europe. They look shady, and the prices make you think all of their stuff fell off the back of a truck but everything I ever ordered was 100% legit. I got a bottle of Youth Dew for, I want to say, 25€. I also buy second-hand a lot and I did get scammed a few times. I was always able to resolve the situation. Even with reputable sellers, you just never know. I wish Oil Perfumery was available here in Europe. I’ve been eyeing Alexandria’s dupe of Coromandel. For some reason, I’m not into ME houses and their dupes. All of the ones I tried had a weird synthetic note that I didn’t appreciate. I hope I spelled your name right. Have a great rest of the week!🙂🧡

[@ScentSiblingsDotCA]

Hi Luke! You absolutely spelled it correctly. :) Oh how I loved Youth Dew! I still have a precious few uses of the rollerball deodorant, and then that'll be gone, too. Sigh. I don't know where to buy second-hand in Canada other than facebook, which gives me instant gastric distress just THINKING about it. I'm sorry you've gotten scammed, but it's really impressive that you've always been able to resolve the situation. It's those amazing communication skills that are clearly evidenced in your videos! I thought Oil Perfumery shipped world-wide now? (Yes, they do. But I'm guessing with shipping and duties it's not economical. From the site: "International customers (outside of the United States and Canada) are responsible to pay any applicable inbound duties, taxes, and any other fees which your local Customs authority deems appropriate. These fees are paid to your local carrier or government and are not collected by Oil Perfumery, and thus cannot be refunded." Cromandel is a fragrance that's on my wishlist! Some day! Love having you here, my friend. See you soon in your next one!

[@lukeparfums]

@@ScentSiblingsDotCA Youth Dew is lovely! It’s nowhere near as challenging as people make it out to be. I wear it to bed sometimes. Facebook marketplace gives me the ick too. I only buy from a Mercari/Depop type website. I seldom use eBay. You’re right. The import duties and shipping would probably exceed the cost of the actual oils.🤭 I got something from America in the post the other day and I still had to pay a processing fee of $10 even though there were no applicable import fees or taxes because it was a gift. Take care, see you soon!🙂

[@snudder.s.m.l.5026]

Yes I dube... I get mine from.... Divain.. Online. They don't look like the original perfumes bottles, they don't want to be a copi or something that people think is something else than it is, they are just made too smell like the original. Big hugs from Denmark. 💝🌹🥰

[@ScentSiblingsDotCA]

Big hugs back from Northwestern Ontario, Snudder! I have a terrible memory, and if I've asked if that's what you prefer to be called before and gotten an answer, I apologize. From now on, if someone offers me their name, I'm going to write it in my notes and REMEMBER. It means so much to me that you'd take the time to comment that I feel I should be able to remember your name. Ugh. I suck. I've not heard of Divian, but I will check them out. I like dupe houses that know their place and aren't trying to trick anyone. I think it's weird that Oakcha names their fragrances something other than the original while Oil Perfumery keeps the original name and just adds "our version of," but there must be a reason for that. Thanks for being here with and for me. I love having you here all the way from Denmark!

[@ThePerfumeNest]

Love oil perfumery!!!! And yes….if it’s too good to be true…….um . Yes. 😂

[@ScentSiblingsDotCA]

Yup Yup Yup!

[@scentedsnowdrops]

"it's a faaaayyyyke" to any DS9 fans out there... No just me then? 🤣

[@ScentSiblingsDotCA]

I AM a DS9 fan! Well, I was, back when it was on t.v. Yikes! I'm OLD. But we already knew that. I don't know the reference though?

[@NoirHammer]

I hear you. You have ethical lines you won't cross and then there's these "ick" moments that you have. However, I'd like to point out one of the biggest "icks" you didn't mention: the cost that goes into one bottle of a designer or niche fragrance. Talk about ripping off the masses to the extreme. Sure, no one has to buy it just like it's up to an individual to support fakes, dupes, or inspirations. They are all businesses and have their fans. It seems they play in the same dirty sandbox so to speak. In the end, the better questions should be, is the product cruelty free or harming others?

[@ScentSiblingsDotCA]

Hi Janus. I think you're right: the better question should be "is the product cruelty-free or harming others." Thank you for this.

[@helenar5628]

In the beginning of my path of becoming a parfum enthusiast I duped - without knowing. I got six bottles of Tesori d'Oriente. It's an extremely cheap Italian supermarket brand, as you probably know. I liked their perfumes! Of course you can smell that they are NOT luxury fragrances. But I thought they were nice anyway: a safe way to take note-risks perfumewise. And then something happened: they started to smell like cheap chemicals (which they are) and make me slightly nauseous. I ended up giving them away in a local facebook group. After that I've steered clear of dupes 😃. At least I think I have.😆

[@ScentSiblingsDotCA]

Hi my lovely Helena! I think we've all accidentally duped, and it really does end up working in our favour somehow. It trains our noses, and it's exactly as you say - there's no risk! Duping has its place, I guess. I wish you a lovely, dupe-free day, my friend! Thanks for hanging out with me today! xo