Perfumes like Baccarat Rouge 540: the ones that share its notes

You've definitely smelled Baccarat Rouge 540. On the metro, in a lift, on a friend who smells amazing. Launched in 2015 by Maison Francis Kurkdjian, it has become one of the most recognisable niche perfumes around. And the same question keeps coming up: what smells like it?

Our method is simple and honest. We compare the notes listed in our catalogue and tell you which ones are shared. No promised "dupe", no claimed copy: shared notes are a good place to start smelling, not a guarantee.

The original: Baccarat Rouge 540 Eau de Parfum

In our page, the eau de parfum opens on saffron and jasmine, moves through a heart of amberwood and ambergris, then rests on fir resin and cedar. That balance between bright saffron, ambery softness and an almost mineral woodiness is its signature. See Baccarat Rouge 540.

The extrait, same house

The extrait de parfum, released in 2017, isn't just a stronger version. It shares four notes with the eau de parfum: saffron, jasmine, cedar and ambergris. But it adds bitter almond on top, plus woody notes and musk in the base. Expect something rounder and more enveloping. If you love the original but want a variation, test this one first. See the extrait.

Closest on paper: Club de Nuit Untold, Armaf

This is the striking one. Club de Nuit Untold, from the house Armaf, lists exactly the same six notes as Kurkdjian's eau de parfum: saffron, jasmine, amberwood, ambergris, fir resin and cedar. Six out of six. Again, a note list says nothing about proportions or the quality of the materials, so the scent can differ. But if you want something in the same spirit, it's the first name for your list. See Club de Nuit Untold.

The Middle Eastern route: Amber Oud Rouge, Al Haramain

Amber Oud Rouge, by Al Haramain, shares three notes with Baccarat Rouge 540: saffron, jasmine and ambergris, plus woody notes. Despite the name, our page doesn't list oud. It's a good option if you love the saffron, jasmine and amber trio and want to explore Middle Eastern houses. See Amber Oud Rouge.

The distant cousin: Red Tobacco, Mancera

Red Tobacco (2017) shares only two notes with Baccarat Rouge 540: saffron and jasmine. The rest tells another story: cinnamon, nutmeg, green apple and frankincense up top, tobacco and patchouli in the heart, then vanilla, amber, sandalwood, oud and musk. It's not a lookalike. It's more what you might enjoy if you love the saffron in Baccarat Rouge 540 but want something warmer and spicier for winter. See Red Tobacco.

Our advice

• Smell before you buy. Shared notes don't make a clone. Your skin has the final say.
• Check the concentration. An eau de parfum and an extrait don't wear the same way.
• Compare prices. Each page shows the shops that sell the perfume, and you can set a price alert to hear when it drops.

Love yourself, and spread it around. With the original, or with a perfume that shares its character.