Halfeti is my brother’s all-time favorite fragrance by Penhaligon’s, and last year, he used it throughout the winter and fall.
However, he loves the alluring aroma so much, and now he wants some close alternatives with a different twist to enjoy the upcoming winter.
As a perfume fanatic, I helped him find some mesmerizing dupes of Halfeti and got several that offer great performances in a cost-effective way.
So, if you want to know what I found, tag along!
What Does Halfeti Penhaligon’s Smell Like?
Halfeti Penhaligon’s is an amber-woody fragrance that starts with a spicy, fruity fusion of bergamot and cardamom. The green nuance of cypress mingles with the floral core, where nutmeg flourishes an aromatic tone. Also, a leathery-woody aura of cedar and amber makes a complex finish.
This fragrance was launched in 2015 and is still dominating the market with its soaring hype. The amazing nose behind this great formulation is Christian Provenzano.
Before moving to the detail part, let’s see the note pyramid of Halfeti Penhaligon’s for a clear concept:
Top Notes: Cypress Leaf, Saffron, Cardamom, Artemisia, Bergamot and Grapefruit
Middle Notes: Bulgarian Rose, Nutmeg and Jasmine
Base Notes: Agarwood (Oud), Leather, Cedar, Sandalwood, Amber, Vanilla, Tonka Bean and Musk
Halfeti by Penhaligon’s opens with a fruity, fresh aroma of grapefruit and bergamot. Cypress, along with artemisia, with its herbaceous, woody smell, enhances the top.
The heart is infused with a gorgeous dose of Bulgarian rose and uplifting jasmine. You will also feel the strong, sensual presence of nutmeg here.
Finally, the fragrance mellows with a celestial sensation of rich oud, leather, and cedar, where amber and vanilla leave a warm, soothing hint.
Later, the nutty gourmand tonka bean takes over, blending with sensual musk to give a seductive trail for 12+ hours. With Halfeti’s heavy projection, you can easily be a show-stopper at a party and grab tons of compliments.
What Are The Colognes Similar To Halfeti Penhaligon’s?
Finding a replacement for a rich and luxurious fragrance like Halfeti is definitely a hard nut to crack. But as I have taken on the challenging task on me, you don’t have to worry much.
So, in this write-out, I have shared all my findings in detail after testing each of the substitutes individually.
You can undoubtedly pick any of them that suits your personality.
Now let’s check 6 alternatives to Halfeti Penhaligon’s:
1. PENHALIGON’S (Womens 587) by Palermo Perfumes
Top Notes: Cypress Leaf, Saffron, Cardamom, Artemisia, Bergamot and Grapefruit
Middle Notes: Bulgarian Rose, Nutmeg and Jasmine
Base Notes: Agarwood (Oud), Leather, Cedar, Sandalwood, Amber, Vanilla, Tonka Bean and Musk
After watching the sailing hype of Halfeti, Palermo Perfumes launched their clone, Penhaligon’s (Womens 587), in the market.
They grabbed the chance to offer a similar vibe to OG Halfeti at a quarter price, and each layer of this alternative perfectly mastered the imitating part.
At the top, the aroma radiates a green yet fresh, fruity aroma with a combination of fruits and herbs. Plus, the light, spicy kick of cardamom feels heavenly at the start.
Moments ahead, the sweet, powdery rose dancing with the angelic smell of jasmine does all the work to hold your attention.
Slowly, the delicate floral heart starts to fade as the dense, complex twist of the base emerges to give an intriguing masculine hunch.
You’ll perceive an earthy, leathery smell merging with creamy, dusty sandalwood and oud in the dry down.
Furthermore, as the cologne settles more, vanilla and tonka bean arrive at this phase, making the aura fairly intoxicating. I also get a subtle hint of amber drawing the closing line magnificently.
It lasts for 8+ hours on my skin and offers a great sillage. So, if you are on a tight budget, this is an affordable, must-buy scent.
When to Wear
PENHALIGON’S (Womens 587) is perfectly suited for colder months. You can add this clone to your November tray to wear on cold, freezing nights during winter and fall.
However, avoid wearing it in summer as the warm spiciness of this cologne won’t feel good.
Why Should You Buy
- Cozy, inviting aroma.
- Cheapest replica.
- Perfect for colder months.
- Radiates more than 8 feet.
- Lasts 8+ hours.
2. Royale by Amaari Parfum
Top Notes: Cypress Leaf, Saffron, Cardamom, Artemisia, Bergamot
Middle Notes: Bulgarian Rose, Nutmeg and Jasmine
Base Notes: Agarwood (Oud), Leather, Sandalwood, Amber, Vanilla, Tonka Bean and Musk
Royale is an exquisite fusion of ingredients that will enchant you with its bold, attractive aroma from the first sniff.
Starting with cypress leaf, the lively, luminous aroma gets its charm more when laced with elegant treasure ingredients saffron and cardamom. The juicy, citrusy bergamot also offers an energetic punch.
In the core, the sweet, powdery jasmine and velvety dewiness of rose complement each other the entire time.
However, I didn’t get the nutmeg in this phase prominently, but if you look deep, you’ll sense a slight whispering spicy tint in the background.
Then, the base is stuffed with an ambery, woody aroma of sandalwood and cedar, where vanilla, leather, and musk melodiously create a magnetic aroma that feels irresistible.
When to Wear
With the charming smell of Royale, you can rock your indoor events of the colder months amazingly. Plus, it is wearable in fall and spring, too, when the temperature remains moderate.
Why Should You Buy
- Intoxicating and addictive.
- Close reminiscent of Halfeti.
- Great sillage.
- Warm, woody, dry down.
- Stays long on the skin.
- inexpensive.
3. Oud Malaki Chopard
Top Notes: Grapefruit, Lavender and Artemisia
Middle Notes: Tobacco, Spices and Leather
Base Notes: Agarwood (Oud), Dark Woodsy Notes and Ambergris
If you are into woody, spicy fragrances and want an outstanding cologne to represent your masculine trait, Oud Malaki Chopard will surely be your thing.
My best friend introduced it to me while having a group discussion, and after trying it from him, I fell in love with this finest replacement for Halfeti.
Oud Malaki has the same fresh, fruity opening, but it feels light and simple with the presence of sweet, juicy grapefruit, lavender, and artemisia. The beginning feels relaxing and stimulating enough.
As time elapses, the collaboration of tobacco and spices creates a strong, bold nuance in the core, preparing you for the last transition.
Finally, in the base, the dark woodsy notes and divine oud take the aroma towards the dense side, and ambergris spreads a sweet, earthy smell to the surroundings.
However, there are perfect ways to apply fragrances, and if you know where to apply perfumes, that can ensure great longevity.
With 2 sprays of Oud Malaki at each wrist, you can be tension-free for more than 10 hours. And in case of turning some heads and capturing attention, it’s the best choice.
When to Wear
Apart from excessive heat in summer and bright spring days, Oud Malaki is a top-notch pick when you want an elegant and sophisticated scent.
This radiates well in air-conditioned rooms and colder atmospheres, so you can easily wear it in a formal business meeting or presentation.
Why Should You Buy
- Refreshing and fruity start.
- Great for oud and wood lovers.
- Classy and refined blend.
- 12+ hours longevity.
- Great price point.
- Offers good sillage.
- Mature, dark, dry down.
4. The Blazing Mr Sam Penhaligon’s
Top Notes: Cardamom and Cinnamon
Middle Notes: Black Pepper, Saffron and Cumin
Base Notes: Tobacco, Vanilla, Cedar, and Patchouli
The fourth substitute on my list is The Blazing Mr Sam, which is also launched from the house of Penhaligon in the year of 2018.
In the first sniff, The Blazing Mr Sam flourishes a strong, warm, spiced smell from the dusty cinnamon and airy, sensual cardamom.
Moving to the heart, you’ll see the spicy aroma still persists, mingling with exotic, sizzling black pepper and powdery cumin. I really loved the subtle hint of saffron as it slowly dialed back the spiciness with its magical touch.
As the fragrance mellows, the deep, dark tobacco smell mingling with earthy patchouli and cedar intensifies the aura and gives it strength.
Besides, the smooth harmonic touch of vanilla flawlessly calibrated the darkness at this layer, making it slightly light.
I feel this cologne is a bit overpowering and stronger than the OG Halfeti, and the luxurious, tempting smell lasts over 8 hours without any reapplication.
When to Wear
The Blazing Mr Sam is my brother’s signature scent for winter and fall. He loves to wear this while going to a night party or a friend’s hangout as it receives lots of good comments.
Why Should You Buy
- Stronger version of Halfeti.
- Spicy aromatic opening.
- Pulls compliments.
- Good projection and sillage.
- Lasts for 8 to 10 hours.
- Splendid packaging.
- Smells rich and luxurious.
- Well balanced.
5. Oud Dream Montale
Being an oud-rose fragrance lover, I blindly bought Montale’s Oud Dream for my boyfriend while he was looking for a perfect winter scent to wear on his office tour.
Surprisingly, it amazed my man with its rich, classy, opulent aroma, and he also found it smelled similar to Halfeti Penhaligon’s.
The cologne has a very simplistic note formulation, and the perfumer balanced every note amazingly to make it long-lasting with great sillage and projection.
In the first splash, you’ll sense a dominating oud note spreading an enchanting aroma that feels great. Then, the earthy tint of patchouli blends with floral queen rose to ensure a romantic touch.
This sweet, intense aroma is a great pick when you want to unveil your subtle presence to the surroundings without getting subdued.
When to Wear
Oud Dream Montale is cold weather wear, and with that, you can never go wrong on any occasion. Not only that, it also projects heavily during autumn, creating perfect fall vibes.
Why Should You Buy
- Traditional winter-fall cologne.
- Stays more than 7 hours on clothes.
- Linear formulation.
- Room filling projection.
- Cost less than Halfeti.
- Great masculine vibe.
6. Mohra Lattafa Perfumes
Top Notes: Saffron, Lavender, Blood Orange, and Bergamot
Middle Notes: Black Pepper, Rose and Cashmeran
Base Notes: Patchouli, Sandalwood, Cedar, Labdanum and Musk
Moving to my last dupe, I do have to say that the note breakdown for Mohra is almost the same as Penhaligon’s Halfeti. Not only that, the price tag of this cologne also seems so satisfactory.
Mohra starts its journey with great fruity floral bursts of blood orange, bergamot and lavender.
This phase is my ultimate favorite, as it feels like a delicious treat to my nose that reminds me of a lovely glass of juice with some flower petals floating on it.
The peppery hint mingling with delicate rose and creamy cashmeran leaves a soft, smooth texture on my skin that I really adore.
Then comes the resinous woody base consisting of labdanum, sandalwood, and the smell of musk, and together, they make an interesting finishing touch.
To me, Mohra is a good dupe as it offers above-average performance at a minimal price. So, to have a bold, attractive vibe, wear this on any occasion without thinking much.
When to Wear
In my view, Mohra is a perfect fit for the winter and fall season. However, you can easily wear it all year as an evening scent, and don’t forget to spray a bit less during summer or spring night outs.
Why Should You Buy
- Attractive and alluring aura.
- Fruit-floral opening.
- Great value for money.
- 6 to 7 hours longevity.
- Graceful blend.
- Cozy and comforting vibe.
- Attention getter.
Concluding Notes
Halfeti is soft enough to have a refined elegance but strong enough to catch the attention of people around you. But as it comes with a hefty price tag, it might fall way heavy for some.
So, don’t delay picking one from my suggested dupes to enjoy the same elegance without cutting your pocket.
And don’t forget to let me know which one you picked in the comment box.
Till then, stay safe!