Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s A La Rose is the finest and most luxurious powdery rose composition in the market.
But it’s not that unique, nor worth the hefty price. This is why many people are looking for cheaper alternatives.
So, I tried numerous rose compositions and sorted out some perfumes with similarly rich aura and better value. Now, I will briefly discuss these A La Rose dupes so that you can find the best-suited one.
Let’s begin!
What Does A La Rose Maison Francis Kurkdjian Smell Like?
Introduced in 2014, À La Rose by MFK is a floral fragrance. It has an intense Damascus rose aroma with a powdery floral core and a musky, woody twist at the base. Overall, this addictive perfume radiates elegance and femininity throughout its lifetime.
Maison Francis Kurkdjian composed this beautiful perfume by taking inspiration from Marie Antoinette’s elegant A La Rose portrait.
Before knowing more about its aroma, let’s get to know about the notes present in À La Rose by MFK:
Top Notes: Calabrian Bergamot and California Orange
Middle Notes: Damascus Rose, Turkish Rose Absolute, Violet, and Magnolia
Base Notes: Musk and Cedar
From the first spray, À La Rose exerts a dewy, sheer Damascus rose aroma with some citruses, adding more freshness in the background.
As the aroma develops, the rose essence becomes stronger and somewhat powdery, with Turkish rose absolute and violet in the core.
Meanwhile, the sweet, refreshing magnolia blossom makes the heart more elegant and enjoyable.
It becomes soft and seductive during the dry-down, with a noticeable musky nuance. The light, delicate rose aroma stays, while cedar makes the closing richer and well-rounded.
Being an MFK composition, A La Rose is insanely pricey yet has moderate longevity.
Hence, in the next part, I’ll be presenting some affordable A La Rose alternatives that might be better choices for people on a budget.
What Perfumes Smell Similar To A La Rose Maison Francis Kurkdjian?
In this segment, I’ve rounded all the MFK A La Rose dupes that are longer-lasting and offer more value than this overhyped fragrance.
I’ve included a couple of premium perfumes so that you get better high-end alternatives as well.
Here’s my list of the best MFK A La Rose smell-alikes:
1. Rosa Nobile Acqua di Parma
Top Notes: Tangerine, Calabrian Bergamot, and Pepper
Middle Notes: Centifolia Rose Absolute, Peony, Violet, and Lily-of-the-Valley
Base Notes: Musk, Virginian Cedar, and Ambergris
The affordable floral fragrance, Rosa Nobile by Acqua di Parma, has a very comparable aroma to MFK A La Rose. In 2014, François Demachy created this beautiful floral musky composition, which captured a lot of hearts.
I just love the way this fragrance opens with a fresh, harmonious blend of rose and citruses. The peppery background makes the opening more energetic by adding a spicy twist.
Soon, the rose, peony mix brings in a powdery floral core with a subtle green undertone.
As I perceive, the dry-down of Rosa Nobile is classier and warmer than A La Rose. Here, the soft, sexy musk nuance beautifully mingles with cedar, creating a sophisticated ambiance.
This gorgeous perfume lasts on my skin for over 6 hours with moderate sillage.
Though its performance isn’t something ground-breaking, for the price, Rosa Nobile definitely deserves trying.
When To Wear
This fresh and delicate Acqua di Parma perfume can be a brilliant choice for spring, fall, or summer days. You can wear it at formal events, weddings, vacations, or simply as your signature scent.
Why Should You Buy
- Well-balanced floral note.
- Elegant and classy feminine tone.
- Natural smelling rose accord.
- Mature and seductive musky base.
- It will bring you numerous good compliments.
2. Eau Rose Diptyque
Top Notes: Litchi, Black Currant, and Bergamot
Middle Notes: Rose, Geranium, and Jasmine
Base Notes: Musk, Virginia Cedar, and White Honey
Eau Rose by Diptyque is nowhere close to a clone, but its sweet, soft rose aroma will give you a strong MFK A La Rose vibe. In my opinion, you can use this perfume as a sweeter and fruitier replacement.
Eau Rose opens with a juicy, sweet litchi aroma with zesty bergamot and black currant underneath.
This riveting citrusy tone fades within a few minutes when the intense floral core appears. Here, the majestic rose along with geranium and jasmine’s delicate nuances gives the perfume an elegant and bold character.
Finally, the divine rose aroma settles down with a honeyed, musky woody base.
Altogether, the perfume smells so nice that whenever you wear it, no one will be able to ignore your enticing aura. Plus, this gorgeous floral fragrance offers 6 hours of longevity in warm weather.
On another note, in case you need more floral potions like this one, try similar perfumes to Diptyque Eau Rose.
When To Wear
For me, Diptyque Eau Rose is a perfect spring or summer date fragrance, and it will be a little too light for winter. Yet, you’re free to wear it anywhere you need to mark your elegant presence.
Why Should You Buy
- Less expensive than A La Rose.
- Fresh, feminine aroma.
- Top-notch quality.
- Suitable for both casual and formal scenarios.
3. Paul Smith Rose by Paul Smith
Top Notes: Rose, Green Tea, and Violet
Middle Notes: Turkish Rose and Magnolia
Base Notes: Musk and Cedar
Launched in 2007, Paul Smith Rose conveys an uncanny resemblance to Maison Francis Kurkdjian À La Rose. It’s affordable, performs well, and carries the beautiful floral composition of Antoine Maisondieu.
For me, this is actually the best cheap MFK À La Rose dupe in the market.
The opening of Paul Smith Rose has a soft, sweet, and very rich rose aroma with a fresh, green undertone. It opens a little bit greener, but as the aroma develops it becomes almost identical to À La Rose.
When the top fades, a smooth, powdery floral core appears with a heavy dose of Turkish rose and magnolia.
Rose, being the star of the show, stays even in the dry-down, where musk and woodsy cedar add more sensuality to the composition.
Anyway, this balanced À La Rose replica also offers 6 hours of longevity and noticeable sillage.
When To Wear
The youthful floral tone of Paul Smith Rose works fabulously as a daily or casual summer fragrance. Except for the winter, I think you can wear this perfume anytime and anywhere you want.
Why Should You Buy
- Attractive rose composition.
- Unique green undertone.
- Gets several good compliments.
- A lot cheaper than À La Rose.
- Impressive projection.
- Gorgeous looking bottle.
4. Rose Bath & Body Works
The next À La Rose clone in this list is Rose by Bath & Body Works. Released in 2019, this fragrance is one of the best straightforward, musky rose scents I’ve ever tried.
Without any citruses in the composition, the perfume opens with a soft, sweet, and extremely rich rose aroma. As it develops, jasmine adds a little green indolic touch while enhancing its fresh, feminine nature.
During the dry-down, it becomes powdery, musky, and very rich. Musk gives the fragrance a seductive closing that lasts on my skin for 5 hours.
Overall, Bath & Body Works’ Rose smells so similar to À La Rose that I sometimes can’t differentiate them.
When To Wear
Due to its fresh, delicate floral tone, this Bath & Body Works perfume is perfect for summer, spring, and early fall days. Plus, its light and subtle texture works brilliantly with daytime outings.
Why Should You Buy
- Inexpensive price.
- Appealing rose aroma.
- Suitable for everyday use.
- Moderate projection.
- Addictive floral scent trail.
5. Rose Goldea Bvlgari
Top Notes: Rose, Musk, Pomegranate, and Bergamot
Middle Notes: Damask Rose, Peony, Jasmine, and Peach
Base Notes: Musk, Sandalwood, Olibanum, and Vanilla
Rose Goldea is a marvelous creation by the master perfumer Alberto Morillas. While maintaining the soft, musky, rose aroma intact, Rose Goldea presents an added fruity, woody twist that makes this fragrance better than À la Rose.
This perfume also has a sweet, delicate rose aroma with an underlying citrusy smell of bergamot. Then, the fruity pomegranate touch makes the opening more energizing.
Soon, this À la Rose dupe brings in a prominent floral core with Damask rose and peony. A green, peachy hint, then, balances the overwhelming flowery aroma.
Finally comes the warm, powdery base, which is my favorite part. With an intense woody, musk aroma, the dry-down smells utterly elegant and seductive.
In the end, olibanum and vanilla add a little bit of depth to the perfume.
When To Wear
The light, subtle rosy aroma of Rose Goldea can be a brilliant choice for summer or spring days. I like it more as a signature or casual fragrance, but you can wear it at formal events too.
Why Should You Buy
- Clean and lush floral tone.
- It will give you an alluring yet sophisticated aura.
- Gets a lot of compliments.
- Around 5 hours of lasting power.
- Lower in price than À la Rose.
6. L’eau À la Rose Maison Francis Kurkdjian
Top Notes: Litchi and Pear
Middle Notes: Damask Rose, Grasse Rose, Peony, and Violet
Base Note: Musk
Imagine À la Rose without the citruses, that’s how MFK L’eau À la Rose smells like.
This flanker opens up with a fresh, juicy pear and litchi combination. Almost immediately, its soft, floral heart with a heavy dose of rose and peony becomes noticeable.
I could also feel a powdery violet aroma, which enhances the richness of this gorgeous rosy core. Musk, in the end, gives the perfume the sensual maturity it needs.
Overall, L’eau À la Rose has a rich and bright rose aroma. It also offers 5 hours of longevity with moderate sillage and projection.
So, if you love MFK house and need a subtle and sweeter À la Rose version with a fruity twist, this is the one to go for.
When To Wear
From summer to spring, you can wear this gorgeous perfume anytime you want. But in my opinion, its soft, floral sweet aroma smells the best on any casual, special, or romantic occasion during the summer.
Why Should You Buy
- More refined alternative to À la Rose.
- The opening gives a happy feel.
- A great option for weddings or spring vacations.
- Elegant and luxurious floral aroma.
- More versatile.
- Makes you feel confident about yourself.
Final Thoughts
No one who has a soft corner for À la Rose can ignore the fragrances I’ve discussed here. Each one of the substitutes has a similar rose aroma with added facets to give you a mind-blowing experience.
What’s stopping you, then? Just pick the one that ticks all the boxes for you.
Moreover, don’t forget to share your experience below. Take care!