When it comes to fragrances by Clinique, Happy is undoubtedly their best men’s cologne to date. Despite being released more than 20 years ago, it still smells modern and fabulous.
So, I decided to find out the best dupes and alternatives available for this cologne in the market today.
If that’s what you are looking for, then you are in luck – so, just keep reading!
What Does Happy For Men By Clinique Smell Like?
Clinique Happy for men was launched by Clinique in 1999. It is pleasantly bright, upbeat, and perfect for summer.
The female version of this fragrance was the first one to come out. After its widespread popularity, the company decided to launch a men’s version of the fragrance, which was another hit.
Despite being released so long ago, it has a modern appeal which makes it apt for the newer generation as much as those who used to wear it back in the day.
Top Notes: Mandarin Orange, Lime, Sea Notes, Lemon, and Green Notes
Middle Notes: Freesia, Jasmine, Lily-of-the-Valley, and Rose
Base Notes: Cypress, Cedar, Musk, and Guaiac Wood
The opening of Clinique Happy is marked with some really strong citrus notes, accompanied by some green and sea notes. As a result, right off the bottle, it is very fresh, clean, and uplifting.
There is a gentle sweetness that’s not overbearing but just right for the summer.
The core of the scent reveals some floral tones that give a softness to the scent, bringing out an aromatic side of the cologne.
Finally, the base notes have lots of woodsy notes, musk, and cypress – these notes create a woody, warm, and masculine base for the otherwise chirpy fragrance, striking the perfect balance.
It is not particularly expensive, but it’s not super cheap either.
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The longevity of Clinique Happy isn’t that great as it lasts for around 3 to 4 hours, maximum. Plus, the projection and sillage of this cologne are pretty light and intimate.
Which Colognes Smell Similar To Clinique Happy For Men?
Clinique Happy is a great summertime scent for men, but it isn’t very long-lasting or well-projecting.
So, even if you love it, you might want to look into its dupes which are more potent or more affordable.
To this aim, I tried multiple similar colognes and clones and shortlisted the closet-smelling best performers that I came across.
So, here is my list of the closest dupes and alternatives to Clinique Happy for men:
Mandarina Duck Man by Mandarina Duck
Top Notes: Blood Orange, Peach, and Grapefruit
Middle Notes: Cardamom, Caraway, and Nutmeg
Base Notes: Musk and Vetiver
The first fragrance on my list is Mandarina Duck Man by Mandarina Duck which launched in 2006 and smells very close to Clinique Happy for men.
Created by Nathalie Lorson, Mandarina Duck Man is very citrusy and bright right from the start. At the opening, you get lots of citrus grapefruit, and orange, along with sweet peach.
The core of the scent has a blend of different spices, which add more character to the scent and make it more sensual and interesting.
This is followed by closing notes of musk and vetiver that give the scent a mature and masculine aura, balancing out the initial sweetness and completing the scent.
Overall, it’s very upbeat, fresh, and likable. It’s much spicier and sexier than Clinique Happy, with a slightly lower price range, similar longevity, and performance.
When to Wear
Mandarina Duck Man is perfect for summer and spring daytime activities. It is ideal for tropical weather and vacations. You can wear it for all sorts of outdoor activities.
Why Should You Buy
- Very close scent to Clinique Happy men.
- Spicier fragrance.
- Perfect summer scent.
Artisan by John Varvatos
Top Notes: Clementine, Tangerine, Marjoram, and Thyme
Middle Notes: Orange Blossom, Ginger, Lavender, and Jasmine
Base Notes: Musk, Woodsy Notes, and Amber
The next fragrance on the list is Artisan by John Varvatos, which was created by John Varvatos and Rodrigo Flores-Roux.
Launched in 2009, Artisan is an aromatic, sun-drenched, citrus goodness. It’s very refreshing and reminiscent of Clinique Happy for men.
Right off the bottle, it gives a burst of different citrus notes along with thyme and marjoram which add some interesting herbal tone to the beginning.
The core of the scent has some floral notes, particularly jasmine, orange blossom, and lavender, blended with spicy ginger.
The base is very manly and woody, with amber, musk, and lots of woodsy notes. This creates a masculine, yet very bright, spicy, and aromatic cologne that’s perfect for summer.
It’s quite affordable and lasts around 6 hours. However, the projection is good only for the first few hours after which it becomes more intimate.
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When to Wear
Artisan is excellent for daytime wear, especially in the summer. But you can also wear it during spring and fall. Whether it’s a beach day, picnic, or a concert, you can wear it anywhere.
Why Should You Buy
- Good dupe of Clinique Happy.
- Spicier and more refined scent.
- Lasts longer than the Clinique aroma.
- Good value for the price.
Full Speed by Avon
Top Notes: Citruses, Juniper Berries, and Green Leaves
Middle Notes: Cardamom and Cypress
Base Notes: Cedar, Musk, and Sandalwood
Next, we have Full Speed by Avon, a very affordable and good dupe of Clinique Happy for men.
Full Speed is masculine, fresh, and spicy, just what you need a good summer cologne to be.
It starts off with lots of fresh citruses, berries, and herbal green notes. The core of the scent has more green notes, with some added cardamom that gives the scent a nice and warm touch.
The transition to the base is smooth and it is very woody and musky, making the scent an excellent manly summertime scent.
It is sharp, sexy, and clean, and comes at a very affordable price.
The longevity and projection of Full Speed are very close to Clinique Happy, but since it’s much cheaper, it’s a great alternative to what we are looking for.
When to Wear
Full Speed by Avon is yet another excellent summertime scent that is great for all sorts of fun and casual activities. You can wear it for outdoor activities and adventures, especially during the daytime.
Why Should You Buy
- Close dupe of Clinique Happy for men.
- Much more affordable than Clinique Happy.
- Great aroma and decent performance.
- Great value for the price.
Speed Man by O Boticário
Top Notes: Grapefruit, Bergamot, Wormwood, and Anise
Middle Notes: Water Notes, Thyme, Geranium, and Nutmeg
Base Notes: Patchouli, Sandalwood, Virginia Cedar, and Musk
Speed Man by O Boticário is another cologne that was inspired by Clinique Happy for men and has a very close aroma to it.
It starts off somewhat spicier and warmer with bright citrus notes.
The core of the scent has fresh aquatic notes which are close to Clinique Happy and gives the scent a boost of freshness. You also get some floral notes along with herbs and prices at this point in the scent.
Finally, the base of the scent is heavily woody and cozy, giving the scent a mature and sensual aura that is very pleasant.
Overall, it has a longevity of around 6 hours or so, with good projection at the start, but intimate as it ends. It also costs much less than Clinique Happy for men.
When to Wear
Speed Man by O Boticário is a summertime scent alright, but it’s much more versatile than the others on the list as it can be worn in the daytime during any season. It’s energetic and perfect for all sorts of daytime occasions, especially if it’s outdoor activities.
Why Should You Buy
- Very close scent to Clinique Happy for men.
- Less expensive.
- Longer lasting aroma.
- Good value for the price.
Radiant Seduction Blue by Antonio Banderas
Top Notes: Watermelon, Grapefruit, and Apple
Middle Notes: Sea water, Tarragon, and Geranium
Base Notes: Cedar, Vetiver, Amber, and Musk
Last but not least, is Radiant Seduction Blue by Antonio Banderas. Launched in 2016, Radiant Seduction Blue is very close to Clinique Happy but it has a much sweeter take on the aroma.
It starts off with bright citrus notes accompanied by sweet apple notes and refreshing watermelon. The core of the scent has sea notes that add a salty, breezy quality to the scent.
You also get some floral and herbal notes at the heart of the scent, which makes the scent smell very similar to Clinique Happy for men.
The base of the scent is again very woody, ambery, and musky, creating a perfect masculine base for the bright scent.
Overall, Radiant Seduction Blue is an excellent alternative to what we are looking for, with a similar performance and a much cheaper price tag.
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When to Wear
Radiant Seduction Blue is the ultimate summertime scent, just like the rest of the colognes on the list. This fresh, clean, masculine aroma is excellent for all sorts of daytime activities, especially outdoor ones.
Why Should You Buy
- Close dupe of Clinique Happy for men.
- Much cheaper alternative.
- Sweeter than the other alternatives.
- Good value for the price.
Wrapping Up
There are many different summer scents available in the market for men. However, when you have a particular scent in mind, finding something to match can be tough.
Nonetheless, if you want something close to Clinique Happy for men, then I am sure you will enjoy all the colognes mentioned in this list.
Whether you want something spicier or sweeter, you will find the right alternative to suit your needs for sure!
So, let me know your pick and which fragrance you’d like for me to cover next.
