Without a doubt, Gris Charnel by BDK Parfums is a fantastic blend. But I’m not ready to spend a couple of hundred bucks just for its exclusivity.
Hence, my enthusiastic mind awakened and helped me discover some refined alternatives that are more worthwhile.
In this article, I’m going to discuss a little more about the fragrances so that you can understand why I think they are more worthy.
So, stay put if you’re also up for finding the best Gris Charnel dupes.
What Does Gris Charnel BDK Parfums Smell Like?
BDK Parfums’s Gris Charnel has a soft, spicy, sweet, and refreshing black tea aroma with a nice touch of fig and sandalwood. Other than that, the fragrance expresses the subtle Parisian sensuality of tonka bean and vetiver’s powdery woodiness.
Now, let’s take a look at the enriched note profile of Gris Charnel by BDK Parfums:
Top Notes: Cardamom, Fig, and Black Tea
Middle Notes: Iris and Bourbon Vetiver
Base Notes: Sandalwood and Tonka Bean
Gris Charnel opens with the sweet, uplifting fig and tea, beautifully layered by a spicy cardamom hunch. Despite having a fresh start, the aroma soon gets a soft, powdery, gourmand turn in the core.
Iris smoothly rounds out the aroma, while vetiver adds more grassy, woodiness to the tea essence. When the fragrance finally settles, you’ll find the smoky, woody base notes adding the perfect touch of warmth and sensuality to it.
Many find Gris Charnel a bit masculine-leaning. But I think it smells completely gender-neutral with the perfect balance of sweet and woody notes.
On my skin, its projection was good for about an hour, and after that, it wasn’t really pushing out well. In my opinion, such intimate sillage with this okay-ish longevity doesn’t authenticate the value of this high-end fragrance.
So, if you need Gris Charnel dupes with a better deal of price, read on.
What Fragrances Smell Similar To Gris Charnel BDK Parfums?
As a result of my months-long research and testing, I got my hands on the following amazing Gris Charnel substitute. All these fragrances present a similar smelling tone.
Added to that, they will give you much more value for the price while always maintaining the quality.
So, let’s take a look at the best 7 alternatives of Gris Charnel by BDK Parfums:
1. Liam Lattafa Perfumes
Top Notes: Cardamom, Fig, and Black Tea
Middle Notes: Labdanum, Iris and Vetiver
Base Notes: Vanilla, Sandalwood, Tonka, and Patchouli
In 2023, Lattafa Perfumes released Liam by taking a lot of inspiration from Gris Charnel.I think this fragrance is slightly woodier, sweeter, and more powdery.
And the best part is, you can get this excellent Gris Charnel dupe at a four times lower price.
Liam starts its journey with the perfect balance of cardamom, tea, and fig’s freshness. Gradually, the aroma reveals its rich, powdery texture but also has a musky edge to it.
Vanilla totally dominates the dry-down, creating a smooth, cozy, and lingering ambiance that stays on for like 10 hours. Plus, it provides outstanding sillage and projection.
As I perceive, Liam is basically 90% Gris Charnel but with better longevity and price value.
When To Wear
Liam by Lattafa Perfumes presents both a refreshing and warming nature, which makes it a good catch for any kind of event all around the year. However, I think it works better on casual occasions during the spring or fall.
Why Should You Buy
- Affordable alternative.
- Not too sweet, not too zesty – perfect for office wear.
- Slightly sensual nature.
- More profound vanilla.
- Gets complimented a lot.
2. Carnal Gray By The Dua Brand
I was introduced to The Dua Brand’s Carnal Gray through my sister. When I met her, I thought she was wearing Gris Charnel. But, leaving me surprised, she uttered the name of Carnal Gray when I asked about her perfume.
I had to try that on myself to be clear of my doubts., and hence I did.
To be honest, other than the smoothness and refined woody tone of Gris Charnel, this clone by Dua Brand smells exactly like the original.
Carnal Gray has an incredibly pleasant start. It kind of smells like a sweet, spicy fig tea with a powdery sandalwood background. As the fragrance develops, the spicy cardamom cools off, giving more space for the tonka bean and vanilla.
Iris gives a posh touch to the creamy warmth of vanilla when the fragrance starts to set on the skin.
Besides all, why I’ve put this fragrance on this list is mainly because of the value it offers. At an insanely reasonable price, Carnal Gray offers a strong sillage and over 8 hours of longevity.
When To Wear
Carnal Gray will keep you refreshed in the summer and warm you up in the winter. From coffee dates to casual night outs, this versatile scent goes perfectly with all occasions.
Why Should You Buy
- Pleasant and intoxicating opening.
- Both men and women can wear it.
- Brings loads of compliments.
- Suitable for casual and formal use.
- Good longevity.
- Offers a better price value than Gris Charnel.
Top Note: Cognac
Middle Notes: Cinnamon, Tonka Bean, and Oak
Base Notes: Praline, Vanilla, and Sandalwood
Angels’ Share by Kilian is the fragrance that completely quenched my thirst for a winterized alternative. While retaining the woody, powdery, vanillic singularity of Gris Charnel, this fragrance beautifully adds an overwhelming warmth.
It opens, radiating the calming booziness of cognac that soon gets a sweet, spicy, woody cinnamon punch. Vanilla, tonka, and sandalwood appear during the dry down, making the fragrance warm and utterly gourmand.
I could also smell a nice hunch of caramel-like sweetness that creates a soothing, sweet undertone.
I’ve been wearing this fragrance since this fall. And I must say, Its woody accords develop really well on my skin, exerting an addictive vibe that brought good compliments even after 10 hours of applying.
Additionally, its amazing smelling tone made this perfume so popular that you can find numerous brands launching fragrances similar to Angels’ Share By Kilian.
When To Wear
This fragrance exerts a cozy, warm vibe that complements the winter and autumn days to the best. It’s more of a night scent. So, whether you wear it on date nights, friendly dinners, or formal gatherings, it will always smell great.
Why Should You Buy
- Lower price than Gris Charnel.
- Long-lasting aroma.
- Fizzy cognac touch.
- Brings out the luxurious tone of vanilla.
4. Santal Vanille The 7 Virtues
Top Notes: Cardamom, Coconut Milk, Myrrh Oil, and Indian Pepper
Middle Notes: Vanilla, Olibanum, and Cedar
Base Notes: Madagascar Sandalwood, Cashmeran, and Cacao
Launched in 2021, Santal Vanille by The 7 Virtues has amazingly captured the uniquely fresh, woody, tea-like tone of Gris Charnel.
I actually didn’t like its intense, spicy opening at first. But as I gave a couple of wear to it, I fell in love with the aroma.
Meanwhile, the addition of coconut takes the sensual, spicy tone to another level.
As the fragrance starts to settle, it literally celebrates the soothing, creamy, woody tone of sandalwood.
In addition to that, cedar and olibanum’s woodiness invokes a sensual feel all the way through the base. It then finishes with the elegant, musky touch of cashmeran.
Overall, this is a luxurious and warm fragrance that never gets too heavy or overwhelming for me. Unlike Gris Charnel, this fragrance is more women-leaning. So, you can get it as a thoughtful gift for your partner or loved one.
Plus, this one 6 hours of longevity and moderate projection while being less pricey than Gris Charnel.
When To Wear
Santal Vanille is best suited for the colder days of the year. Yet I’ve worn it on summer parties, romantic walks, and brunch dates during the spring. And it smelled gorgeous throughout these events. So, you can surely use it for the whole year.
Why Should You Buy
- Versatile and addictive aroma.
- Garners good praises.
- Stays within the budget.
- Men love to smell it.
- Attractive and strong sillage.
5. Dumbo The 5th
Top Notes: Pine Tree, Cardamom, and Tea
Middle Notes: Olibanum, Driftwood, and Rose
Base Notes: Tonka Bean, Sandalwood, and Vetiver
While looking for a perfect cost-effective Gris Charnel dupe, I came across the underrated gem, Dumbo by The 5th.
At the opening, it resembles the green, refreshing Gris Charnel vibe while adding a piney twist. As soon as the cardamom tea essence tones down, you’ll feel a soothing, cozy, woody aroma with a delicate floral tone hovering around you.
It stays like that for a while until the smoky, woody base with a nice finishing touch of vetiver’s fresh earthiness finally arrives.
Overall, I think this could be a great substitute for Gris Charnel. And much like it, Dumbo has an average longevity of 6 hours.
Yet, it will offer more value as you can get this mind-blowing, fresh, green, woody mixture at an affordable price range.
When To Wear
Dumbo presents the perfect ratio of warmth and freshness that makes the scent wearable on any occasion throughout the spring, fall, and winter.
Why Should You Buy
- Good quality.
- Best suited for casual use.
- Luxurious sensuality.
- Smells good, both on men and women.
- Well-groomed composition.
- Gives off a soft, calming vibe.
6. Versace Crystal Noir EDT
Top Notes: Pepper, Cardamom, and Ginger
Middle Notes: Gardenia, Orange Blossom, and Peony
Base Notes: Sandalwood, Musk, and Amber
if you need a spicy, dark, woody, and, most importantly, affordable Gris Charnel alternative for your girl, the Versace Crystal Noir EDT will be the best option.
Well, it doesn’t have the black tea or fig-like notes, but I could still smell a similarly refreshing, subtly sweet nuance behind the prominent spices.
This classic feminine composition by Antoine Lie opens with a strong, spicy, woody aroma. The woody sensuality of cardamom stays prominent at the start, but as soon as the fresh florals hit the core, the aroma gradually smoothes out.
Finally comes the dry-down, which smells stunning, luxurious, and very expensive with a nice tuning of sandalwood and amber.
Additionally, this fragrance is actually a flanker of the original Crystal Noir, which also happens to have a similar scent profile. So, if you need more worthy options like this one, try out some perfumes that smell similar to Versace Crystal Noir or the EDT iteration.
When To Wear
With a well-defined woody, ambery tone, Versace Crystal Noir EDT smells the best during any nighttime event in the colder months. Besides, you can wear it casually during the early spring days too.
Why Should You Buy
- Budget-friendly price.
- More than 10 hours of longevity.
- Strong projection.
- Floral tone complements the woody sensuality.
- Smells close to Gris Charnel.
- Premium and luxurious quality.
- More polished composition.
- Versatile and attractive aroma.
7. Eau de Santal Floris
Top Notes: Cardamom, Pepper, Bergamot, Grass, and Amalfi Lemon
Middle Notes: Lavender, Nutmeg and Clove
Base Notes: Sandalwood, Vanilla, Virginia Cedar, Olibanum, and Vetiver
Eau de Santal by Floris is another timeless fragrance that you can use as a noble alternative to Gris Charnel. Without being offensive, it spreads a pleasant and mood-lifting spicy, green opening.
As soon as the core arrives, you’ll feel the powdery lavender fabulously mingling with the sweet, spicy, nutty tone of clove and nutmeg.
Well, I like its opening act, but I just love the dry-down. Here, the creamy woody bend of vanilla, sandalwood, and cedar seamlessly brings out the addictive masculine vibe of gentlemen.
However, I think Eau de Santal is spicier, more airy, and more refined than Gris Charnel. Plus, it comes at a pocket-friendly price, which makes it the perfect fit for our quest.
When To Wear
Eau de Santal has freshness, but I think it’s too warm for the summer. You can definitely wear it on the spring, fall, and winter days, regardless of the occasion.
Why Should You Buy
- Sophisticated and elegant nature.
- Top-notch elemental quality.
- Subtle powdery tone.
- Can be a great gift item for your men.
- Over 7 hours of longevity.
Wrap Up
In this article, I’ve enlisted only those replacements that come in the same vein as Gris Charnel. But what makes them stand out is their affordable price.
No matter which one you buy, you’ll be able to enjoy the clean, calming luxury of Gris Charnel without worrying about the cost.
So, grab a suitable one from the list. And don’t forget to leave a comment so that I can know about your favorite one.