Perfumes Similar To Bal d'Afrique Byredo [Dupes in 2024]

While looking for an alluring summer fragrance for my sister, I came across this trendy diva Bal d’Afrique. To try it out first, I bought a small flacon for myself.

It is undoubtedly a great composition, but I wasn’t that satisfied with the performance.

Hence, I looked up and listed some finest alternatives that smell close to Bal d’Afrique while offering better longevity and price value.

So, if you’re also in the same boat as me, stay tuned to find out the substitutes.

What Does Bal d’Afrique Byredo Smell Like?

Bal d’Afrique is a woody, aromatic fragrance with a vibrant citrusy, lemon opening and violet core. Later, the perfume dries down to a smoky, woody base with distinguishable vetiver and musk accords. Overall, it offers a euphoric femininity and sophistication through the aroma.

This seductive and opulent fragrance by Byredo is brilliant for hot summer or spring days when you wanna enchant your partner through your addictive aura.

Jérôme Epinette created this massively hyped perfume in 2009. Since then, it has created history by being the most popular summer fragrance for women.

Now, let’s see what elements made Bal d’Afriqu such a legendary composition:

Top Notes: Amalfi Lemon, Tagetes, Black Currant, Bergamot, and African Orange Flower

Middle Notes: Violet, Cyclamen and Jasmine

Base Notes: Vetiver, Musk, Amber, and Virginia Cedar

From the beginning, Bal d’Afrique smells energetic, bright, and very refreshing. The top is all about striking citruses combined with some luscious flowers.

However, I also got a bit of smokiness in the opening, which smelled very addictive, along with the zesty notes.

As it develops, the citruses wear off to some degree, and you’ll be left with a soothing, feminine floral heart having a subtle woody undertone.

In the dry-down, all I could smell was the earthy, green, slightly creamy vetiver. Here, musk and amber hold this woodiness glamorously and create a warm, evocative aura.

Overall, this is a fresh, clean, long-lasting perfume for women who wanna smell simple, addictive, and elegant all at once. It is actually called the best smelling woodsy perfume for her.

Bal d’Afriqu works great in all weather and event settings, but it feels extremely fascinating on any beach party, lunch date, or romantic vacation.

What Perfumes Smell Similar To Bal d’Afrique Byredo?

If you like perfumes with well-blended citrusy and woody notes, Bal d’Afrique is the best one for you.

However, I can give you some alternative options for this hugely popular fragrance. They will save you some bucks while offering a similar signature smell and outstanding performance.

And here is my list of Bal d’Afrique Byredo alternatives:

1. Only You Новая Заря (The New Dawn)

Only You is a floral, woody fragrance by Новая Заря (The New Dawn) and was released in 2014. And I think this perfume smells super close, almost 95% similar to Bal d’Afrique.

The only difference, the citrusy tone here is a bit sharper and brighter than in the original.

So, Only You starts off by infusing an evocative and cheering citrusy aroma in the air. Neroli presents a bitterish green tone in the opening.

In the middle, the aroma becomes sweet, powdery, and slightly woody, with a mix of floral and cedar extracts.

The perfume gets smokier and more mature during the dry-down. Here, it will give you a warm, soothing, and alluring feel from the potent blend of vetiver and musk.

Only You projects strongly, and I get around 7-8 hours of longevity on my skin. So, if you’re looking for a fair-priced Bal d’Afrique dupe, this is your best pick.

When To Wear

Only You does an excellent job in both warm and cold weather. But I find its aroma more appealing as a signature scent in summer, spring, or early fall days.

Why Should You Buy

2. Africano Alexandria Fragrances

Africano by Alexandria Fragrances was released in 2018. You can consider it as a sweeter, richer, and longer-lasting rendition of Bal d’Afrique.

So, I must say Hany Hafez did an excellent job in recreating the popular BDA aroma in Africano. Plus, it comes at a much lower price.

This Bal d’Afrique clone opens up with luminous citruses mingled with the tanginess of black currant. Tagetes stay on the bottom, creating a soothing floral undertone.

Africano takes a little while to develop properly, but when it does, the aroma just blows my mind. It’s refreshing, comforting, powdery, and, at the same time, amazingly rich with floral accords.

Finally, the intense creamy base notes give a sensual and mature effect to the base.

Its addictive woody fragrance trail will steal your lover’s heart without being bold at all. And this aroma was detectable on my skin even after 15 hours of applying.

When To Wear

In my opinion, Africano is the best refreshing daily fragrance for warm seasons. Well, it works similarly great at any formal or informal occasion in the fall.

Why Should You Buy

3. Tonka Wood Zara Home

Designed by the same perfumer, Jérôme Epinette, Tonka Wood is the next Bal d’Afrique dupe on this list. This perfume by Zara Home is basically more intense and addictive than its inspiration.

The moment you spray it, you’ll get a clean, mood-lifting, citrusy aroma with a touch of smokiness.

In the core, the perfume releases a fresh floral smell with the powdery effect of violet.

At last, you’ll receive a combined spicy, smoky smell of tonka bean. Woody vetiver is also there and smells inviting with the sweet touch of praline.

Additionally, the price of Tonka Wood is very reasonable, yet it lasts much longer than Bal d’Afrique. So, I think it’s a great alternative.

When To Wear

Tonka Wood smells the best on dry, clean days of fall. I find it enjoyable as my signature scent for summer and spring. Its deep, smoky tone is also perfect for blind dates and clubbing in winter

Why Should You Buy

4. 90 Pure White Banana Republic

90 Pure White was launched by Banana Republic in 2017. Its overall aroma doesn’t smell exactly like Bal d’Afrique, but I get about 35% to 40% similarity from this one.

However, it can be a good substitute for clean, non-offensive, floral-woody perfume lovers.

At the first sniff, you’ll feel a juicy, zesty bergamot aroma with a tad of greenness. Grapefruit makes the opening very fresh and striking.

The fusion of violet, lavender, and jasmine presents a dry, powdery floral nature that’s just enough to soothe your mood.

Its closing features a pure, musky aroma tuned with the woody, warm nuance of vetiver.

Simply put, this fragrance does give a Bal d’Afrique vibe but with more enriched green, tangy accords. Also, it stays up for about 6 hours on my skin with moderate projection and sillage.

When To Wear

90 Pure White works exclusively well in any casual outings in spring or summer. It’s quite decent to wear on workdays in the fall, but I like it more as my everyday fragrance for simple meet-ups with friends or family.

Why Should You Buy

5. Collezione Privata Viaggio d’Africa Pal Zileri

Collezione Privata Viaggio d’Africa resembles Bal d’Afrique on so many levels. It’s zesty, smooth, and smells freshly woody with profound vetiver essence.

I found this fragrance by Pal Zileri a bit more intense and invigorating than Bal d’Afrique.

In the starting, it presents a zest of freshness with toned-down citrusy accords. Soon, the aroma jumps to its floral core, filled with fragrant and powdery iris.

Here, the base notes are practically the show-stopper. During the dry down, earthy vetiver infused with spicy tonka and guaiac wood glamorously carries on the perfume’s elegance.

And I could smell this rich, slightly masculine fragrance trail for about 12 hours. Although this was initially released as a unisex fragrance, it goes well with rough masculine personalities.

So, I recommend this alternative only for those ladies who mostly wear dark, smoky fragrances.

When To Wear

Collezione Privata Viaggio d’Africa is more suitable for fall or winter. Apart from that, you can wear it while clubbing or on dinner dates during the spring.

Why Should You Buy

6. Miu Miu Twist Miu Miu

The next spot on my list goes to Miu Miu Twist by Miu Miu- an overwhelmingly fresh and unique Bal d’Afrique clone. It was released in 2019 as a floral, musky aroma for women.

The initial aroma of Miu Miu Twist is very fresh, citrusy, and a bit green with the bergamot, berries, and apple blossom combo. As the perfume proceeds, it gets a completely different turn in the core, and you’ll start to feel its warmth and richness here.

Finally, it dries down, spreading an earthy, woody, and smoky sensation from cedar and amber.

When To Wear

This floral, aromatic perfume is best suited for comparatively warmer times in summer and spring. It can be a good choice for any casual or work-related occasion.

Why Should You Buy

7. Vetiver Fatal Atelier Cologne

Every time I sniff Vetiver Fatal, its enjoyable vetiver and citrusy tone immediately reminds me of Bal d’Afrique. This masterpiece by Atelier Cologne was released in 2012.

It offers a bold and surprising freshness of citruses in the opening. However, I could detect the bitterish juicy plum aroma as soon as I sprayed it.

Moments later, the perfume flaunts with the powdery delicacy of orange blossom. Plus, violet leaf increases the freshness with a minty, ozonic vibe.

The smoky Haitian vetiver, cedar, and royalness of oud lift the fragrance to another level of sensuality and elegance.

Besides offering 70% similarity to Bal d’Afrique, this replica stays up on my skin for over 10 hours. Given the price point, it’s a win-win for me.

When To Wear

Whether it’s fall, summer, or a lovely day in spring, you can wear Vetiver Fatal in all types of events.

Why Should You Buy

8. Hanuman Boadicea the Victorious

Starting from now, I’ll be entering the realm of premium substitutes of Bal d’Afrique. And in this new journey, Hanuman by Boadicea the Victorious is my first recommendation for you. It was created in 2016 to celebrate the Year of the Monkey.

However, when I tested it for the first time, I was blown away by its regality and revealing freshness. So, I bought a decant.

As I kept using it, I finally got a Bal d’Afrique vibe from the fragrance. But trust me, Hanuman smells a thousand times more natural and powerful than Bal d’Afrique.

It opens lavishly with a cheerful citrusy blend and immediately turns into a gently anchored floral aroma. You can surely smell the purity of neroli separately in the heart.

Finally, the dry-down highlights the tenderness of vetiver and cedar. Musk and sandalwood blend in the symphony, enhancing the perfume’s richness and securing a mellow, seductive aura for eternity.

It’s very expensive. So, consider it as a viable option only when you don’t have any budget issues.

When To Wear

This deity of fragrances is wearable all year round. I personally admire it more at special dinners or formal parties.

Why Should You Buy

9. Al Rayhan Attar Collection

Al Rayhan by Attar Collection will be my next suggestion when it comes to luxurious replicas of Bal d’Afrique. It actually offers a sweeter aroma and superior longevity than the Byredo fragrance.

Al Rayhan smells invigorating from the first spray. The pairing of citrusy, fruity, and floral accords with a hint of sweets gives a promising feel.

This fresh tone retains even in the heart, where it gets a bit gourmand nature with the unexpected tuning of tangerine with praline.

I personally love its exotic, fruity nature. It feels very summery and mouthwatering to my nose. Instead of a mature woody vetiver aroma, this perfume has a sweet, powdery, and musky tone in the dry-down.

Additionally, Nishane Sultan Vetiver is another good niche option if you need a vetiver fragrance to gift your partner. If you have a tight budget, you can go for some affordable colognes similar to Nishane Sultan Vetiver.

When To Wear

This long-lasting fragrance is wearable all year round. I find Al Rayhan’s aroma more appropriate for any special or daytime events in warmer months.

Why Should You Buy

10. Hermessence Vetiver Tonka Hermès

Hermessence Vetiver by Tonka Hermès is the last Bal d’Afrique Byredo dupe in this list. Master perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena created this gem in 2004.

I won’t describe this fragrance as a refreshing summer scent like Bal d’Afrique Byredo. Instead, it gives a gourmand, smoky vibe while retaining a similar vetiver tone.

Its opening has a velvety sweet aroma tuned with the dewy freshness of lily-of-the-valley. This sweet, fresh aroma with a hint of sandalwood disappears almost immediately.

Then, you’ll feel its nutty, gourmand nature from praline and caramel. Woody vetiver arrives when the fragrance dries up, presenting a gorgeous earthy green aroma.

The base is clearly dominated by vetiver, however, smoky tobacco completely steals the show.

It smells very invigorating in colder months and gives a dark, mysterious, yet comforting aura.

When To Wear

Hermessence Vetiver can be a great choice for casual and special parties in fall or spring. Apart from that, you can wear it in early summer or spring.

Why Should You Buy

Final Thoughts

To give you the most authentic information, I tried out all the above-mentioned fragrances by myself. All of them offer a good resemblance to Bal d’Afrique and smell gorgeous on their own.

So, I hope the alternatives I have given here will help you find the Bal d’Afrique Byredo substitute you were looking for.

That’s all for now. Let me know your final pick in the comment box below.