Right after the release of Empressa by Penhaligon’s, the hype of this alluring gem kept rising. The fragrance itself is great, but its hefty price tag is an issue for some.
Consequently, I started to look for some dupes so that you won’t have to break the bank but still immerse yourself in the world of Empressa.
Do you want to know what I found? Then bear with me till the end.
What Does Empressa Penhaligon’s Smell Like?
Empressa’s opening shimmers with a fiery tint of pink pepper and a mouth-watering fruity splash of citruses and peach. The heart is richly floral with rose, geranium, and neroli. In the base, an exotic aura of patchouli is sweetened by cocoa and vanilla, where woody notes add depth to it.
This luxurious scent was launched in 2014, which is an amber floral fragrance for women. The nose behind this fragrance is Christian Provenzano.
Before moving to further details, let’s have a look at the note pyramid of Empressa Penhaligon’s:
Top Notes: Blood Orange, Bergamot, Peach, Mandarin Orange, and Pink Pepper
Middle Notes: Rose, Dewberry, Cassis, Neroli, and Geranium
Base Notes: Patchouli, Brown Sugar, Musk, Vanilla, Sandalwood, Cacao, Olibanum and Amber
Empressa comes with a fruity, zesty smell of bergamot and sweet, juicy blood orange at the top. The striking entry of pink pepper adds a perfect spicy touch to make an interesting start.
Then, the heart is charmed with the delicate floral bouquet of rose, geranium, and the jammy tint of dewberry that feels enchanting.
As neroli and cassis join the core, the freshness is enhanced with its subtle green touch. I personally loved the fresh, youthful vibe at this phase.
Finally, you will perceive different twists in the dry down. It’s loaded with the woody-earthy smell where vanilla, mingling with cacao, injects a sweet aroma, grasping everything harmonically.
Even with moderate performance and 6+ hours of longevity, Empressa’s soft aroma will be able to hold the attention of a lot of people. You can wear this masterpiece on your special day to portray a sophisticated vibe.
What Are The Perfumes Similar To Empressa Penhaligon’s?
Empressa Penhaligon’s is undoubtedly a luxurious, refined blend of fruity floral notes. However, along with the price, the sillage of this perfume also feels unsatisfactory to a group of people.
For that reason, to satisfy the cravings to some extent, here I introduced some great quality dupes that resemble the same aroma with great performance.
Here are the 5 alternatives to Empressa Penhaligon’s:
1. No.603 by Eden Perfumes
Top Notes: Blood Orange, Peach, Bergamot, Mandarin, Pink Pepper
Middle Notes: Rose, Dewberry, Geranium, Neroli, Cassis
Base Notes: Patchouli, Brown Sugar, Musk, Vanilla, Sandalwood, Cocoa, Olibanum, Amber
While looking for an affordable clone, I got No.603 by Eden Perfumes on a website. They share the same DNA of Empressa, and that too without cutting your pocket.
Doesn’t that sound great? So, let’s see how it smells.
In the first sniff, you will feel like sipping on a cocktail of juicy, fruity blood orange, peach, and bergamot with a slight sprinkle of spicy pink pepper.
As the fragrance mellows, you will feel a stimulating sensation from the cheerful fusion of powdery rose and fruity yet floral tint of geranium. Neroli also adds an outstanding aromatic tone to the heart.
Well, the woody-earthy nuance of sandalwood, patchouli, and the celestial smell of olibanum is flawlessly rounded up in the base. Besides, the creamy, seductive texture of vanilla and musk offers a long lingering trail.
When to Wear
No.603 is a great daytime scent to wear on a bright sunny day in spring and summer. As it costs less, besides special outings, you can wear it on casual days too.
Why Should You Buy
- Fruity-juicy opening.
- Closest replica of Empressa.
- Moderate sillage.
- A perfect balance of spice, floral, and citruses.
- Lasts about 7 hours.
- Smells rich.
- Inexpensive.
2. DIVAIN-687 | Woman
Top Notes: Blood Orange, Peach, Bergamot, Mandarin, and Pink Pepper
Middle Notes: Rose, Blackberry, Cassis (Black Currant), Neroli and Geranium
Base Notes: Patchouli, Brown Sugar, Musk, Sandalwood, Vanilla, Cocoa, Frankincense Incense and Amber
Since my friend introduced Divain’s website, it has become one of my favorites, and I love to hover around their site whenever I look for a dupe of my desired perfume.
Inspired by Empressa Penhaligon’s, they formulated DIVAIN-687, which opens with a similar note of tantalizing bergamot, peach, and orange.
After a while, the majestic, captivating aroma of rose and geranium mingles with neroli to ensure a romantic vibe in the core.
Instead of dewberry, you will find blackberry as a new addition here, which really impressed me.
Moving forward, the gourmand vanilla and the cocoa evoke a bitter-sweet smell as the perfume mellows. Plus, Patchouli and sandalwood release an earthy, timbery, intense aroma in the base.
It lasted 7 hours on me and gave me a room-filling sillage. Also, the projection of this perfume is praiseworthy.
When to Wear
DIVAIN-687 | Woman shine best during summer and spring. It can be worn at a family gathering or lunch hangout with friends. This substitute also projected well on me during autumn. But I don’t recommend it for nighttime.
Why Should You Buy
- Resemble Empressa amazingly.
- Easy wear.
- Room filling projection.
- Affordable clone.
- Very well-balanced.
- Splendid feminine aroma.
3. Coco Mademoiselle Chanel
Top Notes: Orange, Mandarin Orange, Bergamot and Orange Blossom
Middle Notes: Turkish Rose, Jasmine, Mimosa and Ylang-Ylang
Base Notes: Patchouli, White Musk, Vanilla, Vetiver, Tonka Bean and Opoponax
If you love the rich, classy aura of Empressa, then Coco Mademoiselle by Chanel is a must-buy substitute for you as it offers around 95% similarity.
This gem is love at first sniff to me. Initially, a great, relaxing fruity-floral aroma from the collaboration of different citruses and angelic orange blossom emerges at the top.
The divine touch of sweet, creamy ylang-ylang and a warm, dusty hint of mimosa make the core tempting and attractive.
Moreover, my boyfriend loves the romantic vibe of Turkish rose and the sensual smell of jasmine in this layer, and I really love how it naturally gathers a lot of compliments for me.
Lastly, the powdery and sweet-smelling musk mingles with earthy vetiver and patchouli in the base. As it settles more, the vanilla and tonka bean come to light, leaving a smooth, buttery trail on my skin.
Due to the 12 hours of lasting power of this best-smelling Chanel Perfume, it became my signature scent. With just two presses, it will give you a perfect mood boost, making your journey memorable.
When to Wear
The addictive floral perfume Coco Mademoiselle is ideal for any season except hot summer days.
This gem will be an excellent choice to make your intimate date nights special and cheerful, but it’s not recommended to use in a formal setup.
Why Should You Buy
- Cost less than the Empressa.
- Fresh, citrusy opening.
- Attention getter.
- Gorgeous scent for special events.
- Eternal longevity for 12 to 14 hours.
- Excellent sillage.
- Mood-lifting aroma.
4. Club de Nuit Armaf
Top Notes: Orange, Bergamot, Grapefruit and Peach
Middle Notes: Rose, Jasmine, Geranium, and Litchi
Base Notes: Patchouli, Vanilla, Musk and Vetiver
Upon the first spritz of Club de Nuit Armaf, I found this incredible Armaf Perfume could be a great alternative to Empressa by Penhaligon’s.
The first layer of this perfume spreads a delicious, lavish aroma of juicy, tangy orange and bergamot. You’ll also get a freshly picked peach smell as it settles more.
In the middle, the beautiful floral fusion makes a mesmerizing aroma that will take you to a fresh, blooming garden of roses on a spring evening.
To be honest, I get the aroma more sensual and mature in the baseline. Here, the earthiness of patchouli mingling with the sweet dose of vanilla and creamy, sensual musk fabulously uplifts the romantic vibe in you.
Also, this is an affordable scent with 10 to 12 hours of longevity that you can easily carry on your summer/spring trip and wear in evening outings.
When to Wear
If you are looking for a versatile scent to use all year round on any occasion, then Club de Nuit Armaf is a top-notch pick.
In my opinion, it’s a beautiful smell to wear at an anniversary party, wedding, or birthday. Also, my sister loves to wear it every day before heading to work.
Why Should You Buy
- Versatile.
- Great value for money.
- Addictive aroma.
- Radiates within a few feet.
- Stays on skin for more than 10 hours.
- Mass appealing.
5. Miss Dior (2012) Dior
Top Note: Italian Mandarin
Middle Notes: Rose and Egyptian Jasmine
Base Notes: Patchouli and Musk
Launched in 2012, Miss Dior (2012) is a chypre floral fragrance for women. This is a perfect blend that brings an elegant, young vibe to a woman’s getup and is also a wonderful substitute for Empressa.
In the first transition, the simplistic, lively touch of luminous mandarin orange does all the work to make you comfortable throughout the journey.
After a while, a sensual, alluring touch of rose dancing with Egyptian jasmine flourishes, a sweet, powdery sensation on the skin.
The core feels heavenly and fairly intoxicating as it lingers, hooking my entire attention for a long time.
Once fully settled, the strong, earthy patchouli reveals its presence along with a musky smell, which remains on the skin for at least 8 hours without any reapplication.
Additionally, there are some best-smelling Dior Perfumes that everyone loves, which you can try if you want to experience more of this type of aroma.
When to Wear
The multifaceted quality of Miss Dior (2012) makes it fresh enough for spring and warm enough for fall. I feel it’s wise to keep it stored for special events as it falls a bit on the pricey side.
Why Should You Buy
- Elegant and sophisticated vibe.
- Splendid aura for females.
- Compliment magnet.
- Delicate floral heart.
- Unique, refined composition.
- Crowd pleaser.
- Last up to 8 to 10 hours.
Takeaway Thoughts
Empressa is a perfect piece of elegance in a bottle. This addictive, alluring perfume is loved by all.
So, to enjoy this lovely composition with a better performance and some unique twists, you can have a look at the listed alternatives. Hope I have made the task a bit easy for you.
Let me know if you have any queries. Till then, take care!