Although Glossier products are not ridiculously costly, they are not very cheap either. Recently, their popular perfume, “Glossier You” has become something of a cult favorite, and people are going ga-ga over it.
However, because of its unique “personal” property, Glossier You dupes or alternatives are one of the most challenging to find.
When it comes to duplicate perfumes, it’s almost impossible to find a perfect substitute for this fragrance.
So, I decided to go on a research spree and dig out fragrances that smell closest to Glossier You, and I have compiled them in this article.
Continue reading if you love Glossier You but are searching for a fantastic dupe in order to either save money or try something new.
How Does Glossier You Work?
Released in 2017, Glossier You was curated by Dora Baghriche and Frank Voelkl.
It belongs to the somewhat uncommon but increasingly popular category of skin musk, which blends in with the smell of your skin, enhances the smell, and makes it more attractive.
Glossier You is also called a “pheromone perfume.” This is because it uses the synthetic chemical called iso e super, which stimulates pheromone receptors.
As a result, its molecules imitate the pheromones that the body naturally releases.
Since pheromones play such a big role in attraction, when you apply Glossier You, it supposedly boosts attraction.
What Does Glossier You Smell Like?
Glossier You is not the traditional floral, sweet-smelling, aromatic fragrance – that’s what makes it so unique.
In fact, it has no specific scent at all – it imparts a musky, floral, woodsy smell, which smells different on different people.
The notes present in Glossier You include ambrette, ambrox, and musk as base notes, while the top notes are roots of iris and pink pepper. The resulting scent is very close to your skin. When you initially spray it, there is an evident spiciness of the pepper combined with Iris.
It gradually tones down into a musky, creamy scent as the base notes become more prominent.
Its musky, woody aroma changes to suit your body chemistry. Therefore, it won’t smell exactly the same on you as it does on another person.
A perfume like Glossier You will smell differently on different people because each individual releases their own pheromones. Glossier You users gush about how many praises they receive when wearing this fragrance.
It’s not your standard perfume, and when you wear it, it blends with your body to produce your own distinctive scent, which, in my opinion, explains all the compliments.
What Perfumes Smell Similar To Glossier You?
Finding personal fragrances that impart a “you but better” scent like Glossier You is very challenging. Since this is a relatively newer concept, you won’t find many fragrances like this in the market.
However, there are some perfumes that have a similar scent to You, and they can be used as alternatives to it.
Here are the top perfumes that smell like Glossier You:
Kaleidoscope by Bath & Body Works
Top Notes: Pink Pepper
Middle Notes: Iris, Cedar and Black Pepper
Base Notes: Sandalwood, Vetiver and Patchouli
Kaleidoscope by Bath & Body Works is a fragrance that smells very similar to Glossier You. It is one of the closet dupes of You in the market, and that is evident when you compare the notes/
However, it does not impart the same effect of being a pheromone scent like You.
Nonetheless, it comes close to the scent.
Kaleidoscope is more peppery than You and has the woodiness of cedar and sandalwood in it. The muskiness is much less than You, but you can still sense the iris and pepper like You, but much more intensified.
When To Wear
Why Should You Buy
- Similar to Glossier You.
- Much cheaper than Glossier You.
- Can be layered with different fragrances.
- Stronger than Glossier You.
Not A Perfume by Juliette Has A Gun
Not A Perfume by Juliette Has A Gun is another fragrance that can be called a personal scent like Glossier You.
As the name suggests, it is not like other ordinary perfumes. Not A Perfume is a very delicate scent made of musk and ambroxan that has a naturalistic feel to it.
There is a clear resemblance with You when the scent dries down. However, it cannot be called a close dupe as it lacks the powderiness of You and provides a much more fresh, clean scent.
Moreover, it lacks muskiness and has a more amber scent to it.
Overall, it is not cheap, but it is a great alternative to Glossier You. Like the latter, it also smells different on each individual’s skin.
When To Wear
Why Should You Buy
- A personal scent, like Glossier You.
- Unique, elegant fragrance.
- Does not contain any allergens.
- Can be layered with other fragrances.
Fleur de Peau by Diptyque
Top Notes: Aldehydes, Pink Pepper, Angelica and Bergamot
Middle Notes: Iris and Turkish Rose
Base Notes: Musk, Ambrette, Carrot, Ambergris, Sandalwood, Leather and Amberwood
Fleur de Peau by Diptyque is a musky, powdery fragrance that has a similar scent to Glossier You. However, it is not a personal scent like the latter.
A few of the notes are similar between the two perfumes, but Fleur de Peau is more floral and imparts a stronger scent than You.
It has great longevity on the skin. While it is on the expensive side, it is a similar alternative to Glossier You.
When To Wear
Why Should You Buy
- Similar to Glossier You.
- Stronger than Glossier You.
- Long-lasting on the skin.
Radiant Nectar by Clean Reserve
Top Notes: Pear and Ambrette
Middle Notes: Tobacco Blossom, Orris and Carrot Seeds
Base Notes: Musk, Ambroxan and White Cedar Extract
Radiant Nectar by Clean Reserve is another perfume that has a similar scent to Glossier You.
However, it is much more of a conventional perfume than the latter and is not much of a personal scent.
It has a musky fragrance that has a floral touch to it. The ambrox and musk used in the formulation give it a similar scent to You.
It lacks the powderiness of You but has a sweetness of its own which makes it very pleasant.
It has average longevity, but even though it is not very affordable, it is cheaper than You.
When To Wear
It’s light, musky and sweet scent is perfect for everyday wear.
Why Should You Buy
- Similar to Glossier You.
- A musky yet pleasantly sweet scent.
- Cheaper than Glossier You.
God is a Woman by Ariana Grande
Top Notes: Pear and Ambrette
Middle Notes: Orris and Turkish Rose
Base Notes: Madagascar Vanilla and Sandalwood
God is a Woman by Ariana Grande is an apt alternative for Glossier You if you want a fruitier alternative to the scent.
It is not a personal scent, but it has a similar muskiness to You, blended in with a pleasant sweetness of pears and a similar floral touch. If you don’t overspray it, it can impart the effect of a skin scent.
It has decent longevity but is much cheaper than You.
When To Wear
It is very pleasant daytime wear, which can also be worn during nighttime.
Why Should You Buy
- A sweeter alternative to Glossier You.
- Cheaper than Glossier You.
- Decent longevity.
Cloud Musk by Mix:Bar
Top Notes: Cardamom and Cypress
Middle Notes: Cotton Flower, Iris, Jasmine and Peony
Base Notes: Tonka Bean and Woodsy Notes
Cloud Musk by Mix:Bar is another perfume that can be compared to Glossier You.
The aroma of cloud musk is fresher, with a touch more of a powdered or linen-like quality, and it has a hint of wood that reminds me of a cozy wooden cabin.
It lacks the sweetness and floral essence of You, but it is an excellent skin musk fragrance. It is also much cheaper than You.
Overall, I would say this is an excellent alternative to Glossier You.
When To Wear
Why Should You Buy
- Similar to Glossier You.
- Much cheaper than Glossier You.
- Pleasant skin musking scent.
- Long-lasting.
White Musk by The Body Shop
Top Notes: Musk, Lily, Ylang-Ylang, Galbanum and Basil
Middle Notes: Musk, Lily, Jasmine and Rose
Base Notes: Musk, Iris, Jasmine, Oakmoss, Amber, Vanilla, Rose, Vetiver, Patchouli and Peach
This perfume has the same subtle muskiness as Glossier You, but it also has more pronounced floral notes like jasmine and rose, which give it a more delicate, romantic vibe.
Besides the powdery muskiness, an earthy, floral essence is dominating in this fragrance.
It has medium to low longevity but is much cheaper than Glossier You, so if you want, you can get this for yourself.
When To Wear
Why Should You Buy
- Similar to Glossier You.
- Much cheaper than Glossier You.
- More floral than Glossier You.
Wrapping Up
Yes, finding proper dupes for Glossier You is very challenging, but there are some fantastic dupes and alternatives for this you-but-better scent.
While not all similar fragrances are pheromone scents, most of them act as skin musking agents, reacting differently with each individual’s skin without having an overpowering smell of their own.
Whether it’s a cheaper or an expensive alternative with a similar style, you will surely find options that cater to your taste in this article.
Did I miss any Glossier You dupe that you know of? Drop the names in the comments below!
I hope this article was helpful for you. Let me know which fragrance you’d like for me to cover next.
