8 Perfumes Similar To Portrait of a Lady Frederic Malle

I came across the megastar Portrait of a Lady by Frederic Malle at a party and fell in love with the gorgeous, voluminous aura it radiates. However, its price point made me think of getting a dupe first, and that’s exactly what I did.

During the search, I found a number of substitutes and clone as well that can replace this niche perfume.

So, tune in to learn about the perfumes resembling Portrait of a Lady by Frederic Malle and smell like an elegant rose petal.

What Does Portrait of a Lady Frederic Malle Smell Like?

Portrait of a Lady smells magnificent with the brilliant mixture of rose with high-quality fruity and woody accords. It combines the elegance of rose with delicious fruits, and slowly, this fusion turns warm and comfortable with a hint of smoky and clean natural aromas.

Such a warm and cozy combination is ideal for winter.

And Dominique Ropion kept that in mind when he created this amber floral perfume in 2010 for Frederic Malle.

Now, before exploring, let’s find out which notes are ascending the throne of Portrait of a Lady:

Top Notes: Rose, Clove, Raspberry, Black Currant, Cinnamon

Middle Notes: Patchouli, Incense, Sandalwood

Base Notes: Musk, Benzoin, Amber

After the first spray, the delightful aura of rose got my attention, and the mingling of spicy-sweet clove with rich, sensual black currant got me sold at the top.

Cinnamon adds a peppery-sweet tone that stays until the middle comes to light.

The core of this niche fragrance combines patchouli, whose clean tone blends with the smoky hint of incense, and this combo softens as sandalwood’s rich, creamy hunch starts to flow around.

It creates an enchanting bubble around you. And when that happened to me, I was not concerned about anything. That’s how good this long-lasting aroma is.

Finally, the base shows up with its modern touch.

Here, musk’s subtle, defied smell gets a new dimension when the intensely sweet yet powdery hunch of benzoin flourishes and the resinous warmth of amber adds that chef’s kiss effect that leaves a trail up to 6 feet.

And you won’t regret spending if you want to elevate your perfume collection with this majestic perfume.

After trying Portrait of a Lady, I added this to my best smelling rose perfume list.

What Perfumes Are Similar To Portrait of a Lady Frederic Malle?

It was challenging to discover an amber floral perfume with similar components.

Though I didn’t stumble upon the perfect one in a single day, it took time, and I enjoyed the journey of finding a suitable alternative to Portrait of a Lady by Frederic Malle.

Here is the list of perfumes that smell close to Portrait of a Lady Frederic Malle:

1. Porpora Tiziana Terenzi

If you want more rose essence with the vibe of Portrait of a Lady, Porpora by Tiziana Terenzi, with its passionate red bottle and gilded jewel-shaped cap, will suit you. It was launched in 2017 and composed by Paolo Terenzi.

At the top, the alluring nuance of rose, sweet raspberry, and cloves mingles with cinnamon’s warm, comforting tone. And this vibe continues even in the heart as the Bulgarian rose is present there.

Slowly, the floral aura turns smoky, clean, and resinous as incense patchouli merges with the distinct tone of poppy.

Ultimately, the musky-ambery sweetness of the base blends with balsamic myrrh, rich, powdery benzoin, and chestnut for that slightly creamy-nutty flavor.

After I told my cousin about Porpora, she is planning to buy this fragrance as it lasts 12+ hours with outstanding sillage and projection, including the heartwarming scent.

When to Wear

This gorgeous red beauty is perfect to use during fall, winter, and spring, especially at night. It works well on the days, too.

Why Should You Buy

2. Portrait of a Lady Limited Edition 2018 Frederic Malle

When I find an alternative to a perfume from the same brand, they will obviously smell closer. In this case, it’s a clone from ingredients to perfumer.

Portrait of a Lady Limited Edition 2018 is a replica of Portrait of a Lady also formulated by Dominique Ropion. It has a modern and classic packaging, which is the only visual differentiating factor.

My best friend got this beauty a few months ago, and she is obsessed.

It opens with the lustful ambiance of black currant and romantic rose mixture, combining juicy raspberry, warm spicy cloves, and cinnamon’s warm, vanilla-like essence.

In the heart, this winter-appropriate fragrance shows its modern touch by merging the strong smell of patchouli with creamy sandalwood and smoky, resinous incense.

The stunning dry-down of Portrait of a Lady Limited Edition 2018 blends the rich, balsamic aura of benzoin and amber’s piney nuance with musk.

Moreover, my friend is very happy with its 12 hours of longevity and enormous sillage as she likes to make her presence known.

When to Wear

Portrait of a Lady Limited Edition 2018 by Frederic Malle is ideal for the colder months of autumn and winter. It smells divine at night. So, for a date or party, it’s the best option.

Why Should You Buy

3. Eau Capitale Eau de Parfum Diptyque

Eau Capitale Eau de Parfum by Diptyque was crafted by Olivier Pescheux in 2018. This chypre floral fragrance has a pleasing bright and natural blending.

At first impression, you will get the fresh, spicy nuance of pink pepper and citrusy bergamot. During my testing, I was actually disappointed by this tone and thought it didn’t resemble Portrait of a Lady by Frederic Malle.

My conception became apparent when the heart started to melt with the enchanting, rich aura of the rose, the king of flowers.

Ultimately, patchouli started to spread its earthy, spicy, and sweet hunch, which lasted on my skin for more than 10 hours, and its mild trail was just enough sillage to my taste.

When to Wear

This long-lasting perfume is mainly appropriate for autumn. But, it goes well with the cold weather of winter and bright, lively spring.

Why Should You Buy

4. Chypre Sublime Floral Street

In 2017, Floral Street launched Chypre Sublime, formulated by perfumer Jérôme Epinette. Though the brand said it is an unisex aroma, I felt it smells more feminine.

During the opening, this moderate-lasting fragrance shows how citrusy-fruity flowers are used in perfumes. Here, geranium is the first element that tunes with the complex tone of incense and spicy pink pepper.

It radiates a peppery, floral aura which is addictive.

The core comes with the star of this perfume, rose. With it, patchouli and violet create a powdery, romantic vibe.

My sister is very fond of fanciful combinations, and she got it after I suggested this scent to her. Now, we both wear it in turns, and every time, it feels a bit different to me, but my sister doesn’t feel that way.

Everyone’s skin chemistry is different, so I’m not worried.

Anyway, let’s get over with the dry-down. I adore the ambery, musky hint of labdanum with woody, lemony-smelling olibanum here. Together, they increase benzoin’s heartwarming, sweet, warm, and vanillic nuance.

Additionally, you will be able to enjoy this chypre floral fragrance for more than 5 hours with a few sprays.

When to Wear

Chypre Sublime is perfect for those colder days and nights of winter, fall, and spring. It feels warm and alluring during these sessions.

Why Should You Buy

5. Love Chopard By Chopard

If you wanna feel like having a picnic in a rose garden. Then my friend, Love Chopard, will take you there without any doubt.

This amber floral perfume was released in 2020, and Alberto Morillas made sure it blew the mind of a rose lover.

At the opening, the rich, refreshing aroma of roses will enchant you.

Then, violet’s powdery ambiance gets the kick of pink pepper to sense the warmth of cinnamon and tangy bergamot.

You will get the prominent smell of roses in the middle as well. However, it contains Bulgarian and Moroccan roses along with jasmine and orange blossom.

In the ending, Turkish rose tunes with patchouli, and its clean aura warms up as the richness of honey, the milky, soft cinnamon blends with cacao and nutty-smelling tonka bean gradually.

Whether it contains fixative or not, it lasts around 12 hours, which is great if you are planning a fall outside picnic.

When to Wear

During fall and winter, Love Chopard by Chopard flourishes more as it has many rich-smelling ingredients. It also works in the spring days.

Why Should You Buy

6. Contes du Levant L’Artisan Parfumeur

Christophe Raynaud is the nose behind Contes du Levant by L’Artisan Parfumeur. It was released in 2021.

Its overlapping notes are the reason it resembles Frederic Malle’s Portrait of a Lady.

The mild feminine touch of damask rose, and the warmth of rich Turkish rose will welcome you at first. Then, this gender-neutral fragrance becomes resinous and woody as there is incense.

After that, labdanum spreads its musky sweetness, which spices up due to the presence of several spicy ingredients.

Pink pepper’s sharp, rosy essence merges with the tingling tone of white and black pepper, which dries down to a glorious aroma. This expensive scent lasts 6 hours with a mild trail.

So keep that in mind before your purchase.

When to Wear

Fall and winter nights are the most suitable times to enjoy this floral-spicy combination. It becomes more impactful during the colder months.

Why Should You Buy

7. Rosa Absolute Molton Brown

I have mentioned before that finding a perfume that replicates the outstanding mixture of Portrait of a Lady was a journey for me.

And though I owned it, I found out about Rosa Absolute Molton Brown after a while.

The funny story is my sister-in-law gifted me this chypre floral perfume when I visited my brother, and due to the exhaustion of flights and job pressure, I forgot about it and didn’t open it until my birthday party.

And when I did, I was so happy with this replacement perfume.

As I sprayed it on my wrist to check, the harmonious fruity nuance of black currant swiped through my nose along with the acidic hint of raspberry.

The sharpness of pink pepper was mind-blowing. And it made the colder evening somehow warmer and cozy.

Next is the middle, which contains the floral components. Rose is the queen here. With a distilled rosy ambiance, violet leaf’s fresh ozonic aura and geranium serve their queen properly.

As time passed, I became busy with the guests, and after a couple of hours, a friend said I was smelling great. And she was right.

The base combines vanilla with the powerful ambery hunch of labdanum. Patchouli brings out a dark, earthy vibe that interlaces with the environment effortlessly for 6 hours.

When to Wear

For a party, going out, or even dating in the colder months, Rosa Absolute is the perfect option. It even works very well during the daytime.

Why Should You Buy

8. Belgravia Chypre Penhaligon’s

Recently, I noticed that Penhaligon’s getting hyped. So I was expecting one smell alike of Portrait of a Lady from this brand, and I found a unisex fragrance named Belgravia Chypre.

Fabrice Pellegrin designed this sophisticated aroma in 2018. His inspiration was the historical district, Belgravia, in West London.

He merged the zesty tone of bergamot with pink pepper’s spicy smell, which becomes alluring due to the sweet, rosy hunch of raspberry.

In the middle, the presence of the May rose will work as an aromatherapy when tuned with the herbaceous, tea-like tone of mate.

Finally, the base of this replacement fragrance reveals its structure where the exotic smell of patchouli and earthy-bitter oakmoss are the backbone of the base. By which labdanum elevates its sweet, woody aroma and tunes with kyara incense to give the leather a different dimension.

Moreover, Belgravia Chypre by Penhaligon’s lasts 6 to 8 hours and provides a mild trail at a reasonable price.

When to Wear

Fall and blooming spring are the perfect seasons to wear Belgravia Chypre. It works best in the day and during winter as well.

Why Should You Buy

Wrapping Up

You need to consider many factors when looking for a dupe of a niche perfume like Portrait of a Lady by Frederic Malle. This beautiful experience of finding alternatives unleashed the door of possibilities for me.

Therefore, I am certain that you will also discover the best option according to your taste from these substitutes of Portrait of a Lady.

So, keep exploring the perfumes I have listed here, and let me know the one you bought finally in the comment section below.