Parfums de Marly Althaïr
- Orange blossom
- Bergamot
- Cinnamon
- Bourbon vanilla
- Elemi
- Guaiac wood
- Ambroxan
- Praline
- Musk
Smells like Parfums de Marly
Perfumes that smell like Althaïr
The perfume most often compared with Parfums de Marly Althaïr is French Avenue Liquid Brun. Their lists share almost every note, orange blossom, bergamot and cinnamon over bourbon vanilla, elemi, praline, musk, ambroxan and guaiac wood; Liquid Brun adds cardamom.
- Gourmand
- 8 shared notes
- 1 alternative named by reviewers
Side by side
The notes, side by side
Shared notes are marked. Notes for Althaïr come from retailer listings of the house pyramid.
Bergamot
Elemi
Ambroxan
Musk
French Avenue Liquid Brun
- Cinnamon
- Cardamom
- Orange blossom
- Bergamot
- Bourbon vanilla
- Elemi
- Praline
- Musk
- Ambroxan
- Guaiac wood
CardamomSeveral guides describe it as a close take on Althaïr.
Cardamom is added on top. No side-by-side test in our sources.
Notes: retailer listings.
In notes
Why they smell alike, and where they differ
Why they smell alike
Both are a spiced bourbon vanilla: cinnamon and orange blossom over a creamy vanilla heart lifted by elemi, then praline, musk and dry woods. On paper the two pyramids are nearly the same.
Where they differ
Liquid Brun lists cardamom on top, which Althaïr's published pyramid does not. The sources we read describe it as a close take, but none of them reports a side-by-side wear test, so treat the closeness as a lead to test.
| Tier | Althaïr | French Avenue Liquid Brun |
|---|---|---|
| Top | Orange blossom, Bergamot, Cinnamon | Cinnamon, Cardamom, Orange blossom, Bergamot |
| Heart | Bourbon vanilla, Elemi | Bourbon vanilla, Elemi |
| Base | Guaiac wood, Ambroxan, Praline, Musk | Praline, Musk, Ambroxan, Guaiac wood |
Before you buy
Similar is not the same
Comparisons are opinions
Smells similar to is a judgement by a person, and noses differ. We report who makes each comparison; we do not rate likeness ourselves.
Notes on paper are not the smell
Two perfumes can list the same notes and still smell different, because amounts and materials differ. Wear both, one on each wrist, for a full day.
What the law says
In the main European case the court recorded that making and selling a smell-alike is lawful; using the famous name to sell it as an imitation was not. Read whether perfume dupes are legal.
Short answers
Althaïr: short answers
French Avenue Liquid Brun is the perfume guides compare with it. The note lists are almost identical; Liquid Brun adds cardamom.
Yes, a spiced one: bourbon vanilla sits at its heart, with cinnamon and orange blossom above and praline and woods below.
In the main European case, L'Oréal v Bellure, the English Court of Appeal recorded that it is lawful to make and sell a smell-alike product. What was unlawful was using the famous brand names in lists that presented the cheaper products as imitations. Our article on whether perfume dupes are legal sets out the rulings. It is not legal advice, and the law differs by country.
Sources
- Retailer listings of the Parfums de Marly Althaïr pyramid (orange blossom, bergamot, cinnamon; bourbon vanilla, elemi; guaiac wood, ambrox, praline, musk).
- Fragnatique Journal, 10 best Arabian perfume dupes (retailer notes for Liquid Brun; guide comparisons).
Love Althaïr? Find what else you would wear.
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