BDK Parfums Gris Charnel
- Fig
- Black tea
- Cardamom
- Iris
- Vetiver
- Sandalwood
- Tonka bean
Smells like BDK Parfums
Perfumes that smell like Gris Charnel
The perfume most often compared with BDK Gris Charnel is Lattafa Liam, sold as Liam (Grey). Both open on fig, black tea and cardamom over iris, vetiver, sandalwood and tonka; one reviewer calls it a straight dupe, though Lattafa itself names no inspiration.
- Woody spicy
- 7 shared notes
- 1 alternative named by reviewers
Side by side
The notes, side by side
Shared notes are marked. Notes for Gris Charnel come from BDK Parfums' own page for the eau de parfum (the extrait has a different list).
Vetiver
Tonka bean
Lattafa Liam (Grey)
- Cardamom
- Fig
- Black tea
- Iris
- Labdanum
- Vetiver
- Vanilla
- Sandalwood
- Tonka bean
- Patchouli
Labdanum
Vanilla
PatchouliReviewers on several fragrance sites compare it with Gris Charnel; one calls it a straight up dupe.
Labdanum, vanilla and patchouli are added on paper, so it may read warmer.
Notes: Lattafa's own listing.
In notes
Why they smell alike, and where they differ
Why they smell alike
Fig, black tea and cardamom give both a chai-like opening, and iris, vetiver, sandalwood and tonka give both the same soft, skin-close grey woods. Almost every note of Gris Charnel appears in Liam's list.
Where they differ
Liam adds labdanum in the heart and vanilla and patchouli in the base, which on paper makes it a little warmer and sweeter. Gris Charnel's eau de parfum list is shorter and drier.
| Tier | Gris Charnel | Lattafa Liam (Grey) |
|---|---|---|
| Top | Fig, Black tea, Cardamom | Cardamom, Fig, Black tea |
| Heart | Iris, Vetiver | Iris, Labdanum, Vetiver |
| Base | Sandalwood, Tonka bean | Vanilla, Sandalwood, Tonka bean, Patchouli |
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
Gris Charnel: short answers
Lattafa Liam, sold as Liam (Grey), is the perfume reviewers compare with it most often. The note lists overlap almost entirely; Liam adds labdanum, vanilla and patchouli.
Not quite. BDK lists the extrait with added cistus, patchouli, vanilla and cedar, so it is richer than the eau de parfum described here.
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
- BDK Parfums, Gris Charnel eau de parfum product page.
- Fragnatique Journal, 10 best Arabian perfume dupes (Lattafa's notes for Liam; reviewer comparisons).
Love Gris Charnel? Find what else you would wear.
The AI perfume finder in Fragnatique can start from a bottle you already own and look for perfumes that share its character without repeating it, with the reason for each written out. Read how matching works.
