The Best Zara Perfume Dupes

I purchased all of these fragrances online via the Zara website. Occasionally they update their fragrances so I did not link them.

I have become obsessed with perfumes lately -  but I’m okay with it. I’ve heard all of the Tiktok girlies talking about Zara perfumes, and at that price point of under $30 for 3.4 oz, I knew I had to see what all the fuss was about. So far, I’ve bought eight perfumes - yikes and have another pending stock!

So what’s a dupe perfume? A dupe perfume is a fragrance for half the price of the designer or name brand fragrance. Sometimes, you’ll hear them called inspired fragrances, and the brand will list which perfume they took inspiration from. It’s honestly a hit or miss sometimes, but you have to decide what’s important to you, i.e., price, longevity, or brand name.

Apple Juice - Chanel Chance Eau Tendre

Apple Juice is a light and refreshing scent, perfect for the springtime! The fragrance quickly turns into a skin scent after 1-2 hours but with layering and reapplying, you can enjoy this fragrance all day. 

*I have never smelled Chanel Chance Eau Tendre to know if it’s 100% dupe, but it gets a lot of love in the fragrance community.

Gardenia - YSL Black Opium 

At first, I did not think this was a dupe at all. I was upset when I bought it because I wanted to smell the coffee and vanilla notes in this fragrance, and I just didn’t smell them. I had to revisit this fragrance after a few weeks, and my nose changed completely, it doesn’t smell like Black Opium at first spray, but the dry down is the same. I would recommend purchasing a travel size of YSL Black Opium to have the best of both worlds and use them together. 

Femme - Dior Hypnotic Poison 

Femme is very soft, feminine, and sweet with hints of vanilla; while it lacks longevity, you can easily decant this fragrance and carry a travel atomizer for touch-ups! 

Orchid - Victoria's Secret Bombshell 

Light and floral, this fragrance is beautiful but lacks longevity and, on my skin, quickly faded.

Red Vanilla - Lancome La Vie Est Belle

Red Vanilla is a great dupe - at initial spray, you wouldn’t think these fragrances smell anything alike, but the dry down is spot on but a tad lighter. On the skin, it lasts about 4 hours, one of the best I’ve tried so far. 

Tropical Boost - Marc Jacobs Perfect 

Save your money and buy the dupe - Tropical Boost is spot on for Perfect. They smell exactly alike and even last for similarly. I couldn’t tell the difference in longevity for either, I highly recommend saving your money unless you want the pretty bottle. 

Which perfume would you purchase? If you enjoy this type of content join me over on Instagram.

Giving Yourself A Personal Spruce-Up Before Summertime

The spring is now here, with the summer sure to follow it. This means that many of us are looking forward to vacation time, to going out and enjoying time in a range of bars, to inviting people around our house, and to exploring like never before.

The last two years have been tough for many, but now most of us have the opportunity to get out there and enjoy ourselves like never before, once again grateful for the chance to do so. One thing worth considering, then, is how useful a personal spruce-up can be before summertime. You’d be forgiven for becoming a little lethargic in the last two years, as unprecedented times were upon us.

Now can be a great time to indulge, to focus on our beauty, fashion and fitness, and to think about how we want to live our lives from now into the future. But unlikely our vehicles, it can be hard to just “roll into the shop” and expect a full service. We need to tackle this from very many angles, and it’s a totally self-directed effort in regard to our own person.

In this post, we’ll discuss how exactly to make the most of that:

Dental & Skincare

Teeth whitening can help your perfect smile look that little more inviting, and can help you feel more confident in grinning ear to ear in photos and at special events. Caring for our skin can also be a fantastic means of beaming and feeling radiant, be that investing in an exfoliant pack, trying new moisturizers, or even trying appropriate aloe-vera enriched scar treatment. The more you care for yourself, the more you define yourself as someone who deserves to be cared for.

Five Essential Wardrobe Staples

It can be nice to pick up essential wardrobe staples you might need to reinforce your clothing set for the new season. Sticking to five great investments that you can balance other outfits around might seem like an artificial number, but it really can be a good starting point. For instance, you might opt for two new pairs of shoes, a summer’s coat, some accessories, and perhaps a smart casual dress you can wear should a formal event come along. This way, you can start thinking about your summer style without having to spend thousands in a single wardrobe upgrade.

Spa & Massages

A good way to say goodbye to the prior season and welcome the new one is to dissolve your stress and feel like a new person. This can be achieved by booking an excellent massage and spa day, where perhaps you go with a friend to truly pamper yourself. This day might involve casual swimming, time in a jacuzzi and a sauna, and then spending time having your back massaged by a trained professional in a safe environment, with pleasant smells and sounds coming your way. Odds are, you’ll leave that environment feel like ten times the person you were before, and this energy can help bound you into the new season.

With this advice, you’re certain to give yourself the best personal spruce-up before summertime.

Selfcare Moment With Brown Girl Jane

Life has been hitting me hard, I’ve put myself on the back burner, and finding time for self-care has been nonexistent but in 2022 I’ve decided things have got to change. Taking care of myself physically and mentally needs to be a priority. In 2021, I decided to get back into therapy and that’s been a godsend. I’ve also challenged myself with learning how to take better care of myself and being intentional with self-care moments.

This month I’ve been really into candles. I enjoy candles that offer great projection and provide me with a mood boost! I decided to splurge for my birthday (hello, 31) and purchased a few items from Brown Girl Jane. Brown Girl Jane has branded itself as a Mood-Boosting Fragrance company that offers products for your well-being; anti-stress fragrances rooted in science! 

Casablanca Eau de Parfum

I’ve seen this fragrance everywhere and figured it would be a safe blind buy out of their Wanderlust Collection and indeed it was!  I’m a huge gourmand fragrance lover and the notes of marshmallow, vanilla orchid, and glowing amber intrigued me. On the first spray, it reminded me of something very familiar. I knew I had smelled similar notes before but not the same. It sits on top of the skin for the first hour or two and nicely dries down to become a skin scent. Naturally, I would be opposed to skin scents but this one works. I get whiffs of this fragrance throughout the day and it’s beautiful! It reminds me to slow down and take a deep breath! 

Top Notes: Cardamom, Marshmallow, Incense

Mid Notes: Saffron, Soft Suede, Vanilla Orchid

Base notes: Glowing Amber, Soft Musks, Sandalwood

Warm Cashmere Perfumed Candle 

65 Hour Burn Time

Coconut & Soy Wax Blend

8oz

This candle screams luxury! The packaging is so beautiful and the candle has a matte finish that gives it a sophisticated look. The scent is fresh, calming, and relaxing - perfect for creating a romantic mood!

NOTES

Top: Mandarin, Grapefruit, Clary Sage

Mid: Rose Buds, Musk, Freesia

Dry: Amber, Oakmoss, Orris

​Velvet Moon Perfumed Candle 

65 Hour Burn Time

Coconut & Soy Wax Blend

8oz

I could smell this candle before I open the box! It’s insanely yummy and uniquely infused with Italian Bergamot and Orange Blossom. This candle reminds me of a cool morning enjoying a cup of coffee on your balcony or a nice evening with your favorite wine and snacks! 

NOTES

Top: Italian Bergamot, Orange Essence, Sandalwood

Mid: Musk, Orange Blossom, Freesia

Dry: Amber, Cedarwood, Vanilla Bean

​I am very happy with my purchases from Brown Girl Jane, I can’t wait to see what they come up with next! 

5 Must-Have Fragrances for Spring 2022

This post does contain affiliate links, if you purchase it will not cost you but only help to ensure I can continue bringing you amazing content.

Spring is one of my favorite times of year - minus the pollen! I love watching the flowers bloom and feel the temperatures rise. It’s also the unofficial start of a lot of outdoor family fun. Since starting my fragrance journey I’ve quickly realized that some fragrances do better depending on the time of year. Don’t think it’s true? Try it out for yourself!

Today, I’m sharing my favorite fragrances for Spring 2022, you may notice I enjoy certain notes! 

Armani - My Way

My Way is a testament to why it’s so important to certain fragrances to have their own season to shine. I received a sample of this in the winter and wasn’t impressed. I saw so many people rave about it online but it did nothing for me. It simply smelled “okay” nothing that I needed to add to my collection. As time went on, I decided to give it another chance and I’m glad I did! It’s youthful and fun - reminds me of fruity bubblegum with a pineapple twist! I can’t get enough of it! I keep the travel-sized one in my purse! If you’re not into the young and fruity fragrance but still desire a floral try the intense version. 

Scent Category: Woody Floral 

Top Notes: Bergamot, Orange Blossom

Middle Notes: Tuberose, Jasmine

Base Notes: Cedarwood, Vanilla, White Musks

Lancome - La Vie Belle 

This will forever be in my collection! It’s a time vanilla floral fragrance. The florals in this fragrance are not heavy at all. You will smell the vanilla as it dries down. It’s a perfect everyday fragrance that can be throughout the year. You’ll be amazed at how different it smells every season.

Scent Category: Floral

Top Notes: Iris

Middle Notes: Patchouli

Base Notes: Spun Sugar, Warm Vanilla

Chloé Eau de Parfum

Scent Category: Powdery Florals

Top Notes: Peony, Litchi, Freesia

Middle Notes: Rose, Lily of the Valley, Magnolia

Base Notes: Virginia Cedar, Amber 

This fragrance oozes femininity! It’s soft, pretty, and long-lasting. It is not extremely powdery but more of a rose and perfect for every day! 

Marc Jacobs - Daisy Eau So Fresh

From the pretty pink bottle to the cute flowers on the top this one is a must for spring. Everything about it screams Springtime for me. At first spray, I was able to pick up on the pink grapefruit and wild rose. As it dried down and settled into my skin the musky notes rose but were very pleasant, it reminded me of baby powder but not in a childlike way!

Scent Category: Fresh Floral 

Top Notes: Pink Grapefruit and Raspberries

Middle Notes: Wild Rose

Base Notes: Soft Musks

Marc Jacobs - Perfect Eau de Parfum 

The name fits this fragrance well! It’s light and floral without being offensive. Perfect for wearing around the office or when you want to smell amazing without feeling like you’ve overdone it!  While it’s categorized as a warm floral it doesn’t come off warm at all; which is why it’s landed in my spring collection. When I originally purchased it in the winter it didn’t do much for me and I was worried it wasn’t living up to the hype but as the months have gone on I’ve fallen in love.

Scent Category: Warm Floral

Top Notes: Rhubarb, Daffodil

Middle Notes: Almond Milk

Base Notes: Cashmeran

Honorable Mention:

Dolce & Gabanna - Light Blue Forever

If florals are not your thing and you still want to change it up for spring consider Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Forever for women! It’s a citrusy white floral that reminds me of fresh laundry. It’s really clean and dries into the skin beautifully. It's my personal favorite out of the Light Blue collection.

Scent Category: Fruity Floral

Top Notes: Lemon, Blood Orange, Green Apple

Middle Notes: Orange Blossom, White Flowers

Base Notes: White Musk, Cedar, Cashmeran

If you enjoy fragrance, body, and skincare style content be sure to follow me over on my new Instagram page @selfcarewnat!