Dupe or original decant? What 267 price pairs show in 2026

What 267 price pairs show

10ML's price report compares 264 dupes made by 90 other houses with the 57 originals they are made to resemble. Two findings answer the question on this page.

• Per ml, dupes cost far less. The dupes cost a median 85%¹ less per ml than their originals, on prices checked between late September and mid-October 2026.
• Per first purchase, the original usually costs less. In 241 of 267 pairs, a 3ml of the original at 10ML costs less than the dupe's whole bottle (10ML price, VAT included, 13 October 2026).

Three originals that people often weigh against a dupe show how this works in practice.

Read the two findings together. A dupe gives you more liquid for your money, because you buy a full bottle at a lower price per ml. A decant gives you the perfume you actually asked for, in a size you can finish, and the first step costs less than a dupe's bottle. The full lists of dupes and prices are in the perfume dupe price list.

When a dupe makes sense, and when the original wins

A dupe is a different perfume, made by another house to resemble a well-known original. Some people buy one knowingly and enjoy it on its own terms. The choice depends on what you want from the purchase.

A dupe makes sense when you want a large bottle of a similar style for everyday wear, and the original's own scent matters less to you than the price per ml. If you plan to spray freely every day and never think about the original again, a full bottle at a lower price per ml can be the right call.

The original wins in four situations:

• You want that perfume itself. Only the original is the original. A decant is filled from the original bottle, so what you wear is the perfume you read about.
• You want to know it before a full bottle. A 3ml lets you wear it on several days and decide calmly, before spending on a bottle.
• You wear it on occasions. If a perfume is for evenings out or special days, a 10ml decant can last a long time, and a whole bottle of anything may be more than you need.
• You want variety. Small sizes of several originals let you build a small wardrobe of perfumes instead of owning one large bottle of a single scent.

How far a decant goes

The size decides how long a decant lasts. At 10ML, a 3ml decant gives around 60 sprays; the 10ml size gives around 200, and the 30ml size around 600. A 3ml is enough to wear a perfume over several days and learn how it behaves on your skin. A 10ml decant lets you wear it for weeks. A 30ml is for a perfume you already know you love.

The price per ml also falls as the size grows. Take Aventus: €3.96/ml per ml in the 3ml size, €3.60/ml per ml in the 30ml size. That is the honest path from a first try to regular wear: start small, and step up only when you know you want more. For the full numbers across the catalogue, see the price-per-ml index.

Why 10ML for the original

10ML sells original designer and niche perfumes as decants, every perfume in 3ml, 10ml and 30ml. 10ML buys from authorized EU distributors and directly from the brands, and 10ML decants every perfume itself.

• Every size for every perfume. You can start with a 3ml and move to a 10ml or a 30ml decant of that perfume.
• Sprays you can count on. Around 60 sprays in a 3ml, 200 in a 10ml and 600 in a 30ml.
• Delivery to 26 EU countries. Every order leaves on the next working day (Monday to Friday).
• Small sizes to start with. The perfume samples page shows the smaller sizes to begin with.

If the question in your head is "dupe or the original", 10ML lets you answer it with the original at the price of a first try.

Six originals to try before you buy a dupe

These six originals each have dupes on the 10ML price list. Try the original first, then decide.

Baccarat Rouge 540 by Maison Francis Kurkdjian

Baccarat Rouge 540 by Maison Francis Kurkdjian launched in 2015. Saffron and jasmine open it, with amberwood and ambergris in the heart and cedar, ambroxan and oakmoss underneath. Community votes on its longevity lean "eternal". Its dupes are compared in the Baccarat Rouge 540 dupe guide.

Aventus by Creed

Aventus by Creed launched in 2010. Its opening brings bergamot, black currant, apple and pink pepper; pineapple, patchouli and Moroccan jasmine follow, and birch, musk and ambroxan close it. Its community voters lean towards spring, summer and daytime. See the Aventus dupe guide.

Black Orchid by Tom Ford

Black Orchid by Tom Ford launched in 2006. Truffle, gardenia and black currant open it, orchid, spices and lotus form the heart, and Mexican chocolate, patchouli, incense and sandalwood sit underneath. Community voters most often pick it for winter and for night and evening wear. See the Black Orchid dupe guide.

Delina by Parfums de Marly

Delina by Parfums de Marly launched in 2017. It begins with litchi, rhubarb and bergamot, turns to Turkish rose and peony, and settles on cashmeran, incense and cedar. Spring is the season its community voters choose most. See the Delina dupe guide.

Angels' Share by By Kilian

Angels' Share by By Kilian launched in 2020. Cognac opens it, cinnamon, tonka bean and oak form the heart, and vanilla, praline and sandalwood finish it. Community voters most often pick it for winter and fall. See the Angels' Share dupe guide.

XJ 1861 Naxos by Xerjoff

XJ 1861 Naxos by Xerjoff launched in 2015. It moves from lavender, bergamot and lemon through honey, cinnamon and jasmine sambac to a base of tobacco leaf, vanilla and tonka bean. Its sillage is "strong" in the view of most community voters.

How to decide in three steps

A few simple steps keep the decision honest and the spending small.

1. Name the perfume you actually want. If the answer is one specific original, start with that original.
2. Order a 3ml of it and wear it on skin, not paper, on different days. If you love notes such as saffron, vanilla or tobacco, try one on each wrist and compare them over a day.
3. Decide on the size. If you want more, a 10ml or a 30ml follows. If you find you only liked the idea of it, you have spent less than a dupe's bottle to learn that.

For what a decant is and how it is filled, read what a perfume decant is. For when a full bottle makes more sense than a decant, see decant or full bottle.