Initio Side Effect Dupes 2026: 7 Clones vs the Original
Seven Initio Side Effect dupes compared on notes, sources and price, and where each one parts from the original. Or wear the original first as a 3ml decant.
In this guide
Quick answer
The best Initio Side Effect dupe overall is After Effect by French Avenue, whose notes cover the rum, tobacco, cinnamon and sandalwood of the original. Collateral Damage by The Dua Brand is the closest pick: one Parfumo owner who wore both could hardly tell them apart. Intro Aftermath by Fragrance World has the lowest price. Want the real thing? Side Effect is €35.91 for a 10ml decant at 10ML.
7 alternatives compared below · prices checked 28 September 2026
The ranking
- After Effect€31.99 80ml
- Farah€25.90 100ml
- Collateral DamageNo EU price
- Intro Aftermath€20.90 80ml
- Upside Down€112.95 100ml
- Infini Elixir€23.90 100ml
- Rum & Spice€59.90 50ml
Prefer the original?
Side Effect
Initio Parfums PrivesDecanted from the original bottle
The alternatives: €0.24–€1.20/ml in other shops, checked 28 September 2026
What does Side Effect smell like?
Side Effect by Initio Parfums Prives launched in 2016 as a unisex perfume. It opens on rum, then settles into a heart of tobacco and cinnamon. Underneath sits sandalwood. Its accords read warm spicy, tobacco, rum, cinnamon, woody and sweet. The house sets out its own description on the Side Effect page.
Four notes is a short list, and that is the hard part for any clone. With so little on the page, the balance between sweet rum, warm cinnamon and smooth sandalwood carries the whole scent, and a small shift in any one of them shows.
Side Effect alternatives compared
Bottle prices in other shops, as checked 28 September 2026
Bottle photos: fragrancelovers.com, fragrantica.com, thescentbase.com, orioudh.com, alexandriafragrances.com, ferwer.com, avaparifragrances.de
Compare two side by side
Pick any two perfumes from this guide. It opens on the original against the #1 pick.
- Lists rum, cinnamon, tobacco, saffron, sandalwood and white flowers; Fragrantica members who know Side Effect describe it as coming close in structure and in the trail, with rougher, drier spices and a less creamy finish, and some find a cumin-like note in the opening After Effect by French Avenue, Fragrantica
- A Parfumo member finds it very close to Side Effect for the first one to two hours, then slightly more synthetic, fading after five to six hours Member write-up on After Effect, Parfumo
- Side Effect costs less up front: €12.51 against €31.99.
- After Effect gives you more perfume: 80ml against 3ml.
- 10ML has not worn these two side by side; each claim above names its source.
How much do I need?
Enter how often you plan to wear Side Effect and how many sprays you use.
You need about 6ml (120 sprays).
For this much wear, decants of Side Effect cost less than After Effect: €25.02 against €31.99.
An estimate: 10ML sizes hold about 60 sprays (3ml), 200 (10ml) and 600 (30ml), about 20 a ml. Atomisers vary, so treat the figures as a guide. Prices exclude delivery.
Two worked examples
A month of weekends
8 wears at 3 sprays each. You need about 1.2ml (24 sprays). Lowest cost at 10ML: 1 × 3ml for €12.51, with about 1.8ml left over. For this much wear, decants of Side Effect cost less than After Effect: €12.51 against €31.99.
Every day for a year
365 wears at 4 sprays each. You need about 73ml (1,460 sprays). Lowest cost at 10ML: 2 × 30ml + 1 × 10ml + 1 × 3ml for €219.42, with about 0ml left over. For this much wear, After Effect costs less than decants of Side Effect: €31.99 against €219.42. It is a different perfume, not the original.
Open the full-size image in a new tabBest overall: After Effect
After Effect by French Avenue carries all four of the original's notes on its Fragrantica listing: rum, cinnamon, tobacco and sandalwood. It also lists saffron and white flowers, which Side Effect's own list does not name.
The main difference is texture. Fragrantica members who know Side Effect find After Effect close in structure and in the trail it leaves, but with rougher, drier spices and a less creamy finish. Some of them pick up a cumin-like note in the opening. A Parfumo member finds it very close to Side Effect in its first stretch, then slightly more synthetic before it fades.
It suits someone who wants the full rum, tobacco and cinnamon outline and can live with a drier, spicier finish. Finding a bottle may take patience: on the check date only one EU shop we checked had it in stock.
Basis: named sources, the Fragrantica listing with its member comments and one Parfumo write-up.
Why this pick?Sources: 2
Basis: Named source
- Lists rum, cinnamon, tobacco, saffron, sandalwood and white flowers; Fragrantica members who know Side Effect describe it as coming close in structure and in the trail, with rougher, drier spices and a less creamy finish, and some find a cumin-like note in the opening After Effect by French Avenue, Fragrantica
- A Parfumo member finds it very close to Side Effect for the first one to two hours, then slightly more synthetic, fading after five to six hours Member write-up on After Effect, Parfumo
Sweeter take: Farah
Farah by Paris Corner meets the original on Parfumo's comparison page, which lists rum, saffron, cinnamon, vanilla and tobacco for both perfumes, with cedar added to Farah's heart.
The main difference is sweetness, and here the sources disagree. A Parfumo member who wore both finds Farah slightly sweeter, which makes it rounder and warmer, with the strength of an extrait. A second member there says it clearly recalls Side Effect but comes across a bit sweeter. One Fragrantica member reads it the other way: less sweet and woodier.
It suits someone who wants the original's warmth pushed a notch rounder, and who is happy to wear it and settle the sweetness question on their own skin.
Basis: named sources, the Parfumo comparison page and two member write-ups.
Why this pick?Sources: 3
Basis: Named source
- A Parfumo member who wore both finds it slightly sweeter than Side Effect, and so rounder and warmer, with extrait-strength performance Member write-up on Farah, Parfumo
- Parfumo's comparison page shows most voting members find it similar to Side Effect, sharing rum, saffron, cinnamon, vanilla and tobacco, with cedar added in the heart Side Effect vs. Farah, Parfumo
- Another Parfumo member says it clearly recalls Side Effect but comes across a bit sweeter Member write-up on Farah, Parfumo
Closest on the dry-down: Collateral Damage
Collateral Damage by The Dua Brand lists rum, tobacco and cinnamon on Fragrantica, then bark and vanilla. The house presents it as an extrait inspired by Initio's Side Effect, built on tobacco, rum and vanilla. The label marks it as the closest pick here; the sources speak of overall closeness rather than of the dry-down alone.
The main difference is strength more than shape. A Parfumo member wore Side Effect on one wrist and Collateral Damage on the other, could hardly notice a difference, and chose the Dua for its longevity and sillage. Fragrantica members find it close to Side Effect in the air and stronger in projection. One of them notices differences up close, and another picks up a cherry facet.
It suits someone who loves how the original reads from a little distance and wants a louder version of that impression. The house prices it in US dollars, so the comparison table shows no EU list price for it.
Basis: named sources, a Parfumo write-up, the Fragrantica listing and the house's own page.
Why this pick?Sources: 3
Basis: Named source
- A Parfumo member who wore Side Effect on one wrist and Collateral Damage on the other could hardly notice a difference, and chose the Dua for its longevity and sillage Member write-up on Collateral Damage, Parfumo
- Lists rum, tobacco, cinnamon, bark and vanilla; Fragrantica members find it close to Side Effect in the air and stronger in projection, while one notes differences up close and another a cherry facet Collateral Damage by The Dua Brand, Fragrantica
- The house presents it as an extrait inspired by Initio's Side Effect, built on tobacco, rum and vanilla Collateral Damage, The Dua Brand
Lowest price: Intro Aftermath
Intro Aftermath by Fragrance World lists vanilla and tobacco, then rum, then cinnamon on its Fragrantica page, which describes it as inspired by Side Effect. That is three of the original's four notes; sandalwood is not on its list.
The main difference depends on who you ask. Some members there find it very close but sweeter and much weaker. One notices the rum staying strong where Side Effect softens towards vanilla. Others find it harsh or flat.
It suits someone who wants the rum and tobacco mood for the lowest bottle price in this guide, and accepts that the match is looser and less certain than the picks above.
Basis: a named source, Fragrantica's listing and the split member comments on it.
Why this pick?Sources: 1
Basis: Named source
- Lists vanilla and tobacco, then rum, then cinnamon, and Fragrantica describes it as inspired by Side Effect; members split: some find it very close but sweeter and much weaker, one notes the rum stays strong where Side Effect softens towards vanilla, others find it harsh or flat Aftermath by Fragrance World, Fragrantica
Premium alternative: Upside Down
Upside Down by Alexandria Fragrances lists vanilla, rum, tobacco and cinnamon on Fragrantica, and the house sells it as inspired by Initio's Side Effect. It carries the highest bottle price of the clones in the table.
The main difference, once more, is sweetness and strength, and members are split. Several who wore it next to Side Effect find it very close, with stronger projection and longevity. One misses the original's saffron, Hedione and sandalwood and finds it sweeter. Another notices an unpleasant chemical smell.
It suits someone who wants a bigger, stronger take on the rum and tobacco heart, bearing in mind that one member misses the original's sandalwood.
Basis: named sources, the Fragrantica listing with its member comments and the house's own page.
Why this pick?Sources: 2
Basis: Named source
- Lists vanilla, rum, tobacco and cinnamon; Fragrantica members who wore it next to Side Effect split: several find it very close with stronger projection and longevity, one misses the original's saffron, Hedione and sandalwood and finds it sweeter, and one finds an unpleasant chemical smell Upside Down by Alexandria Fragrances, Fragrantica
- The house sells it as inspired by Initio's Side Effect Upside Down, Alexandria Fragrances
Darker take: Infini Elixir
Infini Elixir by Maison Alhambra lists cinnamon and nutmeg, then oud and sandalwood, then vanilla, leather and amber on Fragrantica. It shares the cinnamon and sandalwood of the original; rum and tobacco are not on its list. Parfumo puts Side Effect first among the perfumes it smells similar to.
The main difference is the rum, or its absence. A Parfumo member calls it a woodier take in the Side Effect direction: the boozy rum is missing, oud and sandalwood take over, and it dries down to amber, leather and vanilla. On Fragrantica, opinion runs from very close to a solid scent that is not the best match.
It suits someone who finds the original's rum too sweet and wants the spice and wood over a darker, leathery base.
Basis: named sources, Parfumo's similar list and member write-up, and the Fragrantica listing.
Why this pick?Sources: 2
Basis: Named source
- Parfumo lists Side Effect first among perfumes that smell similar; a member calls it a woodier take in the Side Effect direction: the boozy rum is missing, oud and sandalwood take over, and it dries down to amber, leather and vanilla Infini Elixir by Maison Alhambra, Parfumo
- Lists cinnamon and nutmeg, then oud and sandalwood, then vanilla, leather and amber; Fragrantica members range from finding it very close to Side Effect to a solid scent that is not the best match Infini Elixir by Maison Alhambra, Fragrantica
Softer take: Rum & Spice
Rum & Spice by Avapari rests on members' descriptions here rather than a note list. A Parfumo member says a friend first took it for Side Effect.
The main difference is roundness. That same friend then described it as much rounder, with the sweetness rounding off the spice. A German Parfumo member finds it very near the original, with a little less depth and more rum at the start. Another member finds it falls short of Side Effect, lacking its depth and sophistication.
It suits someone who wants the spice softened by more sweetness and cares more about a gentle, rounded wear than about matching the original's depth.
Basis: named sources, three Parfumo member write-ups with differing verdicts.
Why this pick?Sources: 3
Basis: Named source
- A Parfumo member says a friend first took it for Side Effect, then described it as much rounder, with the sweetness rounding off the spice Member write-up on Rum & Spice, Parfumo
- Another Parfumo member finds it does not quite reach Side Effect, lacking its depth and sophistication Member statement on Rum & Spice, Parfumo
- A German Parfumo member finds it very near the original, with a little less depth and more rum at the start Member statement on Rum & Spice, Parfumo
Authentic alternatives we stock
Original perfumes that share part of the rum, tobacco and spice of Side Effect, each as a decant filled from the original bottle.
Maison Margiela
Jazz Club
Rum, clary sage and vetiver over tobacco, tonka bean, vanilla and styrax, after lemon, neroli and pink pepper: smoky and boozy.
3ml · 10ml · 30ml
Nishane
Fan Your Flames
Coconut and rum over tobacco and tonka bean, on Chinese cedar and oakmoss: sweet, creamy and mossy.
3ml · 10ml · 30ml
Bvlgari
Bvlgari Man In Black
Rum and tobacco among spices up top; a leather, iris and tuberose heart; benzoin, tonka and guaiac wood below: warm and leathery.
3ml · 10ml · 30ml
Xerjoff
Tony Iommi Monkey Special
Rum, cinnamon and sandalwood with passionfruit, rose, leather and a caramel and vanilla base: sweet and warm-spiced.
3ml · 10ml · 30ml
Where the clones drift from the original
Read the sources together and sweetness is the recurring gap. Members describe Farah, Intro Aftermath and Rum & Spice as sweeter or rounder, and one wearer says the same of Upside Down. The drift also runs the other way: After Effect reads drier and rougher, and Infini Elixir drops the rum for oud.
Strength is the second gap. Collateral Damage and Upside Down are described as stronger, while some find Intro Aftermath much weaker. The finish matters too. Where members name what they miss, it is often the depth and the creamy end of the original.
Clone bottle or a Side Effect decant?
Measured by the millilitre, every clone in the table that shows a EUR price undercuts the original. Side Effect costs €35.91 as a 10ml decant (€3.59/ml), and €85.50 as a 30ml (€2.85/ml). Once you are sure the rum and tobacco style suits you and you want to spray it without counting, a clone bottle gives more millilitres for the outlay.
Measured by the choice you are making, the sums shift. The 3ml size of the original holds around 60 sprays and costs €12.51, less than any clone bottle in the table with a EUR price. Wear that for a week and you will know if you want Side Effect itself, a clone, or neither. The price per ml index compares every size across the catalogue.
Authentic perfumes in the same family
Four originals from other houses share part of this rum and spice picture. Jazz Club by Maison Margiela, from 2013, sets rum, clary sage and vetiver over tobacco, tonka bean, vanilla and styrax, after a start of lemon, neroli and pink pepper: brighter at first and smokier below. Fan Your Flames by Nishane pairs coconut and rum with tobacco and tonka bean, on Chinese cedar and oakmoss, a creamier and mossier route.
Bvlgari Man In Black puts rum and tobacco among spices at the start. Its heart holds leather, iris and tuberose, and the base is benzoin, tonka bean and guaiac wood. Tony Iommi Monkey Special by Xerjoff has rum, cinnamon and sandalwood, like Side Effect, wrapped in passionfruit, rose, leather and a caramel and vanilla base. All four come as decants, so you can put two of them on your skin in one week and let the choice make itself.
How to test a dupe
A paper strip shows you the first minutes and not much more, so judge any clone on skin. Wear Side Effect one day and the clone the next, so neither colours your impression of the other. Check both at the same points: the opening rum, the tobacco and cinnamon heart, and the woody finish once it has settled later in the day. Notice where the sweetness sits and whether the spice turns rough.
A 3ml of Side Effect gives you a week to set it against any clone. If the original wins, step up to a 10ml decant, around 200 sprays, for weeks of daily use, or keep a 30ml, around 600 sprays. First time buying a decant? This explainer on perfume decants covers the basics, and our page on avoiding a blind buy explains why a small size first makes sense. For more in this style, see the best tobacco perfumes by style, our tobacco dupes guide and the best gourmand perfumes.
Clone or original? What to know first
- Can I try Initio Side Effect in 3ml first?
- 10ML sells it as a 3ml, 10ml or 30ml decant filled from the original bottle and ships across the EU. A 3ml is around 60 sprays, enough to wear it for a week before you choose a clone or the original.
- Which Initio Side Effect dupe do we rank first?
- After Effect by French Avenue is the best overall pick in this guide: its Fragrantica listing carries the rum, cinnamon, tobacco and sandalwood of the original, though members find its spices rougher and drier and its finish less creamy. On the price-check date only one EU shop we checked had it in stock.
- Is there an extrait-strength Side Effect dupe?
- The Dua Brand presents Collateral Damage as an extrait, and one Parfumo member finds Farah performs at extrait strength. 10ML sells the original Side Effect as a 3ml, 10ml or 30ml decant.
- How close does Collateral Damage get to Side Effect?
- It is the closest pick in this guide: one Parfumo member who wore both could hardly notice a difference, and Fragrantica members find it close in the air and stronger in projection. One member notices differences up close and another a cherry facet, and the house prices it only in US dollars.
- Which clones do sources call close to Side Effect?
- After Effect, Collateral Damage, Farah and Upside Down are clones that sources describe as close, each with its own difference in sweetness or strength. Among authentic perfumes, Jazz Club, Fan Your Flames and Bvlgari Man In Black share its rum and tobacco, and Tony Iommi Monkey Special shares its rum, cinnamon and sandalwood.
- Is a Side Effect clone cheaper per ml than a decant?
- Every clone we could price costs less per ml than the original. A 10ml decant of Side Effect is €35.91 (€3.59/ml), and a 3ml is €12.51, less than any clone bottle we could price.
- How long will Side Effect last on my skin?
- How long it lasts depends on your skin and the weather, so we do not promise a wear time. The simplest way to find out is to wear a 3ml decant, around 60 sprays, for a few days.
Sources
- Side Effect, Initio Parfums Privés
- After Effect by French Avenue, Fragrantica
- Member write-up on After Effect, Parfumo
- Member write-up on Farah, Parfumo
- Side Effect vs. Farah, Parfumo
- Member write-up on Collateral Damage, Parfumo
- Collateral Damage by The Dua Brand, Fragrantica
- Aftermath by Fragrance World, Fragrantica
- Upside Down by Alexandria Fragrances, Fragrantica
- Infini Elixir by Maison Alhambra, Parfumo
- Infini Elixir by Maison Alhambra, Fragrantica
- Member write-up on Rum & Spice, Parfumo
How we compared
Each alternative is ranked by how closely it follows the notes and dry-down of Side Effect, on the basis shown for it in the table. Prices in other shops are as checked on 28 September 2026 and change often; the 10ML prices on this page are live.
10ML is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Initio Parfums Prives or by the houses of the alternatives named here. Their names are used only to identify the perfumes compared.
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