Cheryl Shops

Right around the time Maison Kurkdijan's Baccarat Rouge 540 scent went viral on TikTok, I received a bottle as a gift. It's been called the next Santal 33 in terms of how intoxicating—and popular—its scent is, and judging by how many dupes there are on the market, I'd say Baccarat Rouge 540 has even eclipsed Santal in terms of popularity. That might also be because BR540 is $325 for a 2.6 oz. bottle, and as much as I am willing to splurge on fragrance, I don't know that I would actually pay that much for it. It's a very unique scent—the notes are a very appealing-sounding combination of jasmine, saffron, cedarwood, and ambergris—and on me, it comes across as very sweet, very expensive cotton candy. Scent is a very subjective thing, and your own body chemistry can affect the way a fragrance smells (Glossier You, for example, is amazing on everyone but me); I am honestly more a fan of Santal 33, but that's just a matter of personal taste. In the name of service journalism, however, I decided to seek out some dupes, because I know you love them. Here are a few ways to smell like Baccarat Rouge 540 for less.

Asmarket roll-on $7.99

There is a slight herbaciousness to this one at first that reminds me of citronella candles, but it mellows out quickly. Oils are generally long-lasting, which this one is, although it doesn't have quite the same staying power as the original scent. That said, I kind of prefer this dupe in a way, because it's less sweet than actual BR540, and the roll-on is super convenient. Also, hello, it's $8. I don't think you will actually fool anyone into thinking you're wearing the actual thing—it doesn't have quite the same intensity as the original—but if you're going for that sweet-woody combination, this will do. 

Sol de Janeiro Beija-Flor Elasti-Cream $22-$48

This body cream is not exactly cheap, but it's still significantly less than a $325 bottle of perfume. It's also not an exact dupe for BR540—it's a bit lighter and fruiter. That said, it smells pretty amazing, especially if you layer it with the Asmarket roll-on or, even better, the real thing. I once showered, put this and BR540 on in the morning, had a full day that included a party at night, and woke up the next morning still strongly scented in the best possible way. And unlike Sol de Janeiro's Bum Bum cream, this one does not break me out into a rash, which is always a plus. 

Rouge diffuser oil $18.99

Sometimes I love scents, just not on me (again, Glossier You). I think I actually appreciate BR540 more as an ambient fragrance, especially when I'm feeling cozy and/or romantic. (Like Cher says in Clueless, when a boy comes over, you should always have something baking. It's not cookies, but the scent is close enough.) This oil smells very true to the original, however the element of interacting with your body chemistry is removed from the equation. I have been using this in my diffuser and really love the results, but I do need to use twice as much as my usual Santal oil. It also works as an air freshener or sprinkled on wool dryer balls—check out my Santal 33 guide for a more detailed how-to. 

While there are a gazillion other Baccarat Rouge 540 dupes out there, these are my top three favorites. I hope at least one of them works for you!