Baccarat Rouge 540 is my signature perfume—but these two dupes save me hundreds

Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540

(Image credit: Maison Francis Kurkdjian)

last updated 13 July 2023

Never has a perfume had me in such a chokehold as Maison Francis Kurkdjian's Baccarat Rouge 540. Since 2017, it has been my go-to spritz whenever I want to feel elegant, sexy and, quite frankly, very expensive.

But it's the latter point that had me applying one of the now most famous best perfumes for women through somewhat gritted teeth on an everyday basis, as—as much as I love wafting through the room with my signature scent that everyone has come to recognize as me—it's not the most financially practical buy to have to repurchase on a regular basis.

Enter: a world of Baccarat Rouge dupes. And there are two dupes in particular that I have come to carry everywhere with me...

The ultimate Baccarat Rouge 540 dupes

Years of wearing the sweet ambery scent left me with attachment issues almost as unhealthy as those from my chronic situationship habit (jk, jk), so reducing my usage of the liquid gold and pairing it with a similar-smelling body spray has become a more cost-effective way to wear my signature scent.

Sol De Janeiro Brazilian Crush Cheirosa 68 Mist

RRP: $38

At $287 cheaper than the famous perfume, this Brazilian jasmine & pink grapefruit fragrance mist is nearly an exact match for the Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540.

Of course, it doesn't have the woody depth of the spenny original and the blend is a lot sharper than the smooth and elegant eau de parfum, but the sweet notes mimic the opening of the Baccarat Rouge 540, allowing for a full-body accompaniment to the pulse point signature.

AllSaints Sunset Riot Eau de Parfum

RRP: $84

Okay so coming clean here, if I'm wearing to work or on a casual occasion, I often use this eau de parfum as a straight swap for the Baccarat Rouge to try and save the spenny stuff as much as I can.

Honestly, absolutely no-one can tell the difference and, despite the pretty reasonable price, this is definitely one of my best long-lasting perfumes, as I never have to reapply throughout the day.

It has a delicious pink pepper top note that leads into the delicate but fresh orange flower heart note, all held together by the warm cedarwood base.

Quality Fragrance Oils Impression #333

RRP: $7.95

Now this is one I haven't actually tried myself, but if you want a super-budget version of the famous fragrance, this Amazon favorite has nearly 9,000 5-star ratings.

Not only is it solely specifically inspired by Baccarat Rouge 540, but it's also a really handy little format for taking out and about with you.

I find the Sol de Janeiro body spritz the perfect budget way to complement my signature scent. A couple of small spritzes of Baccarat Rouge on my pulse points, where to spray perfume to make your fragrance last longer, followed by a misting of the body spray on my clothes and hair to boost the scent has become my new go-to.

But if you're looking for everyday wear without any over-the-top spending at all, I'd opt for the AllSaints EDP, with a mist of the Sol de Janeiro and then perhaps try the little Amazon fragrance oil roll-on for top-ups during the day.

What does Baccarat Rouge 540 smell like?

For me, Baccarat Rouge 540 is the perfect blend of sweet, warm and woody. Its heart notes of amberwood and ambergris provide a warming layer over the sharp and woody cedar and fir resin base notes. But then the amber is lifted by the subtle floral of the jasmine and a touch of earthy sweetness from the saffron—both of which create an addictive opening to the fragrance and stop it being overwhelmed by the amber notes.

It's ideal for people who like sexy, animalic fragrances with a subtle touch of woody sweetness.

Aleesha was Deputy Editor and Beauty & Fashion Editor for My Imperfect Life, where she headed up the beauty, fashion and eCommerce pages. Previously she was Shopping Writer at woman&home and gained an AOP awards nomination after working on their news team. She earned an MA in Magazine Journalism from City, University of London in 2017 and has since worked with a number of brands including, Women's Health, Stylist and Goodto. When she’s not testing all the new beauty & lifestyle products on the market, Aleesha spends her time soaking up the newest bestsellers and Netflix releases, watching everything Marvel, learning about different wines, attempting new languages and traveling as much as she can.