This is not just a dupe. This is a Marks & Spencer wellbeing scent, which just happens to have well-attuned nostrils twitching at its similarity to a Le Labo perfume that’s £160 more expensive. And now it promises to be bolder and even better than before.
Ever since its launch in 2024, M&S’s £12 Apothecary Warmth EDP has drawn comparisons to Le Labo’s beloved Santal 33 EPD, £172, thanks to their shared key notes of cardamom, cedarwood and sandalwood. While not an exact replica, Warmth works beautifully as a scent in its own right, with its comforting, smokey quality.
Now the own-brand scent has been given an upgrade, with what M&S describes as ‘boosted fragrance levels, delivering a more immersive, longer‑lasting sensory experience’.
While the Warmth eau de parfum itself remains unchanged, the accompanying bath and body products have seen their scent intensity as much as doubled, thanks to increased levels of fragrance oils.
‘The new enhanced formulations deliver a more aromatic, more noticeable sensory payoff from the moment opened,’ says M&S. Having uncorked the Refillable Scented Candle, we'd agree.
Spanning hand wash, body lotion, body wash, room spray, candles, and diffusers, the wider Warmth upgrade means fans can enjoy their favourite Labo-alike from head to toe and throughout their home.
While the M&S scent isn’t identical to the designer original (which one GH devotee describes as ‘more rounded, just a little more softly-pitched if that makes sense’), we can understand why Warmth has sparked such interest as an affordable alternative. ‘When Warmth settles on the skin, I can definitely see you’d like this if you like Santal 33,’ is the verdict of our Le Labo wearer.
While the fragrance levels in the wider Warmth range are now stronger, the scent itself remains elegantly low-key and anything but pungent. If you want a scent that adds a relaxed aura to a room rather than overpowers a space, the Warmth home range is excellent.
There’s further good news for fans of affordable fragrances that smell far expensive than their barcode. The entire Apothecary bath, body and home range has been given the same fragrance boost, while still staying true to the original fan-favourite scents. With the brand already selling by the bucketload (1 unit every 8 seconds in the last 13 weeks of last year!), we smell even more success.
