October is the month when things turn snuggly; when temperatures drop and hands are wrapped around creamy, vanilla-laced lattes dusted with chocolate. It’s a ‘cosy coffee shop’ mood you’ll find in popular autumnal designer fragrances costing upwards of £100 – and now in M&S’s latest Discover perfume dupe.
The M&S Discover line is a piping-hot favourite for perfumery dupe watchers, with bestsellers being hailed as brilliant budget alternatives to names like Lancôme’s La Vie Est Belle (Discover Pink Pepper), and Jo Malone London Wood Sage & Sea Salt (Discover Sea Salt & Neroli).
While M&S Discover doesn’t do anything as vulgar as a direct copy, the comparisons are generally a useful way to find a new bargain scent that lights up some of the same olfactory sweet spots for less. Think of them as a little 'pssst' from a perfume fan; if you like X, you’ll want to try Y.
There are three new arrivals for October but I’m starting with Crème Noir, purely because it’s the one I got my hands on first. It has a distinctive, rich-roasted opener, and I think you’ll know immediately if this is your cup of tea. Okay, coffee.
It’s most definitely mine. Coffee perfumes are a lovely little buzz this time of year, settling on to skin in a way that feels just right once jumper season kicks in. (My home is appallingly insulated, so I’m there already.)
Crème Noir is a definite double-shot of strong stuff to open. And as well as being the dominant top note, the coffee continues to percolate as the other notes start heating up.
The coffee kickstart is soon joined with frothy gourmand notes of chocolate, tonka and vanilla, bringing to mind whatever the latest limited-edition autumn latte might be at Caffè Nero. The great news is that a big 100ml bottle will set you back less than four takeaway cups. Not too many (Star)bucks, it doesn’t Cost-a very much. Right, that’s the puns done. We can continue.
Crème Noir does smell reassuringly expensive, though. My daughter, a renowned perfume snob, immediately declared ‘I’m having that’ and shoved it in her bag for the day. Talk about takeout coffee!
Fortunately, the fragrance I'd spritzed on my wrists was still going strong a few hours later, and still smelled absolutely delicious. The scent lingered especially well on fabrics, and I could catch what had settled by the end of the day.
As I said, Crème Noir won’t be for everyone, so if you’re not already a coffee covert, I’d recommend a spritz before buying. But my fellow latte perfume lovers? Get it while it’s hot (or, rather, not sold out. You never know with M&S Discover).
It's currently only available in store, but expect it to land online soon with the two other Discover limited-edition EDPs, Golden Myrrh and Apricot Ember.
What is Crème Noir a dupe for?
As I’ve already said, Crème Noir is not a note-for-note knock off, so don't expect a literal smell-alike, but there are plenty of coffee-centric designer perfumes that lean into a similar cosy vibe. Here are a few of the best.
Coffee Break by Maison Margiela
Maison Margiela Replica Coffee Break
Maison Margiela Replica Coffee Break
One of the purest coffee fragrances out there, this premium blend is directly inspired by the cosy comforts of a coffee shop, evoking steaming mugs of frothy lattes with a sweet pastry platter on the side. Coffee and creamy milk are balanced by lavender, fruit and woods to avoid this being a one-note perfume.
Kayali Oudgasm Café Oud
Huda Beauty KAYALI Oudgasm Cafe Oud 19
For those who love coffee with an exotic edge, try Kayali’s heady oud iteration. There’s the comforting warmth of cappuccino at the heart, paired with zesty top notes of mandarin and bergamot, plus a deep base of oud, white musk and patchouli.
YSL Black Opium
Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium
Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium
Interestingly a different Discover perfume – Midnight Blossom – has also been compared to YSL’s coffee-laced classic, Black Opium, but that one actually omits the literal rich-roasted element. Crème Noir is a closer note profile match in some ways, having the coffee bit covered along with a shared vanilla element. However M&S’s doesn’t lean into Black Opium’s dominant floral side, so it depends what part of the recipe you like best.
Giardini di Toscana Bianco Latte
Giardini di Toscana Bianco Latte Eau de Parfum
Giardini di Toscana Bianco Latte Eau de Parfum
TikTok has already compared Crème Noir to this, calling M&S’s latest a lovely alternative to Bianco Latte’s creamy warm and woozy condensed-milk scent. Not a clone, but they’re both certainly rich, vanilla-y options you can imagine wearing behind a steamed-up coffee shop window.
Kilian Paris Midnight Espresso
Partial to a little livener in your coffee? Kilian’s rum-laced coffee perfume is definitely that, inspired by an espresso martini and more akin to after-dinner drinks than daytime coffee. Could Crème Noir be a Sober October counterpart?
Caroline Herrera Good Girl
Carolina Herrera Good Girl Eau de Parfum
Carolina Herrera Good Girl Eau de Parfum
Now, coffee isn’t the over-arching theme of Good Girl, unlike Crème Noir, but it’s there in the note mix, along with a shared taste for tonka bean and vanilla elements. Caroline Herrera’s iconic gourmand also has a certain autumn-coffee indulgence from its praline note, which it amps up further with its own unique additions of cinnamon and almond.
