This one's a proper dark horse, often compared to Fahrenheit but for a fiver. It's a clean, spicy-woody violet leaf bomb that's either a classic hidden gem or a fleeting, generic disappointment, depending on who you ask. Performance is the biggest sticking point, but the scent itself has a loyal following.

NYC Male targets Calvin Klein's CK Man - the tart, peppery violet-leaf woody-spice that balanced green herbs against creamy amber. The dupe captures the violet-leaf-and-herbs signature but renders it flatter, with the coniferous-creamy contrast simplified and projection sitting closer to the skin than the well-balanced original.