Divisive and dialled-back, Carolina Herrera's 212 Sexy Men promises allure but often delivers a softer, powdery vanilla with an opening that some find challenging. Reformulations seem to have dulled its spark, but for others, it's still a surprisingly smooth, intimate classic.

Superlative chases Parfums de Marly Layton Exclusif, holding onto the deeper, smokier woody-spicy character with that spiced citrus opening and rich amber-coffee drydown, but the dupe renders it flatter and skin-closer, trading the original's animalic, complex depth for a simpler, more linear woody take.