Is Zara Creatively Shanghai a dupe of Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Mandarine Basilic?
Aqua Allegoria Mandarine Basilic EDT
| EDT | Concentration | EDP |
| F | Gender | F |
| 2007 | Year | 2021 |
| ££ | Price Tier | ££ |
Creatively Shanghai EDP
Mandarine Basilic and Creatively Shanghai are both citrus-forward, but the similarities end there. Mandarine Basilic goes for a classic summer feel, pairing sparkling mandarin with a distinct, herbaceous basil note that reads airy, sophisticated, and distinctly Mediterranean. Creatively Shanghai takes a bolder, sharper route, blending juicy mandarin with spicy cardamom and woody cedar. Mandarine Basilic is a breezy, elegant EDT built for light refreshment, while Creatively Shanghai is more concentrated and intense as an EDP, and can tip into synthetic territory for some noses. If you want a refined, garden-fresh herbal citrus, Mandarine Basilic wins. If you'd rather have a punchy, spicy, long-lasting citrus-wood profile that challenges the senses a bit, Creatively Shanghai is the better pick. Neither is a safe blind buy, so sample both and see how the base notes settle on your skin.
→
Where they differ
Biggest gaps first. The bolder side leads.
ScentArt
How it unfolds
Notes
- Aqua Allegoria Mandarine Basilic
- Creatively Shanghai
- in both
Tap a note to light it in both. A+B means both have it
Which Should You Buy?
- You want a sophisticated, herbal citrus scent.
- You prefer an airy and refreshing fragrance profile.
- You enjoy the Mediterranean garden aesthetic.
- You prioritise natural-smelling, elegant compositions.
- You prefer a punchy, spicy citrus with woody depth.
- You want better longevity from a higher concentration.
- You enjoy bold, unconventional scent combinations.
- You are looking for a budget-friendly citrus option.
This is summer in a bottle, if summer meant peeling mandarins in a herb garden. It's a proper mood lifter, but be prepared for it to fade faster than your holiday tan. A love-it-or-hate-it basil note makes it divisive, so try before you buy.
A divisive Jo Malone creation for Zara. Prepare for intensely authentic, juicy mandarin orange, but be warned: for some, the cardamom and wood conjure up floor cleaner or worse. Test before you commit, unless you're into that sort of thing.
Scent Profile
How They Wear
Mood
Notes
Top Notes
Heart Notes
Heart Notes
Base Notes
Base Notes
Note weights are our estimate from each note's place in the pyramid, not the share of the formula. Brands do not publish formulations.
Performance
Season and Occasion Fit
Seasons
A warm-weather pick - at its best in summer and spring.
Occasions
Its fresh, light and clean profile makes it perfect for casual wear or sport. While it's inoffensive enough for the office, its fleeting nature might require reapplication, and it's generally too bright for formal events.
Seasons
A warm-weather pick - at its best in summer and spring.
Occasions
This is a versatile, albeit casual-leaning, scent. While some find its clean citrus suitable for the office or a refresh after sport, its sometimes potent opening and less-than-subtle nature might be too much for formal events or intimate dates.
Similarity Breakdown
Our estimate of how alike these two fragrances smell, calculated from their published notes. It is a position on our scale, not a measured percentage of shared smell.
Shares 1 of its 3 notes, including Mandarin
Adds cardamom and cedar, drops amber and basil
Where to buy
Pick a size. The two cheapest offers, then the rest.
Creatively Shanghai EDP
Check price on
→
No other shop we track that delivers to you has it in stock.
Prices before sales tax, which the shop adds at checkout.
ScentVerdict earns a commission from purchases - this doesn't affect our verdicts.