Is The Fragrance World UK Symptom a dupe of Initio Parfums Privés Side Effect?

Side Effect EDP

Initio Parfums Privés   Original Acquired

Symptom EDP

The Fragrance World UK   Inspired Statement
Share
Card A shareable image comparing these two fragrances - verdicts, profiles and what they share. Save or copy it to post anywhere.
Side Effect Eau de Parfum bottle Side Effect EDP
EDP Concentration EDP
U Gender U
2016 Year -
££ Price Tier £
Symptom Eau de Parfum bottle Symptom EDP
$330.03+ tax from
3.0 fl oz (90 ml) at eCosmetics
Buy Side Effect Check price on →
No stockist yet
We have not found it at a shop we track that delivers to you
Check price on →

Where they differ

Biggest gaps first. The bolder side leads.

ScentArt

View Liquid → Side Effect EDP
View Liquid → Symptom EDP

Which Should You Buy?

Our Verdict - Side Effect EDP
A boozy, spiced, tobacco-vanilla powerhouse-Side Effect is unapologetically seductive and luxurious. Not for the faint of heart, it leaves a lingering, unforgettable trail that commands attention and embraces the night.
Acquired
Our Verdict - Symptom EDP
The Fragrance World UK's £4.95/30ml interpretation of Initio Side Effect (2016) - the pyramid maps the original's rum opening, tobacco heart, and oud dry-down. Liverpool dupe-house pricing on a recognisable smell-alike for casual rotation.
Statement

Scent Profile

How they compare
Side Effect EDP A Symptom EDP B
Where they part company by gap size

How They Wear

Showing: Overall Blend

Mood

Mood Energising
Calming
Character Playful
Serious
Sentiment Uplifting
Brooding
Side Effect EDP
Symptom EDP

Notes

Shared Notes
Cinnamon 61% vs 32%
Tobacco 41% vs 41%
Vanilla 39% vs 36%
Saffron 38% vs 25%
Musk 23% vs 24%
Shared Notes
Cinnamon 61% vs 32%
Saffron 38% vs 25%
Only in Symptom
Rum 42%
Shared Notes
Tobacco 41% vs 41%
Vanilla 39% vs 36%
Only in Side Effect
Hedione 19%
Only in Symptom
Hay 22%
Shared Notes
Musk 23% vs 24%
Only in Symptom
Oud 41% Woody Notes 35%

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 Brands do not publish formulations.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

Side Effect Symptom
Beast (10+h)
Longevity
Moderate (4-6h)
Strong
Projection
Intimate
Strong
Intensity
Moderate

Season and Occasion Fit

Side Effect

Seasons

Best For:
Autumn Winter
Also Works:
Spring

The dense blend of rum, tobacco, vanilla, and warm spices makes Side Effect ideal for cold weather and crisp fall evenings, where its richness and projection can truly shine. It may feel too heavy or cloying in heat, but works for spring's chillier days.

Occasions

Best For:
Date Formal

With its intoxicating sillage and warmth, Side Effect excels at evening, date, and formal wear, creating a seductive aura. Its boldness and sweetness are often too much for office or sporty situations.

Symptom

Seasons

Best For:
Autumn Winter

The rum-led opening and oud-anchored close mirror the original's seasonal range, though the budget composition fades faster than the Initio bottle in heavier conditions.

Occasions

Best For:
Date Formal
Also Works:
Casual

A budget interpretation that keeps the original's structure - the dupe reads cleaner and shorter, making it best suited to casual rotation rather than as a replacement for the Initio signature.

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.

Overall scent match
81%
Key Similarities

Shares 5 of its 9 notes, including Cinnamon, Saffron, Tobacco

Key Differences

Adds hay and oud, drops hedione and sandalwood

Where to buy

Side Effect EDP
Symptom EDP

Pick a size. The two cheapest offers, then the rest.

Symptom 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.

Compare Another Pair

VS