Is Maison Alhambra Jean Lowe Matière a dupe of Louis Vuitton Matière Noire?
Matière Noire EDP
| EDP | Concentration | EDP |
| F | Gender | F |
| 2016 | Year | 2022 |
| $$$$$ | Price Tier | $ |
Jean Lowe Matière EDP
Jean Lowe Matière and Matière Noire both explore the rose-oud pairing, but diverge significantly in price and refinement. Jean Lowe offers an affordable entry point, though its profile can be inconsistent due to rebrands and features a more challenging rubbery edge. Matière Noire justifies its luxury price with smoother blending, higher quality ingredients, and a more sophisticated, albeit still divisive, profile. If budget is a concern, Jean Lowe is worth a try, but those seeking a truly refined and complex experience should invest in Matière Noire.
Where they differ
Biggest gaps first. The bolder side leads.
ScentArt
How it unfolds
Notes
- Matière Noire
- Jean Lowe Matière
- in both
Tap a note to light it in both. A+B means both have it
Which Should You Buy?
- You want a budget-friendly rose-oud fragrance.
- You enjoy a challenging, slightly rubbery scent.
- You don't mind potential batch variation.
- You like a darker, more intense drydown.
- You appreciate high-quality ingredients and blending.
- You prefer a smoother, more refined oud experience.
- You desire a sophisticated and elegant fragrance.
- You're willing to invest in luxury perfumery.
Dark, luxurious and sensual, and rich and watery at once. Blackcurrant sets the tone, and a rose, jasmine and narcissus bouquet with rainwater gives it a strange, lovely coolness.
A divisive yet distinctive rose and oud combo. Some find it a masterpiece, others get rubber and burnt incense. Expect a heady floral opening that settles into a dark, earthy, and sometimes sweet dry-down. It's affordable, but recent rebrands might mean a different scent profile.
Scent Profile
How They Wear
Mood
Notes
Top Notes
Heart Notes
Rose
31% share of the perfume
Jasmine
14% share of the perfume
Rain
13% share of the perfume
Narcissus
11% share of the perfume
Cyclamen
3% share of the perfume
Rose
30%
vs
28%
Jasmine
13%
vs
4%
Narcissus
10%
vs
14%
Cyclamen
2%
vs
7%
Oud
21% share of the perfume
Frankincense
15% share of the perfume
Patchouli
10% share of the perfume
Blackcurrant
29% share of the perfume
Rose
30%
vs
28%
Cyclamen
2%
vs
7%
Jasmine
14% share of the perfume
Rain
13% share of the perfume
Narcissus
11% share of the perfume
Oud
21% share of the perfume
Frankincense
15% share of the perfume
Patchouli
10% share of the perfume
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
Dark florals and blackcurrant are right for autumn and winter. Spring is fine, but summer heat does it no favours.
Occasions
A rich, polished scent for dates and dressed-up evenings. It is too strong for the office or sport.
Seasons
A year-round scent - easy to wear in any season.
Occasions
Its potent projection and long-lasting nature, coupled with its intense floral and oud accords, might be too much for a conservative office environment. However, many find its elegant and grounding qualities suitable for office wear, alongside date nights and formal events. It's too rich and opulent for sport.
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 4 of its 6 notes, including Cyclamen, Rose, Jasmine
Adds blackcurrant and rain, drops frankincense and oud
Where to buy
Pick a size. The two cheapest offers, then the rest.
Prices before sales tax, which the shop adds at checkout.
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