Fragrances inspired by 212 VIP Black Elixir Eau de Parfum
The original
212 VIP Black Elixir
Carolina Herrera
The two side by side
Our verdict
Editor reviewedOur verdict
While both share a similar DNA, 212 VIP Black Elixir is more divisive, with some praising its bold, youthful vibe and others criticizing its synthetic quality and performance issues.
What they share
Every one of its 6 notes is in the original, including Anise, Absinth, Vanilla
The main difference
Near-identical note list, differs in proportion
Choose Deux Cent Douze VIP Black when
You prefer a safer, more crowd-pleasing scent.
What they share
Shares 2 of its 4 notes, including Vanilla, Lavender
The main difference
Adds mint and tonka bean, drops absinth and anise
What they share
Shares 2 of its 4 notes, including Vanilla, Lavender
The main difference
Adds lime and mint, drops absinth and anise
What they share
Shares 5 of its 6 notes, including Anise, Absinth, Vanilla
The main difference
Adds leather, drops fennel
What they share
Shares 2 of its 7 notes, including Vanilla, Lavender
The main difference
Adds amber and bergamot, drops absinth and anise
What they share
Shares 2 of its 3 notes, including Vanilla, Lavender
The main difference
Adds amber, drops absinth and anise
What they share
Shares 2 of its 8 notes, including Vanilla, Lavender
The main difference
Adds amber and caraway, drops absinth and anise
What they share
Shares 3 of its 9 notes, including Vanilla, Musk, Lavender
The main difference
Adds artemisia and benzoin, drops absinth and anise
Scent profile
How we judge a match
We score each pairing on the two fragrance profiles: shared accords, overlapping notes, longevity and projection, and the occasions each suits. A good inspired-by scent captures the original's character rather than copying it molecule for molecule.
The full method, and what to look for in a dupe. Prices are UK retail and change often. Check before buying.
Inspired-by fragrances. Not affiliated with, endorsed by or produced by Carolina Herrera. Match scores are our estimate of how alike two perfumes smell, calculated from their published notes, not a measurement. How we score similarity.