No.045 Dune

Dior's Dune is one of the most distinctive fragrances of its era, an aldehydic floral built around a strange, almost salty amber-mineral accord that's earned it a cult following for smelling like nothing else on the market. Eden Perfumes' No.045 follows the same broad structure - sparkling aldehydes over peony and citrus, a lush white-floral heart of lily, jasmine and ylang-ylang, and a rich amber-sandalwood-patchouli base - but renders it as a warmer, more conventional oriental floral rather than chasing that peculiar salty-mineral abstraction the original is known for. The floral heart in particular reads fuller and sweeter here than Dune's more restrained, powdery version. Performance is solid for a natural, vegan formulation, with the amber-woods base providing decent longevity into the evening. This is a good option for anyone drawn to the idea of Dune's aldehydic-oriental family, and who wants a warm, elegant, wear-in-cold-weather scent, though purists chasing that exact salt-air strangeness of the Dior original will still notice the gap.