Fragrances inspired by Life Essence Eau de Parfum
The original
Life Essence
Fendi
The two side by side
Our verdict
Editor reviewedOur verdict
Fendi's Life Essence, a discontinued 90s icon, exudes Italian elegance with clean, woody-citrus notes.
What they share
Every one of its 12 notes is in the original, including Cedar, Bergamot, Lemon
The main difference
Near-identical note list, differs in proportion
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What they share
Shares 11 of its 12 notes, including Cedar, Bergamot, Mandarin
The main difference
Adds orange, drops lemon
What they share
Shares 4 of its 18 notes, including Lemon, Jasmine, Geranium
The main difference
Adds amber and eucalyptus, drops bay leaf and bergamot
What they share
Shares 6 of its 14 notes, including Cedar, Bergamot, Lemon
The main difference
Adds frankincense and lavender, drops bay leaf and cardamom
What they share
Shares 4 of its 10 notes, including Cedar, Cardamom, Coriander
The main difference
Adds basil and ginger, drops bay leaf and bergamot
What they share
Shares 5 of its 8 notes, including Bergamot, Lemon, Jasmine
The main difference
Adds nutmeg and tea, drops bay leaf and cardamom
What they share
Shares 1 of its 12 notes, including Sandalwood
The main difference
Adds bay leaf and bergamot, drops citrus and green notes
What they share
Shares 4 of its 9 notes, including Bergamot, Lemon, Mandarin
The main difference
Adds birch and pepper, drops bay leaf and cardamom
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 Fendi. Match scores are our estimate of how alike two perfumes smell, calculated from their published notes, not a measurement. How we score similarity.