Side Effect

This take on Side Effect opens with an intoxicating rush of cinnamon and rum, capturing the bold, boozy first impression that made the original such an impactful release. Tobacco and saffron carry the heart, delivering the same warm, sensual spiciness Initio built the fragrance around. Vanilla and sandalwood settle into a smooth, sweetened base that nods to the original's rich, addictive character, if noticeably less complex and shorter-lived. Side Effect made a genuine impact when it launched, becoming a favourite during a period when boozy, tobacco-forward gourmands were having a real moment in the fragrance community, and this dupe leans into that same crowd-pleasing cinnamon-rum-tobacco combination convincingly in its opening hours. Performance is the clear trade-off - the original's reported all-day wear with a lingering trail is well beyond what this budget version can manage - but as an accessible route into a genuinely seductive, warmly spiced signature, it delivers.