Borough II

Borough II opens fresh and aromatic - lavender and bergamot with a whisper of basil - before quickly turning toward the spicy, sweet tobacco that defines Roja Dove's Manhattan. The heart brings the original's signature twist: a soft, milky coconut and powdery heliotrope draped over may rose, violet and jasmine, lending the smoky core an unexpected, almost suede-like softness. The drydown is rich and resinous - tobacco and vanilla anchored by cinnamon, clove, benzoin, patchouli and cedar, with ginger and pink pepper keeping a spicy edge alive. Against the Roja, this dupe reads a little flatter and denser: Manhattan's airy, lofty presence and its glittering polish are dialled down, the cheaper spices push a bit louder in the opening, and longevity is good but not the all-day cling of the original. A cosy, sensual cold-weather scent that gets you most of the way to a very expensive niche tobacco-vanilla for a budget price.