Météore - 196

No. 196 takes on Louis Vuitton's Meteore, one of the house's most talked-about fresh masculines, leading with the same sparkling bergamot, mandarin and orange combination that made the original a hit. The Essence Vault's version nails that first impression of zesty, high-energy citrus, and the pink pepper and spice touch gives it a bit of the sharp modern edge Meteore is loved for. Where it diverges is in the middle and base - the original's neroli and cardamom heart builds into a genuinely creamy, almost lotion-like phase before the vetiver settles in, and this dupe compresses that journey into a much simpler, two-dimensional citrus-woody arc. It's a fair everyday alternative for the opening hours at a fraction of the cost, best suited to daytime office wear or casual outings, but don't expect the same all-day trail as the designer version.