How we match dupes
A dupe earns its place on Dupejoy by sharing the notes of the original, not by borrowing its name. Here's exactly how we decide, where the data comes from, and the rules we hold ourselves to.
We match on notes and accords, not names
Every fragrance is built from accords, families like amber, gourmand, woods, citrus, musk and floral, layered from top notes (the first impression) through the heart and base (what lingers on skin). Two fragrances read as similar when they share the accords that make the original recognisable. So we describe each scent by its accord profile and compare that profile, mathematically, against affordable fragrances. The closest matches, the ones that share the same key notes through the heart and base, are the dupes we surface.
The match percentage
Every dupe pair carries a note-match score from 0 to 100, how much of the original's key note structure the dupe shares. We only publish matches of 60% or higher. A 90% match reads very close on skin; a 75% match captures the main idea with some differences in the dry-down. The score is a measure of shared notes, never a claim that two fragrances are identical.
Where the data comes from
Note and accord data is drawn from licensed fragrance databases and community-cited note breakdowns, and is being continuously verified. Prices are the typical retail price at the time of review, and scents can reformulate over time, so we date our reviews (this data was last reviewed September 2026) rather than pretending it's fixed forever. For celebrity scents, we label every attribution as reported or confirmed: most of what circulates about what a celebrity or K-pop idol wears is pieced together from interviews and fan sleuthing, and we say so plainly rather than presenting a guess as fact.
The honesty rules
- A dupe shares key notes, it is never described as identical, a counterfeit, or a fake.
- We only publish a match backed by real shared accords, at 60% or above.
- Celebrity attributions are labelled reported vs. confirmed; nothing implies endorsement.
- Reviews are dated, because prices and formulations change.
- We never scrape another brand's proprietary data, and we don't invent notes to force a match.
Independent by design
Dupejoy is free and funded by affiliate commissions, here's exactly how. No brand can pay for a better match or a higher score. The note data decides what we recommend; the commission never does. That independence is the whole point: if the matches weren't honest, the site would be worthless.
Common questions
How does Dupejoy decide two fragrances are dupes?
By their notes and accords, never their names. We compare the accord profile of an original to affordable fragrances and surface the ones that share its key notes, the accords people actually smell as the signature. Each match gets a percentage; we only publish matches of 60% or higher.
What does the match percentage mean?
It's how much of the original's key note structure the dupe shares, on a 0-100 scale. A 90% match reads very close on skin; a 75% match captures the main idea with some differences in the dry-down. It is not a claim that the two are identical.
Are Dupejoy's dupes the same as the original?
No, and we never say they are. A dupe shares the key notes that make a scent recognisable, but the materials, longevity and the way it evolves over hours can differ. For the signature everyone notices, a good dupe gets you most of the way there for a fraction of the price.
How does Dupejoy make money, and does it bias the matches?
We earn an affiliate commission when you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes which dupe we recommend or the match score, the note data decides that, not the commission.