Famous Duplicates Perfumes

Famous Duplicates was a budget-friendly line of knockoff fragrances produced by Louangel starting in 1971. These inexpensive colognes and bath oils, which cost only 88 cents each, were designed to offer consumers affordable alternatives to the luxury scents of the time. The line gained a reputation for mimicking popular high-end perfumes, making them accessible to a wider audience without sacrificing the essence of the original fragrances. These products were sold simply by numbers rather than unique names, making them instantly recognizable to those familiar with their inspiration.

The fragrances in the Famous Duplicates line were numbered to correspond with well-known perfumes, offering consumers the opportunity to enjoy similar scents for a fraction of the cost. For example, No. 1 was a knockoff of Arpege, identifiable by its yellow cap. No. 2 was a duplicate of Estee Lauder's signature fragrance, No. 3 was a take on My Sin, marked by a lavender cap. No. 4 was meant to emulate the classic White Shoulders, while No. 5 mimicked the sophisticated floral scent of Joy. Lastly, No. 6 mirrored Miss Dior, providing a budget-friendly version of the popular fragrance.

In addition to their line of women's fragrances, Louangel also created a series of men's knockoff fragrances and aftershaves. However, unlike their women’s line, these men's products were given individual names rather than numerical designations. Each of these fragrances was carefully crafted to resemble popular men’s scents of the time. For example, if someone enjoyed the scent of Jade East, they could try Oriental Jade. Russian Leather and Tabac Original had near-identical knockoffs under the same names. Other knockoffs in the men’s line included British Crown as a cheaper alternative to English Leather, and Oriental Lime as a substitute for Famous Limes. The men's offerings also included Bold, a version of Brut, and Aries, a scent that mirrored Aramis.

These knockoff fragrances were clearly marketed as affordable options for those who desired the essence of premium perfumes but didn’t want to pay the hefty price tag. By simplifying their names and focusing on affordability, Louangel’s Famous Duplicates made luxury-like scents available to a broad market, making a significant impact in the world of budget fragrances.