Frederic Malle
3 fragrances are widely sold as cheaper versions of this. Ranked strongest match first.
Check best deal on Portrait Of A LadyLike the definitive portrait of rose and raspberry, blackcurrant and cinnamon over clove-patchouli-incense-sandalwood-benzoin-vanilla-amber-musk
Main accords: warm spicy, amber, rose, woody, patchouli, balsamic. 2010 · Eau de Parfum
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Widely agreedMaison Alhambra
The Artist No. 1
More a different take than a straight copy — about 70-75% there. The original has juicier rose and a greener, earthier patchouli; this one is simpler and much more powdery. Five to six hours.
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Often citedFragrance World
French Portrait
Owners rate it the strongest of the Portrait of a Lady clones, and it layers well with the original. Nobody has posted a detailed side-by-side yet.
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Sometimes citedRanking combines how widely wearers agree a fragrance is a dupe with how closely its notes and accords line up. “Strong match” means both signals agree; “loose match” means it is in the same family but noticeably different on skin. 1 of these link to a published source.
Maison Alhambra The Artist No. 1 is widely sold as a dupe of Frederic Malle Portrait Of A Lady. More a different take than a straight copy — about 70-75% there. The original has juicier rose and a greener, earthier patchouli; this one is simpler and much more powdery. Five to six hours.
Fragrance World French Portrait is widely sold as a dupe of Frederic Malle Portrait Of A Lady. Owners rate it the strongest of the Portrait of a Lady clones, and it layers well with the original. Nobody has posted a detailed side-by-side yet.
Maison Alhambra The Artist No. 2 is widely sold as a dupe of Frederic Malle Portrait Of A Lady.
Maison Alhambra The Artist No. 1 is the closest we have on record. It is the one wearers name most consistently. More a different take than a straight copy — about 70-75% there. The original has juicier rose and a greener, earthier patchouli; this one is simpler and much more powdery. Five to six hours.
Yes — 3 of them, including Maison Alhambra The Artist No. 1, Fragrance World French Portrait, Maison Alhambra The Artist No. 2. Each is listed above with what it gets right and where it falls short.
No. A dupe is built to the same idea, not the same formula, and cheaper materials usually show in the opening and in how long it lasts. That is why every entry here says how it differs instead of giving a percentage. Of Maison Alhambra The Artist No. 1, for instance: More a different take than a straight copy — about 70-75% there. The original has juicier rose and a greener, earthier patchouli; this one is simpler and much more powdery. Five to six hours.
Like the definitive portrait of rose and raspberry, blackcurrant and cinnamon over clove-patchouli-incense-sandalwood-benzoin-vanilla-amber-musk It opens on Rose, Clove, Raspberry, Black Currant.
Portrait of a Lady (2010) was created by Dominique Ropion for Frederic Malle, inspired by the Henry James novel. It's one of the most opulent rose-patchouli-incense fragrances in contemporary perfumery — full, dense, and powerfully feminine.
Rose, clove, raspberry, black currant, cinnamon, and red berries open with a rich, fruity-spiced burst. Rose anchors the opening. The dark berries and spices add depth from the very first spray. The opening is immediately full and rich.
Turkish rose, patchouli, incense, sandalwood, and ylang ylang form the heart. Turkish rose is the dominant floral — full and warm. Patchouli is the critical ingredient — it gives the rose an earthy, slightly dark quality that's the fragrance's signature. Incense adds smoke. Ylang ylang adds tropical sweetness.
Incense, sandalwood, musk, benzoin, amber, cedar, ambergris, and vanilla anchor the base. Ambergris adds a warm, slightly oceanic quality. Benzoin adds balsamic depth. The base is rich, complex, and extremely long-lasting.
Portrait of a Lady works in autumn and winter, evenings and special occasions. A landmark fragrance for those who love powerful, opulent rose compositions.