Often citedThe Dua Brand
Balsamic Tabacum
Aimed specifically at the VINTAGE formulation of Chergui, which Dua say on their own page. Serge Lutens has since reformulated, so this may sit closer to older bottles than to one bought today.
All dupes
Often cited
Serge Lutens
Serge Lutens Chergui dupes
One fragrance is widely sold as a cheaper version of this. Ranked strongest match first.
What Serge Lutens Chergui smells like
Like honey-soaked tobacco leaf and iris on warm sandalwood, benzoin and amber completing the dry Eastern wind
- Top
- Tobacco Leaf
- Heart
- Honey · Iris · Tobacco Leaf
- Base
- Amber · Benzoin · Honey · Sandalwood · Tobacco Leaf
Main accords: amber, sweet, tobacco, honey, gourmand, powdery. 2001 · Eau de Parfum
What smells like Serge Lutens Chergui
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Often 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.
What each of these dupes
What is The Dua Brand Balsamic Tabacum a dupe of?
The Dua Brand Balsamic Tabacum is widely sold as a dupe of Serge Lutens Chergui. Aimed specifically at the VINTAGE formulation of Chergui, which Dua say on their own page. Serge Lutens has since reformulated, so this may sit closer to older bottles than to one bought today.
Common questions about Serge Lutens Chergui dupes
What is the closest dupe to Serge Lutens Chergui?
The Dua Brand Balsamic Tabacum is the closest we have on record. Wearers name it more often than the alternatives, though agreement is not unanimous. Aimed specifically at the VINTAGE formulation of Chergui, which Dua say on their own page. Serge Lutens has since reformulated, so this may sit closer to older bottles than to one bought today.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Serge Lutens Chergui?
Yes, though only one: The Dua Brand Balsamic Tabacum. It is the only fragrance we have found a first-hand comparison for.
Do Serge Lutens Chergui dupes smell exactly like the original?
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 The Dua Brand Balsamic Tabacum, for instance: Aimed specifically at the VINTAGE formulation of Chergui, which Dua say on their own page. Serge Lutens has since reformulated, so this may sit closer to older bottles than to one bought today.
What does Serge Lutens Chergui smell like?
Like honey-soaked tobacco leaf and iris on warm sandalwood, benzoin and amber completing the dry Eastern wind It opens on Tobacco Leaf.
About Serge Lutens Chergui
Chergui from 2001 is named after the hot, dry wind that blows from the Sahara across Morocco. This unisex EDP is warm, honeyed, and tobacco-forward — a deeply satisfying oriental with a loyal following. One of the most wearable fragrances in the Lutens lineup.
Tobacco leaf opens immediately — dry, slightly sweet, and aromatic. There is no freshness or brightness here; Chergui begins warm from the first spray.
Honey and iris join the tobacco in the heart. Iris adds a powdery, earthy quality that counterbalances the tobacco's sweetness. Honey deepens the warmth without tipping into cloying territory.
Amber, benzoin, honey, sandalwood, and tobacco lock in the drydown. Sandalwood adds creamy depth. Benzoin adds resinous warmth. The close is long, honeyed, and dry — a beautiful finish.
Best in fall and winter. A genuinely excellent tobacco-honey oriental — accessible enough for newcomers to niche perfumery, complex enough to remain interesting over time. One of Lutens' most consistent crowd-pleasers.
More Serge Lutens dupes
Sources
- The Dua Brand Balsamic Tabacum theduabrand.com