The world of fragrances is vast and can be overwhelming, especially when navigating between niche, luxury, and more affordable options. Two brands that have made a splash in recent years are alt and dossier – but what exactly sets them apart?
This comprehensive guide will analyze their key differences, pros and cons, and help you determine which one is best for your needs.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Criteria | Alt | Dossier |
| Price | $29-$129 for oils and rollerballs | $29-$49 for EDP sprays |
| Quality | High-quality fragrance oils, natural complexity | Synthetic aroma chemicals, affordable formulations |
| Accuracy to Original | Very accurate, spot-on interpretations | Evokes essence but not an exact match |
| Brand Ethos | Democratizing perfumery, luxury accessible to all | Emphasizes transparency and affordability |
| Packaging | Understated, minimalist, apothecary-style | Sleek, modern, Instagrammable |
| Recommended for | Seeking high-fidelity luxury interpretations | Prioritizing low prices over accuracy |
Overview of Alt Fragrances
Alt fragrances first launched in 2019 and quickly became known for their inspired-by scents that mimic luxury and niche perfumes at a fraction of the price. Their product lineup aims to capture the complexity and nuance of high-end fragrances while eliminating the outrageous price tags.
Some of their most popular scents include alt Santal 33 (inspired by Le Labo Santal 33), alt Jasmin 17 (inspired by Le Labo Jasmin 17), and alt Neroli 36 (inspired by Tom Ford Neroli Portofino). Across the board, Alt’s products feature inviting, intriguing, and well-blended formulations intended to evoke the essence of luxury.
Pros:
- Significantly lower prices than the luxury/niche perfumes they take inspiration from
- High-quality ingredients and complex, nuanced scents
- Sleek, minimalist branding and packaging
- Cruelty-free
Cons:
- Not exactly the same as the original fragrances they are inspired by
- Smaller selection compared to some other perfume brands
- Products are unisex only
Alt ultimately offers an affordable way to explore and experience sought-after scents from a variety of luxury houses and perfumers. Those looking for premium quality and complexity without the markup will find their lineup appealing.
Also Read: Comparison Between MaxAroma And FragranceNet.
Overview of Dossier Fragrances
Dossier entered the market in 2016 with a very similar ethos and approach to Alt – inspired-by scents that capture the essence of popular fragrances for a fraction of the price. Their stated aim is to fuse quality and transparency while making luxury perfume affordable to all.
Some of Dossier’s top sellers include Dossier Oriental Tobacco (inspired by Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille), Dossier Floral Lavender (inspired by Jo Malone’s Lavender), and Dossier Woody Ebony (inspired by Creed Aventus). Like Alt, the scents are unisex and meant to embody top notes, heart notes, and base notes of the original in a high-quality formulation.
Pros:
- Very affordable compared to luxury perfume counterparts
- Appeals to those who want the essence of popular fragrances
- Variety of men’s and women’s scents available
- Sleek, Instagrammable packaging
- Risk-free returns if you don’t like the scent
Cons:
- Not exact replications of the name brand perfumes
- More synthetic / less nuanced than some niche fragrances
- Smaller selection compared to large designer brands
Dossier is all about delivering designer-caliber scents stripped of the prohibitive designer pricing. For shoppers open to inspired-by options, Dossier makes luxury inspiration accessible.
Comparing Alt and Dossier
Now that we’ve provided an overview of each brand’s philosophies and product offerings, let’s directly compare alt and dossier across a few key dimensions:
Price
- Alt perfume oils retail from $29-$129
- Dossier EDP sprays retail from $29-$49
Overall, Dossier has the more accessible price point for the quality. Alt’s oils often come in higher than Dossier’s EDPs. However, Alt offers smaller sizes like rollerballs in addition to the standard oils.
Quality
- Alt uses high-quality fragrance oils with rich concentration and complexity of notes.
- Dossier EDPs have synthetic aroma chemicals for affordable formulations.
Alt generally offers a more natural, higher quality scent profile. Dossier prioritizes affordability in its chemical formulations, which can smell more artificial.
Also Read: Comparison Between Dermalogica And Image Skincare.
Accuracy to original
- Alt aims for a spot-on interpretation of the notes and vibes in a luxury fragrance.
- Dossier seeks to evoke the overall essence, but scents can smell slightly different.
Alt tends to hew closer to the originals while Dossier takes more creative license. Alt is focused on mimicking established luxury scents as closely as possible.
Brand ethos
- Alt is about democratizing perfumery and making luxury scents accessible.
- Dossier emphasizes transparency in pricing and sourcing along with affordability.
Both have a disruptive approach to the fragrance industry, just with slightly different lenses. Alt spotlights luxury inspiration, while Dossier is about lifting the veil on pricing.
Packaging
- Alt uses minimalist, apothecary-style branding and bottles.
- Dossier opts for sleek, modern bottles with Instagrammable aesthetics.
Dossier has flashier, social media-friendly packaging. Alt packs plenty of luxury inspiration into modest, subtle packaging.
Overall recommendation: Alt fragrances beat out Dossier if you’re seeking high-fidelity luxury perfume interpretations and natural formulations. Dossier is preferable if you prioritize low prices and variety over nuanced accuracy.
Also Read: Comparison Between Curie And Native Deodorant.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Alt Santal 33 aims to precisely recreate Le Labo Santal 33 using high quality, concentrated fragrance oils. It captures the creamy sandalwood, spicy cardamom, smoky tea, and musky ambroxan perfectly. Dossier Santal 33 evokes a similar olfactory experience, but uses more synthetic aroma chemicals resulting in a less natural sandalwood impression. For the closest match under $100, Alt Santal 33 is superior.
For the price point, Dossier is absolutely worth it if you’re open to “inspired by” perfumes instead of exact replicas. $29 for a full bottle of EDP capturing the essence of a $300 niche perfume is an amazing value. The scents won’t be perfect matches, but they smell great in their own right.
Dossier is not a luxury brand per se – it positions itself as affordable luxury inspired. The perfume formulations use more synthetic/chemical components rather than pure extracts. But the packaging and marketing evoke luxury. Overall, Dossier sits squarely in the affordable zone.
Yes, Dossier could be considered a dupe brand in the sense that their perfumes are designed to evoke and be inspired by luxury and niche originals. They aim to provide customers with a designer-esque scent experience at a fraction of the cost. Their perfumes aren’t identical duplicates, but take cues from established luxury fragrances.
Also watch this video about Alt!
The Last Word
At the end of the day, Alt and Dossier take similarly disruptive but distinct approaches to offering inspired-by luxury scents at affordable prices. Alt provides closer perfume interpretations with higher fidelity, while Dossier offers variety and very wallet-friendly pricing.
Seeking out samples of both is the best way to assess which resonates most with your olfactory preferences. Both brands make quality fragrance accessible to the average consumer.
Whichever you choose, you’ll smell like a million bucks without the outrageous price tag.