While we all know how powerfully evocative fragrance can be, it’s rare that a fragrance brand wears its heart, or its inspiration, so directly on its sleeve. Unlike many perfumes that require you to close your eyes and conjure up a feeling, moment, memory or emotion, the Maison Margiela Replica perfume collection does, as it were, the hard work for you.
Take one of its bestselling fragrances, By The Fireplace. Before you even smell it, your imagination has doubtless run away to a cosy, intimate ambience, the air humming with the gentle crackle of log fires and the air tinged with a sweet smokiness. And that’s exactly what you get once you take a whiff, thanks to a blend that includes notes like run tobacco leaf and clary sage oil. According to Chelsey Saunders, director of fragrance at Boots, there’s been a growing demand for nostalgic, emotion-led fragrances in recent years, which might go some way to explaining the enormous popularity of the brand.
Vogue’s pick of the best Maison Margiela Replica fragrances at a glance:
So, whether your next perfume purchase is something that transports you to sunnier climes, even if only in your imagination, or something that evokes the marine freshness of a day by the sea, there’s almost certainly a Maison Margiela Replica perfume out there to suit you.
Here’s Vogue’s pick of the best Maison Margiela Replica perfumes
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: A clean, fresh and herbal scent that conjures up the lingering dampness after a rainstorm along with the luminosity of emerging sunshine. The clever mix of notes, ranging from herbaceous bergamot to earthy patchouli and bright jasmine, means it’s constantly changing and developing long after the first spritz.
- Notes: Bergamot oil, vegetal accord, pink pepper essence, aquatic accord, isparta rose petal essence, jasmine grandiflorum superinfusion, pine needle oil, patchouli Bali essence, moss accord
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: The next best thing to sinking into a tub full of frothy bubbles, this soothing fragrance combines gentle floral notes like lavender and rose to create a soft, soapy, powdery scent. The addition of white musks gives it a skin-like warmth, while coconut milk offers a creaminess that’s comforting and creamy.
- Notes: Soap bubble accord, pink pepper essence, bergamot essence, lavender flower accord, rose superessence, jasmine absolute, patchouli essence, coconut milk accord, white musks
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: “Whenever I want to conjure up the essence of summer, I turn to this perfume, which was inspired by summers on the Amalfi Coast. Think sparkling citrus trees, sunshine and a gentle spicy warmth all conveyed through clever layering of notes like bitter orange, vetiver and cardamom. It’s so evocative and always puts a smile on my face and a spring in my step,” Georgia Day, contributing editor
- Notes: Spritz accord, bitter orange, pepper duet, cardamom heart, Earl Grey accord, vetiver, patchouli, cedarwood
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: A beautifully fresh and uplifting white floral fragrance, this perfume takes inspiration from the best lie-ins of your life and that sense of deep relaxation and contentment that comes from those moments. To evoke such emotions, it uses a mix of blowsy florals like lily, iris, rose and orange flower, while musks, aldehydes and patchouli are on hand to deliver that skin-like softness and warmth.
- Notes: Lily of the valley, pear, aldehydes, ambrette seeds, iris, rose absolute, orange flower, white musks, patchouli.
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: A warm and cosy gourmand with the comforting creaminess of vanilla and the mouthwatering sugariness of freshly baked cakes, this is the perfect fragrance for those who like their perfumes soft, sweet and enveloping. While it’s undeniably feminine, a woody sandalwood accord keeps things grounded and not too saccharine.
- Notes: Bitter almond essence, Angelica root essence, madeleine accord, sandalwood, Madagascan vanilla pod, absolute ambrette, musks
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: A complex fragrance that unravels beautifully on skin, this is as smoky and sexy as you would expect from a perfume inspired by the intimate ambience of a jazz club. Notes of pink pepper and tobacco leaf give it a woody elegance while neroli and clary sage offer a lively, sparkling touch that conveys conviviality and vigour.
- Notes: Pink pepper essence, Primofiore lemon oil, neroli oil, rum absolute, clary sage oil, tobacco leaf absolute, vanilla bean CO2
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: “I wore this scent for one of the most special days of my life. As a hopeful gardener, my greenhouse is one of my happiest places – and the moment I smelled From The Garden, I was instantly transported to sun-filled days spent outdoors with my husband, picking home-grown vegetables and cooking delicious al fresco dinners. It’s a crisp and restoring scent – and definitely not overpowering – with notes of tomato leaf (a personal favourite), green mandarin and geranium that leaves you feeling instantly grounded and calm. What could be better?” – Ellie Davies, Vogue senior manager, audience development
- Notes: Green mandarin essence, tomato leaf accord, geranium bourbon heart, Madagascar, patchouli Indonesia
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: One spritz is all it takes for this enveloping fragrance to transport you to a crackling fireside, the heat of the flames gently warming your skin. It’s a masterful mix of woody notes like chestnut and warming spices like pepper and clove, but to add a cosy, familiar sweetness to the blend, there’s also vanilla and fruit accords. Wholesome and wholly delicious.
- Notes: Pink pepper, clove, chestnut, woody accords, vanilla, red berries, orange blossom, neroli essence
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: Aquatic accords can often be overpowering, but this ultra-fresh fragrance gets the balance of salty spray and spice just right. Invigorating and enlivening, it’s a fragrance for anyone who loves the freshness of marine elements but also wants something sunny and warm that sings on skin.
- Notes: Aquatic accord, aldehydes accord, juniper essence, coriander essence, iris absolute, rose superessence, red seaweed essence, ambergris accord, ambery wood accord
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: “I don’t usually confine my fragrances to certain times of the year, but this is one that I make an exception for because it’s such a perfect holiday scent that it deserves to be worn, and savoured, under sunshine on sandy beaches. The blend of notes is an ode to that holiday feeling; think tropical notes like coconut milk mixed with creamy softness from musk and ylang ylang, and an uplifting freshness from bergamot. It’s the first thing in my suitcase every summer,” Georgia Day, contributing editor
- Notes: Bergamot, coconut milk, musk, pink pepper and ylang-ylang
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: If you can imagine sinking your nose into a bouquet of some of the world’s most fragrant flowers, then you might come close to the scent of this fan favourite. Inspired by the pure scent of blowsy florals at a market, this fragrance also conveys a hint of wet woodiness that comes from damp leaves and water-soaked stems.
- Notes: Green leaves accord, freesia accord, sambac jasmine absolute, grandiflorum jasmine absolute, rose absolute, tuberose absolute, peach accord, cedarwood essence, oak moss accord
FAQs
How would you describe the Maison Margiela Replica fragrance collection?
“The collection is designed to evoke specific memories and moments with each fragrance acting like a carefully crafted time capsule, capturing the essence of a particular place, time, or emotion – from a lazy morning in bed to an evening by a crackling fireplace, or even the vibrant energy of a jazz club,” says Saunders.
Are there any notes or accords that you think are really signature of Maison Margiela Replica?
“While the collection is diverse in its scent profiles, what I find truly signature to Maison Margiela Replica is its ability to recreate atmosphere through notes,” explains Saunders. “It employs comforting, familiar accords that are highly evocative. Think soft, clean musks and aldehydes for scents like Lazy Sunday Morning, or the smoky, woody warmth of chestnut and clove in By the Fireplace. It’s not necessarily one specific note, but rather a consistent use of notes that conjure tangible sensations – the coolness of linen, the warmth of woodsmoke, the salinity of the ocean – that truly defines its signature.”
What’s the best Maison Margiela Replica fragrance to try if you’re new to the brand?
If you’re new to the Maison Margiela Replica collection, Saunders recommends starting with Afternoon Delight. “With its sweet yet light, ambary gourmand notes of madeleine accord, sandalwood and Madagascan vanilla, it’s universally appealing and really elegant.”
Meet the expert
- Chesley Saunders is the director of fragrance at Boots
