**REVIEW** A DEEP Dupe for BR540

( First, a disclaimer. I have only ever smelled the original BR540 on a test strip.)

Guys, I have talked about Miraclelayer more than once. I love their Ambergris Musk (a dupe for JHAG's Not A Perfume) and I also love their 13 Aromatics (a dupe for Another 13) just as much - maybe even a little bit more.  (The only one of their dupes I don't like is Aromatic 04 (for Molecule 04) and that's fair because I don't like the original.)

However...

They sent me a sample of their BR540 dupe called Crystal Power in early September and, while I liked it, I wasn't immediately impressed. So I tucked it in my purse and forgot about it until around the first of this month when I was digging around for a lip balm. Well, the maceration was magical.

This is now my favorite dupe. The longevity on me is not as long as I'd like but that's normal for my dry skin so I spray my bra with it. The projection is amazing. I'm pretty sure that this stuff would have had eternal longevity on my 40-year-old skin. Shame. Still, it's so good that I want more.

So this is not going to be a long drawn-out post. All I really want to say is that for the price, I can indulge in this dupe every now and then. I can't even think about buying the original BR540. Even if I could, I would not. I'd rather have groceries and clothing! I wouldn't even want someone to buy it for me as a gift. I'd rather put the money toward a phone or a used car...

For the dupe-searchers who love some BR540, this is another one to take a look at. Also, keep in mind that Miraclelayer has free flat-rate shipping on all orders.

Peace

--Free

DISCLAIMER: In my September 2023 order, Miraclelayer included a free small sample of Crystal Power. I purchased all other items with my own money.

**Dupe Patrol** MiracleLayer Scents

If, like me, you had never heard of this fragrance company before... you will now!

I first tried a MiracleLayer (ML) product when I saw their Molecule 02 dupe scent  (called Aromatic 02) on Amazon.  Oddly, I wasn't impressed right away. I had to pump a couple of sprays and let the bottle set for a week or two. Afterward... wow. 

You must understand how the Escentual Molecule 02 works before you ever try using it. The same goes for the ML 02 type. They are not worn by most as an actual fragrance; they are more "fragrance-enhancing" if that makes sense. 

I only had a Scent Split decant of the original Molecule 02 because I can't splurge on a full bottle. It did what many other users claimed: it supercharged many of my other perfumes when paired. The ML 02-type was identical (after the resting period).

I have a $10 bottle of Choco Musk from the Al Rehab brand that had no projection or lasting power. I mean, what could I expect for ten bucks! Layering Choco Musk with either of the 02 scents made me fall in love with that cheap perfume. All of the chocolate-vanilla-powder sweetness of the Musk went into beast mode. Honestly, maybe "beast mode" is a slight exaggeration! However, I definitely got the projection and longevity of a much pricier fragrance.

So, after that, I was kind of hooked. The seller told me (via their Amazon page) that the other ML scents I'd heard about weren't on Amazon yet. I went to their website and... it looked so freaking sketchy that I had to check around for its legitimacy. A couple of Redditors assured me that they had used the site. I gave it a shot, knowing that my credit card would protect me and itself!

Listen. Not only was the site legit for me, but there were also no shipping charges. I could pay for faster shipping but "regular" USPS is free. I jumped right on that.

I ordered 10ml each of the Ambergris Musk (A JHAG Not a Perfume dupe) and 13 Aromatics (a Le Labo Another 13 dupe). And I am not mad at all.

The Ambergris Musk is, IMO, a bit stronger than the original. Many users don't know that JHAG's Not a Perfume is made up of basically Cetalox. The dupe from ML also uses the cetalox scent as a base note.

By the way, because I tend to like scents like Not a Perfume and Glossier's You - which are similar IMO - I wanted to understand the notes and ingredients that give them their "personality. Chat GPT was helpful. This is how it explains the differences between cetalox, Ambroxan, and ambergris:

1. **Cetalox:** Cetalox is a synthetic molecule that has a clean, woody scent. It's often used as a base note in perfumes to add depth and warmth. It's known for its neutral fragrance profile and is a common ingredient in many modern fragrances.

2. **Ambroxan:** Ambroxan is another synthetic molecule used in perfumery. It has an ambery, musky, and slightly woody scent. It's often used to create rich, warm, and sensual fragrances. Ambroxan is known for its longevity and ability to enhance other scent notes in a perfume.

3. **Ambergris:** Ambergris is a natural substance that comes from the digestive system of whales. Over time, it develops a unique and complex scent that's often described as sweet, earthy, and marine-like. It's used as a precious ingredient in perfumery to add depth and complexity to fragrances. However, due to ethical and environmental concerns, synthetic alternatives like ambroxan and cetalox are often used instead of natural ambergris.

In short, cetalox and ambroxan are synthetic molecules used to create certain scent profiles, while ambergris is a natural substance with a distinctive scent that's often replicated synthetically due to sustainability reasons.

And, as far as my 2 personal faves:

Not a Perfume - Main Ingredient: "Not a Perfume" by Juliette Has a Gun is centered around the single molecule cetalox. This fragrance is known for its simple, clean, and almost transparent scent. It's designed to be minimalistic and non-traditional in its approach to perfumery.

Glossier You:- Main Notes: "You" by Glossier is formulated with a combination of notes, including ambroxan, musk, and iris root. While ambroxan contributes to the musky and warm undertones, the fragrance also includes other elements for a more complex scent profile.

If you check out the MiracleLayer links, you can see what I like about the scents I tried. 

Overall, I personally cannot see buying "You", "Not a Perfume", or Molecule 02 originals again. Remember from my page on perfumes how I explained why smells can't be patented? Well, I do not care what the name is on the bottle of perfume. As long as it presents the smell results, I'm happy. MiracleLayer is making me happy with at least 3 of the smells I love!

Finally, I want to say that this appears to be a small company. When I was buying one product from Amazon and had a question, the customer service was amazing. It's a USA company, people. Get over there and show some support!

Peace

--Free

DISCLAIMER: I was not sponsored or compensated in any way for writing this post. I bought all the items with my own money and at no discount.

**Dupe Patrol** Smells Like Cheirosa?

 One of my favorite fragrances for a long time has been Sol de Janeiro's (SDJ) Cheirosa '71. It's so sweet and salty and caramel-y that I can't help but love it. However... the scent lasts about 20 minutes on me before it becomes a memory only.

I've looked for the longest for something that at least mimics the warm, yummy scent and nothing even came close. Until this almost-a-dupe fragrance mist from Bath and Body Works called"Christmas Cookies". 

The bottles sometimes come in 
different colors (I'm told!)

As I said this is just an almost (kinda-sorta) duplicate. Even if I had never smelled Cheirosa '71, I would have fallen in love with this one. Since I do know what the SDJ smells like, I couldn't help but compare the 2 different fragrances. Of course, I ran over to Frangrantica to check what they show for them both.

The accords for Cheirosa are sweet, caramel, vanilla, nutty, salty, and chocolate. To be honest, I never really caught the chocolate part. For the Christmas Cookies: sweet, caramel, almond, nutty, and fruity. For this one, I don't get any of the fruity parts of the scent. (BTW, I bolded the shared notes.)

The two scents are like twins - fraternal, not identical. Even though the BBW lacks three of the accords found in the SDJ, the only one really I notice missing is the salty one. That's really it for me. Apparently, other people are getting the same vibe. One Fragrantica review describes the SDJ as a "freshly baked macadamia nut cookie" and another review describes the BBW as "creamy butter caramel like popcorn". They both nailed it.

Although I like the Cheirosa more, I prefer Christmas Cookies because it lasts longer for me.  And it's cheaper. It's only a little longer-lasting than Cheirosa on my skin (by itself) but it lingers longer on my hair and clothing. Also, there is a matching lotion for the Christmas Cookies scent. That makes a big difference.

Honestly, as popular as Cheirosa '71 is, I'm really surprised that SDJ made a perfume for the Cheirosa '62 instead. I don't see nearly as many people asking about dupes for the '62 as for the '71. I have the '62 perfume in a travel-sized roller and it's so "meh" for me that the little bottle is still nearly full after almost a year. And, again, the BBW is less pricey per ounce. I mean, for a visual, look at the 2 bottles and know that they each cost about $20.

And when you take the cap off of the Cheirosa, you see a bigger difference in the amount you're getting. Or, at least, I did.

(no flash for this pic!)

What surprises me is that I could not find the Christmas Cookies scent on their site currently. Maybe they only put it up on a seasonal basis? Thankfully, I found it on Amazon. If they run out, there's always eBay, I guess. One thing I would look out for though: because you can find the scent out of season, make sure you are getting it from a seller you trust. I've seen reviewers on Amazon complaining that the item was possibly fake or smelled nothing like they know it should. Some sellers can be so shady.

The thing is, you can always find a dupe for something - even if you have to layer 2 scents together to get the effect you want. In some cases, it's worth doing that. You know that if it hurts my budget to spend $20 on 3 ounces of a fragrance, I will not be wearing any authentic BR540!

One final thing. I recently heard that the reason you can find clones of scents is that a scent cannot be trademarked. The name can be trademarked but not the smell. Interesting, right? Maybe soon I will do a post listing all the clone houses and articles about dupes I can find online. Maybe I will even do a post of all the new places for shopping perfumes - whether I can afford them or not.

Peace

--Free