Bargain of the Day (BOTD)

Today's BOTD is about a new fragrance dupe of an old standard. If you've never heard the term "fragrance dupe" it's simply a copy or intepretation of a popular fragrance by another manufacturer, sold at a lower price point. Sometimes dupes are spot-on, other times there are only a few similarities to the original (in those instances the dupe is usually only "inspired by" the original).

Love Spell is probably Victoria's Secret's most popular scent of all time. If you haven't smelled it, think again. I'm absolutely certain that at some point, somewhere, you've caught a whiff on a passing girl/teenage girl/woman. It's one of those universally appealing fragrances that just seems to evoke sweetness and light. Composed of notes of cherry blossom, muguet, tamarind, red apple, blondwood, and peach, the combination of these notes makes for a scent that is fruity, tart, floral, sweet, and clean, all at once.

There have been many "interpretations" of Love Spell over the years, but the recent offering from Parfums de Coeur, titled "Love Struck" is, in my humble opinion, a spot-on duplication. I sniffed it just yesterday at CVS and I could not detect a difference from the original (the original is indelibly marked on my brain).

Parfums de Coeur's Love Struck sells for $6.99 at CVS, which isn't a HUGE savings from the original (sold at Victoria's Secret for $9.50). But I think that what you're paying for is convenience. You no longer have to drive to the mall, battle the crowds, and contend with pushy sales people to get your Love Spell fix.

I should add that Parfums de Couer's Love Struck is part of a new line called "Sexiest Fantasies" which is obviously an "ode" to Victoria's Secret. Futher evidence of this is the only other fragrance currently in the collection, "Strawberries and Champagne." Is it a coincidence that this fragrance shares the exact same name as the Victoria's Secret fragrance? I didn't sniff it at my CVS because I'm not a huge fan of the original, but I would bet it's a pretty good dupe as well.

If you're a Victoria's Secret fan, I'd keep an eye on the "Sexiest Fantasies" line because I'm sure it will continue to grow and offer more fragrance dupes in the coming months.