Maison Francis Kurkdjian's Baccarat Rouge 540 costs €325. Ariana Grande's Cloud costs €22. The internet has been saying they smell alike for years — so we put it to a proper test.
Forty strangers at a shopping centre, two blotters each, no labels. The question: which one smells more expensive?
The result: 61% picked Cloud. The sweet, cottony ethyl maltol heart reads as "luxury" to most noses, and the famous BR540 saffron-amberwood glow is present in Cloud at maybe 90% strength.
Where the original wins: projection in the first two hours and that slightly metallic, airy top note that Cloud smooths over. Where the dupe wins: literally everywhere else, including your bank account.
Match score: 92%. Savings: €303.