If you’ve been in the presence of this famous Tom Ford fragrance, there’s a good chance you’d recognize it right off the bat. From its undeniably full-body notes of juicy black cherries to the more subtle notes of sweet almond, Turkish rose, and sambac, this fragrance offers an adult version of the fruity perfumes of our youth. Housed in a pale-pink bottle that’s reminiscent of cherry blossoms, the popularity of this Tom Ford scent has given way to two other beloved cherry fragrances, including the bright and playful Electric Cherry and mysterious Cherry Smoke.
Developed by perfumer Louis Turner and released in 2018, Tom Ford’s Lost Cherry has only grown in popularity since its debut. Now, however, there’s no denying that it has become a polarizing fragrance among perfume lovers. Standing against the thousands of banner reviews for the fragrance are almost as many negative reviews. Many critics claim the fragrance’s candy-like finish is sickly sweet. The heavy price tag also remains a popular topic of contention, with the 0.3-ounce bottle priced at $80 and the 3.4-ounce bottle clocking in at $570.
To find a happy medium, I’ve scoured the internet to identify the 10 best-selling dupes for under $380. Before you scroll on, be warned: every one of these perfumes is irresistible in its own way! Once you fall in love with these, your wallet (and cherry-loving heart) may not stand a chance.
Key notes: Bright cherry, juicy plum, fresh almond, smooth vanilla, and tonka bean. If you haven’t browsed the fragrance section during a trip to Zara, you’re missing out. The retailer has several perfumes on its shelves, but Who What Wear editors regularly rave about this sweet and savory eau de parfum spray aptly named Cherry Smoothie. It combines vibrant fruity notes with smooth and savory vanilla.
Key notes: Lush cherry, red peony, and sultry vanilla. This bestselling Victoria’s Secret perfume has landed on many of our perfume roundups, earning a spotless reputation as a wallet-friendly dupe. Vibrant cherry and red peony play with sultry vanilla to offer a saturated and sultry version of the brand’s signature Bombshell fragrance.
Key notes: Black cherry, bitter almond, cherry liqueur, tonka bean, and Turkish rose. Before becoming a beauty editor, I’d never used a parfum extract. I was lucky enough to experience this one from Alexandria Fragrances as my first. Similar to Lost Cherry, this fragrance blends notes of juicy and bright cherry with soft florals, almonds, and tonka bean and heady notes of cherry liqueur and cherry syrup. What better way to bring some unexpected edge to your fragrance game?
Key notes: Cherry, almond, rose, gardenia, sandalwood, and vanilla. If you’ve been on the hunt for a unisex fragrance that’s altogether soft and sensual, Montagne Parfum’s Parfum de Cerise will transform you into a magnet for compliments. Hundreds of five-star reviews identify one of the fragrance’s main selling points: While it certainly is a dupe of Tom Ford’s Lost Cherry, it lingers on the skin longer.
Key notes: Black cherry, bitter almond, rose, lily, vanilla bourbon, and vetiver. Using the word “dazzling” to describe this fragrance wouldn’t do this Carolina Herrera perfume justice. It’s a sparkling fruity floral fragrance with notes of black cherry, bitter almond, and a brilliant bouquet of florals housed in a glamorous version of the brand’s signature stiletto bottle.
Key notes: Black cherry, rose damascena, and palo santo. The perfume I most closely associate with Lost Cherry is Kay Ali’s Burning Cherry. It features all of the notes beloved in the Tom Ford fragrance with the unexpected addition of smoky palo santo for a touch of sensuality. It may be a major dupe for the Tom Ford fragrance, but it also stands on its own as a memorable perfume.
Key notes: Cherry, saffron, Sichuan pepper, jasmine absolute, tonka bean, and black leather. Lovers of bold, edgy fragrances will love Room 1015 Cherry Punk. Not only is it an ideal perfume for layering (it would smell amazing paired with a classically feminine floral fragrance), but it’s also effortlessly sexy. I’ll be adding this perfume to my perfume rotation for date nights.
Key notes: Sweet cherry, almond, saffron, Bulgarian rose, sour cherry, amber, and Indonesian patchouli. In my opinion, this perfume by Arielle Shoshana is most similar to Tom Ford’s Electric Cherry. It playfully merging sweet and sour cherry with the warmth of Bulgarian rose, almond and Indonesian patchouli. It possesses sweeter notes than the previously mentioned perfumes as an exploration of sugary-sweet cherry notes.
Key notes: Tangy red berries, raspberry, mandarin, black currant, violet leaf absolute, wood, and patchouli. A single spray of Dior’s Rouge Trafalgar opens with heady middle notes of mandarin, black currant, and violet leaf before revealing the tanginess of red berries (most notably strawberry and raspberry) against a background of musky woods. It’s a beautiful every day fragrance that smells as romantic as it looks in its delicate glass bottle.
Key notes: Cherry oud, Bulgarian rose essence, Turkish rose absolute, leather accord, and black oud wood. Does a high price allow for a big fragrance payoff? In the case of Guerlain’s Cherry Oud, the answer is a firm yesfrom me. Notes of deep and dark cherry oud mingle with two layers of rose essence and absolute before being counted by a strong leather accord. While there’s no way to prove it, I’m certain this smells like a romantic evening spent in a lover’s embrace.
