Originals vs Dupes

[bentheduck]

This topic was inspired by a thread I stumbled upon on a site that rhymes with seddit. I noticed that there were quite a few users that we lashing out at artisans for scenting (?) their products with popular fragrance dupes.

Those of you who have been around the wet shaving world longer than I have (about 4 years), have you noticed this trend too?

Personally, I think dupes serve a purpose in the marketplace, primarily for new artisans that are eager to put their soap bases on the market and test them against the latest and greatest. Not that it's easy, but what easier way to get your product out than by adding a premixed fragrance oil?

On the flip side, I can certainly appreciate the effort put into original scents, the time and effort put into mixing oils to produce something wonderful. Some of the bigger named artisans fit into this category. Wholly Kaw, Barrister & Mann, some of Stirling's offerings, Ariana & Evans, Declaration Grooming, the list goes on, not to exclude our own @CBLSoap.com, @Dragonsbeard, @Marco SV, and @LNHC.

I guess to sum up this post, what are your thoughts? Do you tend to gravitate towards dupes or do you prefer original work, maybe both?

 

[GearNoir]

I think dupes have their place. They allow you to more economically experience a scent (maybe to simply figure out if you even like it) when getting a sample doesn’t seem feasible. In terms of shaving specifically, a lot of fragrance houses don’t have the soaps, aftershaves, etc. (even if they did, would it be worth it?), so if you really want to go all out on a scent, dupes allow you to do that.

Much like artistry, writing, or intellectual property, dupes should always acknowledge their inspiration.

Some dupes are even better than the originals!

 

[bentheduck]

I think dupes have their place. They allow you to more economically experience a scent (maybe to simply figure out if you even like it) when getting a sample doesn’t seem feasible. In terms of shaving specifically, a lot of fragrance houses don’t have the soaps, aftershaves, etc. (even if they did, would it be worth it?), so if you really want to go all out on a scent, dupes allow you to do that.

Much like artistry, writing, or intellectual property, dupes should always acknowledge their inspiration.

Some dupes are even better than the originals!

I definitely agree. And you bring up another good point, dupe soaps and splashes allow us to "sample" a fragrance which is often not too far off from the original, for a fraction of the price.

For example, Hub City's Red Cabin In the Woods (I keep forgetting that Stirling has Haverford too) being a TF Tobacco Vanille dupe. That's a high dollar fragrance that I have to keep saving up to get. Hub City and Stirling allowed me to fall in love with the scent without shelling out a couple of hundred dollars.

 

[Spider]

Dupes are everywhere. Many artisans do dupes. There are over a dozen artisans that have a dupe (or inspired by) Creed Aventus.

Creed cologne inspired aftershaves

I'm trying to compile a list of all of the aftershaves that are based on or inspired by the different scents of Creed Colognes. I did a rough search and have a start. Please let me know others that you know of and I'll update this first post. I'm finding that artisans don't always say they...

theshavingcadre.com

I think most of the point is getting the scent out there, in an affordable price. And attracting folks to your brand because of a known, and popular, scent.

 

[bentheduck]

Dupes are everywhere. Many artisans do dupes. There are over a dozen artisans that have a dupe (or inspired by) Creed Aventus.

Creed cologne inspired aftershaves

I'm trying to compile a list of all of the aftershaves that are based on or inspired by the different scents of Creed Colognes. I did a rough search and have a start. Please let me know others that you know of and I'll update this first post. I'm finding that artisans don't always say they...

theshavingcadre.com

I think most of the point is getting the scent out there, in an affordable price. And attracting folks to your brand because of a known, and popular, scent.

I have a couple of things to add to your list when I get home tomorrow!

That's what I kinda figured. I don't even want to think about the math involved in releasing a potentially polarizing scent.

 

[BarberDave]

I think Dupes are fine, I prefer to call them Homages rather than dupes, but in either case as long as they do not try to pass it off as the scent I think it allows a broader audience to try items that they may never get a chance to, Especially for GIT, and Aventus (probably the most cloned scent out there), do you spend 15.00 on a homage, or 450.00 on the real thing. Fine Accoutrements was probably one of the 1st who used the words inspired by, in his offerings Definitely a place for them on the field

 

[DeepSea]

I’m not into fragrances very much but dupes have been getting me interested in them. Being able to try a close representation of a high end scent to see how it works before pulling the trigger on a high dollar bottle is great in my eyes.

 

[bentheduck]

I prefer to call them Homages rather than dupes

That was a brain fart on my part. I couldn't for the life of me remember homage. I know dupe has a seemingly negative connotation, but I certainly didn't intend to suggest they are lesser in any way.

I think I'm just conflicted on the subject. I completely understand their purpose, and obviously still keep buying them, but part of me wants to "reward" an artisan that creates a well crafted scent. You know better than most of us how much work goes into creating a fragrance. I feel that art form is starting to take a backseat right now.

 

[BarberDave]

That was a brain fart on my part. I couldn't for the life of me remember homage. I know dupe has a seemingly negative connotation, but I certainly didn't intend to suggest they are lesser in any way.

I think I'm just conflicted on the subject. I completely understand their purpose, and obviously still keep buying them, but part of me wants to "reward" an artisan that creates a well crafted scent. You know better than most of us how much work goes into creating a fragrance. I feel that art form is starting to take a backseat right now.

no, I did not take it that way and dupes is appropriate. Well in any commerce based business, to make money someone will make a "clone" to be able to sell it to a larger audience, that is why you have 8 million insurance companies packaging the same widget into a different slot at a cheaper price, but a "duck" is still a "duck"

See what I did there? Be here all week... Tip your waitresses!

To a degree I do indeed agree with you that a true artisan who goes through the painstaking process of creating a signature scent, i.e. Aventus should be rewarded with the purchase. However from another point "copies" are usually the largest from of compliment, and eventually those trying the lesser expensive homage, with begin to think like you and thus buy the Aventus, appreciate it more, and "The Maker" gets sales from both ends. Those that buy it immediately ( ME ) and those that wait, try and then decide, YA I want it (You) So the Homage artist, gets you now, "The Maker" gets you later, and the homage artist gets me later as I want to see how close they made it to the original. We go broke and "The Maker" and "The Homage Artist" bank the dinero on both sides of the tracks. Pretty slick marketing if you ask me. With the kicker that everyone goes home happy.

 

[bentheduck]

I want to see how close they made it to the original.

That's another aspect I hadn't really thought about. The challenge of getting as close to the original as possible. We're all a competitive bunch by way of genetics, so it makes sense that some artisans, new or seasoned, would take on the challenge of trying to replicate the original as closely as possible with a fraction of the working budget and equipment. And at the end of the day, nobody loses.

 

[fhalden]

Back in law school, we learned on day one that while a particular scent *formulation* can be patented, a scent cannot. So there's no legal barrier to making a clone. As far as the moral question, I see nothing wrong with clones, although it's preferable IMHO to say "inspired by," or even just "clone" of a particular original.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

 

[Patelliott]

I am good with either. I just like a great smelling soap and aftershave. Although I will probably not buy the same scent from multiple artisans.

 

[dangerousdon]

I like and have some of the Homages. And if an Artisan wishes to create or re-create his or her version I say go for it. Take Stirling for Example. They have several scents inspired by major names. I am not likely to purchase Aventus anytime soon. But I am likely to purchase a soap, aftershave, and EdT in Executive man for under $60.00. In fact...I wear Fine Accouterments Platinum a lot, in both after shave and EdT...and it is the most complimented scent I wear. Sorry...not going to spend three hundo when I can get a similar product for a lot less. There are exceptions though.

As for Artisans who make their own originals...I am all for it. Just as long as we understand...there is very little out there that are actually original. I mean...just about any scent out there can be compared to another.

But there are some Artisan labels that do a really good job of creating their own despite what I just said. Chatillon Lux is one of them.

 

[bentheduck]

In fact...I glug Fine Accouterments Platinum a lot

FTFY

Chatillon Lux FTW!

 

[Spider]

think I'm just conflicted on the subject. I completely understand their purpose, and obviously still keep buying them, but part of me wants to "reward" an artisan that creates a well crafted scent. You know better than most of us how much work goes into creating a fragrance. I feel that art form is starting to take a backseat right now.

I don’t think anyone out there is doing strictly clones and not experimenting with their own scents. I think most artisans do both. And some definitely are better at creating their own scents than others, so many artisans stick to basic stuff, but I think deep down every artisan wants to creat something unique and original.

 

[Aaron]

As long as the copycat isn't trying to trick customers into thinking they're buying the real thing or passing the scent off as their own creation, I say go for it.