Shoppers say this ‘divine’ £12 fragrance from M&S is a dead ringer for a £170 version

M&S shoppers cannot get enough of this delicious scent! (Picture: Metro/M&S/Getty)

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Beauty dupes used to have a bit of a bad reputation. They were often cheap knock-offs that didn’t quite hit the mark, but over the years, things have changed big time. 

Now, you can find budget-friendly products that are dead ringers for their high-end alternatives – at a fraction of the cost.

One of those impressive dupes is the M&S Apothecary Warmth Eau de Parfum that comes in at just £12. 

It’s causing a serious buzz on TikTok and Instagram because it smells almost identical to the iconic Le Labo Santal 33, a cult fragrance that costs a whopping £170.

Don’t get us wrong, Le Labo’s fragrances are gorgeous and among some of our all-time favourites, but there’s nothing wrong with wanting to save your money. 

And with that being said, Warmth might just be one of the best affordable fragrance finds on the high street right now.

With notes of cardamom, sandalwood, cedar, and cinnamon leaf, it mirrors Santal 33’s creamy, woody scent that fragrance fans can’t get enough of. 

Spritzed onto pulse points, it smells warm, grounding and cosy, making it a perfect choice for the cooler days of autumn and winter when you’ve switched out your fresh florals from summer.

Part of M&S’s Apothecary collection of wellbeing scents and available as a range of home, bath and body products, it’s designed to evoke feelings of comfort and calmness – and we can attest to this. It smells cosy and reassuring, somehow. 

Le Labo’s cult-status Santal 33 scent is gorgeous but costs an eye-watering £170 (Picture: Metro/Le Labo)

Now, you might think that a £12 fragrance couldn’t possibly stand up to a luxury £170 one in terms of scent and longevity but, the high street store’s use of high-quality essential oils and expertly blended notes makes the two pretty much indistinguishable. 

Don’t believe us? Just take a look at some of the glowing reviews from happy customers. One review from a shopper named Suzie1992 says: ‘Obsessed with this scent, the body wash is also great. Smells just like Santal 33.’

And a review from user Sunnysue28 reads: ‘Love this stuff! So warm and comforting, it just smells amazing! A colleague wore it at work and she smelled fabulous so I couldn’t resist treating myself. Use it day to day as it’s such a great price. Go on and spoil yourself, you’ll not regret it!’ 

And a review left by a shopper called Kew1010 says: ‘A wonderfully warm scent for winter time. Musky and woody but so natural. No nasty chemical or manufactured smell here, a must for the over 40’s woman looking for something special and different without the usual designer price tag. Well done M&S.’ 

If you love warm, woody scents and you’re looking to try something new or you’re a Santal 33 superfan but want to save some cash, at £12, this fragrance really is a no-brainer. 

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