The State of the Fragrance Game as I see It!!!

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I swear the fragrance game has turned into Uber.

Not literally, obviously—but the whole vibe is the same: everyone’s jumping in, the market is flooded, pricing feels random, and hype basically sets the “rate” more than actual quality.

Back then, it felt like there was a clearer ladder: designers → niche → the really expensive stuff. Now it’s like:

$40 clone that screams for 12 hours
$150 designer that lasts 4–6
$300 niche that’s smoother but “quiet.”
$500+ luxury line that’s basically paying for branding + bottle + exclusivity

And the crazy part is… the price difference isn’t always reflected in how “good” it smells to the average person, especially with how people judge fragrances now.

Because honestly, a lot of people have started equating performance with quality.

So you get this whole trend where people are convinced that cheaper clones are better than the originals. And I get why they think that:

Louder + longer = “better” (especially for newer hobbyists)
Clones often nail the opening, and that’s all many people really judge
If you’re not doing side-by-side testing, a clone can smell “identical” in the air
Paying $50 and getting “close enough” feels like a win… paying $300 for something subtle feels like you got scammed
Social media rewards hot takes like “THIS IS BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL,” so it becomes a flex to say it

But when you actually compare them properly, it’s usually the same story:

Originals tend to be smoother, more balanced, better blended, and have a nicer drydown. Clones tend to be louder, simpler, and more linear, and sometimes have that harsh/chemical/musky “clone DNA” after an hour.

The way I see it: Clones win in the first 30–60 minutes and on loud compliments. Originals win after hour 2 when you actually care about how it wears up close.

And that’s why the market feels “Uber-ified” now. It’s less about artistry and more about volume, hype, and “surge pricing” driven by FOMO and influencers. Everyone’s just trying to get the biggest hit of scent for the cheapest ride.

Curious if anyone else feels this shift or if I’m just turning into a grumpy frag nerd.

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