Amouage Purpose 50 Dupe: The 2 Arabian Scents Reviewers Keep Comparing
On this page
The two Arabian scents most often compared to Amouage Purpose 50 are French Avenue Marmara and Swiss Arabian Incense 01. Neither is a copy. Marmara is the better pick if you want the peppery, saffron woods side of Purpose 50, while Incense 01 is for people who want real frankincense with a sweet, nutty twist.
- Fragrantica reviewers are split on both. Some see a clear family resemblance, others say there is none.
- Many reviewers say Marmara sits closer to Essential Parfums Bois Impérial than to Purpose 50.
- Incense 01 is more gourmand, with hazelnut, almond, vanilla and dark chocolate listed by the brand.
Amouage Purpose 50 is an Exceptional Extrait by perfumer Quentin Bisch. Amouage lists frankincense, pink pepper, saffron, suede, sandalwood and vanilla among its notes. It is a big, expensive, smoky woody scent.
So people go hunting for something close. Two names keep coming up on Fragrantica. Here is what reviewers actually say, and which one we would pick.
French Avenue Marmara
French Avenue MarmaraBlack pepper, saffron, bergamot, cashmere wood, muskShop nowOn paper, Marmara shares a lot of the Purpose 50 opening: pepper, saffron and bergamot. Then it goes powdery, musky and woody instead of deep and smoky.
Fragrantica reviewers are all over the map. One wrote that it "does remind me of Purpose 50. Its a simpler, yet easier to wear version." Another, who owns Purpose and Purpose 50, said it is "in the same bracket smell wise but fresher and more wearable." But plenty push back. One called it "Closer to Bois imperial than purpose 50," and another warned, "If you are buying it thinking that it is a 1:1 clone of Purpose 50 you will be disappointed."
Our take: think of Marmara as a sweeter, cleaner cousin in the same woody family. It is easy to wear to work, which Purpose 50 is not always. We compared it to Bois Impérial in our Marmara vs Bois Impérial guide.
Swiss Arabian Incense 01
Swiss Arabian Incense 01Frankincense, juniper, hazelnut, dark chocolate, sandalwoodShop nowSwiss Arabian sells Incense 01 as an extrait. The brand lists frankincense at the top and again in the base, with fig, roasted almond, hazelnut, vanilla and dark chocolate in between.
That means it shares the frankincense with Purpose 50, but it takes a sweeter, cozier road. Fragrantica reviewers are split here too. One wrote, "Purpose 50 for a fraction of the price!" A reviewer who owns both said there are "SLIGHT similarities between the 2." Another, who also owns Purpose 50, said it is "a totally different scent."
Our take: buy Incense 01 because you want a smoky, nutty incense for cold nights, not because you want Purpose 50 in a cheaper bottle. See how it stacks up against its siblings in our Swiss Arabian 01 collection guide.
Notes side by side
| Amouage Purpose 50 | Marmara | Incense 01 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening | Frankincense, pink pepper, pimento, bergamot | Black pepper, saffron, bergamot | Frankincense, juniper, rum, bergamot |
| Heart | Rose, vetiver, sandalwood, papyrus | Powdery notes, ambroxan, cashmere wood | Fig, hazelnut, roasted almond, lily of the valley |
| Base | Saffron, suede, akigalawood, vanilla | Musk, white sandalwood | Sandalwood, cedarwood, vanilla, dark chocolate, moss |
| Shared with Purpose 50 | n/a | Pepper, saffron, bergamot, sandalwood | Frankincense, bergamot, sandalwood, vanilla |
| Overall feel | Smoky, woody, spicy | Peppery, powdery, clean woods | Smoky incense with a sweet, nutty side |
Notes come from Amouage and Swiss Arabian's own pages and from Fragrantica for Marmara. Notes on paper never tell the whole story, so treat this as a map, not a promise.
Which one is closer?
Neither one, by a clear margin. Reviewers who own Purpose 50 disagree about both scents. That is the honest answer.
If we had to call it, Marmara gets more "same family" comments from people who own Purpose 50. Incense 01 gets the frankincense right but adds a gourmand layer Purpose 50 does not have.
- French Avenue Marmara: the most wearable nod to the Purpose 50 style, great for daily and office wear.
- Swiss Arabian Incense 01: the better pick if frankincense is the note you are chasing, and you like it sweet.
Get Marmara if you want a peppery, saffron woody scent in the Purpose 50 and Bois Impérial family that you can wear anywhere. Get Incense 01 if you want smoke and sweetness for fall and winter evenings. If you want the real Purpose 50 smell, no clone replaces smelling the original first.
Which one is right for you?
- Want a clean, spicy woody for work: French Avenue Marmara
- Want real incense smoke: Swiss Arabian Incense 01
- Want something sweet and cozy for cold nights: Swiss Arabian Incense 01
- Love Bois Impérial too: French Avenue Marmara
FAQ
What is the best Amouage Purpose 50 dupe?
French Avenue Marmara and Swiss Arabian Incense 01 are the two Arabian scents reviewers compare to it most. Neither is a 1:1 clone, and reviewers disagree on how close each one gets.
Is French Avenue Marmara a Purpose 50 clone?
Not exactly. Some Fragrantica reviewers see a resemblance, but many say it smells closer to Essential Parfums Bois Impérial.
Does Swiss Arabian Incense 01 smell like Purpose 50?
It shares frankincense, bergamot, sandalwood and vanilla, but it adds nutty, chocolate gourmand notes. One reviewer who owns both found only slight similarities.
Which is sweeter, Marmara or Incense 01?
Going by the notes, Incense 01 is the sweeter, more gourmand one. Some reviewers also say Marmara is sweeter than Purpose 50 itself.
Are Marmara and Incense 01 good for fall?
Yes. Incense 01 suits cool evenings best, while Marmara is lighter and works for daytime and the office.
Initio Side Effect Dupes: 3 Boozy Alternatives, Ranked 
Best Fresh Oud for Fall: Ouds You Can Actually Wear to Work 
Same Family, Different Blood: The Real Story Behind Mancera and Montale