Let’s get one thing straight: 850 fragrances is a lot of fragrances. It’s the kind of number that sounds good in a headline and means almost nothing until someone actually walks you through what’s in there. So that’s what this is. A tour of the Scentimental catalogue by someone who has spent time in it.

A scent blend is the combination of fragrance notes, top, heart, and base, that gives a perfume its character and direction. The top notes hit first. They’re the opener, the first impression, usually bright citrus or light spice that fades in the first 20 minutes. The heart is the core of the fragrance, the part that stays with you through the day. The base is what lingers, the woody or musky anchor you smell on your skin hours later. Different combinations of these three layers produce wildly different scents: something fresh and clean, something dark and resinous, something warm and powdery, something that smells like a specific beach in Morocco you’ve never visited.

Scentimental’s range of 850+ inspired-by fragrances covers every major scent family: floral, woody, oriental, fresh, gourmand, and niche artisan. Unlike most SA fragrance retailers who carry 50-100 SKUs of the obvious bestsellers, Scentimental has deliberately built a catalogue that includes genuinely hard-to-find scent profiles, from Maison Margiela Replica blends to Creed and Byredo-inspired creations. That’s the difference worth paying attention to.

The scent families in the Scentimental range

Before getting into the specifics, here’s a quick map of what territory the catalogue covers.

Everyday crowd-pleasers

Some fragrances are popular for reasons that have nothing to do with hype. Dior Sauvage is one of them. Fresh, slightly spicy, clean without being boring. It works in an office, it works on a first date, it works on a Saturday running errands. The Scentimental inspired-by version captures that signature ambroxan-and-bergamot combination, and it’s one of the range’s consistent sellers for obvious reasons.

Chanel Chance is another one that belongs in this category. It’s a cheerful, powdery floral with a citrus top that’s been making people smell excellent for over two decades. Acqua di Gio sits in the fresh aquatic corner: cool, clean, a little salty, effortlessly Mediterranean even if you’ve never left Johannesburg. Marc Jacobs Daisy is here too, that soft white floral with violet and sandalwood that reads as friendly and uncomplicated in the best way.

These are the everyday workhorses. If you know these scents and love them, you know exactly what you’re getting from Scentimental at a fraction of the price of the original.

Romantic and date-night scents

YSL Black Opium was released in 2014 and it has not stopped being relevant since. Dark coffee, sweet vanilla, white floral. It’s unambiguously nighttime, unambiguously feminine, and it has a kind of confident intensity that’s hard to replicate. Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb occupies similar territory: a rich, dense floral bomb with patchouli and jasmine that opens up beautifully on warm skin. Tom Ford Noir is on the other end of the date-night spectrum, darker and more brooding, with amber and black pepper and the kind of depth that takes a while to fully reveal itself.

These are fragrances where the whole point is presence. You want to be noticed. Scentimental carries inspired-by versions of all three, which is genuinely useful if you want something in this register without committing R2,000+ to a bottle you might not reach for every day.

Fresh and seasonal

Not every day calls for something complex. Sometimes you want something that makes you smell like you just got out of the shower at a very nice hotel. Issey Miyake L’Eau d’Issey does this: clean, cool, a little watery, minimal. D&G Light Blue is similarly easy-going: citrus-forward, crisp, with a soft woody base that doesn’t overstay its welcome.

These are summer fragrances, spring fragrances, office fragrances, the kind of thing you reach for when you want to smell good without announcing yourself. They’re also excellent entry points if you’re new to fragrance and not sure where to start. Low commitment, high wearability.

Men’s classics and modern

The men’s section of the range is strong. Dior Sauvage is already mentioned, but it deserves a second note here because the inspired-by version is one of the most requested in the catalogue. Paco Rabanne 1 Million is a crowd-pleaser in a very different direction: sweet spice, leather, amber, a fragrance with genuine swagger that reads as high-energy and confident. Versace Eros goes further into the bold territory, sweet and fresh simultaneously, a counterintuitive combination that somehow works.

Then there’s Creed Green Irish Tweed, which is in a completely different class. This is a cooler, more refined fresh green fragrance, the kind of thing that gets complimented differently than Sauvage. Less “I recognise that”, more “what are you wearing?” Getting access to that kind of fragrance profile at the Scentimental price point is genuinely the whole value proposition.

Arabic and oriental blends

This is a category that the South African market underestimates, and Scentimental doesn’t. Oud, amber, musk-forward blends with genuine warmth and longevity. The Arabic fragrance tradition has a different relationship with scent than Western fine fragrance: heavier, more resinous, built for presence and longevity, sometimes worn in layers.

Lattafa is one of the better-known names in this space, a Dubai-based house that produces bold, affordable Arabic-style fragrances. The Scentimental range covers oud-based blends, amber-heavy compositions, and the kind of warm musk combinations that last significantly longer than most Western florals or fresh scents. If you’ve never explored this direction, it’s worth spending time here. The longevity alone tends to convert people.

Niche and hard-to-find scent blends

This is the section most fragrance shops don’t have. And it’s where Scentimental’s catalogue does something genuinely unusual for the SA market.

The following five picks are from the niche and artisan tier. These are fragrances whose originals cost between R3,000 and R6,000 in South Africa (when you can find them, which is not always easy). Most mall retailers don’t stock them at all.

Creed Aventus inspired-by

Aventus has been one of the most copied fragrances in the world since its release in 2010, which tells you something. The original is a dry, smoky pineapple-and-birch-bark composition with a clean, almost masculine elegance that doesn’t fit neatly into any box. It wears differently depending on your skin chemistry. The Scentimental version captures the signature smoky-fruity opening and that distinctive birch wood base. At R600, you get access to a scent profile that usually costs multiples of that.

Maison Margiela Replica series inspired-by

The Replica line is arguably one of the most interesting things that has happened to mainstream fragrance in the past decade. Each Replica is built around a memory or moment: a beach holiday, a jazz bar, a cosy autumn afternoon indoors. “Beach Walk” is salty and sun-warm. “By the Fireplace” opens with smoked wood and toasted chestnut. These are genuinely evocative fragrances that don’t smell like anything else in their price tier. Having access to inspired-by versions makes them wearable for people who love the concept but can’t justify the original’s price tag.

Le Labo Santal 33 inspired-by

If you’ve spent any time in New York in the past ten years you have smelled Santal 33 on someone. It is the unofficial fragrance of a certain kind of creative professional: cardamom and iris opening into a dry, smoky sandalwood base with a leather undertone. It smells expensive and slightly odd. That’s the appeal. Le Labo’s pricing puts the original out of reach for most people, so a well-executed inspired-by version is the only practical way to wear it for daily use.

Byredo Gypsy Water inspired-by

Byredo is a Swedish niche house that manages to make clean and strange coexist. Gypsy Water is their most approachable fragrance: fresh pine and bergamot at the top, moving into sandalwood and amber at the base, with a faint sweetness throughout. It’s a somewhat bohemian, slightly outdoorsy scent that reads as unusual without being challenging. The inspired-by version in the Scentimental range captures that woody-citrus-sweet balance.

Tom Ford Oud Wood inspired-by

Tom Ford’s Private Blend line sits above the regular Tom Ford fragrance range. Oud Wood is a more restrained take on the oud fragrance tradition than most: drier, less sweet, more woody, with rosewood and cardamom alongside the oud. It’s the kind of fragrance that works in a European boardroom as well as it works in Dubai. The original retails for over R4,000. The Scentimental inspired-by version brings the scent profile into a realistic daily-wear budget.

Find your scent

Not sure where to start with 850+ options? Here’s a quick guide.

I want something fresh and clean. Head straight to the fresh/citrus section. Start with an Acqua di Gio or Issey Miyake L’Eau d’Issey inspired-by. These are the most universally wearable scents in the range and a good calibration point.

I want something romantic and floral. Look at Chanel Chance, Miss Dior, or Marc Jacobs Daisy inspired-by for lighter florals. For something with more depth and evening presence, try YSL Black Opium or Flowerbomb inspired-by.

I want something bold and unforgettable. The oriental and Arabic sections. YSL Black Opium, Paco Rabanne 1 Million, Tom Ford Noir, or one of the oud-forward blends if you want to go further.

I want a niche scent nobody else is wearing. The niche/artisan tier described above. Le Labo Santal 33, Maison Margiela Replica, Byredo Gypsy Water inspired-by. These are the scents that start conversations.

I want the best-selling men’s fragrance in the world. That’s Dior Sauvage inspired-by. It’s in the range and it’s popular for every reason you’d expect.

Frequently asked questions

How many fragrances does Scentimental carry?

Scentimental currently carries 850+ inspired-by fragrances. The range covers every major scent family and spans everything from mainstream bestsellers to niche artisan fragrances that are hard to find anywhere in South Africa.

Does Scentimental sell oud and Arabic-style fragrances?

Yes. The range includes a dedicated selection of oud-based and Arabic-style fragrances, including Lattafa-inspired blends, amber-heavy compositions, and rich musk-forward combinations. These tend to have excellent longevity compared to most Western fresh or floral fragrances.

Can I find niche fragrances like Creed or Maison Margiela at Scentimental?

Yes. Scentimental carries inspired-by versions of fragrances from Creed, Maison Margiela Replica, Le Labo, Byredo, and other niche houses. These are not easy to find in the South African market as originals, and when you can find them they typically cost R3,000 to R6,000 or more. The Scentimental versions bring those scent profiles into an accessible price range.

How do I find the right scent from 850+ options?

The scent family table and “find your scent” guide in this article are good starting points. If you have a fragrance you already love, searching for the inspired-by version in the Scentimental range gives you a calibration point and helps you discover adjacent scents you might also like.

Are the fragrance blends exclusive to Scentimental?

The inspired-by formulations are Scentimental’s own products, produced using French fine fragrance oils in UV-protective, long-lasting ethanol bases. The range is not available from other SA retailers. Scentimental has been in the health and beauty industry for 15+ years with over 18,000 five-star reviews.

Does Scentimental add new scents regularly?

Yes. The catalogue evolves as new fragrances become relevant in the market. If you’re looking for a specific scent inspiration and can’t find it in the current range, it’s worth checking back or reaching out to Scentimental directly.