What Is DUA Citrus Spice Elixir a Dupe Of?

DUA Citrus Spice Elixir is a clone of Parfums de Marly Carios. The notes point toward mandarin, saffron and peppery woods. Here’s what connects them and what we’d check before buying.

What connects the two?

Mandarin, bergamot, saffron and two peppers connect this Carios pairing. Geranium, thyme, cedar and vetiver keep the idea from being only citrus and spice. Tonka and ambroxan give you another set of details to compare as it develops.

How do their notes compare?

DUA Citrus Spice Elixir lists Bergamot, Pink pepper, Red mandarin orange, Saffron, Black pepper and Geranium among its notes. Parfums de Marly Carios lists Saffron, Mandarin Orange, Pink Pepper, Bergamot, Black Pepper and Geranium among its own notes.

A shared note is a starting point, rather than a promise that both scents will develop the same way. The amount of sweetness, the texture of the woods and the way the notes blend can matter as much as the names on the list.

What would we look for in a sample?

Look for how the saffron and pepper balance the citrus. If you are sensitive to a strong woody amber impression, give the later stages enough time.

Try the same number of sprays on separate wrists if you can. Compare them again after the opening settles, and check how noticeable each one feels at a normal wearing distance. Let your own skin and usual setting have a say.

Which bottle makes more sense?

We’d start with DUA Citrus Spice Elixir if you want to try this scent idea in DUA’s interpretation. Choose Parfums de Marly Carios if that exact original is what you want. Before ordering, compare bottle sizes, the delivered price and the retailer’s return terms. A smaller bottle or sample can be the better first step when one particular note is the reason you are interested.