What Is French Avenue Francique 107.9 a Dupe Of?

What is French Avenue Francique 107.9 a dupe of?

BDK Rouge Smoking Eau de Parfum is the main comparison for French Avenue Francique 107.9. Cherry, vanilla, heliotrope and a soft musky base connect the two. If that cherry-and-vanilla combination is what you enjoy in Rouge Smoking, Francique 107.9 is an obvious one to sample.

The pairing comes up in Reddit discussions about alternatives to expensive originals. Some owners find the two very close. Other comments describe a difference in spice, which is useful to keep in mind before buying a bottle.

Cherry, vanilla and a little pepper

Our Francique 107.9 catalog panel lists cherry, bergamot and pepper in the opening. Vanilla, heliotrope and orange blossom follow, with tonka, white musk, cashmere musk and other base notes underneath. Rouge Smoking's panel shares the cherry, bergamot, vanilla, heliotrope, orange blossom and tonka theme, with pink pepper and a woody, musky base.

There is a strong connection on paper. The useful question is how those notes balance out for you. Does the cherry stay prominent? Does the vanilla feel soft and rounded? How noticeable is the pepper once the opening has settled?

Where owners notice a difference

In a Reddit comparison thread, an owner describes Francique 107.9 as a little more peppery, with a spicier cherry drydown. Another owner's wear report also finds it too peppery on their skin to call it an exact match.

That gives you a sensible place to start with samples. If you love the sweetness of Rouge Smoking, check whether Francique's spice suits you too. Try it during a normal day and revisit it later; the balance you enjoy after the opening matters just as much as the first impression.

This comparison uses Rouge Smoking EDP

We are comparing French Avenue Francique 107.9 Eau de Parfum with BDK Rouge Smoking Eau de Parfum. Rouge Smoking Extrait is a separate edition, and the other numbered Francique bottles have different reference points.

Our Rouge Smoking EDP buying guide gives you more context on the original. Check the retailer options here for current bottle sizes and listings, especially when a shop carries both BDK editions.