Ariel Baker
Maison Margiela has been around since 1988, but it wasn’t until 2012 that Replica, the brand’s fragrance offshoot, entered the portfolio. Rather than focusing on specific notes, the best Maison Margiela Replica perfumes are designed to encapsulate a memory or a specific season. The allure of storytelling is partly what’s led to the cult-like fame of eau de toilettes like By the Fireplace and When the Rain Stops. (I promise, one spritz has the power to transport you to an entirely new environment.)
Nostalgia is perhaps the brand’s biggest lure, attracting celebrity fans like Alix Earle (she’s partial to Coffee Break) and Vanessa Hudgens (she’s reported to love Jazz Club). But with numerous options perfectly designed for the changing weather—and an approachable price point to boot—the brand offers truly unique scents that are fitting for every type of occasion.
Still, with so many options to choose from, ranging from sweet, fruity florals to earthy, woody scents, it can be overwhelming to know which fragrance is right for you. To provide insight, I tried every single one, distilling the offerings into the 10 best Maison Margiela Replica fragrances worth adding to your scent wardrobe.
- The Best Fresh Maison Margiela Replica Fragrance Overall: Replica When Rain Stops Eau de Toilette
- The Best Winter Maison Margiela Replica Fragrance: Replica Coffee Break Eau de Toilette Fragrance
- The Best Spring Maison Margiela Replica Fragrance: Replica Afternoon Delight Eau de Toilette
- The Best Fall Maison Margiela Replica Fragrance: Replica By the Fireplace Eau de Toilette
- The Best Rose Maison Margiela Replica Fragrance: Replica Bubble Bath Fragrance
If you've been trying to get into aquatic fragrances and want an introductory scent, When the Rain Stops should have been in your cart yesterday. Aromatic and fresh, there are notes of bergamot, pink pepper, rain, moss, and patchouli, to name a few. The result is a delicious, unisex scent that can be worn year-round.
Fragrance Family: Fresh
Key Notes: Aquatic Accord; Rose Petal; Pine Needles
Size: 3.4 fl oz
What I Love: Unisex scent; Great for beginners
What I Don’t: Isn't very long-lasting
Review for MC: "This was an unexpected favorite for me. I love the smell of petrichor, or the smell of the earth after it rains, and this perfume captures that scent perfectly. It's fresh but comforting in the way that I typically find my warmer, more gourmand scents to be, which made me love it all the more. This is one that I know my husband and I will be fighting over for sure." — Ariel Baker, Beauty Writer
Fun fact: I wore this perfume for an entire winter straight—it's that good. Not only is it an elevated take on the vanilla perfume trend, but it has a uniquely musky edge that creates a sophisticated, cozy blend. It’s sweet without being nauseatingly sugary, just like the perfect latte.
Fragrance Family: Gourmand
Key Notes: Coffee Accord; Lavender; Milk Mousse Accord
Size: 3.4 fl oz
What I Love: True food-like gourmand scent; Long-Lasting
What I Don’t: Can feel cloying after extended wear
Review for MC: "I'm not a regular coffee-drinker, but I love the smell of a fresh cup of joe brewing. So it likely comes as no surprise that I fell head over heels in love with Coffee Break from Margiela. It lasts incredibly well and smells so edible, I wore it every day last season." — Ariel Baker, Beauty Writer
Some gourmands can be way too strong, with sillage that you can smell before someone even enters the room. While some people may enjoy those formulas, if you're on the other end of the spectrum and prefer softer scents that are equally as sweet, Afternoon Delight needs to be on your radar. Created to embody the smell of madeleines, this perfume is enriched with additional notes of sandalwood, whipped vanilla, and musk, and it's perfect for people who prefer more muted perfumes.
Fragrance Family: Warm Gourmand
Key Notes: Madagascar Vanilla; Madeleine Accord; Sandalwood
Size: 3.4 fl oz
What I Love: Softer gourmand scent
What I Don’t: Only lasts for about three to four hours; Can smell a little like Play-Doh
Review for MC: "This perfume is deeply nostalgic for me. It smells a little like Ovaltine biscuits that I used to have growing up and the scent brings me right back to sitting on my grandmother's veranda where I would hang out with my cousins for hours. This formula isn't the strongest, but it engenders such sweet memories for me that I will always have a bottle in my fragrance collection." — Ariel Baker
Another incredible scent from Margiela, By the Fireplace is perfect for fall. It's another one of those formulas that smells deliciously addictive and I, again, wore it everyday in the fall of 2018 when I graduated college and got my first job. It's cozy, warm, and a perfect balance of spice and sweetness.
Fragrance Family: Spicy Gourmand
Key Notes: Clove Oil; Chestnut Accord; Vanilla Accord
Size: 3.4 fl oz
What I Love: Unisex; Spicy; Long-Lasting
What I Don’t: Some may find it a little too spicy
Review for MC: "I never realized how many eras of my life are defined by Margiela perfumes, but I also wore this scent every day in fall 2018. Living in Boston, where I got to truly experience all four seasons, the warm smoky notes of this perfume were perfect to combat that 'outside' smell that would get stuck on me when the cold wind picked up. I've made sure to keep a bottle in my collection ever since." — Ariel Baker, Beauty Writer
This fragrance is fresh, crisp, and clean at its heart. What differentiates it from the other aldehydic scent in the line, Lazy Sunday Morning, is its milky flavor and rose-tinged profile. Despite it falling into a fresh, floral category, I find that it does have a hint of comforting warmth, making it an appropriate signature scent for all seasons. It’s also a great fragrance to have in your arsenal if you like to layer—it plays well with just about everything.
Fragrance Family: Fresh Floral
Key Notes: Soap Bubble Accord; Rose Superessence; White Musk; Coconut Milk Accord
Size: 3.4 fl oz
What I Love: Great floral scent for people who don't typically like the category
What I Don’t: Some may find it basic smelling
Review for MC: "This perfume smells so much like bar soap that it initially had me fooled—I didn't realize that it was technically a floral scent. However, I'm glad I didn't judge this formula from its top notes alone or I would have missed out on one of the best clean-smelling perfumes on the market. It's extremely approachable and non-offensive, great for wearing to the office or somewhere where you'll be in close proximity to others." — Ariel Baker, Beauty Writer
Other Maison Margiela Replica Perfumes I Love
Light and playful, On a Date is a fruity floral scent featuring notes like rose, blackcurrant, and vetiver. It's grounded by woody base notes like patchouli, which help balance it out and keep it from feeling too flirty. This is a great gourmand scent if you want something sweet but not cloying.
Fragrance Family: Warm Florals
Key Notes: Black Currant Liquor Accord; Isparta Rose Petal; Patchouli
Size: 3.4 fl oz
What I Love: Fruity; Light on the skin
What I Don’t: May have to reapply throughout the day
Customer Review: “I absolutely love this scent. It’s a beautiful fragrance. It smells very bright and poppy. Imagine grapes or wine with roses or florals. It’s my favorite go-to fragrance. Beautiful packaging.” — Sephora
Beach Walk is another extremely approachable scent from Margiela, and it just screams summer perfume. Notes like ylang ylang, bergamot, and coconut milk combine to create a profile that smells exactly like the most delicious sunscreen known to man, and I can almost guarantee that this will be one of those perfumes that you add to your collection one summer and then can never live without it.
Fragrance Family: Fresh Solar
Key Notes: Bergamot; Heliotrope; Coconut Milk
Size: 3.4 fl oz
What I Love: Smells like sunscreen; Lasts a full six to eight hours on clothing
What I Don’t: Some may find the scent cloying after a while
Customer Review: “I received a sample of this and WOW, it's just delish. Very fresh, oceanic, and floral. This almost smells like a genuine gardenia flower, like the kinds that grow in my family's garden. It smells aquatic and clean without feeling sunscreen-y and has a white floral overtone that is just so captivating.” — Sephora
As the name indicates, this fragrance should theoretically transport you to a sun-soaked room with crisp linen sheets and the promise of a blank schedule for the day. It’s rest and relaxation bottled up. While I’d certainly classify it as fresh and floral (lily of the valley takes center stage), it does have a powdery edge that makes it feel extra feminine. I love spritzing this on lazy days—and am dying to get a diffuser or candle version for my home.
Fragrance Family: Soft Floral
Key Notes: Lily of the Valley; Iris; White Musk
Size: 3.4 fl oz
What I Love: Smells just like fresh laundry hanging on a clothesline on a warm summer day; Not an overly green floral
What I Don’t: Not the longest-lasting formula
Customer Review: “This smells like a relaxing day snuggled up in your clean bed surrounded by bouquets of fresh flowers. This is the only way I can describe this fragrance. It's absolutely beautiful. 5 stars.” — Sephora
Aquatic scents can be extremely hit-or-miss for me. That being said, some of the best qualities about this category are that they’re entirely unisex, aren’t confined to any particular season, and can be incredibly soothing. With an aquatic accord, coriander, and red seaweed essence making up this scent’s profile, it perfectly encapsulates both the calmness of the ocean and the sharp spike of fresh air that accompanies sailing on a windy day. A few spritzes will have you feeling instantly refreshed.
Fragrance Family: Aquatic
Key Notes: Aquatic Accord; Coriander; Red Seaweed Essence
Size: 3.4 fl oz
What I Love: Unisex
What I Don’t: Not the most long-lasting formula
Customer Review: “I’ve never had so many people say I smell amazing while wearing this perfume. What I love the most about it is that a little goes a long way, and that it stays all day long.” — Sephora
Inspired by the lemon trees in the Southern Italian countryside, this brings me right back to my time spent in the beautiful country. Think: Capri, but in a bottle. It’s fresh, zesty, and just a tad sweet, thanks to additional ingredients like coriander and musk. When I spray it on my skin, I find that the lime and green tea notes are the most prominent, but I swear it smells a bit muskier on some of my friends. It really works with your skin’s natural chemistry to create an aura that’s just for you.
Fragrance Family: Citrus
Key Notes: Kalmansi Accord; Coriander; Musk
Size: 3.4 fl oz
What I Love: Clean-smelling fruity scent
What I Don’t: Some may find it a little synthetic smelling
Customer Review: “This is the first Replica scent that I have fallen in love with. On me, the green tea, musk and lime come through the most on the dry down and I am not bothered by that at all. Overall it makes me feel clean and fresh. Of course, as many others have noted, this scent does not last particularly long. I got maybe three hours out of it before I felt like I needed another spritz.” — Sephora
Why Trust Marie Claire
Samantha Holender and Ariel Baker have a combined two decades of experience in the beauty industry and are both fragrance fanatics, bringing their first-hand knowledge and recommendations to the piece.
Marie Claire is also an expert in fragrance, writing content around fragrance trends, the best perfume releases, and more.
How We Tested
To compile this list of the best Maison Margiela fragrances, we scoured the internet and combed through countless customer reviews to find the top-rated options on the market, before testing them ourselves. We also asked the Marie Claire team to share their holy grail picks and asked independent and staff testers to try a mix of cult favorites and new launches.
For each Maison Margiela fragrance we tested, we assessed the fragrance's notes, how long it lasts, and its overall potency as the day went on.
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