Short answer: yes. Selling a perfume inspired by a designer scent is completely legal in the UK. Copying the name, logo or bottle is not. Here is exactly where the line sits.
Why inspired-by perfumes are legal
A fragrance formula is not protected by copyright or patent in the UK. The way a perfume smells cannot be owned. What the law protects is a brand's name, logo, bottle shape and packaging, its trademark and trade dress. So a perfume built from its own original formula and sold under its own name is completely legal.
What is not legal
- Putting a designer's name or logo on the bottle.
- Copying the designer's bottle or packaging design.
- Claiming a fragrance is the original. That is counterfeiting, and it is a crime.
That is the whole difference between an inspired-by fragrance and a fake. One is legal and honest. The other is illegal.
How Aromara stays on the right side
Every Aromara scent has its own name (Eventus, Rouge, Savage Essence), its own bottle and its own formula. We say a scent is inspired by a designer original, we never put a designer's trademark on the product, and we never pretend it is the real thing. We also disclose our concentration, 35% Extrait, which most brands will not do. Here is our honest legitimacy breakdown.
So, are perfume dupes legal? Yes
Buying and wearing an inspired-by fragrance is perfectly legal, and so is selling one made the right way. You are not buying a fake. You are buying an original scent that happens to smell like something far more expensive.
Want to try one? Start with a 5ml sample set for £15, or see every scent and saving in the Designer Dupe Index.
Frequently asked questions
Are perfume dupes legal in the UK?
Yes. Fragrance formulas are not copyrighted, so original inspired-by scents sold under their own name and bottle are legal. Only copying a brand's name, logo or packaging is illegal.
Is it illegal to sell inspired-by perfume?
No, as long as it uses its own name and packaging and does not claim to be the original. Aromara does exactly that.
Are perfume dupes the same as counterfeits?
No. A counterfeit copies a brand's name and bottle and pretends to be the real thing. A dupe is an original fragrance inspired by the scent, sold honestly under its own name.
Is Aromara legal?
Yes. Aromara fragrances are original UK-made compositions with their own names, bottles and formulas, inspired by designer scents but never passed off as them.
Related reading
- Is Aromara Legit? An Honest Look
- Best Perfume Dupes UK 2026
- Are Perfume Dupes Worth It?
- The Designer Dupe Index 2026
Aromara is an independent UK fragrance brand. All scents are original creations inspired by well-known designer fragrances. No affiliation with any brand mentioned. All trademarks belong to their respective owners. This article is general information, not legal advice.