Parfums de Marly is one of the most beloved fragrance houses in the world right now. Founded in 2009, the brand takes inspiration from the French royal court at Versailles and the Chateau de Marly, and that aristocratic sensibility shows in every bottle. Rich, sophisticated, beautifully balanced fragrances. Also: eye-wateringly expensive.
Layton, arguably their most iconic fragrance, consistently tops best-of lists and sells out regularly at £250 or more for 125ml. We've been obsessed with finding a proper UK alternative for a while. Here's what we came up with.
What Makes Parfums de Marly Layton So Special?
Layton was created in 2016 and immediately found a devoted following. It opens with fresh apple and bergamot, clean and slightly sweet. The heart brings in lavender, geranium, and a soft floral quality that keeps it from being just another "clean men's fragrance." The base is what makes it legendary: vanilla, sandalwood, and a soft pepper warmth that makes the whole thing feel warm, expensive, and unmistakably comfortable.
It's masculine but genuinely unisex. It works in the office, on a date, on a Tuesday when you just want to smell brilliant. The longevity on a good day is 10 or more hours. The projection is moderate and sophisticated, never aggressive. It's the perfect everyday luxury fragrance. If it cost £60 it would be universally worn. At £250 it's aspirational.
Chivarly by Aromara: The Layton Alternative
Chivarly is our answer to PDM Layton and it's the fragrance we reach for most often when we want that warm, comforting apple-lavender-vanilla combination.
The opening follows the same logic as Layton: fresh apple with a clean bergamot lift. It's bright and inviting without being sharp. Within 20 minutes the lavender heart arrives, soft and slightly herbal, with the geranium adding an interesting facet that stops it feeling generic.
The base is where Chivarly really delivers. Warm vanilla, smooth sandalwood, a soft white musk that makes everything feel expensive and smooth. This is the drydown that Layton fans will recognise. It's warm skin, sophisticated comfort, the kind of fragrance that makes people ask what you're wearing.
Longevity in our testing: 7 to 8 hours on skin, with the vanilla-sandalwood base persisting into hour 9 on warmer skin. Projection is moderate and refined. At 35% concentration the warmth and depth hold right through the drydown rather than fading fast like lower-concentration alternatives.
Our ratings vs Layton:
- Similarity to Layton: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Longevity: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
- Projection: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Value: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Altair by Aromara: The Other PDM Side
Where Chivarly captures the fresh-warm-apple side of PDM, Altair takes on the richer, more amber-led territory that the house also does brilliantly. Think warm spice, deep amber, a hint of leather, the kind of fragrance that feels genuinely luxurious against winter skin.
Altair opens with a warm spiced topnote, cinnamon and amber beginning to build. The heart is rich and dark, with vanilla and incense elements adding complexity. The base is full and lingering, warm amber and soft woods that keep the fragrance interesting over many hours.
This is a cooler-weather fragrance, ideal from September through to March. It has the same aristocratic quality that makes PDM fragrances so compelling, a certain unhurried richness that cheap fragrances simply can't fake.
Longevity: 8 to 9 hours. Excellent projection that moderates to a skin-close warmth after a few hours.
Chivarly vs PDM Layton: Side by Side
| Product | Price (125ml equiv) | Similarity | Longevity |
|---|---|---|---|
| PDM Layton (original) | £255 | Benchmark | 8-12 hrs |
| Chivarly by Aromara | £35 (50ml) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 7-8 hrs |
| Altair by Aromara | £35 (50ml) | PDM-house style | 8-9 hrs |
Why These Alternatives Work
PDM fragrances are made with exceptional raw materials at high concentration. Their success comes from the quality of the materials, the skill of the compositions, and the pricing that keeps them feeling special.
At 35% concentration, Chivarly and Altair have the material density to replicate the richness that makes PDM so distinctive. The specific raw materials used, the quality of the apple note, the vanilla, the sandalwood, are chosen to sit in the same olfactory space. The result isn't identical but it's in the same conversation.
Both are made in the UK, alcohol-free, vegan, and cruelty-free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a good PDM Layton dupe in the UK?
Yes. Chivarly by Aromara is our Layton-inspired fragrance. It captures the apple, lavender and vanilla-sandalwood character at 35% concentration. Available from £5 for 5ml.
How does Chivarly compare to the original Layton?
Very favourably. In blind testing, most people found the character very close, particularly from the heart note onwards. The opening on Layton has a slightly sharper apple note. The drydown on both is very similar: warm, vanilla, sophisticated.
Is Altair a Layton dupe too?
No, Altair takes a different approach, more amber-spiced and rich, inspired by the warmer, more oriental side of the PDM range rather than the fresh-warm Layton direction. Both are excellent, just different moods.
Are these fragrances alcohol-free?
Yes. Both Chivarly and Altair, like all Aromara fragrances, are alcohol-free, vegan and cruelty-free.
Which one should I try first?
If you love PDM Layton or fresh-warm fragrances generally, start with Chivarly. If you prefer richer, darker, more oriental warmth, start with Altair. Both are £5 for 5ml so you could easily try both.
Where to Buy
Chivarly and Altair are available exclusively at aromara.co.uk from £5 for 5ml or £35 for a full 50ml bottle.
Browse the full Aromara collection for more.
Aromara is an independent UK fragrance brand. All scents are original creations inspired by well-known designer fragrances. No affiliation with any brand mentioned in this article. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.