When Haramain Detour Noir hit the fragrance community, it immediately sparked conversations about its striking resemblance to a luxury scent: Parfums de Marly Layton. But is Detour Noir truly a close dupe, or just another similar fragrance with a hype train behind it?
The Comparison Breakdown
Let’s dive straight into the facts. Detour Noir boasts top notes of apple, lavender, jasmine, and violet, followed by middle notes of vanilla, patchouli, bergamot, and mandarin orange, finishing with a base of sandalwood, cardamom, pepper, guaiac wood, and geranium. Layton, on the other hand, is famous for its apple-vanilla-cardamom structure—sweet, spicy, and warm.
The Opening
Initially, Detour Noir and Layton both open with a juicy apple burst. Detour Noir, however, feels slightly sweeter and more creamy from the start. Layton’s apple note is crisper and accompanied by brighter spices, while Detour’s spices take a subtler role, overshadowed somewhat by a smoother, sweeter vanilla presence.
Mid to Dry-down
In the dry-down phase, the two fragrances get even closer. The vanilla, cardamom, and woody notes intertwine beautifully in both, creating a comforting warmth. Layton tends to maintain a slightly spicier, more defined quality, while Detour Noir leans softer, sweeter, and more straightforward in comparison.
Performance Comparison
In terms of performance, Layton is undeniably stronger, lasting over 8 hours and projecting boldly. Detour Noir still impresses, however, with around 6–8 hours on skin and strong projection initially, but with a slightly softer presence afterward.
Overall Similarity Rating
The consensus is clear: Detour Noir is roughly 90% similar to Layton. It may lack some of Layton’s richness and spice depth, but given the substantial price difference, Detour Noir provides extraordinary value as a reliable alternative.
Final Verdict
Yes, Haramain Detour Noir genuinely qualifies as an excellent Layton dupe. It captures the luxurious essence of Layton, providing fragrance enthusiasts with an affordable alternative without significantly compromising scent quality.
