About

What this is

Close Second is an independent editorial guide to men's and unisex fragrance close seconds sold in the UK. A close second is a genuine branded fragrance, usually from a house such as Armaf, Lattafa or Maison Alhambra, that the community ranks just behind a designer original. It is close in character, but it is its own product, sold under its own name, at its own price. It is not a counterfeit, and it is not the original.

We list the close second, name the original it is compared with, and show the community score, the delivered UK price and the watch-out. The original always finishes first; the close second is a nose behind.

How we choose

Entries are gathered by hand. We check the retailer listing, the bottle and its size, the community score and the video reviews, and we write down what is wrong with the close second as well as what is right. The list is ranked by value: how many times cheaper the close second is than the original, on the prices shown. Nothing is placed for payment.

How we make money

Nothing yet. There are no affiliate links, no advertising, no sponsored content and no payment from any brand, fragrance house or retailer named here. If that changes, the change will be labelled on the page before you click it, and this page will say so.

Photographs

Bottle photographs are reference images used to identify the product. They remain the property of their owners, as do the trademarks and product names. We do not make, sell, bottle or clone any fragrance.

Corrections

Prices move and scores change. If something here is wrong, tell us and we will check it. We date every price check on the page so you can see how fresh it is, and we correct errors rather than quietly deleting them.

Contact

Close Second is operated by [OPERATOR NAME], [GEOGRAPHIC ADDRESS].

Email: [EMAIL]

Independence

We are not affiliated with, endorsed by or acting for any brand, fragrance house or retailer named here.