Which Maison Margiela Replica sample to try first
Each Replica turns a memory into a scent, from a fireplace to a jazz club. Six samples, how they were chosen and which memories share notes.
Maison Margiela was founded in Paris in 1988 by the Belgian designer Martin Margiela. Its first fragrance came out in 2010 and the Replica collection followed in 2012. The idea is borrowed from the house's 1994 Replica fashion pieces: items found around the world and reproduced, each with a label naming the source and period of the original. The perfume bottles carry the same kind of cotton label, and the brand describes each Replica as a memory turned into a scent, a fireplace, a jazz club, a beach walk, a lazy Sunday morning. Because the names describe moments and not materials, the Maison Margiela samples are a good way to find out which moments suit you.
Six memories to start with
The Replica Memories range is Eau de Toilette, and every perfume below is. We ordered them by Parfumo rating counts as collected by NicheGems: By the Fireplace is first in the house, followed by Jazz Club, Lazy Sunday Morning and Beach Walk. Under the Lemon Trees is on the list for its place in the middle, and Coffee Break is the contrast. Notes are as the house records them, including its words such as essence and accord.
By the Fireplace opens with pink pepper essence, orange flower absolute and clove oil, has chestnut accord, guaiac wood oil and cade oil in the heart, and ends on vanilla accord, Peru balsam resinoid and cashmeran. Parfumo credits Marie Salamagne.
Jazz Club begins with pink pepper essence, Primofiore lemon oil and neroli oil, moves to rum absolute, clary sage oil and Java vetiver oil, and rests on styrax resin, tobacco leaf absolute and vanilla bean CO2. Parfumo credits Aliénor Massenet.
Lazy Sunday Morning is soft and clean: pear accord, lily of the valley accord and aldehydes, then iris accord, rose absolute and orange flower accord, then Indonesian patchouli oil, ambrette seeds absolute and white musks. Parfumo credits Louise Turner.
Beach Walk uses bergamot, pink pepper and lemon essences, then ylang ylang essence, Transluzone, heliotrope accord and coconut milk accord, then cedarwood essence, white musks and benzoin resinoid. Parfumo credits Jacques Cavallier-Belletrud and Marie Salamagne.
Under the Lemon Trees is the green citrus: Kalamansi lime accord, petitgrain essence and cardamom essence, then coriander essence, mate absolute and green tea extract, then cedarwood essence, cistus absolute and musks.
Coffee Break has coffee accord, red apple accord and lemon essence on top, lavender essence, spearmint essence and orange flower absolute in the heart, and milk mousse accord with sandalwood and cedarwood essences below. Parfumo credits Nathalie Lorson.
Which memories share notes
The six sort by temperature. By the Fireplace and Jazz Club are the warm pair, sharing pink pepper and vanilla and tagged for autumn and winter, as is Coffee Break. Lazy Sunday Morning, Beach Walk and Under the Lemon Trees are tagged for spring and summer. Orange flower links By the Fireplace, Lazy Sunday Morning and Coffee Break, lemon links Jazz Club, Beach Walk and Coffee Break, and cedarwood links Beach Walk, Under the Lemon Trees and Coffee Break. White musks run through Lazy Sunday Morning and Beach Walk. Follow these across the shop via vanilla, musk and cedar.
A good first order is one warm and one light memory, for example By the Fireplace and Lazy Sunday Morning. All of them have light to moderate intensity tags, so the light perfume samples and the summer guide are natural companions. The article on choosing a sample size explains why 10 ml suits an Eau de Toilette that you may wear more often.
When to pick the full bottle
If a memory has become one you want to repeat, a bottle is the next step. The Replica Memories range is sold in 100, 30 and 10 ml, some with refills. FragranceGems fills our vial from the original bottle and we label it ourselves; the house takes no part and it is not a brand sample. The first one above is found in full at Maison Margiela Replica By the Fireplace. The sample set page and the FAQ cover the rest.
FAQ
What does Replica mean in the Maison Margiela range?
The idea comes from the house's 1994 Replica fashion pieces, items found around the world and reproduced with a label naming the source. The perfume bottles carry a cotton label of the same kind, and each scent is a memory such as a fireplace or a jazz club.
Which Replica sample should I try first?
Replica By the Fireplace, if you like warm and woody, or Replica Lazy Sunday Morning, if you prefer soft and clean. Both are among the most rated of the range, and they sit at opposite ends of the temperature scale.
Are Replica perfumes Eau de Toilette?
The Replica Memories range is Eau de Toilette, and all six samples here are. An Eau de Parfum line called Replica Fantasies exists but is not part of this selection.
