Finding the best Tom Ford Lost Cherry alternatives is crucial for fragrance enthusiasts like me who adore the scent but not the high price tag. I’ve explored numerous options to provide you with top substitutes that deliver similar allure without costing a fortune.
One major reason to seek an alternative is the hefty price of Lost Cherry. My top pick is Fructus Virginis, which impresses with its natural scent and longer-lasting effect compared to Lost Cherry, all while being budget-friendly.
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Budget Pick
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Best Overall
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Best for the Office
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4.2
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4.8
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4.5
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$28.99
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$44.99
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N/A
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- Incredible value for a scent that still smells natural.
- Manages to nail the boozy liquor feeling of the original.
- Excellent longevity. Fructus Virginis will last at least 8 - 9 hours from just a couple of sprays.
- Plenty of rich cherry and almond - but lacks the nuanced florals of the original.
- The classic cherry/almond combo, but this time with a touch of berries.
- A more subtle scent for intimate encounters and indoor environments.
Another excellent alternative is Zara’s Cherry Smoothie, ideal for office wear with its subtle projection and removal of the alcoholic note. This makes it perfect for professionals seeking a refined yet affordable fragrance.
Lastly, Last Cherry stands out for those on a tight budget. It offers a commendable scent that outperforms its price, making it an ideal choice for those who want quality without spending much.
Next, I’ll guide you through the complete list of my favorite Lost Cherry alternatives, detailing their scent profiles, longevity, projection, and value for money, along with the best occasions to wear them.
Best Lost Cherry Tom Ford Alternatives
- Best Overall: Fructus Virginis by Alexandria Fragrances
- Best Lost Cherry Impression for the Office: Zara Cherry Smoothie
- Best for Gents on a budget: Last Cherry by CA Perfume Club
- Best Alternative for Winter: Dark Cherry and Amber by Banana Republic
- Best Directly “Inspired-by” Fragrance: Dossier Ambery Cherry
1. Fructus Virginis by Alexandria Fragrances – Best Tom Ford Lost Cherry Alternative Overall
Excellent longevity. Fructus Virginis will last at least 8 - 9 hours from just a couple of sprays.
Plenty of rich cherry and almond - but lacks the nuanced florals of the original.
Wow, this thing kicks out fragrance. Fructus Virginis lasts 8 – 9 hours overall, but the key here is that the cherry note lingers on for the whole lifetime – longer than in the Tom Ford Original, where it sort of vacates in the base notes.
A soft base of tonka and sandalwood lends Fructus Virginis a cushioned landing that will keep you coming back for more. It’s a safe blind buy, sent from heaven for cherry lovers.
But like most things in life, there’s a trade-off. By emphasizing the cherry accord, there isn’t as much space for the complex florals you find in Tom Ford’s Lost Cherry.
There’s a rose note in the heart, but it doesn’t match the delicate bouquet of the original. But beyond that Frutus Virginis is about 85% similar to Lost Cherry by Tom Ford.
It’s my top pick because it’s the longest-lasting Tom Ford Lost Cherry alternative I’ve been able to find – making it even better value for money per spray
| Alexandria Fragrances Fructus Virginis | Fragrance Notes |
|---|---|
| Top Notes: | Cherry, Almond and Liquor |
| Middle Notes: | Turkish Rose, Vetiver, Tonka Bean and Jasmine |
| Base Notes: | Peru Balsam, Sandalwood and Cedar |
2. Zara Cherry Smoothie – Best Alternative for the Office
The classic cherry/almond combo, but this time with a touch of berries.
A more subtle scent for intimate encounters and indoor environments.
I’m a big fan of Zara colognes and given their record of producing impressive imitations it wasn’t a huge surprise to me to find they’d had a crack at Lost Cherry.
For a fragrance that costs far less than the Tom Ford version, it’s really impressive. The cherry and almond top notes are vibrant and natural-smelling, but this time there’s a touch of plum or berries, too.
The heavier, boozy quality of the Tom Ford original is also notably absent, so this is a great choice for anyone put off by alcoholic undertones.
It harnesses the vast majority of what makes Tom Ford’s Lost Cherry great for pocket money prices
As you’d expect from a budget scent, the performance here isn’t exactly beastly, but you’ll still get around 6 hours out of this scent. The main difference is that the projection is a little lighter.
It’s like a more intimate version of Lost Cherry, detectable when you’re 2 – 3 feet away rather than filling the room with fragrance.
- Learn more about the best Zara fragrances in our full guide.
| Zara Cherry Smoothie | Fragrance Notes |
|---|---|
| Top Notes: | Cherry, Almond and Plum |
| Middle Notes: | Heliotrope, Hawthorn and Peru Balsam |
| Base Notes: | Vanilla and Tonka Bean |
3. Last Cherry by CA Perfume Club – Best for Gents on a Budget
Incredible value for the price - you won't find a cheaper Lost Cherry alternative that still smells natural.
Manages to nail the boozy liquor feeling of the original.
This budget fragrance from CA Perfume Club works miracles. It smells surprisingly natural, and very similar to Tom Ford’s bittersweet cherry and almond synergy.
During the dry down, you’ll notice rich vanilla and a hefty dollop of amber help the fragrance migrate from sweet cherry extraversion to something more balanced and mellow.
It smells far more expensive than it is, with a creamy, boozy sense emerging after the first hour.
And despite the budget price tag, performance is pretty good. You can expect between 4 – 5 hours of arm’s-length projection, with a room-filling scent for the first couple of hours.
| CA Perfume Club Last Cherry | Fragrance Notes |
|---|---|
| Top Notes: | Sour Cherry, Bitter Almond and Liquor |
| Middle Notes: | Plum, Turkish Rose and Jasmine Sambac |
| Base Notes: | Tonka Bean, Vanilla, Peru Balsam, Cinnamon, Cloves and Cedar |
4. Dark Cherry and Amber by Banana Republic – Best Alternative for Winter
Dark Cherry and Amber is technically a women’s fragrance – but don’t let that put you off. To my nose, it’s a perfectly wearable unisex Lost Cherry alternative, with a touch of Amber warmth that makes it great for cooler nights.
Compared to Lost Cherry, Dark Cherry and Amber is a more sensual fragrance. The Black cherry is more rich than sweet, balancing with red amber to produce a fragrance that feels deeper than most.
The blonde cedar in the base involved here is soft and light rather than rugged and dirty. It’s sleek and serene, serving as a beautiful backdrop for lighter flecks of praline and cherry blossom to shine brightly.
Just like Lost Cherry, Dark Cherry and Amber lasts a fair while. For the first 3 – 4 hours you’ll pick up compliments from those who pass you by, and lasts another 4 – 5 as an intimate skin scent for those lucky enough to get close. Yum.
- Check our guide for more of the best winter perfumes for men.
| Dark Cherry and Amber EDP | Fragrance Notes |
|---|---|
| Top Notes: | Black Cherry and Pink Freesia |
| Middle Notes: | Cherry Blossom and Praline |
| Base Notes: | Blonde Cedar and Red Amber |
5. Dossier Ambery Cherry – Best “Inspired-by” Scent
A very, very close imitation. At first, you'll struggle to notice a difference between Ambery Cherry and Lost Cherry.
Unfortunately, the cherry note doesn't quite last the whole ride.
Dossier isn’t shy about the fact that they’re in the business of “inspired by” scents. It’s their speciality.
The cherry and almond opening is playful and sweet. It strikes a perfect balance between gourmand and sophisticated, with this cherry liquor sense mature enough to be taken seriously.
After a couple of hours, the boozy cherry makes a bit of space for warm cinnamon and fresh rose to make an impact.
The only major distinction I’d draw between Ambery Cherry and Tom Ford’s Lost Cherry is the longevity of the cherry note. In the Dossier scent, the cherry shifts progressively into the background, but it’s front and center for the whole ride with Tom Ford.
The cherry is always there, but it only matches the strength for the first 2 – 3 hours in my estimation.
Still, for the price, Ambery Cherry more than justifies itself as an impressive Lost Cherry alternative, and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for the closest fragrance note-for-note.
| Ambery Cherry by Dossier | Fragrance Notes |
|---|---|
| Top Notes: | Cherry, Almond and Cinnamon |
| Middle Notes: | Cloves, Rose, Jasmine and Plum |
| Base Notes: | Peru, Balsam, Tonka Bean and Vanilla |
FAQs:
What Does Tom Ford’s Lost Cherry Smell Like?
For me, Lost Cherry is the best cherry-inspired fragrance I’ve come across. And I’ve been looking.
You may have found cherry colognes to be a little sickly sweet in the past, but it doesn’t have to be that. This is a classy representation that maintains Tom Ford’s reputation for subtlety and sophistication but not at the expense of excitement or intrigue.
The cherry here is juicy and leathery. It’s mature and nuanced, blending with rich, vanilla-tinged almonds in the opening to conjure something that smells inviting and elegant.
The primary accord ebbs and fades throughout the lifetime of the scent. If it started at 100% cherry, it’s probably at 20 toward the end of its 10-hour lifetime. It’s gradually succeeded by progressively potent notes of licorice and cloves, and the gradual reveal of cedar and patchouli in the base.
| Tom Ford Lost Cherry EDP | Fragrance Notes |
|---|---|
| Top Notes: | Sour Cherry, Bitter Almond and Liquor |
| Middle Notes: | Sour Cherry, Plum, Turkish Rose and Jasmine Sambac |
| Base Notes: | Tonka Bean, Vanilla, Peru Balsam, Cinnamon, Benzoin, Sandalwood, Cloves, Cedar, Patchouli and Vetiver |
Can I get a Sample of Tom Ford’s Lost Cherry?
If none of these alternative scents are jumping out at you, maybe consider getting a sample decant of the real deal instead.
Stores like Microperfumes will let you order 2ml vials of fragrances for just a few bucks so you can try out designer colognes without blowing the bank.
The most affordable place to try genuine samples of designer colognes - starting at 99 cents.
A huge range of the most popular colognes, with quick and easy shipping options.
Once you’ve tried Lost Cherry, there’s a good chance you’ll fall in love and be able to justify splashing out on a full-sized bottle. At least, that’s what happened to me.
What’s Changed?
We updated this guide in January 2024 to reflect the most recent pricing information.
6th June 2024: This guide was overhauled with changes to our recommendations, latest reviews, and was re-fact checked to make sure our reviews are as up to date as possible.
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