Local Gems: Ep. 2 - Sun by Alexander Fragrances
SUN by Alexander Fragrances is a local dupe of Diptyque’s Ilio. My girlfriend and I discovered the brand at The Podium last year.
Our first impression was that the bottle presentation felt quite bare and minimal. “Baka bagong brand lang?” was my initial thought. Still, the clean and understated look worked in their favor, avoiding the overdesigned, tacky feel that some local brands fall into. That alone sets it apart, especially from those that don’t fully consider how their design choices connect with their target market.
This dupe is a gem. Diptyque is one of the few houses that’s genuinely difficult to replicate because of its distinct “skin-scent” approach. I’ve tried other Diptyque-inspired fragrances locally, but this one really stood out. I’d put it at around 95–97% similar to the original.
It’s a simple, fresh fragrance that opens with white florals and an airy iris note, then dries down into a slightly powdery finish. It leans unisex, though slightly on the feminine side, and works well as a summer scent. Longevity is solid at around 6–7 hours, with moderate projection in the first four hours before settling closer to the skin.
Is it blind buy safe? I generally don’t recommend blind buying, especially since the brand is available in retail stores like Frankie’s General Store where you can try it first. That said, this one is relatively safe given how mass-appealing and easygoing the scent profile is.
My only gripe is the atomizer. It’s quite stiff and feels clunky to use. Their newer releases have improved on this with a pressurized atomizer, though Sun is still sold in their older bottles since it’s one of their earlier scents.
Rating: 9.5/10