I'm permanently on a quest to find a replica of New West for Her by Aramis and this has lasted decades. My perfume journey started long before New West but this was probably the first perfume that signed up to my adulthood. Memories of my first job that I loved, summer parties with my friends, rolling in at 8 am from city music gigs. There are some fragrances in my library that provide very specific memories, both good and bad, but New West just screams good times and memories to me.
This particular post will be organic and fluid, and as I continue on a path of discovery with dividers predominately slotted in of other fragrances, leaning toward Aussie creators, but I have come across a few promising contenders and some that I thought would hit the mark and couldn't be further from that.
Notes of New West for Her are below, and I totally understand that watermelon is top note and only one of a few, then there is an English garden of middle notes and skip through the woods in the base. I've always been shocked that there's no cucumber here because, in my humble memory, New West has that lingering fresh, green cucumber right through all notes *shrugs*
Let's get into it
Australian Watermelon by Bujairami
Bujairami is an Australian house that is best known for their replica collection, with a few original creations sprinkled in for good measure. I have no beef with dupe houses, especially knowing how markups versus ego works, why would you not buy something that is literally 10% the price of designer or niche fragrances? BUT I haven't met a true dupe that I've loved and for me, with toil and sweat in tow, purchasing and collecting fragrances is a full spectrum journey.
So, this has to be the most realistic watermelon I have come across - tangy green that you would find just under the dark pine coloured skin, then that very recognisable punch of bright sweet pink flesh that screams summer in front of a full-blast fan with the cricket on in the background.
Ok, now that we have talked about the bottle, let's talk about the perfume...
Watermelon, where you at? Bujairami state top notes are kiwi, watermelon, and pink pepper; middle notes are watermelon, cyclamen, and jasmine; base notes are lemon tree, watermelon, musk, and sandalwood. So you can see watermelon appears three times across the notes but it is barren on my skin. Heavy kiwi, heavy jasmine and that's about it on me.
Kudos for the sillage and longevity, and the brilliant atomiser on this bottle is like a fire hose. It's the next day for Australian Watermelon on me and she is there in all her glory. There are moments of melon but they're fleeting.
I'm keen to layer this with a Demeter Watermelon, or even Cucumber but for a New West for Her contender, it's not for me. I have to say Bujairami has never once ever said this is anything like New West for Her, but I was hoping.
New West for Her Contender: Miss
# 228 by The Dupe Spot
Is The Dupe Spot a dupe creator? I mean the name suggests yes, am I right? No shame in that as discussed above but it is the ONLY place on the planet that blatantly states a dupe for exactly New West for Her. I wasn't just diving into this, I was sprinting to the edge of the cliff to execute a top-form belly flop.
If you had low vision in a dark room, and from a distance, the bottle is reminiscent of Le Labo. Up close The Dupe Spot seem to have generic labeling which gets stickered with your fragrance of choice - a genius labeling cost saving tactic. The atomiser is perfection, a real soaker.
The Dupe Spot are not giving away any secrets when it comes to accords in their New West dupe and simply list those from Fragrantica. I'll never learn my lesson on first spray because I was immediately disappointed. Screeching alcohol made me sad and even a nose on the bottle didn't give away any secrets. I sighed and went about my business.
I was standing in my bathroom folding towels and started to smile, within half an hour of spraying, this opens up to the most exact New West memory i have experienced since the 90s. Big watermelon, big citrus-y bergamot on my skin with a smooth leathery base. I immediately text my sister and said BUY THIS.
I do find that with reasonably priced fragrances, there is a tone of alcohol that lingers longer than it should but I am willing to soldier on with that for the love of all things melon here.
New West for Her Contender: Absolute Hit
This is where we are at - for now.
If you are Gen X and remember this beloved perfume or can simply pull a perfume from the notes, let me know if you have any recommendations across any price point and let me know if I started a petition to Aramis to re-release New West for Her, would you sign?
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