Zara did not discontinue the Oriental perfume, but supply seems to have been affected during the height of the pandemic along with other popular Zara perfumes.
In 2022, the world seems to have transitioned from adapting to the “new normal” brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, to actually living in what the new normal means and looks like.
As a result, we can sometimes forget some of the nuanced difficulties that the pandemic brought with it.
In this instance, there was a backlog and delays in the restocking of perfumes by some of the major retailers. In particular Zara, which closed its physical stores for some time and took months to be restocked.
Hence, many people were under the impression that some of Zara’s popular fragrances were discontinued, like Zara Oriental. This fragrance is believed to be a dupe of Flowerbomb by Viktor & Rolf.
What is a dupe in fragrances?
The term dupe in fragrances refers to fragrances that are believed to be imitations of other fragrances.
In most instances, the term is used to refer to more affordable fragrances that have the same or similar note profiles as more luxury designer fragrances that are more expensive.
It is important to note that while the practice is considered as deliberate, there are some instances when the similarities are a coincidence.
But most of Zara’s popular fragrances are regarded as dupes of more popular and expensive luxury designer fragrances.
Did Zara discontinue Oriental perfume?
As early as 2012, the Zara Oriental perfume was a favourite among the fast-fashion brand’s most popular fragrances.
The description of the fragrance on the Zara website reads, “An elegant and enchanting oriental fragrance that reveals femininity. The fragrance features fresh notes of bergamot and sweet orange, wrapped in a scent of caramel and vanilla. The scents blend together to create an impeccable balance between citrus and candy.”
When Zara had to close their physical stores during the height of the pandemic, the only way to purchase the fragrance was online on the store’s website.
With this sudden change, it seems that the company could not keep up with the demand due to the popularity of the fragrance.
The lack of stock at the time led to worries and speculation from the public that the perfume had been discontinued. However, as time has since revealed, Zara’s Oriental perfume has not been discontinued.
Not only is the fragrance available from Zara, but you can also purchase it on Amazon, where the perfume has been available since 2018.
Another popular fragrance from Zara that is available and quickly running out of stock is the Pink Flambe eau de toilette, which retails for $54.75 for a 100ml bottle.
| These two options from Zara are available for purchase on Amazon | |
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However, Amazon has made it easy to find similar Zara products that are available on their website.
Is Zara Oriental suitable for the summer?
Considering that Oriental by Zara is a dupe and is very affordable, the perfume is touted as an everyday scent rather than one for special occasions.
As such, the fragrance is suitable for all-year wear. However, Oriental does not perform well in the summer, especially on hot days, because of its underwhelming, almost safe scent.
The perfume performs better during the cooler months of fall and winter. As a result, it is generally not a favourite to wear in the summer.
How long does Oriental by Zara last?
For the perfume’s price point, there is no expectation that the fragrance will have the same longevity and sillage as other eau de parfum from the middle and higher-end price ranges.
This is because the standard performance for middle and higher-end eau de parfums is approximately 8 to 12 hours, or more. Oriental is estimated to have a longevity of three to four hours.
Moreover, its sillage is nothing to write home about, as its projection ends well before the first hour after application. This means that you will have to respray the perfume to revive its scent throughout the day.
What is Oriental a dupe for?
As mentioned before, Oriental by Zara is regarded as a dupe for the popular amber floral fragrance for women by Viktor & Rolf, Flowerbomb.
First introduced in 2005, the nose design of Flowerbomb’s bottle is credited to perfumers Olivier Polge, Carlos Benaim, Domitille Michalon Bertier, and Dominique Ropion.
A side-by-side comparison reveals that the similarities and differences between these perfumes are:
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Oriental vs Flowerbomb |
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| Perfume | Oriental | Flowerbomb |
| Top notes | Freesia, rose, and bergamot | Tea, bergamot, and osmanthus |
| Middle notes | Vanilla and jasmine | Orchid, jasmine, rose, freesia, and African orange flower |
| Base notes | Caramel, patchouli, and musk | Patchouli, musk, and vanilla |