This one… is pretty good!
When it comes to dupes, clones or inspired creations in fragrances I’m pretty picky. I mean there’s a TON of options out there from a multitude of brands, and it’s easy to fall for the hype if you get sucked in without doing a little digging around.
If I’m looking at a clone option these days I’m doing my research, looking for the best choice on the market, and I’m fully prepared to pay a little extra for it too. I firmly believe with Game of Spades Full House by Jo Milano, I’ve hit upon a winner.
I fully agree that this is one of the best clones of Imagination by Louis Vuitton available today. I have sampled the original and so I can objectively compare the two.
In terms of scent profile DNA, Game of Spades Full House is super close to that of LV Imagination. In the opening it’s a bit more soapy fresh than Imagination, and not quite as spicy. But after about 20-30 minutes of dry down the two are almost indistinguishable to my nose.
If anything, Game of Spades Full House is a tad less spicy, with the cinnamon and ginger not quite as prominent. The soapy neroli and tea notes dominate, but in the best way. It’s a sparkling fresh and uplifting scent, and I absolutely love the DNA.
When it comes to longevity and projection the original LV Imagination is king thanks to a healthy dose of Ambroxan, but I still get about 6 hours out of Game of Spades Full House with moderate projection for the first hour at least. Not great, but not too bad either, considering you’re generally paying a lot less for a clone.
And price is where the real edge is here. Game of Spades Full House is about one quarter to one third of the full retail price of the Louis Vuitton original for 100ml, depending on where you buy it. And even though one day I may end up buying the original LV Imagination if I can get it for a good price, in the meantime, I’m very happy with the Jo Milano offering, because it’s pretty close to perfect for the money in my humble opinion.
Love this!
It’s a minimalist scent but done so well.
The opening is uplifting, vibrant and just puts me in a “scent mood” immediately. Never imagined I would love orange blossom so much, and the bergamot opening with it just makes this sing. So fresh, and intoxicating.
The long dry down with the patchouli is beautiful, and I’ve had compliments on it after 4-5 hours of wear.
My 60ml bottle is half gone. Will definitely be buying this again. It is now one of my favourite daily wear dumb reach scents.
Sauvage-inspired Coach
If you like the Dior Sauvage DNA you’ll like this. Coach Green is somewhat similar to Luna Rossa Carbon but not as metallic, and a bit fruitier, especially in the opening. The Kiwi note is barely discernible, and the fragrance tends to remain pretty one dimensional in the dry down, but it’s very pleasant. It’s a good all year round versatile scent. Longevity and projection is pretty average, so don’t be afraid to overspray if you want it to last.
I give a 7/10.
