Zarci by MARIA CHER.

To me, it smells very similar to Idole: sweet and fruity roses with musky and fresh undertones. A super casual, signature, feminine and versatile scent. Perfect for daytime in spring and summer. Simple yet beautiful, elegant and relaxed all at once. Idole is a bit fresher and this is slightly sweeter; a modern and timeless rose, a good alternative to Lancôme. Medium longevity.

Is it a dupe of Idole? I’m not sure, I’d say it’s its younger brother; it has that DNA, those roses that stand out, especially to me. I owned Idole in its first edition (I regret throwing away the bottle that never stopped, haha, now they come with a base that sustains it) and the truth is the original had good performance on my skin. This one does not; let’s say Idole on skin lasts about 6 hours and Cher Zarzi, being generous, about three hours. The component and the cap design seem awful to me; I feel the elegance of the faceted glass packaging is ruined by a cap that falls apart at any moment. I don’t know, for me the perfume is a whole; if it had a more discreet cap, in my opinion it would look more elegant.

A pity that for me it smells of doll. Objectively, it’s sweeter than floral, so beware if you dislike sweets. Blindly, I thought it had red berries, but I suppose it’s the sweet blend with the acidic touch of pear and bergamot. Beyond that soft fruity accord, I only sense sweet plastic. Even though I don’t like it, its longevity is very good.

Oh, I don’t know if it’s a matter of my skin, but I’ve tried it and I don’t feel it resembles Idôle at all. I sense it as a very sweet, synthetic and somewhat undefined scent, and after a while it turns into a herbal smell, but I don’t sense the roses. I didn’t like it 🙁

It feels less floral and more like dense red fruit (though I don’t actually have red fruit notes), sweet like a confection, with good projection and lasting a minimum of 4 to 6 hours. It suits women aged 18 to 30. It seems like a dupe of Juliette Has a Gun’s ‘Juliette’; the difference is that JHAG costs $150, while this is only $45. It’s incredible how Argentine perfumery has progressed; there is nothing to envy from the big brands. My advice: try it first because it evolves over time; at first, I only detect the base musk and the florals disappear. Updating a month later: it has mellowed a bit now, smelling much sweeter, like red fruit and plum caramel, very confection-like. It’s very youthful but also very strong. I don’t know, I like it even if it’s invasive; it serves to break the ‘perfume routine’, but it’s tiring for everyday wear.

Idole has been suffering from terrible quality lately; I own the Intense and Nectar versions, and they barely last on skin, only on clothes. This one, at a lower price, performs better and suits me more. Returning to Zarci, the Argentine perfume industry is incredible—nothing to envy from imports. This scent has it all: it makes you feel fresh, feminine, elegant, and distinguished. The longevity for the price is excellent; it lasts longer in summer than in winter. Rose dominates; at first, it can be off-putting, so it’s not for everyone and shouldn’t be bought blindly. I think it’s praised more by men than women. Longevity 8/10, Sillage 7/10, Value for Money 10/10. I’m buying my fourth bottle; quite literally, I’ve become addicted.

It’s very similar to the Idole I already owned, but it lasts much longer. I recommend it.

You must love the rose note, otherwise it’s impossible to pass. It stands out much among the other notes. I smell it very similar to Nina L’Extase 2015.

I was looking for a clone of Idole, which I adore, but it was out of my budget, and this option has been a hit. The resemblance is brutal, and it lasts incredibly well on skin (5-6 hours) and on clothes all day. If you like the original, this is a must 🩷

Beware if you don’t like rose: run away. The opening is very sharp and powdery. For me, it just smells of rose as it’s my fatal note.

I bought it blindly right in the middle of the pandemic, just as I started falling in love with perfumes. I love the opening with juicy pear and sparkling bergamot; it gives a sense of light. Then there’s a sweet, clean, and warm rose that didn’t convince me at first, but now I’m obsessed with it in many scents, including Zarci. Compared to traditional Idole, the scent is identical (though the original lasts longer). It’s feminine, daily, and super versatile. It lasts 5 hours on my skin, which isn’t bad for the price. If you like Idole, Zara is recommended, but don’t buy it blindly if you hate rose. I spotted a deal, I already have a refill, and with this I don’t need the original.