Eight & Bob Original is one of those fragrances people discover through a story before they ever smell it. The Parisian niche house presents it as the scent worn by a young John F. Kennedy in the 1930s and 40s, and it has traded on that heritage ever since: a plain, old-fashioned bottle, a spicy-citrus opening and an amber-and-wood finish that smells expensive without being loud. It also carries a niche price, and a bottle typically costs well over £100, which is a steep ask for a scent you have not yet worn through a full day.
If you want the character without the commitment, WhiffDrop stocks two officially matched alternatives. Both are listed against Eight & Bob Original in our Yodeyma dupe list and Verset dupe list, and both start under £10.
Cardamom, Lemon and Pink Pepper Over a Woody Amber Base
The structure to look for is a bright, dry spice opening rather than a sweet one. Cardamom and pink pepper give the first few minutes a crisp, slightly aromatic edge, lemon keeps it clean, and then the fragrance settles into a warm, resinous heart before a base of amber, sandalwood and vetiver. It is closer to a well-cut tailored jacket than a gym bag: smart, composed and easy to wear year-round, with enough warmth to suit autumn and winter evenings.
That profile is also why this style travels well as a gift. It sits comfortably between traditional and modern, and it does not pin the wearer to a particular age or gender, which is why it works as a unisex pick.
Yodeyma Nº115: The Closest Listed Note Match
Yodeyma Nº115 is matched to Eight & Bob Original in the official Yodeyma range, and its published notes line up with the structure above: cardamom, lemon and pink pepper on top, wood, spicy labdanum and violet in the heart, and amber, sandalwood and vetiver underneath. The labdanum and violet are worth noting, because they give the middle of the fragrance a slightly powdery, leathery warmth that keeps it from reading as a simple citrus-spice cologne.
It is an Eau de Parfum and comes in three sizes: £6.29 for 15ml, £14.39 for 50ml and £25.19 for 100ml. At 15ml it is a very low-risk way to find out whether the style suits you, and a handy size to keep in a coat pocket or desk drawer.
Verset Enzi: A Fresher, Ginger-Led Take
Verset Enzi is the second documented match. Its listed profile leans on ginger at the top, cardamom through the heart and lemon, so it reads a touch zestier and more lifted than the Yodeyma, with less of the powdery violet in the middle. If you find the original slightly too warm or dense, Enzi is the one to try first.
Enzi is priced a little higher than the Yodeyma, at £8.50 for 15ml, £19.50 for 50ml and £33.50 for 100ml, though still a small fraction of a niche bottle. Both fragrances are genuine Eau de Parfum concentration rather than light body sprays.
Choosing Between the Two
Pick Nº115 if you want the closer note-for-note match and a softer, more rounded finish. Pick Enzi if ginger and lemon appeal and you want something brighter for daytime. If you are buying for someone else and are unsure, the 15ml of each costs less than £15 together, which is a sensible way to settle it before committing to a larger bottle.
If you enjoy this sort of warm, spice-led profile, our guides to Hermès H24 alternatives and Terre d’Hermès alternatives cover neighbouring styles. And if you are new to the idea, what inspired perfumes actually are explains how these officially matched fragrances differ from counterfeits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Yodeyma Nº115 the same as Eight & Bob Original?
No. It is an independent fragrance officially matched to Eight & Bob Original by Yodeyma, built around a similar spicy-citrus, woody-amber structure. It is not made by or affiliated with Eight & Bob, and differences in the exact blend are to be expected.
How long do these last on skin?
Both are Eau de Parfum concentration, so expect several hours of wear, with the amber and wood base lingering longest. Longevity always varies with skin type, so a 15ml is a good way to test it on your own skin.
Which size should I buy first?
The 15ml sizes cost £6.29 for Nº115 and £8.50 for Enzi, which makes them the lowest-risk way to try either one before moving up to 50ml or 100ml.
