Louis Vuitton’s Imagination is one of the more polarising launches to come out of the house’s fragrance division in years. Released in 2021 and composed by in-house perfumer Jacques Cavallier-Belletrud, it opens on a burst of citron, Calabrian bergamot and Sicilian orange before settling into a warmer, spiced amber base. UK pricing sits at roughly £255 for 100ml through Louis Vuitton boutiques and Selfridges — the brand doesn’t sell through discounters, department-store concessions or the usual high-street perfume shops, so there’s no way to sample it cheaply before spending that kind of money. For anyone who wants to know whether the scent itself is worth chasing, without committing to a bottle at boutique prices, there are dupes worth knowing about.
The Citrus-Into-Amber Structure
Imagination opens loud: citron, Calabrian bergamot and Sicilian orange stacked together for a sharp, zesty first ten minutes that reads more sparkling than sweet. The heart brings it down a register with Tunisian neroli, Nigerian ginger and Ceylon cinnamon, a warmer, spicier turn that bridges into the base. That base is where the fragrance earns its complexity: Chinese black tea, ambroxan, guaiac wood and olibanum combine into something smoky, ambered and a little resinous, closer to a modern oud-adjacent finish than a classic gourmand amber. It’s a fragrance that changes noticeably across its wear time, which is part of why it’s built a following despite the price tag.
The Confirmed Match: Yodeyma Nº135
Yodeyma Nº135 is Yodeyma’s officially listed match for Louis Vuitton Imagination, built from the same citrus-into-amber logic — sharp citrus top, spiced warmth through the heart, and a smoky, ambered dry-down that leans into guaiac wood and resin rather than straightforward vanilla sweetness. At Yodeyma’s price point, it’s a fraction of the cost of the original, which makes it a realistic way to actually live with the scent day to day rather than saving it for occasions that justify the boutique price.
A Second Option: Verset Elian EDP
For anyone who finds Yodeyma’s interpretation too close to the original’s higher-projection amber and wants something slightly softer, Verset Elian EDP is worth trying as well. It leans a touch more into the citrus and tea notes and pulls back on the smokier resin, which makes it an easier fragrance to wear in warmer weather or in enclosed spaces like offices, where Imagination’s full-strength amber base can feel like a lot. Having both in rotation — Yodeyma Nº135 for evenings, Verset Elian for daytime — is a genuinely useful way to cover the range Imagination itself sits across.
Who This Fragrance Actually Suits
Imagination isn’t a universally flattering scent, and that’s worth being upfront about. The strong citrus opening plus the smoky, resinous base make it best suited to cooler months and evening wear rather than a daily desk fragrance — the projection is noticeable, and the guaiac wood and olibanum in the base give it a weight that can feel overpowering in small, warm rooms. It works well for anyone who already likes citrus fragrances but finds most of them too fleeting; Imagination solves that problem by anchoring the top notes to a base that has genuine staying power, often six hours-plus on skin.
Where It Sits Against Other Warm Citrus-Woody Scents
If you like the citrus-into-warmth arc of Imagination, it’s worth comparing it against other fragrances built on a similar structure. Our guide to Terre d’Hermès alternatives covers a fragrance that runs a similar citrus-to-woody trajectory but leans more mineral and peppery rather than ambered and smoky, useful if you want something closer to office-safe. Imagination sits at the more intense, evening-oriented end of that spectrum.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Yodeyma Nº135 a close match for Louis Vuitton Imagination?
Yes, it’s Yodeyma’s officially confirmed alternative, built around the same citrus-opening, ambered-base structure, though it runs slightly punchier on the resin and smoke than the original.
How long does Louis Vuitton Imagination actually last on skin?
Most wearers report six to eight hours of noticeable wear, with the ambroxan and guaiac wood base carrying it well past the point where the citrus top notes have faded.
Should I choose Yodeyma Nº135 or Verset Elian EDP?
Yodeyma Nº135 is closer to the original’s full-strength amber intensity and suits evening wear, while Verset Elian EDP is lighter and easier to wear during the day, many people end up owning both for different occasions.
