I’m always on the lookout for how to ‘get the look for less’, so to speak - whether it's makeup, fashion or homeware dupes. Save the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves, right?
And after discovering this £3.99 perfume that smells just like the £94 Jo Malone version, I’ve been spotting fragrance and body dupes everywhere since.
One such ‘inspired’ collection comes from health and beauty retailer Boots, who have launched a range of luxury-looking bath and body care products that bear resemblance to the pricier ‘The White Company’.
Boots’ line has been inventively named ‘The White Collection’, meaning it wasn’t difficult to come to the conclusion where they might have plucked that from. But either way, I was pretty excited.
It appears that Boots revealed the range late last year as an advent calendar, with individual products - including body washes, hand creams, lotions, slippers and socks - hitting shelves in 2022.
Currently there’s a three for two offer on selected White Collection products, so I picked up three items in three different fragrances - and they’re extremely indulgent.
First up was The White Collection Pomegranate Body Wash, as I was such a fan of the Jo Malone perfume dupe of the same fragrance.
The 250ml body wash features pink pepper, jasmine and sandalwood, which lathers really well and smells quite warm and woody.
While the dispenser takes some initial pumping to get the product out, it dispenses a good amount of product which left my skin feeling fresh, with the fragrance lingering long after hopping out of the shower.
This £4.50 body wash is a dupe of The White Company Pomegranate Bath and Shower Gel, which is £13.00, which is also described as ‘rich and warming’ on the site.
The uplifting Boots cleanser was £8.50 cheaper than the original minimalistic brand, but I felt very pampered as though I’d just stepped out of a spa treatment.
Next I tried The White Collection Fig Hand and Nail Cream, which I’ve been using religiously. As someone who regularly gets manicures, my nail technician drills it into her clients to keep hands moisturised and nails well oiled for longer lasting results.
Fragranced with a decadent combination of fig, warm amber and cedar wood, the 250ml bottle is perfect for leaving beside your bathroom sink for guests to enjoy - or hidden away on the bedside table if you don’t fancy sharing.
I found the pump on this bottle to be a bit stiff, but eventually two pumps of hand cream was more than enough to saturate my dry skin. After 10 minutes, there was already a noticeable difference in the texture of my hands, feeling silky soft and smelling amazing.
This product could be compared to The White Company’s Fig Tree Hand and Nail Cream, which is usually £15, but currently on sale for £7.50. Either way, Boots’ £4.50 dupe is still cheaper!
It’s super rich, creamy and contains shea butter - and what’s more is it’s vegan friendly.
The final product I picked up was The White Collection Lime & Clove Body Soap, which wasn’t my favourite fragrance from the collection, nor my favourite product - but it still gets the seal of approval as a dupe for The white Company.
The scent blends lime, jasmine and sweet orange, which to me feels a little festive.
Like with any soap bar, you wet it with warm water and work it into a lather before massaging it into the skin. For me, I preferred the pump-dispenser body wash, but this £3 bar is still a fraction of the price of The White Company.
Their soap bars cost £7, and this Lime and Clove fragrance is similar to their Lime and Bay, combining citrus with a herbaceous scent.
And while very few reviews have been left for the Boots White Collection online yet, one shopper has noticed similarities between the range and a pricier alternative.
Of the Floral scented hand wash, she said: “Wow this is the exact smell of the much more expensive brand this is based on and a fraction of the price.
“Leaves a lovely strong scent on hands for ages after washing and a nice consistency to make a lather. Makes me feel like I'm in a luxury hotel/spa every time I smell it! Will be buying the full range!”
And I have to agree with the point she makes about the luxury hotels - that’s exactly how my bathroom feels now I’ve begun to fill it with The White Collection.
