French Avenue Libra
Brand: French Avenue
Unisex · EDP · £42.9
Inspired by Creed Carmina.
Description
Libra is a 2025 unisex Eau de Parfum by perfumer Anne Louise Gautier, built around cherry, saffron and pink pepper, followed by rose and violet over myrrh, incense, musk and ambergris. It is a fruity floral fragrance with a spicy opening and a soft resinous drydown. Product Overview Released in 2025 as part of French Avenue's Genesis collection, Libra balances a bright cherry opening with rose, violet and incense. The structure is unusually close to Creed Carmina, which uses the same central combination of cherry, pink pepper, saffron, rose, violet, musk, frankincense and myrrh. Scent Profile Cherry leads the opening with saffron adding warmth and pink pepper giving fresh spicy lift. Rose and violet create the floral centre before myrrh and incense deepen the drydown. Musk and ambergris soften the base and give the fragrance a smoother, slightly powdery finish. Technical Structure and Development Libra starts fruity and bright, then becomes more floral as rose and violet move forward. The drydown is darker and more resinous, with incense and myrrh reducing the sweetness of the cherry while musk keeps the final stage soft. Performance Parfumo currently places longevity and sillage just above 7 out of 10 from a small but useful sample. That supports good longevity with moderate to good projection rather than an extreme performance claim. Wear Scenarios • Evening and social wear • Autumn and spring • Date night and romantic settings • Special occasion use Scent Family Positioning Libra sits in the fruity floral style lane. Its key accords are fruity, floral, cherry, warm spicy, rose, violet, musky, balsamic and smoky. The overall vibe is romantic, elegant, modern and slightly mysterious. Inspired By and Style Comparisons Creed Carmina is the strongest reference. Parfumo lists Carmina as the leading similarity, and the note structures overlap unusually closely. Community reviewers also describe Libra as a brighter cherry variation on that DNA, so Carmina is a better structured inspiration than Original Creation. Flankers and Variations Libra is part of the twelve fragrance Genesis zodiac collection. Market and Community Reception Fragrantica currently shows a rating around 3.8 out of 5 from about 70 votes, while Parfumo scores the scent in the high 6s from a smaller sample. Reception is mixed. Fans enjoy the cherry, violet and amber balance, while critics find the opening synthetic or too hand soap like. The strongest positive feedback comes from wearers who enjoy Carmina style floral cherry fragrances.
Notes
Top Notes
Heart Notes
Base Notes
Main Accords
- Fresh
- Amber
- Musky
- Floral
- Fruity
- Smoky
- Powdery
- Balsamic
- Rose
- Violet
- Cherry
- Warm spicy
- Fresh spicy
- Resinous
- Incense
- Spicy
- Fresh
Tags
Vibes
Occasions
Performance
Style Lane
Community Reviews
1 reviews with an average rating of 7.4 out of 10.
Community Ratings
- Overall: 7.4/10
- Scent Accuracy: 7.9/10
- Longevity: 7.2/10
- Projection: 6.8/10
- Value: 7.6/10
Where to Buy
Check current price and availability on Amazon.co.uk
Atlas Insight
Why It Stands Out
Libra is one of the more distinctive Genesis releases, pairing cherry, saffron and pink pepper with rose, violet, myrrh and incense. It has the brightness of a fruity floral but a darker resinous base that gives it more depth.
Who Should Buy It
Buy this if you like cherry and rose but want something less sugary and more resinous. It suits evening wear, date nights and cooler seasons, especially if you enjoy Carmina style florals with a slightly darker edge.
Who Should Skip It
Skip it if you want a soft, easy cherry fragrance or dislike violet and incense. Libra has a sharper opening and a more mature drydown, and some wearers find the floral musk effect too synthetic or soap like.
Compared With The Original
Creed Carmina is the clearest reference. Libra shares the cherry, saffron, pink pepper, rose, violet, musk, incense and myrrh structure, but comes across brighter and less polished. The DNA is clear without being a one to one copy.
Best Alternative If This Isn’t For You
If you want a softer floral from the Genesis line, Sagittarius is cleaner and more powdery. If you want stronger fruit and less incense, Aries gives you pomegranate, black currant and a cleaner musky base.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between French Avenue and Fragrance World?
French Avenue is the premium, "Private Blend" division of Fragrance World. While the parent brand focuses on accessibility, French Avenue targets the ultra-luxury niche market. These releases feature higher oil concentrations, more intricate blending, and superior heavy-glass packaging designed to rival $300+ boutique fragrances.
Are French Avenue fragrances better than high-end niche perfumes?
French Avenue is often cited as the "bridge" between clones and niche perfumery. Many collectors prefer their versions—such as the "Aftermath" or "Liquid Brun" series—because they offer a more refined, less synthetic experience than standard budget alternatives, often fixing the longevity issues found in the expensive originals.
Why is the French Avenue collection trending in the UK?
French Avenue has gained traction in the UK for its focus on "trending niche" DNAs that other brands haven't mastered yet. Their commitment to the "Extrait de Parfum" concentration and their aesthetic presentation makes them highly "Instagrammable" and popular among serious collectors who value both the bottle and the "beast mode" performance.
What is French Avenue Libra a dupe of?
French Avenue Libra is a dupe of Creed Carmina. It interprets the original scent profile using high quality alternative ingredients at a fraction of the price.
What does French Avenue Libra smell like?
French Avenue Libra opens with Cherry, Saffron, Pink Pepper, moves into Rose, Violet, and settles on a base of Myrrh, Incense, Musk, Ambergris. It is built to capture the character of Creed Carmina.
Is French Avenue Libra long lasting?
French Avenue Libra is EDP with a community longevity score of 7.2 out of 10 and a scent accuracy score of 7.9 out of 10. It offers a budget friendly alternative to the original.
Why It Stands Out
Libra is one of the more distinctive Genesis releases, pairing cherry, saffron and pink pepper with rose, violet, myrrh and incense. It has the brightness of a fruity floral but a darker resinous base that gives it more depth.
Who Should Buy It
Buy this if you like cherry and rose but want something less sugary and more resinous. It suits evening wear, date nights and cooler seasons, especially if you enjoy Carmina style florals with a slightly darker edge.
Who Should Skip It
Skip it if you want a soft, easy cherry fragrance or dislike violet and incense. Libra has a sharper opening and a more mature drydown, and some wearers find the floral musk effect too synthetic or soap like.
Compared With The Original
Creed Carmina is the clearest reference. Libra shares the cherry, saffron, pink pepper, rose, violet, musk, incense and myrrh structure, but comes across brighter and less polished. The DNA is clear without being a one to one copy.