Initio
Side Effect
Last updated
Eau de Parfum2016Unisex (leans male)Longevity · Long LastingSillage · Strong$290 retail★ 4.3 community ratingBuy on FragranceNet $333 →
A spicy-floral powerhouse where grapefruit and cardamom ignite creamy sandalwood and musky amber into intoxicating boldness.
Top Notes
GrapefruitPink PepperCardamom
Heart Notes
JasmineIrisViolet
Base Notes
SandalwoodMuskAmberVetiver
Accords
warm spicy· Dominanttobacco· Dominantrum· Dominantcinnamon· Prominentsweet· Prominentwoody· Prominent
Best Clone
The best clone of Initio Side Effect is After Effect by Fragrance World, with a 78% accuracy score. A fraction of the cost of the $290 original.
Best Seasons
Spring27%
Summer11%
Fall / Autumn89%
Winter100%
Best Occasions
Night Out100%
Professional57%
Casual49%
Community Insights
★ 4.3 from 10K ratingsWhat people who wear Initio Side Effect report, based on votes and reviews from a large fragrance community.
Main accords
warm spicy
tobacco
rum
cinnamon
woody
sweet
Longevity
Very weak2%
Weak3%
Moderate19%
Long lasting50%
Eternal26%
Sillage
Intimate5%
Moderate30%
Strong47%
Enormous18%
Who wears it
Female3%
More female5%
Unisex45%
More male33%
Male14%
Listed as Unisex (leans male)
Day or night
Day
Night
Value for money
Way overpriced18%
Overpriced42%
Ok32%
Good value6%
Great value3%
People say it reminds them of
French Avenue After Effect 348Dolce&Gabbana The One Luminous Night 230Alghabra Parfums Eye of Seven Hills 160Sospiro Perfumes Il Padrino 140Swiss Arabian Tobacco 01 135Banana Republic Tobacco & Tonka Bean 102
What people like
- Good quality perfume
- High compliment factor and confidence booster
- Sexy and rich scent
What people dislike
- Premium price point is hard to justify
- Synthetic character may cause headaches
- Medicinal cherry or cough syrup undertones
- Recent batches may have weaker performance
What wearers say
“Cinnamon, booze, I also smell something like raisins, and tobacco. Unfortunately, there is also something like a cheap amber smell, reminiscent of most Montalr fragrances, which I despise. They likely used it to make it long lasting. I bet you cannot smell it in the air though, so it's alright, they didn't overdo it. For me it's a pass, considering the price point. I think you can do better with similar but cheaper cinnamon/tobacco/boozy fragrance. Or a middle Eastern clone.”
“The opening it's fenomenal, but as it dries down, it becomes to smells more generic and it starts reminding you of some other fragrances. for me the drydown it's pretty close to Amouage Interlude Man, but with some boozyness added to it.overall it's a good fragrance, considering on my skin It lasted for about 14/15 hours and it had a great sillage.”
“I love the scent it's very seductive and warm and mass appealing.The performance is weak at least with my batch (22 months) 2-3 hrs longevity. Very disappointed with the performance.”
9 Clones Found
Best Match
Fragrance World
After Effect
78%accuracy
-
Price
-
Longevity
-
Sillage
The clone features slightly reduced tobacco prominence and a gentler overall presentation compared to Side Effect's more dominant spice-tobacco balance. Longevity and sillage are also marginally less pronounced in the clone version.
Amazon
Fragrance World
Intro AfterMath
78%accuracy
$15
FragranceShop
-
Longevity
-
Sillage
The clone often presents a slightly sharper cinnamon note upfront and may lack some of the original's subtle rum undertones in the development. Longevity and sillage are generally comparable, though Side Effect typically projects with slightly more sophistication.
AmazonFragranceShop $15
Bujairami
The Hype
78%accuracy
$35
FragranceNet
-
Longevity
-
Sillage
The clone likely has slightly reduced longevity and a creamier base character, missing some of the original's vetiver-driven woody complexity. The overall projection and performance may be noticeably lighter than the high-quality original formulation.
FragranceNet $35
French Avenue
After Effect
76%accuracy
$31
FragranceNet
4-6 hours
Longevity
Moderate
Sillage
The clone's projection is noticeably shorter with a thinner sillage compared to Side Effect's impressive performance. The tobacco note in After Effect reads somewhat more generic and less smoky-rich than the original's distinctive character.
AmazonJomashopFragranceNet $31
La Ree Fragrances
Speakeasy
76%accuracy
-
Price
-
Longevity
-
Sillage
The clone has a more pronounced woody-oak base rather than the original's smooth amber, and typically lacks the refined complexity and depth that Initio achieves. Longevity and sillage are also noticeably lighter on Speakeasy, with the fragrance fading faster throughout the day.
Amazon
Armaf
Vanity Femme Eclat
75%accuracy
-
Price
6-8 hours
Longevity
Moderate
Sillage
The clone's base is noticeably sweeter and less tobacco-forward than the original, with reduced longevity and projection. Armaf's interpretation leans more feminine and linear, while Side Effect maintains a more sophisticated, layered tobacco-vanilla balance.
AmazonJomashop
Swiss Arabian
Tobacco 01
74%accuracy
$54
FragranceNet
-
Longevity
-
Sillage
Adds plum, honey and vanilla where the original leans on rum, cinnamon and saffron.
FragranceNet $54
Paris Corner
Intro Aftermath
72%accuracy
-
Price
5-7 hours
Longevity
Moderate
Sillage
The clone delivers similar top and mid-stage performance but falls short on depth and longevity compared to the original. Intro Aftermath tends to dry down faster with less prominent tobacco character in the base evolution.
JomashopAmazon
French Avenue
Velours Lolite Maison Des Reves
72%accuracy
-
Price
-
Longevity
-
Sillage
The clone emphasizes vanilla sweetness over the original's tobacco-rum complexity, resulting in a lighter, more linear fragrance with shorter longevity. Sillage is notably more subdued compared to Side Effect's assertive projection.
Amazon
Other Initio Fragrances
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