Givenchy L'Interdit has built its reputation on contrast: sultry white florals shot through with something darker and more rebellious. Since the modern Eau de Parfum launched in 2018, it has become one of Givenchy's signature bestsellers, the kind of scent that gets "what are you wearing?" from strangers. The catch is the price — a 50ml bottle of the original EDP typically retails from around £75 up to a £96 RRP at UK retailers like Sephora and Allbeauty.
What does L'Interdit actually smell like?
- Top notes: Pear, Bergamot
- Heart notes: Tuberose, Orange Blossom, Jasmine Sambac
- Base notes: Patchouli, Vanilla, Ambroxan, Vetiver
It opens bright and fruity-fresh, moves into a lush, sensual white floral heart, then settles into a warm, earthy, slightly smoky base that stops it feeling too sweet or too polite.
Why people look for a L'Interdit dupe
Not everyone wants to spend the best part of £90 to find out if a fragrance suits them, and most people don't wear one scent forever — building a small rotation gets expensive fast at designer prices. An inspired-by version lets you try that white floral-meets-dark-accord combination for a fraction of the outlay, which matters if you're buying for everyday wear rather than one special bottle to make last.
Introducing Forbidden — Insp by Givenchy L'Interdit
D&E's Forbidden is our take on that same white floral, dark-accord direction, priced at £14.99. It leans into the tuberose-and-jasmine heart with a comparably earthy, musky base, making it a solid choice for evening wear, date nights, or anyone who wants a statement floral without the statement price tag.
Being upfront about the comparison
We want to be honest here: Forbidden is not an exact clone or replica of Givenchy L'Interdit. No inspired-by fragrance ever perfectly recreates a designer original — the raw materials, ageing process, and blending techniques used by luxury houses aren't something an affordable dupe can fully replicate. What we aim for is capturing the spirit and general character of the fragrance family, not a molecule-for-molecule copy.
Longevity and projection
As with most affordable eau de parfum-strength dupes, expect solid longevity on skin — typically several hours — with moderate projection that settles into a closer, more intimate sillage after the first hour or two. This is fairly typical for the price point and shouldn't be compared directly to designer-strength staying power, which usually costs more to achieve.
The verdict
If you love the idea of L'Interdit's white floral-meets-dark-accord signature but don't want to commit £75-plus before you know it works on your skin, Forbidden is a low-risk way to try the vibe for £14.99.
Shop Forbidden — Insp by Givenchy L'Interdit
Givenchy and L'Interdit are registered trademarks of Givenchy. D&E Fragrances is an independent UK fragrance brand and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Givenchy. "Forbidden" is our own original composition, inspired by the popular fragrance family that L'Interdit helped define.