Who duped who?

Since it was created back in 2009, Destinée, a perfume by the Polish brand La Rive, often described as an excellent dupe of Libre by Yves Saint Laurent, may in fact be the original rather than the imitation. Many users on Fragrantica have pointed out that the timeline raises an intriguing possibility: what if Libre, launched a full decade later, was actually inspired by this affordable La Rive creation?

This speculation opens up a broader conversation about originality and influence in the perfume industry, where scent compositions frequently circulate, evolve, and reappear across different price ranges and brand identities. While luxury houses like YSL are typically seen as trendsetters, the case of Destinée challenges that assumption, suggesting that innovation doesn’t always flow from top to bottom. Instead, it may move in more complex, less visible directions—sometimes from budget-friendly brands toward the luxury mainstream.