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Comparison

212 vs Very Good Girl

Side by side. Scored honestly.

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Notes overlap

Side by side

Comparing the originals — price, breadth, listed-note depth.

Original price
$65
212
$85
Very Good Girl
Season coveragetied
2/4
212
2/4
Very Good Girl
Note depth
5
212
8
Very Good Girl
What 212 smells like

Cardamom and ginger hit sharp and bright in the opening, giving it a spiced, slightly medicinal edge that reads more angular than sweet. As it settles, cedar grounds the heart with a dry woodiness that keeps things clean rather than dark, while amber starts threading through with a soft warmth. The dry-down goes quiet — amber and musk doing most of the work at low sillage, leaving a skin-close, subtly spiced warmth. Projection is modest throughout; this works up-close, not across the room — Best worn in cooler months by someone who wants spice without sweetness, ideal for professional or evening settings.

What Very Good Girl smells like

Opens with a roasted coffee and almond combo that leans more bakery than café — sweet but not cloying because the coffee keeps it grounded. The heart deepens into caramel without going full dessert; there's just enough sandalwood underneath to give it shape and stop it from collapsing into pure sugar. The dry-down is warm amber and soft musk, close to the skin and genuinely cozy. Projection is moderate, sillage polite — it announces itself without taking over the room — Best for autumn and winter evenings, ideal for someone who wants sweet but wearable.

How they overlap

212 and Very Good Girl share exactly one note (amber). The overlap is real but narrow — most of the wear experience will diverge.

The buying decision

212 is the cheaper original at $65 compared to $85 for Very Good Girl — about 24% less. Both wear best across the same fall/winter — they're interchangeable on weather fit. Heads up: 212 is marketed masculine, Very Good Girl is marketed feminine — they target different wearers, though plenty of buyers cross those lines.

Best dupe for each

Free: The 30 Best-Tested Dupes Under $40

A community-scored cheat sheet you can download now — 30 designer scents matched for under $40, ranked by accuracy and longevity.