Dossier is a New York fragrance brand that sells its own eaux de parfum, many of them modeled on famous designer and niche perfumes such as Baccarat Rouge 540 and Gucci Guilty. It also has a line of original scents, plus candles and room diffusers. It suits shoppers who want a familiar style of scent at a lower price and don't need the designer name on the bottle.

Short answer: yes, Dossier is a legitimate company that even accepts returns of opened bottles, but its Dossier+ membership is the biggest source of complaints, so read the checkout screen carefully. We reviewed its policies, product pages and recent customer reviews; we didn't test the perfumes ourselves.

Dossier at a glance

Founded2019 (its company, 13 Scents Inc., was incorporated in 2018)
HeadquartersNew York, New York
Owner/parent13 Scents Inc., doing business as Dossier; American Pacific Group made a strategic investment in 2026
What it sellsDesigner-inspired and original eaux de parfum, discovery sets, candles and room diffusers
Shipping (US)USPS Ground, up to about a week; product pages show $7.95 standard or $19 for two-business-day express; cost depends on how many items you order
Returns30 days from delivery, opened bottles accepted with a photo and the original box; $3.99 fee per bottle for non-members; one free exchange per order
BBB (as of November 2026)A+ rating, accredited since June 2025; 270 complaints in the past three years
Trustpilot (as of November 2026)4.6/5 from about 2,870 reviews

Who is Dossier?

Dossier launched in 2019 and is led by its founder and CEO, Sergio Tache. Its legal entity, 13 Scents Inc., is a Delaware corporation doing business as Dossier from 150 Greenwich Street in New York City. BBB records show the company was incorporated in July 2018.

In April 2026, The Fashion Law reported that the investment firm American Pacific Group had made a strategic investment in Dossier, with terms not disclosed. The same report noted that inspired-by brands operate close to the line between lawful competition and intellectual-property claims, though it didn't describe any case against Dossier.

Its product pages say Dossier perfumes are also stocked at Walmart, CVS and Target, and that online orders may arrive in a mix of old and new packaging during a redesign.

How Dossier's inspired-by perfumes work

Many Dossier perfumes belong to a line it calls Impressions, and each of those product pages names the fragrance it is modeled on. Ambery Saffron, for example, is described as Dossier's impression of Maison Francis Kurkdjian's Baccarat Rouge 540, and Fougère Pink Pepper as its impression of Gucci Guilty. A separate line of Originals sits alongside them.

These are not the designer formulas, and Dossier doesn't claim they are. Each product page we reviewed says Dossier is not associated or affiliated with the brands it mentions. Its terms describe the perfumes as Dossier's own formulations and say the designer names are there only as a reference for shoppers. That makes them dupes rather than fakes: you're buying a Dossier product under Dossier's name.

How close each one smells to the original is subjective. Concentration also varies by scent: Fougère Pink Pepper is listed as a 12% eau de parfum, Ambery Saffron as 18%.

On ingredients, Dossier labels its perfumes vegan and cruelty-free, shows PETA's Animal Test-Free logo, says they are crafted in France, in Grasse, and promotes "clean ingredients." The product pages we reviewed don't define what clean means, and the scent blend itself appears as a single Fragrance/Parfum entry. Ambery Saffron's list also names allergens such as limonene and linalool, which is worth checking if you react to fragrance.

What Dossier sells and how prices compare

List prices for a 50 ml eau de parfum vary by scent. Fougère Pink Pepper lists at $29. Ambery Saffron, which has more than 13,000 reviews on Dossier's own site, lists at $49 for 50 ml, $59 for 50 ml plus an 11 ml bottle and $79 for 100 ml. The Discovery Set, with ten 11 ml bottles covering seven Impressions and three Originals, lists at $99.

During our research, the site was running a Black Friday sale advertising up to 40% off, with product pages tying the 40% discount to orders of six or more items.

The Dossier+ membership is where shoppers need to pay the most attention. It starts with a non-refundable $3.95 trial for the first month, then bills $39.90 a month automatically until you cancel, pause or skip. Each fee becomes store credit that doesn't expire as long as you stay a member. Perks include one free return per order, a free 3 ml sample with each order and a free 50 ml perfume every three months; the membership page also advertises up to 30% off through buy-more-save-more pricing.

The catch is what happens when you leave. When you cancel, you're asked to confirm that any remaining store credit will be forfeited, and Dossier refunds only the current month's fee. Its terms do say store credits can be refunded on request for 120 days after they post, so if you joined by mistake, ask for that refund before cancelling. Over a full year, the fee adds up to $478.80 in credit you'll need to spend.

Shipping and delivery

US orders go by USPS Ground, and the company says delivery may take up to a week; orders placed on a Friday are processed the following Monday unless it's a bank holiday. It doesn't ship to PO boxes or APO/FPO military addresses.

Shipping costs, and any free-shipping threshold, depend on how many products are in your order, and the exact amount appears in the cart. The product pages we reviewed showed standard shipping at $7.95 and two-business-day express at $19.

One weak spot: Dossier's shipping policy says it takes no responsibility for lost shipments, though it will do its best to track them down, so contact support quickly if a package goes missing.

Returns, refunds and warranty

The standout policy is returns on opened bottles. You can open a full-size bottle, try it and send it back within 30 days of delivery if you don't like it. You'll need a photo of the item to get the return authorized, the terms require the original box, and the return label is valid for 14 days after it's issued. Refunds are issued within 14 days of Dossier receiving the return.

  • Fees: non-members pay a $3.99 processing fee per bottle, deducted from the refund. Dossier+ members get one free return per order, including return shipping.
  • Shipping costs: the terms say shipping costs aren't refunded.
  • Exchanges: every customer gets one free exchange per order, including shipping on the replacement perfume.
  • Exclusions: the Advent Calendar, Trio Sets, candles that have been lit, room diffusers that have been used, and small samples (2 ml in the refund policy, 3 ml in the terms) can't be returned.

Watch the deadline wording: the refund policy and terms count 30 days from delivery, but product pages say returns must be postmarked within 30 days of the order.

The refund policy doesn't describe a process for broken or leaking bottles, and reports vary: one recent Trustpilot reviewer was compensated for a broken bottle, while a BBB complainant said a replacement was refused. Photograph any damage as soon as the box arrives.

What customers say

Dossier scores 4.6/5 on Trustpilot from about 2,870 reviews (as of November 2026), with 87% five-star and 7% one-star ratings. Reviewers most often praise fast, helpful customer service, scents they find long-lasting and close to the originals, and value for money. Complaints include a TikTok Shop order that never arrived, a scent one reviewer found too faint, and occasional delays and stock problems.

Dossier has claimed its Trustpilot profile and replies to 98% of negative reviews, typically within a week.

On the BBB, Dossier has an A+ rating and has been accredited since June 2025, but it has 270 complaints in the past three years, 80 of them in the last 12 months. Product issues lead (90), followed by service (57), billing (38), delivery (34) and sales and advertising (29).

Several recent BBB complaints come from customers who say they were enrolled in Dossier+ without realizing it and charged $39.90 a month, or who lost store credit when they cancelled. Others involve broken bottles, missing orders and accounts locked by a fraud filter. Dossier answers most complaints briefly, often saying it has contacted the customer directly, and sometimes offers discount codes or store credit; some complainants said they wanted a refund to their card instead.

In July 2024, the consumer watchdog Truth in Advertising reported that Dossier+ was the default option when shoppers added an item to the cart, with the guest checkout shown as a less visible gray button; the membership cost $29 a month at the time. We couldn't confirm whether checkout still works that way, so check which option is selected before you pay. TINA.org said it asked Dossier for comment, and its article didn't include a response.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • You can open, try and return a full-size bottle within 30 days of delivery
  • 50 ml eaux de parfum from $29 list, with Black Friday discounts of up to 40%
  • Clear not-affiliated disclaimers and named inspirations, so you know what you're buying
  • Labeled vegan, cruelty-free and crafted in France, with PETA's Animal Test-Free logo
  • One free exchange per order for every customer
  • 4.6/5 on Trustpilot and an A+ BBB rating

Cons

  • Dossier+ bills $39.90 a month automatically, and unused credit is forfeited when you cancel
  • Unwanted membership charges are a recurring theme in BBB complaints
  • Non-members pay $3.99 per returned bottle, and shipping costs aren't refunded
  • USPS Ground can take up to a week, with no PO box or APO/FPO delivery
  • The company disclaims responsibility for lost shipments
  • "Clean" isn't defined, and the scent blend is listed only as Fragrance/Parfum

Tips before you order from Dossier

  1. Decide on Dossier+ before you check out. Pick the non-member option if you don't want the $39.90 monthly plan, then check your card statement after your first order.
  2. If you join, track your credits. Spend them or request a refund, which the terms allow for 120 days after each credit posts, before you cancel.
  3. Keep the box and take a photo. Returns of opened bottles need both, and the return label expires 14 days after it's issued.
  4. Use your free exchange. Swapping a scent you don't like for another avoids the $3.99 per-bottle return fee.
  5. Count from the order date. To be safe, ship any return within 30 days of ordering, not delivery.
  6. Try the Discovery Set if you're unsure. Ten 11 ml bottles let you test several scents before committing to a full size.

Is Dossier legit? Our verdict

Dossier is a legitimate brand and a reasonable bet if you want an affordable, clearly labeled alternative to a designer scent. Being able to return an opened bottle, even with the $3.99 non-member fee, takes much of the risk out of a blind buy.

Look elsewhere if you want the original designer formula or would rather avoid a membership that renews monthly. For original bottles at a discount, compare a retailer such as FragranceNet; for other dupes, Alt Fragrances is worth a look.

Visit Dossier

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