This fragrance is a great gourmand! I have not smelled the original, so I can’t say how close it is. I have tried several clones from different sources and this one is my favorite. I continue to be impressed by the quality of Zoha Aroma oils. A few years ago I did not think I would like gourmand fragrances. Since then I have experimented with a few. I still don’t care to smell like chocolate or coffee, but this one is balanced so well that without trying to pick it apart, those notes don’t stand out. My experience was that it is a beautiful aroma that I had never smelled before. With the other clones I tried, though they are very similar, the caramel or one of the other notes stand out and they don’t achieve the effect of being a new, unique aroma. The original may have subtle nuances that make it a different, but judging this oil on its own, it has become a new favorite for me.