Why does the new Physician's Formula Foundation Smell the Same as the Wet 'n Wild One?

Let's first look at some pics of the swatches of the PF foundation. I got the color LC1, the lightest in the range:

It comes in a sturdy glass bottle, with 1 fl oz of product. It is dispensed with a doe-foot appliator. 

My main quibble is that the foundation's scent bears a strong resemblance to the Wet 'n Wild Photo Focus foundation, but not as intense. I decided to investigate by looking at the ingredients. 

PF Healthy Foundation ($13-$15.00)

Octinoxate 3% Inactive Ingredients: Water/Eau, Cyclopentasiloxane, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Isododecane, Butylene Glycol, Acrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer, Propanediol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Magnesium Sulfate, Schinziophyton Rautanenii (Mongongo) Kernel Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylene Brassylate, Dimethicone/Bis-Isobutyl PPG-20 Crosspolymer, Silica, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Evodia Rutaecarpa (Wu-Zhu-Yu) Fruit Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Cellulose Gum, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Retinyl Palmitate, Rhodiola Rosea Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, BHT, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891).

Wet 'n Wild Photo Focus Foundation ($5.00-$6.00)

Isododecane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Water/Eau, Glycerin, Cyclohexasiloxane, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Adipic Acid/Neopentyl Glycol Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Silica, Sodium Chloride, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Hexyl Laurate, Polysilicone-11, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Laureth-12, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, [+/- (May Contain/Peut Contenir): Titanium Dioxide/CI 77891, Mica, Iron Oxides/CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499].

Interesting! In terms of humectants, solvents, and other base ingredients, the two share a lot. It is important to note that both companies share the same parent company, so they have access to the same manufacturers. What is interesting to me is the price difference. Do the extra ingredients in the PF foundation warrant the greater price? It does seem that the additional ingredients in the PF foundation are for skin-care.

After using both, I prefer the PF formula one by and large. While it isn't a perfect color match, it is close, and it feels a lot better on my face than the Wet 'n Wild Foundation, which felt cakey and unpleasant. 

I found that the PF foundation wore really well throughout the day, and I did not feel oily at all. The product did not break up on my face. It was smooth sailing.