How to Recognise a Fake Perfume?

One common concern when buying perfume from discount perfume shops online is determining whether you’re getting the authentic product from the manufacturer or whether it’s fake. If the price is just too good to be true, then there’s probably a clear reason why – it’s a knockoff.

There are many brands that fall into an affordable price point but let’s face the truth, branded perfumes like Dior, Gucci, and Chanel are bloody expensive. So, if you’re looking for a high-ticket perfume from a luxury brand and you come across it at heavily discounted prices, chances are that it is a fake.

Follow this guideline for buying authentic perfume brands online and learn how to recognise a fake perfume. 

When Buying Perfume Online, Look for These Red Flags

Old or damaged perfume

Fragrance doesn’t last forever, and it requires special handling to keep it fresh. Often perfumeries will offload ageing or damaged inventory to wholesale discounters. Even though it’s not fake, it doesn’t have its original potency anymore. This is something that is hard to determine when shopping online, so check product reviews for any negative comments.

Take notice of the fragrance itself too — does it smell too strongly of alcohol, wear off immediately or feel oily? Knockoffs often are authentic perfumes, but they have been diluted with alcohol or essential oil. Good counterfeiters can even replicate the top notes, however, they frequently fall short on the heart and base notes.

Samples

Perfume brands often give out perfume samples as promotions for new fragrance launches. Soon savvy entrepreneurs realised there was a secondary market for them online and were selling these samples to consumers.

Examine the labels

You can quickly and easily tell if a perfume is real or fake by looking at its label. Many counterfeit perfumes will have poor photos, misspellings on the labels, poorly applied labels, or low-quality printing on the labels.

Payment Method

If you are unsure about the product’s authenticity, try to pay using PayPal because they can assist with product disputes (missing shipments or poor quality). They will give a refund if it’s warranted.

Product Photos

People who sell fake perfume online will often use authentic brand photos instead of their own for the website’s product listings. When they use their own photos, you can usually identify differences in logo clarity, packaging colours, and – most importantly - the colour of the perfume.

Origin of Seller

Be aware of where the perfume is coming from if buying online. Many counterfeiters operate out of China and Asia, so be cautious when ordering from these countries. China and Asia have the largest concentration of counterfeit perfume being sold and produced online.

Where to Buy Authentic Perfume Online

If you don’t want to run the risk of buying perfume copies online, you should stick to buying them from reputable sellers in the UK like Online4Pharmacy.com.