Before buying a perfume that is expensive, you want to make sure it is authentic. Imitation perfumes are quite easy to make, but they don't have the quality or smell of real perfumes. So, don't waste your money buying such perfumes. To help you make the right decision to buy perfume, understand the signs of a fake perfume.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Preparing to Buy Perfume
Step 1. Get to know the seller
Choose a reputable seller to avoid fake perfume. There are various perfume sellers. For that, you must understand the advantages and risks of each.
- Department stores are the safest choice for buying perfume because by visiting this place you can observe carefully the perfume bottles and talk to the employees. This will allow you to approach the store clerk if the perfume may not be genuine, as well as return it if it is not.
- Be careful at thrift shops or thrift shops. In this place, sellers can easily cheat you without mercy. So, make sure to always check the perfume carefully before buying it. If possible, ask for the seller's contact number in case the perfume you purchased is not satisfactory.
- Ask all questions based on the information provided in this article to the seller. For example, “Is there a batch number on the perfume?”, and “Can you take a photo of the writing on the back of the perfume case?”, etc.
- When buying perfume through an internet site such as eBay or Amazon, be sure to check the product and seller reviews. Make sure the seller is Paypal verified as this means they have to provide their contact information. Check if they have a return policy and ask for this policy if they don't. Pay attention to whether their ads are spelled and grammatically correct.
Step 2. Pay attention to the price
While price doesn't always reflect the quality of the perfume, if a perfume is selling too cheaply for the brand, chances are the offer is deceptive and the perfume is not authentic. However, there may be exceptions such as in the case of laundry discounts when the seller's shop is closed. Even so, overall, the price can be used as an indicator of the authenticity of the perfume.
Step 3. Research perfume first
Visit the manufacturer's website for information on packaging, bottles, and the placement of the bar code on the perfume. You may also want to visit a perfume shop at the mall to get an estimate of how the bottles and cellophane wraps look.
Part 2 of 3: Identifying the Authentic Perfume
Step 1. Check the packaging
The original perfume box is usually wrapped tightly with cellophane paper. Observe if the cellophane wrap on the perfume box is loose or messy so that it can shift. An untidy cellophane dressing is a sign of fake perfume.
Step 2. Observe the box carefully
A perfume's authenticity can often be ascertained by simply checking the correct part of the box. So, before opening a perfume, check the box carefully for signs of unprofessional packaging and design.
- Check the writing on the back of the perfume packaging. Check for incorrect spelling, grammar, or information, etc. The writing on the original perfume packaging should use the correct grammar. Meanwhile, spelling and grammatical errors here could indicate fake perfume.
- The original perfume packaging is made of high quality cardboard. Perfume boxes made of thin, fragile paper are often fakes.
- Look for the barcode on the perfume packaging. This barcode should be located at the very bottom of the back of the perfume package, and not on the side.
- Check for any residual glue or tape. On the original perfume packaging there should be no drops of glue or tape residue either on the inside or outside.
Step 3. Check the control number, batch, and serial number
Real perfumes always have this whole number on the packaging. These numbers can be used separately to ensure the authenticity of the perfume. Contact the perfume manufacturer to see if the number listed matches the number of their product.
Step 4. Feel the bottle
Real perfumes have delicate bottles, while imitation perfume bottles often feel a little rough and not well manufactured (sometimes even made of plastic). Quality perfume bottles have a tight and spill-proof cap. Be aware that well-known perfume brands also consider the packaging to be part of the user experience so the bottle should be of high quality too.
Part 3 of 3: Recognizing the Difference in Smell
Step 1. Understand the complexities of real perfume
The original perfume has a complex aroma and is composed in detail. Although scent is difficult to use as a measure of the authenticity of a perfume, those who know the scent of a perfume can often identify a fake perfume.
Step 2. Know the layers
The original perfume has three layers of aroma that will appear over time. These aroma layers are referred to as the top, middle, and base notes. This complexity ensures that every perfume scent is distinct and multidimensional. Meanwhile, fake perfume will only have one dimension of aroma layer so it often feels strange after being used for a while.
Step 3. Identify the content of natural and synthetic ingredients
Original perfumes are well crafted to produce different notes. For this reason, original perfumes have a combination of aromas derived from natural and synthetic ingredients. On the other hand, cheap perfumes tend to be made of 100% synthetic materials so they don't have the complexity of layers like real perfumes that contain natural ingredients.
Step 4. Pay attention to the aroma resistance
Imitation perfumes may initially smell like real perfumes, but you will usually find that the original perfume lasts longer and is more effective. Therefore, genuine perfumes are more beneficial in the long run. Once the bottle is opened, the original perfume can maintain its aroma between 6-18 months. Citrus based fragrances generally wear off after 6 months, and flower based fragrances can last up to 18 months. Meanwhile, once the bottle of cheap perfume is opened, the aroma will disappear within a few weeks or a few months.
Step 5. Know the type of original perfume scent
When researching the perfume you want to buy, it's a good idea to find out if the scent consists of just one note or is complex. Perfume that has one note only has a top note so it does not have a middle or base note. However, this does not mean the perfume is fake. So, when checking the authenticity of a perfume that only has one note, pay attention to whether it smells strange, and whether it matches the description on the manufacturer's website.
Step 6. Try it
You should only try perfume after checking the packaging and analyzing the scent first. Be aware that counterfeit perfumes can cause allergic reactions or cause skin rashes. After examining all aspects of the perfume, try it on your skin and notice the scent throughout the day. If you try a complex original perfume, you should be able to observe the top notes changing to middle and base notes throughout the day. On the other hand, fake perfumes can often only maintain their top notes for a maximum of a few hours.
Tips
- For most people, real perfume can reduce the chance of an allergic reaction, unless you are allergic to pollen-based perfumes. Counterfeit perfumes can contain a variety of untested or verified chemicals that can trigger an allergic reaction on your skin or respiratory tract.
- Check the clarity of the perfume. The original perfume is always clear without any deposits or strange discoloration.
- If your friends or family have bought perfume from a well-known brand, try comparing the smell of cheap perfume with the original. You should be able to recognize a clear difference between the two. This is often enough to help you stay away from cheap perfume! (Or, visit a local convenience store and try one of the perfume testers on display).
Warning
- Genuine perfumes are rarely sold at street vendors at cheap prices. If you buy perfume there, your perfume is most likely not authentic.
- Don't trust reseller sellers on the internet. Sellers like this often just cheat by taking advantage of the fame of the perfume brand, even though they don't know the smell at all.
