How to distinguish a fake perfume from the original

We buy perfume in the hope of finding a high-quality, subtle fragrance that plays with different tones. And the perfumes of the famous perfume house are like Prada shoes: they are recognizable and add chic. And what a disappointment it can be if the fleur disappears literally in a matter of minutes, it does not open as promised in the advertisement, and there is also an “alcohol” scent … Is it really a fake?

” Healthy Food Near Me” together with our expert will tell you how to surely distinguish a fake perfume from the original, what to look for and what to cover in a dispute with the seller. Turn on your inner Sherlock!

What to look for when buying

Packaging

Already at the first glance at the box of perfume, you can suspect something was wrong. Some, very cheap, fakes are very different from the original – and the difference can be seen with the naked eye. And fakes of a higher standard can easily be mistaken for an original by a person who is not knowledgeable. But if you know where to look, you can draw interesting conclusions.

1. Barcode

A lot of useful information is “hidden” in the barcode. There are different standards, but the most popular is EAN-13, which consists of 13 digits. The first 2-3 digits indicate the country where the perfume is produced. A country can be assigned one or more codes: for example, Our Country is represented by numbers in the range 460-469, France by 30-37, and China by 690-693.

A series (4-5) of the following barcode digits identifies the perfume manufacturer. Another 5 numbers “tell” about the product itself – the name of the perfume, the main characteristics are encrypted here. And the last – control – digit. Using it, you can check the entire set of symbols, making sure that the barcode is not fake:

• Add up the numbers in the barcode in even places and multiply the resulting amount by 3;
• Add up the numbers in odd places (except for the last digit);
• Add the results from the first two points, and leave only the last digit of the amount received (for example, it turned out 86 – leave 6);
• The resulting digit must be subtracted from 10 – the check digit from the barcode should be obtained. If the values ​​do not match, the barcode is “left”. Well, or you made a mistake somewhere, try to recalculate.

There are various sites on the network where you can check information from a barcode – but they usually do not give guarantees. However, the barcode on the perfume can be indicated without numbers, or not at all.

2. Marking “Honest sign”

From October 1, 2020, perfumes, eau de toilette and colognes are subject to mandatory labeling in Our Country. This greatly simplifies the task, frankly.

Where to look: the box should have a special digital code (Data Matrix, similar to the QR code we are used to). You just need to scan it and get all the “underground”.

But: depending on what you buy. Testers and probes, cream or solid perfumes, exhibition samples, fragrances up to 3 ml are not subject to labeling.

But then again, if there is no code on the box, it is not necessary that you have a fake in front of you. Perfumes that were imported into the Federation before October 1, 2020 are allowed to be sold unmarked until October 1, 2022. And then distributors and sellers are required to mark all the leftovers.

3. Cellophane

We choose clothes. The packaging with the original perfume is smoothly wrapped with cellophane: without wrinkles and air bubbles, and the seams are even and thin (not wider than 5 mm), without traces of glue. The film itself should be thin, but strong.

Counterfeiters don’t try too hard in this regard: the transparent wrapper on boxes with fake perfumes is often rough and easily torn, and also “sits” much worse.

4. Cardboard inside

Perfume houses on cardboard structures that fit inside the package do not save. If you open the box with the original perfume, we will see a smooth snow-white cardboard, designed in such an “origami” so that the fragrance bottle does not hang around inside the package.

Pseudo-perfumers do not save their cheap goods: they put in a modest cardboard coaster – and hello. Shake the sealed box – do you hear? If the bottle does not sit tight, dangles inside the package, most likely, you have a fake in front of you. And the color of the cardboard of the underground usually leaves much to be desired.

5. Label

When buying perfume, it is important to pay attention not only to the barcode, but also to the label – all the more, it is easier here. The original will indicate the name of the perfume, the legal addresses of the manufacturer and importer, basic information on the product: volume, composition, expiration date and storage conditions, as well as some other details.

The label is neat, the inscriptions are clear, and the letters are even – this is how the original looks like.

Bottle

If there are difficulties with the analysis of the data on the packaging or it has been missing for a long time (suddenly you decided to check your old perfume), then you can verify the originality of the perfume by the bottle.

1. Check content

In the store, feel free to check the contents of the package. True, this can only be done by paying for the goods. Remove the film, open the box, inspect the bottle and check the spray. The first two “zilch” should be empty, without content.

2. Appearance of the bottle

In terms of shape, color, images, the original perfume must be “like from an advertisement.” There should not be extra letters in the name, of course. The bottle itself is made neatly, the seams are not conspicuous, the thickness of the glass is uniform. All images, brand symbols – should be symmetrical (unless the design suggests otherwise). Pay attention to the lid – as a rule, it is weighty and pleasant to the touch.

Take a closer look at the spray gun: it should be without traces of glue, sit evenly on the bottle, not scroll and be easy to press. Its tube should be thin and transparent, not too long. A rough tube also gives out a fake.

By the way, the “zilch” from a solid spray gun should be barely weighty, not “raw”, droplets.

3. Serial number

At the bottom of a bottle with real perfume or eau de parfum (depending on what you buy) there should be a thin transparent sticker that indicates the batch serial number and some other information. Sometimes instead of a sticker, this data is printed on the glass itself.

The batch number usually consists of several digits, sometimes letters may be included. This code must match the numbers (and letters) on the perfume box. If not, then you have a fake.

Concentration and aroma

1. Colour

Well-known brands are sick of using a large number of dyes. But the underground workers are not shy about “adding color”, apparently hoping to make their product more attractive.

Therefore, if there is a bright pink or saturated green liquid in the bottle, they are trying to circle you around your finger. There are exceptions: some original perfumes can even be dark yellow. But these are definitely not defiantly bright colors.

2. Aroma

In the store, be sure to ask to listen to the perfume. The seller is obliged to provide the buyer with the opportunity to get acquainted with the smell of perfume.

The aroma of a good fake can be very similar to the original. But this is only for the first try.

Undergrounders do not spend money on expensive raw materials, and therefore their “left” spirits cannot be revealed through the top, middle and base notes. They usually smell the same for different periods of time – and not for long.

The aroma of the original opens gradually, like a flower bud: for the first few minutes we hear the top notes, then the heart notes come to the fore, which are replaced by a trail.

Pay attention to the persistence of the smell. First, it all depends on what you are purchasing. Eau de toilette “smells” up to 4 hours, and perfume – 5-8 hours. But the fake will evaporate from the skin much faster.

3. Consistency

When choosing perfume or toilet water, you need to look not only at the color of the liquid, but also at its consistency. Did you notice a sediment or some kind of suspension at the bottom of the bottle? “Smells” fake.

You can also shake the bottle and look for air bubbles. If they are beautiful, and most importantly, slowly “melt” – this is a sign of the original. For most fakes, bubbles disappear instantly.

Price

Focusing solely on the cost of perfume is not always justified. Of course, if you are offered “Armani” for 999 rubles, then you should not even think about it – a fake in its purest form.

But scammers from the world of perfumery are not so stupid: they usually sell perfume either “on sale” at a fabulous discount, or, impudently, at a market price. However, the latter is of course less common. Therefore, when buying perfumes, it is useful to know how much this or that fragrance actually costs. And then – if the price does not cause mistrust – look at other signs.

Certificate of conformity

If there are any doubts about the quality of the products, the buyer has the right to request from the seller the shipping documentation. Namely, a certificate or declaration of compliance with the requirements of the legislation on technical regulation. You need to check the validity period of the certificate. If there is no document, or there is no information about the manufacturer and importer on the packaging, the authenticity and safety of the perfume is not guaranteed.

Such meticulousness in checking a banal perfume bottle is important. By law, cosmetics and perfumes cannot be exchanged just like that. Only if the product “contains flaws or false information about it was provided during the purchase.” In disputes, refer to Article 18 of the Consumer Protection Law, according to which, if defects are found in the product, the buyer has the right to demand:

• replace the product with a similar one;
• replace the product with another (different brand) with an additional payment or compensation (depending on the price);
• discount;
• refund.

Popular questions and answers

Agree, it’s tempting to buy cool perfumes from a popular brand cheaper than from a colleague. Theoretically, this is possible: for example, the store arranged a pre-holiday sale. But there is a risk of being deceived by spending money on a “dummy”. Going for a new fragrance, read the tips from this article again. And the recommendations of our expert, aroma stylist Vladimir Kabanov.