How to recognize a real perfume of a fake?

Recognizing a true scent of a fake can be tricky, but some points can be checked.

Packaging

• Plastic film: the plastic that envelops a real perfume is carefully folded, with perfect welds. Counterfeits often have poorly fitted packaging or coarse welds.
• Box: check the quality of the carton and the inscriptions. Real boxes use thick cardboard and impeccable prints. Misspellings or distorted logos are signs of counterfeiting.

The bottle

• Materials: Authentic bottles are made with care, with smooth glass and precise details. A poor quality bottle, with bubbles in the glass or misaligned inscriptions, is suspect.
• Cap: it must fit perfectly. A loose or poorly fitting cap may indicate a false one.

Label and inscriptions

• Codes: check the lot number on the bottle and box: they must match. Counterfeits do not always take the trouble to synchronize these details.
• Trademarks: Look out for « Made in » and legal symbols, which must be consistent with the trademark.

The fragrance

• Longevity: real fragrances last longer on the skin. The fakes fade quickly or give off an unpleasant smell after a while.
• Complexity: an authentic fragrance has well-balanced notes and evolves in several stages (head, heart, background). A monotonous or artificial odor is suspect.

The price

If the price seems too good to be true, beware. Real brand perfumes do not suffer big discounts, except in certain contexts (sales, official destocking).

The origin of the purchase

Buy in official shops, recognized perfumeries or on the brand's website. Avoid dubious sellers in unreliable markets or sites.

Examples of false perfumes seized by customs

Is a dupe a counterfeit?

What is a dupe?

A **dupe** is a product that is inspired in a relatively assumed way by original products, without always clearly or explicitly repeating the exact and protected characteristics of the initial product. 

For a perfume, it is a product which resembles another in terms of smell, appearance or composition, but which is marketed for example under a different brand, with a different bottle shape, a different capacity, or even a different color, and, most of the time, at a lower price. 

Certain links may be explicitly made between the dupe of the X mark and the product of the Y mark, by the seller or in advertising procedures.

Counterfeiting infringes on intellectual property rights holders and may entail risks for consumers in the absence of any guarantee as to the quality of the products and their compliance with essential health and safety requirements.

Example: a false perfume sold with a bottle and packaging imitating the original, but manufactured in an unauthorized manner.

What are the dangers of counterfeit perfumes? 

False or counterfeit perfumes present significant health and safety hazards. Here are the main risks associated with their use. 

Toxic substances

Counterfeits are often manufactured without sanitary control and may contain:

• Harmful chemicals such as methanol, acetone or industrial solvents.
• Undeclared allergens that may cause skin irritation, redness or severe allergic reactions.

Irritations and infections

• Counterfeit fragrances can cause burns, rashes, and even blisters due to aggressive ingredients.
• They can cause infections if used on wounds or sensitive areas.

Respiratory problems

Volatile compounds in these products can irritate the airways, causing breathing difficulties or asthma attacks.

Lack of traceability

The ingredients used are not documented or tested, which prevents the origin of problems from being identified in the event of a reaction.

Lack of safety standards

Unlike genuine perfumes, which are subject to strict regulations, counterfeits are produced in unsanitary conditions and without any supervision.

What if I am a victim of a scam or counterfeit? 

Protect yourself

Do not use a counterfeit, even if you paid in good faith, this product can be dangerous for your safety and that of your loved ones.

Don't break the law 

Counterfeits are by nature prohibited goods. Possession of counterfeit goods is prohibited and is punishable by a fine or even imprisonment if you have a large quantity of them.

Try to get a repair 

Return the product and request a refund from the seller or online sales platform expressing your doubts about the authenticity of the product. For online purchases, do not hesitate to alert the customer service of the online sales platform and that of the rights holder concerned.

Alert other consumers 

Take the time to publish a notice about the seller or the site so that your misadventure does not happen again.

Report counterfeiting 

You can report on the platform for reporting illegal content on the Internet: PHAROS

Get help

In case of need, you can contact the telephone platform Info Scams, composed of police and gendarmes, reachable at 0 805 805 817 from Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 18:30 (service and free calls).

Advice from French customs to protect against counterfeits sold online

Discover our infographic containing the different steps to facilitate your online purchases, avoid buying a potential counterfeit and obtain compensation in case of purchase of counterfeit product: