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Buyers Guide to Spotting Counterfeit Discount Perfumes

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Written by Michael Rares

Friday, 02 May 2008

by MichaelRares

Sometimes you notice people selling on internet at substantially lower pricing than anyone else. It could be lower then what you could purchase from discount perfume distributors or even the fragrance manufacture. This Is especially a problem on eBay.

A perfume Industry Expert, Michael Rares went Shopping on eBay. With his 30 Years of experience in the discount perfume industry, spotted the fake item right away. A item from Chanel that is normally sells at very high price, was dirt cheap.

A Coco Mademoiselle 3.4oz bottle usually retails for $110.00 and sells for around $85.00. This one was priced on eBay for $39.95. Realistically, most discount perfumes can sell close to or at market price.This item was a immediate Red Flag, stay away. The only reason to sell this low is the product is either counterfeit or stolen.

The first clue in determining if a product is real is the pricing. In this case, the old adage applies; if it's too good to be true, it probably is. Rares took his research a step further by purchasing the Coco Mademoiselle. Having also purchased a certified bottle of the fine perfume, Rares was able to make a direct comparison of the two. At first glance it seemed legitimate. However, a closer examination of the packaging revealed that there were obvious differences between the two products.

Rares offers the following suggestions for what to look for in spotting a fake discount fragrance. If you are not able to purchase multiple items, you can compare the item in question against one from a department store. Start by examine the outside packaging. Check to see that the font type and size matches and that the lettering is in the same place. Check to see if the box is folded and glued in the same manner. Boxes for counterfeits often fall apart if handled too much.

Is there an inner lining inside the box and is the construction consistent with the perfume box you are comparing it with? Does the bottle fit into the lining correctly and then does it fit inside the box properly. Check out the UPC Bar code on the box. Is it located in the right place and does it look the same . Also check if the numbers and see if they all match up. The detail bordering needs to be the same. The real Coco perfume there is a gold trim around the outside of the box and the inside flaps are gold. See if they match and are the same color.

The bottle construction is very difficult to copy. Are the angles of the glass smooth and even? Quality bottles are seamless. There should not be lines in the middle of the bottle. Look at the details, angles and coloring of the cap and its construction. Does it fit properly on the bottle? Does it slide on and off easily. Examine the sprayer detail outside and inside the bottle. In the fake Coco the gold sprayer and the stem inside the bottle were completely different from the real one.

Finally, see if the coloring of the actual perfume and the smell are consistent with the department store product. Make sure to allow your nose to adjust to the first aroma, then cleanse by smelling an outside fragrance such as coffee before proceeding with the second.

Sites that allow anyone to sell fake or counterfeit will always pose these risks to the consumer. If you are unable to obtain any information on a product to see if it real , judge it by the price. Look for legitimate websites to buy from. And remember, if it seems too good to be true, that's because it is.

About the Author:

Want a safe website to find the finer things in life without paying a fortune? 30 years in Perfume industry, Michael Rares offers a large selection of discount brand name fragrance Designer discount perfume from people you can trust.Bigdiscount.