It's common to walk into a random fragrance shop and fall in love with a certain perfume and buy it. Also, you may be in search of a particular designer perfume you are looking for and search for the best prices in local perfume shops or online, but are worried about getting the best quality. Nowadays it's very easy to get fooled by the many imposters and pay for a fake perfume. It's important to learn to spot the difference.
In most fragrance shops it's common to find the testers displayed for review, however, you cannot reach the boxes that you will eventually purchase if you should decide to do so. See if it's possible for the clerk at the fragrance store to give you one of the boxes from the ones that they are selling, not the tester to review. There are legitimate manufacturers that make like perfumes as the original and have the rights to imitate their boxes, bottles, and scents. However they have to state on the box itself either designer imposter, or inspired by. It's a great tool to check the honesty and knowledge of a fragrance store if they sell such perfumes after you've discovered such a statement. If the clerk denies it, then you may want to move on to the next perfume shop.
Another important part to checking if the perfume shop sells original designer perfumes is by making sure that the box is the same as other originals. If you are a diehard fan or a particular perfume and are looking for it in fragrance shops and want to find the best price, it's a great way to find out if it's an original or rip-off. You may want to maybe take your old box, of course if you know for a fact that it was the original, and compare it with the perfume at the fragrance store. If you find any differences, and they claim that it's an original, do not buy from this perfume shop.
If possible ask the clerk at the fragrance shop to take the bottle out of the box. Keep in mind that it's possible that the tester bottle and box may be original and what they sell you is different, so if possible check to see if the fragrance shop has a policy that you can check the box and perfume of the fragrance you want to buy. If the fragrance shop doesn't allow you to open the box ask what their return policy is and open it after you've purchased it in front of them to review. If it turns out to be a fake, call them on it and ask for your money back and never return to this perfume store. When checking the perfume review the box and bottle for the spelling of the name, design of emblem, as well as the designer name.
Many fragrance shops and impostors of designer perfumes may look original down to the smallest detail, but the consistency of the perfume is different. The color is of great importance and if you are looking for one color, and the perfume at the fragrance shop is different then leave and don't look back. A common practice at a dishonest fragranceshop is using diluted perfume. The perfume is original, so is the bottle and everything that goes with it, however the perfume itself is lighter in color. If a perfume is diluted this could be dangerous as there are chemicals used that may harm you.
Bottling of a perfume is very important. This is why you ask the clerk at the fragrance shop to open up the box so you can examine the bottle and of course the consistency. Check the liquid weight of the perfume and if it matches the one of your own original. Another important thing to check is the atomizer of the perfume. Is it the same color, size, and shape as the original? Also, review the different stamps that are typically on the original of the bottle you have had in the past, and if they match.
Online fragrance shops often offer the best prices for perfumes. However, they are almost impossible to check as you cannot see the perfume and box. Ask for them to send you pictures, not only of the box, but of the perfume bottle and its stickers, and if they refuse move onto the next seller. The best way to check the validity of a fragranceshop is by checking their history as a seller. For websites such as amazon.com or ebay.com it's easy to see the reviews, history, and how consistent they are, it's far more difficult for an online store outside of these websites. Many people however, especially if dissatisfied with a product blog about it, or post on various websites that you can rant about a company or product. Another good thing to look for is a good return policy in case you are not satisfied with the product. Just don't buy something that is way below the regular price, as it's almost 100% fake.
Avoid going to a hidden away little perfume shop to find high quality perfumes. Anything that looks shady probably is. Best bet is department stores, as they offer somewhat outdated original perfumes at great prices. Also, you may want to follow sales or possible coupons at a trusted fragrance shop. Buying a fake perfume is always a risk due to health hazards, however, they also lose their smell over time and may even smell bad after a while.
In most fragrance shops it's common to find the testers displayed for review, however, you cannot reach the boxes that you will eventually purchase if you should decide to do so. See if it's possible for the clerk at the fragrance store to give you one of the boxes from the ones that they are selling, not the tester to review. There are legitimate manufacturers that make like perfumes as the original and have the rights to imitate their boxes, bottles, and scents. However they have to state on the box itself either designer imposter, or inspired by. It's a great tool to check the honesty and knowledge of a fragrance store if they sell such perfumes after you've discovered such a statement. If the clerk denies it, then you may want to move on to the next perfume shop.
Another important part to checking if the perfume shop sells original designer perfumes is by making sure that the box is the same as other originals. If you are a diehard fan or a particular perfume and are looking for it in fragrance shops and want to find the best price, it's a great way to find out if it's an original or rip-off. You may want to maybe take your old box, of course if you know for a fact that it was the original, and compare it with the perfume at the fragrance store. If you find any differences, and they claim that it's an original, do not buy from this perfume shop.
If possible ask the clerk at the fragrance shop to take the bottle out of the box. Keep in mind that it's possible that the tester bottle and box may be original and what they sell you is different, so if possible check to see if the fragrance shop has a policy that you can check the box and perfume of the fragrance you want to buy. If the fragrance shop doesn't allow you to open the box ask what their return policy is and open it after you've purchased it in front of them to review. If it turns out to be a fake, call them on it and ask for your money back and never return to this perfume store. When checking the perfume review the box and bottle for the spelling of the name, design of emblem, as well as the designer name.
Many fragrance shops and impostors of designer perfumes may look original down to the smallest detail, but the consistency of the perfume is different. The color is of great importance and if you are looking for one color, and the perfume at the fragrance shop is different then leave and don't look back. A common practice at a dishonest fragranceshop is using diluted perfume. The perfume is original, so is the bottle and everything that goes with it, however the perfume itself is lighter in color. If a perfume is diluted this could be dangerous as there are chemicals used that may harm you.
Bottling of a perfume is very important. This is why you ask the clerk at the fragrance shop to open up the box so you can examine the bottle and of course the consistency. Check the liquid weight of the perfume and if it matches the one of your own original. Another important thing to check is the atomizer of the perfume. Is it the same color, size, and shape as the original? Also, review the different stamps that are typically on the original of the bottle you have had in the past, and if they match.
Online fragrance shops often offer the best prices for perfumes. However, they are almost impossible to check as you cannot see the perfume and box. Ask for them to send you pictures, not only of the box, but of the perfume bottle and its stickers, and if they refuse move onto the next seller. The best way to check the validity of a fragranceshop is by checking their history as a seller. For websites such as amazon.com or ebay.com it's easy to see the reviews, history, and how consistent they are, it's far more difficult for an online store outside of these websites. Many people however, especially if dissatisfied with a product blog about it, or post on various websites that you can rant about a company or product. Another good thing to look for is a good return policy in case you are not satisfied with the product. Just don't buy something that is way below the regular price, as it's almost 100% fake.
Avoid going to a hidden away little perfume shop to find high quality perfumes. Anything that looks shady probably is. Best bet is department stores, as they offer somewhat outdated original perfumes at great prices. Also, you may want to follow sales or possible coupons at a trusted fragrance shop. Buying a fake perfume is always a risk due to health hazards, however, they also lose their smell over time and may even smell bad after a while.
About the Author:
John Darly is the founder of Etepia Inc, an online fragrance store featuring an exceptional selection of rare fragrances, cosmetics, skincare, hair care, candles and aromatherapy products. Etepia.com offers more than 2,000 unique brands and more that 6,000 perfume for women and fragrances, all at a discount price.
