A good fragrance can be expensive, and with more people shopping online for deals on their favourite scents, there’s always a small risk of buying a counterfeit if the retailer isn’t trustworthy. At Hogies, we guarantee that you’ll never be sold a fake fragrance, and you can read more about this authenticity promise on our dedicated page. We’ve been established since 2009, and our decades of experience means we have built strong relationships with our customers and trusted suppliers.
If you’ve purchased a fragrance from somewhere else that you’re unsure about, don’t worry, we’ve put together some helpful tips to help you figure out whether it’s genuine.
Common characteristics of fake designer perfumes
When it comes to spotting fakes, this will vary from perfume to perfume due to differences in bottling and packaging. There’ll also be subtle signs that the perfume house has included to verify its authenticity. However, there are some common themes amongst counterfeits that you can check.
The outer packaging
In many cases, the outer packaging will be your first clue, so it’s worth looking over before you remove the box. The steps below will help you to decide whether a fragrance is genuine. It’s also worth mentioning that authentic perfumes don’t always come boxed - at Hogies, we sell many genuine unboxed fragrances, and the absence of outer packaging is one of the ways we’re able to offer lower prices. Some of our fragrances will also have a blemished box, (though the product inside will be perfect) but we’ll always state this clearly before you buy.
Authentic perfumes usually come in high-quality packaging, often wrapped in smooth, tightly sealed cellophane. The wrapping shouldn’t look wrinkled, loose, or messy.
*Not all brands use cellophane, as many are reducing plastic for environmental reasons, so the absence of it doesn’t automatically mean a perfume is fake.
Next, take a look at the box itself. Genuine boxes are usually made from sturdy cardboard that feels solid and well-made. With higher-end designer perfumes, you might also notice embossed lettering or metallic details. It’s a good idea to compare the box with images on the brand’s official website and check for differences in colour, font style, spacing, or spelling mistakes.
You can also check for barcodes and batch numbers. Most fragrances will have a batch code printed on the box and also on the bottle itself - usually in the form of a sticker placed on the bottom. Make sure that both of these codes match up. If you really aren’t sure, you can also use an online tool where you can enter these barcode numbers and see if they register correctly.
The bottle
Any good perfume house will take pride in the bottles they use for their packaging, as they see it as part of the olfactory experience.
The first thing to check is the quality of the glass. Authentic bottles will be made from high quality, smooth glass, where the seams will hardly be visible. Any bevels or curves on the bottle design will be smooth and not rough to the touch.
Fake bottles often use lower-quality glass, which may show bubbles or obvious seams. That said, this isn’t always a definite sign of a fake, as some more affordable brands may use simpler materials and still be genuine.
You can also look at design consistency, though this won’t be the case for all bottles, as some perfumers choose minimalistic designs. Others, however, will use intricate designs and logos that are difficult to replicate immaculately. One example of this would be the Coach range of fragrances - you can see in the image below that a finely-detailed logo is included on the glass bottle.
Aside from the glass itself, you’ll also want to look at the spray nozzle (atomiser) and the cap. The spray should feel smooth and deliver an even mist without dripping. Higher-end brands often use high-quality atomisers that are harder to replicate. Fake versions may feel loose, flimsy, or stick when pressed.
The cap should fit securely and sit straight, without gaps or uneven angles. It should feel balanced and well-made.
The price
While the price of a perfume can sometimes indicate authenticity, it isn’t always a clear giveaway, especially for online retailers who purchase large quantities and may offer significant discounts or clearance pricing. That said, unusually low deals from unverified sources still warrant caution. Depending on where you’re buying from, you’ll need to do your due diligence on whether the pricing is indicative of a fake perfume or not.
High-quality ingredients and craftsmanship usually come at a higher cost, but at Hogies, we offer discounted authentic perfumes for several legitimate reasons. For example, our unboxed fragrances are the genuine product, they just come without the outer packaging. In other cases, the box may be blemished or damaged - but this is always stated on the listing, as seen in the example below.
Extremely low prices without an explanation (such as a blemished box or past expiry date) may be a strong sign that a product may not be genuine.
Fragrance colour
The colour of the liquid can also offer clues. Typically, perfume houses don’t use a lot of dye in their products (but this is not always the case, so is not a definitive factor), so an artificially bold chemical colour could raise questions.
If you have bought the fragrance before, try comparing the colour with your previous bottle. But keep in mind that the colour may vary depending on whether it’s an EDT, EDP, or parfum. be wary that this isn’t always the best indicator, as perfume can discolour over time, or may vary from batch to batch.
Testing the perfume
If you’ve checked the bottle and outer packaging and are still unsure, or if your bottle didn’t come with a box, you can test how it performs. Here’s what to look out for:
Longevity
If you’re buying Eau de Parfums, longevity is a useful testing method as EDPs will typically last over 6 hours. Luxury authentic perfumes last a long time because they use high-quality ingredients. The fake versions will often die down within just a couple of hours, so if your scent fades too quickly, it could be a counterfeit.
This is not a good method for Eau De Toilettes (EDT) because these fragrances are designed to be lighter, and typically last for around 3 or so hours. This means even an authentic EDT may not project as much and won’t be detectable after a few hours.
Perfume complexity and notes
Quality perfumes have a scent profile (or accord) that develops as you wear them. They’ll have top, middle, and base notes that gradually evolve through the day. If your perfume doesn’t have any complexity and smells harsh, too strongly of alcohol, or is sickly sweet, it could possibly be fake.
The other thing you need to consider is how the fragrance reduces - the base notes of the perfume should be noticeable even after wearing it for a long time. If the scent disappears completely, the perfume could be a counterfeit.
Ingredients
As mentioned, authentic perfumes typically use higher-quality ingredients and avoid excessive synthetic fillers. Some ingredients commonly found in counterfeit fragrances include:
- Phthalates
- Parabens
- Synthetic musks
- Formaldehyde-releasing agents
These can sometimes be harmful to the skin, or environment, causing irritations, rashes, redness, itching, skin dryness and contact dermatitis.
However, the use of these types of ingredients doesn’t definitely suggest a perfume is fake, as cheaper fragrance brands may still use them. It’s worthwhile, if you have it to hand, checking the ingredients list of the authentic perfume with the list given on the box of the one you’re identifying to check if they match.
Dupe fragrances
Authentic perfumes can be expensive, so some people choose to buy “dupe” fragrances instead. These aren’t counterfeits, they’re inspired by popular scents and sold at more affordable prices.
This is legal, and many dupe brands use safe, reputable ingredients. Dupe fragrances are usually labelled as “inspired by” (for example, “inspired by Gucci Flora”) and come in simple packaging rather than trying to copy the original bottle design.
Buy your perfume from trusted sources
The best way to avoid counterfeits is to research the seller before buying. If you buy from the brand itself, a department store or a Duty Free, then you’ll be safe. If you’re buying online, make sure you buy from a retailer with good reviews and an authenticity promise, such as Hogies. Be cautious of online marketplace sellers and social media advertisements that promote deals that seem suspiciously generous in their discounts.
Shop with confidence in authenticity at Hogies Online
If you’re in the market for an authentic perfume, we have a wide range of luxury fragrances available, including for him, for her, and unisex. Our collection features thousands of products from brands such as Creed, Gucci, Chanel, Acqua Di Parma, and many more.
If you choose to buy from us, you’ll never have to worry about receiving a fake and won’t have to go through the identification process, as all of our products are 100% genuine, no matter if they’re unboxed or not. This allows you to save hundreds of pounds and experience authentic craftsmanship from premium perfume houses at more affordable prices. Browse our full range of fragrances to find one that suits you.