| Perfume is one of those things that cannot be | | | | labels and boxes to be the real thing. |
| protected by a copyright. | | | | In other words, counterfeit perfume, like |
| That may not seem exactly worrisome to you, | | | | counterfeit money, tries to pass itself off as the |
| but considering fragrance is a $4 billion a year | | | | real thing! |
| industry, it gives a lot of business people insomnia. | | | | You're not going to find counterfeits at your local |
| The perfume industry is unlike many other | | | | drug store, but you can find some online and you |
| businesses, in that it relies on old-fashioned | | | | may find them among the offerings of |
| secrecy to protect its interests instead of a | | | | impromptu street vendors or disreputable shops |
| gaggle of corporate attorneys. | | | | in the big cities. |
| In actual fact, it is hard to copy a perfume for a | | | | You know when you're buying a knock-off (it will |
| couple of reasons. The main reason is that most | | | | say on the label, "Smells like Eternity" and the |
| of the really great perfumes on the market are | | | | bottle and packaging does not resemble the bottle |
| incredibly complicated. Chanel No. 5, for example, | | | | and packaging of genuine Eternity). If you see a |
| contains more than 100 different ingredients or | | | | display of knock-offs at the drug store, you'll see |
| chemical notes, which must come together in | | | | that the bottles of the scents resemble each |
| very specific proportions to yield the result. | | | | other but not the real article. That means the |
| Second, the talented individuals who create these | | | | actual bottle of imitation Eternity is going to look a |
| perfumes work behind the scenes, in spy-like | | | | lot like the bottle of imitation Romance. |
| secrecy. Many perfume companies simply do not | | | | Counterfeits try to deceive you. They imitate the |
| reveal the inventors (the "nose" as they're called | | | | packaging and labeling as well. (Some |
| in the business) of any given fragrance. | | | | counterfeiters are better at this than others, |
| Third, it's really hard to pick out all of the | | | | though. Sometimes you can see through the |
| ingredients--or even the main ingredients--in a | | | | phony packaging.) |
| given perfume. Is that orange or bergamot? | | | | The best way to sniff out a counterfeit: if you've |
| Tuberose or lily? Orchid or freesia? Most perfume | | | | got a good enough nose, try the sniff test. |
| mavens can identify those biggies, but even they | | | | Genuine perfume tends to have a smooth |
| get stumped by the complexities beneath the | | | | "put-together" smell, almost like an olfactory |
| strongest notes. | | | | texture. A counterfeit scent is usually |
| This brings us to the darker side of the perfume | | | | manufactured on the cheap and can have a |
| industry: there are imitations on the market. | | | | harsh, unharmonious scent or just smell "uneven." |
| And this, in turn, brings us to the complications of | | | | Look at the packaging (is it exactly like the |
| shopping for perfume. How do you know if you | | | | manufacturer's packaging? Check the |
| are buying the real thing or an imitation? | | | | manufacturer's website if you have to). |
| There are two types of perfume imitations, one | | | | And then look at the price. Most counterfeit |
| is legitimate (that is to say, not illegal) and the | | | | perfume is sold at a discount to try to entice |
| other is a fraud. | | | | buyers. If you shop for much perfume at |
| Let's start with the legal imitation. It happens to | | | | reputable department stores or the |
| be acceptable (at least according to prevailing | | | | manufacturers' sites, you know that perfume is |
| standards, if not everyone's individual ethics) for a | | | | expensive and never goes on sale. |
| company to try to imitate the fragrance of | | | | The online world of perfume warehouses or |
| another company. The company who copies the | | | | cosmetic stores does indeed contain so-called |
| perfume is even allowed to promote it in a bottle | | | | "discount" perfume. That discount may be a |
| or display that says the imitations "smells just | | | | reduced price on genuine stuff (rare, but it |
| like..." some other famous perfume. | | | | happens) or it may be a knock-off or counterfeit. |
| Drug stores are the main purveyors of these | | | | First, it is possible for an online business to sell |
| products, which appear around Mother's Day and | | | | discount perfume. Unlike a brick-and-mortar |
| Christmas for the unsuspecting to foist on their | | | | business, an online enterprise can be set up for |
| mothers and other loved ones. | | | | very little money at all. It may even be run out of |
| Such imitations are not unlawful. The main reason | | | | somebody's basement. With minimal expense, |
| to imitate a successful fragrance is that the | | | | minimal inventory (many discount sites offer only |
| imitator can offer a similar product at a much | | | | a smattering of choices), and a rather plain |
| lower price. Is it ever a good idea to purchase | | | | website, it is possible for a merchant to buy |
| one of these imitation products? | | | | perfume at wholesale, mark it up slightly, and |
| First of all, imitations have all of the appeal of | | | | undersell the traditional brick-and-mortar |
| rhinestones. If you're trying to give a gift to | | | | competition. |
| express your love and affection, an imitation | | | | So if you shop online for perfume and find a |
| cologne is not going to impress anyone with | | | | slightly-less-than-retail price, you may still be |
| anything, other than the fact that you are cheap. | | | | getting the real thing. |
| Knock-offs are also imperfect. Most perfume | | | | Good clues for discount online vendors: look for a |
| divas can quickly sniff them out. Even if you could | | | | physical address (and try to contact them), a |
| fool your mom's nose, these imitations rarely | | | | Better Business Bureau seal on the website, |
| offer the packaging of the real thing. Believe it or | | | | testimonials, and prices that are reasonable but |
| not, a jazzy perfume bottle and fancy box is part | | | | not so ridiculous you know that the goods have |
| of the appeal of a gift of fine fragrance. | | | | to be fake. You just cannot sell a bottle of Chanel |
| Last but not least, companies that specialize in | | | | No. 5 for $10 and not take a serious loss. |
| imitations typically go for the top sellers at the | | | | Look at the bottles and packaging to be sure it's |
| perfume counter. You're not likely to find a lot of | | | | legitimate. When in doubt, check out department |
| diversity in the knock-off world. In short, | | | | stores or well-known and highly reputable online |
| knock-offs are legal, but they likely aren't a good | | | | perfume sources like Sephora. |
| idea for a gift for your mother. | | | | Many perfumers run their own websites and sell |
| Counterfeits are much worse. Such products | | | | their own product directly; buying there virtually |
| break the law, but not because they're copying a | | | | assures you of top-quality original goods. |
| successful scent. They're illegal because they | | | | Remember, if you're buying perfume as a gift, |
| come in deceptive packaging and claim on their | | | | the quality of that gift is an important statement. |