How To Spot Counterfeit Brand Name Discount Fragrances

When checking out my competition on the internet you will come across some vendors selling items at substantially lower prices then retailers could buy them at. One place to investigate and I check out fake discount fragrances is on eBay.

Many manufactures restrict there distribution of their product thus it sells for a high price in the market. Michael Rares, a discount perfume industry expert with over 30 years of experience, came across an item by Chanel that caught his eye on eBay.


The item Rares noticed was Coco Mademoiselle Eau de Parfum Spray. A 3.4oz bottle usually retails for $110.00. This one was priced on eBay for $39.95. The same item, when it is available, sells in the discount fragrance market for around $85.00. As a consumer, this low of a price should immediately put up a red flag, as it did for Rares, that the product is either counterfeit or stolen. The reason being is that there is no need to cut the price of discount perfumes to this extreme of a low. Realistically, most discount perfumes can sell close to or at market price.

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.

Here are some things to look for that will let you spot counterfeit discount perfume. You can do this by comparing the item in question against one from a department store. Check to see that the font type and size matches and that the lettering is in the same place. See if the box is folded and glued in the same manner. Boxes for counterfeits often fall apart or not put together evenly. Check to see that the font type and size matches and that the lettering is in the same place.

Check out the UPC Bar code on the box. Is it located in the same place. You can also check the numbers and font and see if they all match up. Check all of the trade marks, are they in the correct places? Do they look the same. Is there an inner lining inside the box and does it fit in the box correctly. Is the construction consistent with the perfume box you are comparing it with.Check out the detail bordering. In the Coco Perfume case there is a gold trim around the outside of the box and the inside flaps are gold.

For the actual bottle, look at the details, angles and coloring of the cap and its construction. Does the cap fit snugly on the bottle? If it slides off too easily, it may be time to worry. Exact bottle construction is very difficult to copy, caps are not. Thus, the fit will always be an issue with counterfeits. Check the angles of the glass for seams or rough edges. Quality bottles are seamless. Examine the spraying mechanism of the bottle, outside and in. In the case of the Chanel bottle, Rares noticed that the gold sprayer and the stem inside were completely different with the counterfeit version.

And one of the most important things to check out. Does it smell the same. See if the coloring of the juice and the smell are consistent with the department store product. The smell test is always the first test for consumers, but it can be hard to tell the difference unless you wear it for a period of time.

Consumers should look for reputable websites that have good ratings and guarantee their products. Price comparison using legitimate websites when purchasing any product is a good rule of thumb. If the product price is not relatively within the market price, stay away from it.

By: Michael Rares

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

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