After a hard search for services to check batch code I have compiled a list of perfumes online, which I will share in this article. When we buy a product for consumption, we often check the expiration date of the product. As a rule, it is indicated on the bottom of the package or on the side. If we talk about perfume products, then things are different. Most manufacturers (especially foreign ones) do not mark the date of manufacture and expiration date on their products. Instead, they use what is called an online batch code. Let's figure out what it is.
Translated from English, Batch Code means “Batch Code”, that is, as the name implies, this is the so-called product batch code. By the way, this information is not intended for the consumer - this code was created primarily for sellers and manufacturers, so as not to check products for defects individually, but to immediately dispose of the entire damaged batch, united by a common batch number. It is for this reason that the batch code does not have any standards in terms of content and its application. Now let's talk more about him.
Here is an example of batch code, here it is highlighted with a red ellipse.The structure of the batch code and how to decipher it
It should be noted that, despite the absence of a unified system for applying the batch code (after all, as stated above, this information is intended for the manufacturer and applies to a batch of products, and not to the entire line), it has two uniform rules for application:
- The characters contained in this code should not be less than two or more than ten;
- The name of the batch code should only contain Latin letters and/or Arabic numbers, case does not matter.
Therefore, if you come across a perfume product whose batch number deviates from these rules, you should be wary - perhaps this product is a fake. Next I will talk about the best tools to check the perfume batch code.
If we talk about the information that the consumer will receive when decoding the batch code, it looks like this:
- The date of manufacture of the product up to the day of its manufacture;
- Shelf life of perfume.
Ways to decrypt Batch Code
So, there are the following ways to decrypt the batch code:
By calling an Avon representative at the number provided and dictating the batch code, I was able to find out the production date and expiration date of the product. Therefore, do not neglect this method, it can help in some cases.
Tools to check perfume code online
This method is the most effective among those discussed in the article and is based on the use of specialized resources designed to decipher the batch code online.
There is a point mentioned at the beginning of the article - this code is not intended for the consumer, but for the manufacturer. Therefore, the data on such resources is collected by enthusiasts who, for a long time, one might say, bit by bit, accumulate this information. So you shouldn’t be upset if a batch code search using such services does not bear fruit - most likely, the developers have not yet acquired information about your batch number. However, most batch codes are still contained in the database of such resources. Among these sites, the following should be highlighted:
Checkcosmetic.net is the most popular site for deciphering batch code. All others are derived from this resource. The only drawback that can be highlighted is that the resource interface is in English. However, it is not difficult to understand it. To check the production date and expiration date using the batch code, you need to:
- Go to this resource using the link - http://checkcosmetic.net/;
- On the left you can see the “Cosmetic Calculator” search form - select the desired one from the listed brands (Select brand) or use the Quick brand search form;
- In the “Enter Code” line, enter the batch code and click on the “Calculate” tab - you’re done;
- Below, under the search form, the date of manufacture of the product, its expiration date and the time elapsed from the moment of manufacture appears.
Follow the given steps to decrypt batch code makeup-review.com.ua is a Russian-language analogue of the resource described above. Unlike the original service, this resource does not have a quick brand search form. So you will have to select it from the drop-down list. Fortunately, the names are listed in alphabetical order, so I don’t think there will be any special problems finding the brand.
Checkfresh.com is the last site that I would like to consider in the article. Unlike its analogues, in addition to providing a decoding of the batch code, the resource has a description of how to find it on the packaging. In addition, checkfresh monitors the latest requests for checking batch code. Unfortunately, the site has a drawback - as a result of decoding, information is provided only on the production date of the product, so you will have to calculate its expiration date yourself. To use the service you must:
Conclusion
Although the batch code shows us information about the production date of the product and its expiration date, even it cannot be 100% trusted. Unfortunately, unscrupulous manufacturers often supply perfume with fake batch numbers. However, in most cases this code can indeed show all the information described above. Thank you for reading, I hope the methods for decrypting batch code given in the article will help solve your problem.
Determine production date
Select a brand and enter the code, then click “Detect”:Why is this necessary?
As you know, using expired cosmetics can lead to quite sad consequences: skin irritation, dermatitis, allergic reactions of varying degrees, infection.
How to avoid this? It would seem that everything is simple - just look at the production date or expiration date of the cosmetic product on the packaging. Unfortunately, many cosmetics manufacturers do not indicate the production date in clear form - instead, a code is applied that is convenient for the manufacturer, but does not provide any information to the average person.
This service will help determine the production date of cosmetics by batch number and find out their expiration date. This can be useful not only for checking the contents of your own cosmetic bag; Our stores often sin by selling expired (or almost expired) cosmetics under the guise of various sales and discounts.
Very often, similar markings are used to indicate the production date of perfumes, so with the help of this service you can try to determine the production date of perfumes, eau de toilette and eau de parfum. Important: the expiration date is indicated for cosmetic products; perfumes, eau de toilette and eau de parfum may have a different shelf life.
Important. In some cases, the production date may be determined incorrectly.
The algorithms used to calculate production dates are based partly on publicly available information and partly on information provided privately by distributors and consultants. We cannot and do not guarantee the correctness, completeness and relevance of the information and algorithms based on it.
For an accurate and comprehensive answer, you need to contact an official representative of the company.
How to find the code?
Usually the code is located at the bottom of the container: bottle, tube, etc.
In addition, the code may be printed on the bottom of the package. A few examples below.
Bourjois: 
For which brands can the date and expiration date be determined by code/batch number?
The following brands are currently supported: Adidas, Aesop, Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, Ahava, Alessandro Dell'Acqua, Amway, Angel Schlesser, Anna Lotan, Anna Sui, Annick Goutal, Antonio Banderas Fragrances, Aquolina, Argital, Armand Basi, Arnaud , Artdeco, Artistry, Aura Cacia, Aussie, Avalon Organics, Aveda, Aveeno, Avon, Axe, Azzaro, Badgley Mischka, Balenciaga, Balmain, Bare Escentuals, Beautycycle, Benefit Cosmetics, BeYu, Bioderma, Biotherm, Blumarine, Bobbi Brown, Borghese , Bottega Veneta, Boucheron, Bourjois, Brelil, Britney Spears, Bruno Banani, Bubchen, Burberry, Burt's bees, Bvlgari, CAC, Cacharel, Calvin Klein, Camay, Carita, Carmex, Carolina Herrera, Cartier, Cerruti, Cetaphil, Chanel , Charmzone, CHI, Chicco, Chloe, Chopard, Christian Dior, Christina, Christina Aguilera, Clairol Professional, Clarins, Clean & Clear, Clinique, Collistar, Comme des Garcons, Coppertone, Covergirl, Crabtree & Evelyn, Creed, Custo Barcelona, Darphin , David Beckham, Davidoff, DDF, Decleor, DHC, Diesel, Dolce & Gabbana, Donna Karan, Dove, Dr.Ci:Labo, Dr.Hauschka, Dr.Jart+, DSQUARED2, Dunhill, e.l.f. (Eyes Lips Face), Elizabeth Arden, Emilio Pucci, Escada, Essence, Estee Lauder, Everyday Minerals, Fekkai, Fendi, Ferragamo, Fissan, Fresh, GA-DE Cosmetics, Gai Mattiolo, Gap, Garnier, Gehwol, Geoffrey Beene, Gianfranco Ferre, Giorgio Armani, Giorgio Beverly Hills, Giovanni Cosmetics, Givenchy, Gloria Vanderbilt, Goldwell, Green People, Gucci, Guerlain, Guess, Guinot, Guy Laroche, H2O+, Halle Berry, Head & Shoulders, Helena Rubinstein, Herbacin, Herbal Essences, Hermes, Hipitch, Hugo Boss, Inglot, Isabella Rossellini, IsaDora, Issey Miyake, It Cosmetics, Jane Iredale, Janssen Cosmeceutical, Jason, Jean Paul Gaultier, Jessica Simpson, Jill Stuart, Jil Sander, Jimmy Choo, Joe Blasco, John Masters Organics , Jo Malone, Joop!, Juicy Couture, JUJU, Kaaral, Karl Lagerfeld, Kenzo, Kenzoki, Kerastase, Kiehl's, Korff, Korres, Kose, L"Artisan Parfumeur, L"Occitane, L"Oreal, Lab Series, La Colline, Lacoste, Lagerfeld, Lalique, La Mer, Lancaster, Lancome, Lanvin, La Prairie, La Roche-Posay, Laura Mercier, Lee Stafford, Lierac, Lime Crime, Lirene, Lolita Lempicka, Lux, MAC, Macadamia, Make Up Factory , Make Up For Ever, Mandarina Duck, Marc Jacobs, Mary Cohr, Mary Kay, Masaki Matsushima, Matis, Matrix, Mavala, Max Factor, Maybelline, MD Formulations, Mentholatum, Michael Kors, Missha, Mizon, Molton Brown, Mont Blanc, Moschino, NailTek, Naomi Campbell, Narciso Rodriguez, NARS, Natura Bisse, Natural Instincts, Neutrogena, Nice "n Easy, Nina Ricci, Nioxin, Nivea, Nu Skin, Nutrilite, Nuxe, NYX, Olay, OPI, Oriflame, Origins, Orlane , Orofluido, Paco Rabanne, Palmer's, Paloma Picasso, Pantene, Paris Hilton, Paul Mitchell, Paul Smith, Payot, Pert, Phyto, Pierre Cardin, Pond's, Prada, Puma, Pupa, Queen Helene, Radox, Ralph Lauren , Redken, Refectocil, Rejoice, RevitaLash, Revlon, Rexona, Rimmel, Roberto Cavalli, Roberto Verino, RoC, Rochas, Rossmann, S. T. Dupont, Safeguard, Salerm, Sanoflore, Sans Soucis, Sarah Jessica Parker, Schwarzkopf, Sebastian Professional, Sephora, Serge Lutens, Shu Uemura, Simple, Sisley, SK-II, Skin79, SkinCeuticals, Skinfood, Sleek MakeUP, Smashbox, Sofina , Sonia Rykiel, Stila, St Ives, Stella McCartney, Styx, Sunsilk, Syoss, Talika, Thalgo, The Face Shop, Thierry Mugler, Tigi, Tom Ford Beauty, Tommy Hilfiger, Tom Tailor, Tony Moly, Too Faced, Tous, TRESemme , Trussardi, Ungaro, Urban Decay, Uriage, Valentino, Van Cleef & Arpels, Venus, Vera Wang, Versace, Vichy, Victoria's Secret, Victorio & Lucchino, Vidal Sassoon, Viktor & Rolf, Vivienne Westwood, VO5, Wella, Yves Rocher, Yves Saint Laurent, Zara.
About the lot number on Caudalie and Shiseido products
The batch number on Caudalie and Shiseido products does not contain information about the production date or expiration date, and is a unique sequence of letters and/or numbers. Such an identifier key allows you to find detailed information about the batch in corporate databases, to which only company employees have access.
Therefore, to obtain the manufacturing date or expiration date of Caudalie and Shiseido products, you need to contact the company's consumer relations representative directly - for example, using a feedback form or email.
* The information provided is advisory in nature and cannot serve as a reason for contacting any authorities (society for the protection of consumer rights, court, etc.).
For an official response, please contact the manufacturer, local representatives and distributors.
The owners and developers of the site are not responsible for the information received and published on the site, for any errors, inaccuracies, incompleteness of information, as well as for any consequences, any action or inaction committed as a result of reading this information.
Today, many are wondering how to choose good perfume and not encounter a fake. Among all cosmetic products, perfumes are perhaps the most frequently counterfeited. No wonder. Fashionistas and beauties are ready to spend a lot of money on their favorite scents. And in all sorts of ratings of popular gifts, perfume has always occupied a leading place. This demand attracts scammers. Let's figure out how to distinguish a real product from a fake.
What to look for when choosing
There is always a risk of coming across a fake, even if you buy perfume in a specialized store and not in a sales tent in an underground passage. Today, unscrupulous manufacturers have learned to copy the appearance of the original well, and at first glance you may not even suspect a fake. Meanwhile, a fake product can be dangerous to health, because, in fact, no one is responsible for its quality.
Submitting a purchase for examination is expensive and time-consuming. However, there is a set of tricks that will help you independently distinguish copies of artisanal perfumers from originals of reputable brands. You will have to study everything: from the product packaging to the inscriptions on the bottles and the serial number. Let's talk in more detail about each point.
Package
We start checking the product from the packaging. It's better to watch the one that you end up taking to the checkout.
What to pay attention to:
- cellophane. It should be thin enough, but at the same time it should fit the box tightly, not wrinkle, not bulge, there should be no folds or deformations. However, not all manufacturers place the box of perfume in cellophane. For example, it is not present on some perfumes from Davidoff, Shiseido and Hugo Boss;
- seam on cellophane packaging. It must be heat sealed, not glued, and be perfectly flat. A stamp-sticker is placed below (sometimes above) on the seam;
- cardboard from which the box is made. It should be pure white, without a gray tint, and firm to the touch. The logo should be applied directly to it, and not pasted on;
- frame. Inside the original perfume box there is always a cardboard frame that holds the bottle inside. If you don’t want to open the cellophane in the store, just shake the box: the bottle is dangling - most likely, this is a fake.
Inscription
Carefully read all the labels on the box and bottle. Moreover, you need to compare thoroughly, down to the letter. Often, underground perfumers, in order to evade responsibility, change one or two characters in the name of the fragrance, so the packaging will look similar in appearance, but the “name” of the perfume will be different.
What else to pay attention to:
- clarity of inscriptions. All letters, numbers and symbols on the packaging, even those in small print, must be clearly legible, and the colors must not look blurry;
- manufacturer information. Real perfumes will say Made in and the country of origin. For example, Made in France, if your fragrance is made in France. If it says simply France, most likely you have a copy in front of you.
Bottle
Manufacturers order high-quality bottles from large factories, and some brands make containers for perfume by hand. All this is unprofitable for manufacturers of copies. Therefore, the appearance of the bottle will be very simple.
What we are considering:
- glass. It should be smooth, without smudges, bubbles and color deformations;
- bottle shape. If the original product has an unusual bottle shape, it will be more difficult to counterfeit. In this case, the copy will most likely be bottled in a standard form;
- lid. On original perfumes it will be made of high-quality plastic (it can be recognized by appearance and touch), without unevenness, and well painted.
- spray. Must be neat and tightly attached. Trade rules allow customers to test the spray in the store. It is better to do this, since even conscientious manufacturers have factory defects.
Perfume color
Typically, perfumes are made in neutral colors ranging from pale yellow with a pinkish tint to deep yellow. Some brands make perfumes with pink, green or lilac undertones. It is obtained using dyes. A fake can be distinguished by color: they will have an unnatural “chemical” or too bright color.
Serial number
The serial number usually consists of several numbers or a combination of numbers and letters. It is indicated on the cardboard packaging and at the bottom of the bottle. Pay attention to both serial numbers - they must match.
Certificate of Quality
The law allows buyers, in case of doubt, to demand a quality certificate from the seller. Such papers are issued for perfume products. The seller must give it to you. The certificate must have a wet stamp. It is easy to recognize if you look at the document at a slightly angle - it will stand out above the sheet.
How to determine authenticity by barcode and batch code
A barcode is the number of a product under which it is officially registered. It looks like a series of black and white stripes of different thicknesses, under which there is a series of numbers. Moreover, this is not just a random set of numbers. If you decipher it, you can get information about the product. And in particular, about the country of manufacture - these are the first digits of the barcode.
For example, on real French perfume the first numbers will be in the range from 30 to 37, Italian perfume will be marked with numbers from 80 to 83, German - from 400 to 440. On perfume made in America or Canada, numbers from 00 to 09 will be indicated, on British flavors - 50, Spanish - 84. Information about other countries can be easily found on the Internet.
Batch code is a combination of letters and numbers that encodes the production date, as well as the batch number and expiration date of the product. It is also indicated on the packaging. For example, for Kenzo, the first digit of the code indicates the year of manufacture. There is no official batch code database for all brands. Manufacturers are required to provide this data to sellers, but they do not make it publicly available. However, on the Internet you can find dozens of services that allow you to check the batch codes of cosmetic and perfume products. For example, Makeup-Review.com.ua, CosmeticsWizard, CosmeticCalculator, CheckFresh and others. Data for them is collected by enthusiasts, and information is received, as a rule, from retail chains. True, no one can confirm the reliability of this data to you.
Finally, some useful tips on how to choose real perfume.
- Preliminary preparation. Before you go to the store, take the time to go to the website of the manufacturer of the perfume you want to buy. There will definitely be a photo of the bottle, information about the manufacturer and other details.
- Volume matters. If you are going to buy perfume from a large brand, keep in mind that they almost never make samples of their products, that is, small bottles. If you come across packages of 15 milliliters or less, it is most likely a fake.
- Full information. A conscientious manufacturer will indicate full information about the product on the packaging: date of manufacture, expiration date and composition of the product. Perfume that foreign manufacturers bring to Russia is required to be certified. Therefore, they must have a label in Russian, which, among other things, will indicate the regulatory GOST and a barcode. Manufacturers of counterfeits neglect such information.
- Perfume is an unlicensed product. Major perfume brands do not issue licenses for the production of their products. If your favorite fragrance is made in France, then the manufacturer cannot indicate another country. And even more strange are inscriptions like Paris-London-New-York.
- Keep the packaging. If you regularly wear one scent and have ever bought it in duty free stores, do not throw away this packaging. It is known that counterfeits do not come into duty-free shops, so you will always have an example of the original packaging of the product at hand.
A barcode is a unique trademark designed to read information about a product. A barcode is assigned to each product and contains encrypted information about the country of origin, the manufacturing company and the product itself. Information can be read using special scanning devices or manually using a specific algorithm.
All perfumes that go on sale must be coded. This allows you to simplify the process of selling goods, their delivery and storage, checking products before shipment, conducting market research and studying the demand for perfume. Using barcoding, the quality of the product and its compliance with the originally specified sample are controlled.
Important! Perfume manufacturers apply a barcode to the bottom of a cardboard box or directly to the bottom of a glass bottle.
How to read a barcode correctly
Barcodes on perfumes can become a useless packaging attribute if you do not know how to decipher them correctly.
Today, two product coding systems are used:
- American universal code product UPC, consisting of 12 digits;
- European EAN encoding, including 13 digits.
Sometimes the American code is converted to the European digit system by adding the number zero at the beginning of the code.
Mini perfumes use an abbreviated encoding of 8 digital values EAN-8.
How to decrypt European encoding
Eurocode consists of the following elements:
Product information can be further deciphered:
- the first digit will reflect the name of the product;
- the second – consumer properties;
- third – weight and dimensions;
- fourth - ingredients;
- fifth – color.
The average consumer cannot obtain specific information about these characteristics, since their decoding is indicated only in the electronic catalog of the manufacturer.
How to check a barcode for authenticity
To check authenticity, experts suggest calculating the check digit, which is located at the last position of the barcode.
For example, you can take the code 4820126890011. The calculation algorithm will look like this:
- Select numbers that are in even places (8, 0, 2, 8, 0, 1).
- Add the highlighted numbers, the total is 19.
- Multiply the resulting number by 3, the total is 57.
- Add together all the numbers located in odd positions in the encoding, except for the control one - 4+2+1+6+9+0=22.
- Add the values of points No. 3 and No. 4, the total is 79.
- We discard the first digit, leaving 9.
- The result of point No. 6 is subtracted from 10, the total is 1.
The resulting digit must match the last digit of the barcode, as demonstrated by the example given. This is proof that the product was produced legally.
It is most convenient to calculate authenticity using online services. Just enter the code numbers in the appropriate field and get the result.
Popular sites to check:
If the code entered into the form is not identified by the site, this does not mean that the product is counterfeit. In some countries, the information encoded in a barcode is sensitive and may not be recognized by Internet systems.
Encoding of countries in Europe, North America, Asia
The most popular perfume products are of American and European origin. Also on sale are fragrances produced in Asian countries.
Barcodes for perfumes, which are applied by the manufacturing countries (the first three digits of the encoding):
- 300-379 – code of France;
- 460-469 – Russian Federation;
- 400-440 – Germany;
- 482 – Ukraine;
- 380 – Bulgaria;
- 500-509 – UK code;
- 540-549 – Belgium;
- 590 – Poland;
- 840-849 – Spain;
- 900-919 – Austria;
- 481 – Belarus;
- 800-839 – Italy code;
- 599 – Hungary;
- 000-139 – United States of America;
- 754-755 – Canada;
- 850 – Cuba;
- 476 – Azerbaijan;
- 490-499 – Japan code;
- 529 – Cyprus;
- 626 – Iran;
- 628 – code of Saudi Arabia;
- 629 – United Arab Emirates;
- 690-695 – China;
- 729 – Israel;
- 869 – Türkiye;
- 880 – Korea;
- 890 – India.
The following have the right to apply a barcode on packaging: the owner of the trademark, the manufacturer, the importer.
Pitfalls: how realistic is it to identify the authenticity of a perfume using a code?
There is an opinion that a barcode can accurately determine the country of origin of a perfume. In practice, this fact is often refuted: the barcode may not coincide with the information about the country of origin on the cardboard packaging of the product. For example, the perfume says “Made in France”, and the code of England is printed on the box.
There may be several reasons for this confusion:
- The manufacturing company or trademark is officially registered in one country, and the production facilities are located in the territory of another state.
- In some cases, the release of a specific product or batch of goods is aimed at a specific market. Therefore, the barcode can be registered in the territory of the country where the brand intends to supply its perfumes.
- Many large companies locate factories and branches in several countries at once, placing the corresponding barcodes on their products.
- The founders of a perfume company may be representatives of several states, which will cause confusion in the labeling of products.
Unfortunately, the ability to read a barcode does not always allow you to protect yourself from buying counterfeit goods. Some “craftsmen” produce rather masterful fakes, completely copying the packaging of branded perfumes along with the barcode.
To confirm the originality of a perfume, you will have to arm yourself with the entire available arsenal of techniques:
- check the quality of printing;
- consider the cellophane wrapper;
- compare the design of packaging and bottle;
- check the quality of the tank, lid and sprayer;
- study all stickers, inscriptions and markings.
Only an integrated approach will make it possible to understand where a perfume product is made and how well it meets quality standards. The barcode provides only superficial information. It must be confirmed by certificates and declarations, which the supplier and distributor must provide.
More and more purchases are made online. On the side of these solutions is the ability to order at a convenient time and anywhere, the advantages of delivery and savings, since online stores, due to the lack of costs for running a store, provide products with a small margin. But the likelihood of receiving a low-quality product if you purchase it through the site is much higher. Therefore, in this article we will tell you how to choose the right online store. And when you receive it in your hands - how to recognize a fake perfume, distinguish a real perfume from it, check its originality by barcodes and bunch codes, inscriptions and design.
How to distinguish an original perfume from a fake when purchasing in an online store
The main problem when ordering online is that you focus primarily on the name and pictures, and you receive the coveted box after payment. And it will be difficult to get your funds back. Therefore, an important skill when making such purchases is the ability to choose the right store.
- First of all, you need to study the resource itself. If we are talking about a high-quality and expensive purchase, the online service must be beautifully designed and have all the necessary functionality.
- Check your contact information. The website should have telephone numbers for contacting managers, email, legal and postal addresses.
- Find return information. Perfume products purchased in a regular store, in accordance with the Law “On the Protection of Consumer Rights,” are included in the list of products that cannot be returned or exchanged if they are of proper quality. Therefore, information about the company’s willingness to give your money back in case of counterfeit speaks in favor of this resource.
- Please note the lifespan of the online service. The longer a site exists, the higher the likelihood of buying original and luxury goods there.
- Find and read reviews about the online store.
- Pay attention to the prices. Originals are never cheap. Even with discounts and super promotions, a difference of 2-3 times compared to other resources is unlikely due to the high cost of the perfume itself.
Explore the catalogue. You should not trust sellers offering obvious fakes. Caution does not hurt if the site contains:
- Non-existent samples from famous brands. For example, the fragrances Green Apple 80 ml and Nina Sun 80 ml were never produced by Nina Ricci.
- Perfumes that have long been discontinued. Example – Gucci Accenti.
- Products with a capacity not declared by the manufacturer. This mainly includes larger volume bottles. For example, Yves Saint Laurent Cinema 100 ml with a stated maximum of 90 ml is not worth buying. In the case of small capacity, the chance of getting high-quality products is higher, since some stores, for example Aromakod, independently produce castings - they pour the original into 1-2 ml containers.
- Cases of non-compliance appearance and packaging in the photographs with those declared by the manufacturer.
- Outright fakes with changed brand names.
It's important to trust yourself. If a store is suspicious, it is better not to order from it.
How to determine the authenticity of a perfume and recognize a fake perfume when you receive it in your hands
You bought, waited for delivery and finally received the goods in your hands. Regardless of whether you trust the resource or not, be sure to save the receipt. You will need it if upon inspection it turns out that there are problems with the purchase. In this case, you can request a replacement product or your money back. If the seller refuses to carry out these procedures, contact the Consumer Protection Society.
Let's look at verification methods
First, you will have to collect information about the scent you are interested in. Visit the official website of the brand, read reviews and reviews online to have an idea in advance of what the desired product looks like and what inscriptions and protective elements to pay attention to. Sometimes it is worth contacting the manufacturer as the information on the page may need updating.
How to distinguish a fake perfume from an original by cellophane packaging
You buy a product in an online store. There is no need to insert a security sticker with a barcode, so the box should be wrapped in high-quality cellophane. But it all depends on the manufacturer - the Hugo Boss brand does not use such material.
High-quality packaging is thin, durable, pleasant to the touch. The dimensions fit the product exactly so it fits into the box without wrinkles or deformation.
The seam on the film is located on the back or side of the box. It is made by heating, and in real products it is thin and very neat. If it is wider than 5 mm, and there are uneven surfaces and traces of glue on its surface, the packaging process was carried out in an artisanal way, and the likelihood of finding the original inside tends to zero. There is a stamp in the form of a sticker on the cellophane at the top or bottom of the product.
How to check the originality of a perfume using a cardboard box
Real perfume boxes have a beautiful design. They look attractive and expensive. They are pleasant to hold in your hands. They are made from thick cardboard of special grades, so a fake is usually easy to spot by touch. Regardless of the external tinting, the material inside is white, without a grayish or yellowish tint, characteristic of low-quality raw materials. Also, the box should not contain stickers; all inscriptions and trademarks are applied directly to the cardboard.
If you made a purchase in duty free or abroad, it is better to save the packaging so that in the future you have something to compare with when purchasing in a regular or online store.
How to distinguish an original perfume from a fake by its inner packaging
When you pick up the packaged box, shake it. The bottle should not dangle. Normally, its movement is minimal, since inside the packaging of this product there must be a special fixing frame designed to reduce the risk of damage during transportation.
In homemade production, such an insert is often forgotten or made from cheap cardboard. Therefore, check the availability of such a retainer and the quality of the material from which it is made.
How to distinguish real perfume from a fake by the original inscriptions on the box
Text should be legible and clear, including small print and barcodes. When designing branded products, there cannot be leaking letters or poorly mixed colors, unless of course this is implied by the design of the product. Sometimes the font is pressed out and only then filled with paint, but even in this case the paint should not smear or rub off.
All information on the box, including composition, bottle volume (in ml and fl.oz) and place of manufacture, must match the information from the manufacturer’s website. When increasing or decreasing the capacity, there is a high probability of counterfeit. You should be careful when buying products in 25-30 ml, since there are very few companies producing such products.
Carefully examine the inscriptions themselves. To avoid liability, counterfeit manufacturers often change several letters in the name to make it visually similar to the brand name.
Errors in inscriptions may indicate a fake. If instead of "Made in Italy" only "Italy" is indicated, you are dealing with a copy. A similar conclusion can be drawn if on the packaging of French perfumes you see the letter “e” at the end of the word parfum, or when a city is indicated instead of a country.
How to check perfume authenticity using a barcode
This method is more complicated than it seems. In theory, it is used to determine the country of manufacture, which should match what is written on the box. But this information often differs even in the case of original products. This happens due to the fact that the plant is located in one country, and the company headquarters is in another. The inscription indicates the plant, and the barcode indicates the location of the country of the company's general office.
You should be wary if the box says “Made in France”, and the coding indicates other countries: China, the UAE or Russia. But sometimes if there is a discrepancy, it’s worth figuring it out first.
How to identify a real perfume by bottle design
Compare the resulting bottle with the image from the official website. If it has an unusual shape, it will be more difficult to counterfeit. But even with simple and familiar outlines, there are details that make it easy to identify a fake.
Manufacturers use only high-quality glass to make bottles. It is transparent and clean, without suspensions, bubbles or cloudiness. If the container is colored, it is not painted, but made of colored glass. The shade is even, without changes, except for cases provided for by the design.
Branded products are distinguished by the impeccable quality of the bottles. Their walls and bottom are beautifully shaped, smooth, and often noticeably thinner than those of fakes.
You should also pay attention to the inscriptions on the glass. When making copies using an artisanal method, the letters on the glass often lie unevenly, turn out fuzzy, and are erased.
How to check the original perfume using a spray bottle
The spray bottle must comply with the overall design, work well, fit securely on the bottle and not rotate. Normally, the tube from it is thin and transparent, sometimes it can be seen only when there is no liquid. It reaches the bottom or lies slightly on it.
Copies usually use thicker, rougher tubes. They are often longer than required, which is why they lie on the bottom.
The first few presses of the spray gun should be idle.
How to distinguish an original perfume from a fake by the bottle cap
Another detail that counterfeit manufacturers often forget about is the lid. Usually it is quite weighty and tightly closes the bottle, made of patented high-quality plastic, pleasant to the touch without unevenness, burrs or poorly painted elements. If the design does not provide for asymmetry, it is distinguished by clear lines and shapes.
How to check the authenticity of a perfume using a batch code
The product serial number can be found on the carton. It is often embossed, but sometimes you can also find printed versions. This code of numbers or letters is called a bunch code and allows you to determine the date of manufacture of the fragrance.
You should find the same inscription on the bottle itself. For copies, the code is missing or does not match what is written on the box.
How to identify a fake perfume from the original by the color of the perfume
Well-known manufacturers do not use bright, unnatural colors for dyeing. In most cases, their hue ranges from golden to dark yellow. Sometimes the liquid is made lilac, pale green or pink. Therefore, if you come across a sample of rich red or blue color, know that it does not belong to an elite brand, and its quality is questionable.
There should be no sediment at the bottom. The permissible content level of the container is to the brim.
Another way to check: shake the bottle and see how quickly the air bubbles disappear. For high-quality products, they will dissolve slowly, more than 10 seconds. And most fakes will disappear almost instantly.
How to identify an original perfume by its aroma
The smell of a copy is sometimes similar to the original. But due to cheap raw materials, it is not capable of three-ton opening and quickly erodes.
Normally, the aroma develops gradually. During the first 15 minutes - the top notes, after them - the heart notes, and after several hours - the trail.
Another important indicator is odor persistence. The aroma of eau de toilette lasts for 2-4 hours. Eau de parfum has a longevity of 4-8 hours. Perfume – 5-8 hours.
How to distinguish a fake perfume and identify real perfume: certificate
On February 14, 2010, after the entry into force of Government Decree No. 982 of December 1, 2009, mandatory certification of the products in question was abolished. Now it is produced exclusively on a voluntary basis, so most Internet resources do not have certificates.
Sometimes stores provide a declaration of conformity. This document does not guarantee the authenticity of the product, but indicates the reliability of the site.
There are a lot of signs that distinguish originals from fakes. And if it’s easy to make a high-quality box or packaging, then the bottle, codes or fragrance will certainly indicate falsification. But since when purchasing in an online store, getting a refund is a complex and lengthy operation, order from places where you can be absolutely sure of the quality of the products - on the Aromacode website.