Doing research about buying perfumes online can be overwhelming and confusing. You've probably heard that there are plenty of sites out there selling fake perfume or claiming to sell real-deal brands at low prices. But how much should you trust those claims? It turns out, it depends on where you live.
Perfume isn't just something you put in your purse or bag when you're going outside. It's also an important part of fashion -- especially during fall/winter season. And while some people prefer scents like rose or vanilla, others go with more daring options such as patchouli and sandalwood. So finding the right scent becomes even more challenging. If only we could all smell better...
But wait! There are actually companies who specialize in making these kinds of perfumes. They market them as "new" and "exclusive," but they aren't necessarily new at all. How come? Well, some of them might have been around for years (or decades) under different names. Others may have been discontinued by their original manufacturer, which means they were sold off cheaply. Some brands simply don't make enough money anymore to justify investing in marketing efforts, so they turn to other sources and try to rebrand themselves. In any case, here are the three main reasons why perfume shopping through third parties often leads to disappointment.
FragranceNet has become one of the most popular perfume resellers because of its affordable pricing and wide variety of choices. That said, many people get burned after purchasing items from this retailer. The site has had several high profile recalls over the past few years due to counterfeit products being shipped to customers.
The company was hit hard in 2019 when it recalled nearly 100,000 bottles of perfume labeled as "Dior." A year later, it issued another recall affecting more than 1 million bottles of Dior Eau de Parfum. Both times, the perfume wasn't genuine.
In fact, according to Forbes magazine, the company spent $10,000 per month last year in legal fees fighting lawsuits filed against it. This doesn't mean FragranceNet is completely unscrupulous, though. In fact, its product quality is usually quite good. What's more concerning is that the company sells some extremely expensive items too, including designer perfumes from Chanel, Christian Dior, Givenchy, Gucci, Hermès, Kenzo, Versace, Yves Saint Laurent, and Cartier.
With so many counterfeits floating around the internet, it's not surprising that FragranceNet makes headlines for issues related to quality control. However, since FragranceNet is owned by Sam’s Club, it seems unlikely that the brand would knowingly ship fakes to consumers. Instead, the blame falls squarely on the shoulders of retailers like Amazon and eBay.
Sam's Club is a major retail chain located throughout the United States. Most stores offer a selection of merchandise from various manufacturers, including cosmetics, beauty supplies, clothing, shoes, household appliances, electronics, toys, sporting goods, jewelry, furniture, and food. The website uses a similar interface to that found at Amazon. As mentioned above, Sam's Club offers thousands of discounted items ranging from makeup to groceries to clothes.
When it comes to perfume, the retailer carries top brands like Guerlain, Jean Paul Gaultier, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Burberry, Tom Ford, Dolce & Gabbana, DKNY, Prada, Fendi, Valentino, Lanvin, Marc Jacobs, Coach, Versace, Armani Exchange, D&G, Hugo Boss, Kenzo, Jimmy Choo, Kate Spade New York, Marc Jacobs Beauty, Max Factor, Missoni, Estee Lauder, Lancome, Clinique, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Revlon, Smashbox, Benefit Cosmetics, Urban Decay, Tarte, and Stila. Many of these brands have been accused of using inferior ingredients in their perfumes, which results in poor performance once worn.
As a result, FragranceNet receives numerous complaints every day regarding counterfeit products. For example, some users claim that the perfume didn't work well at first. Or perhaps the bottle looks authentic but smells weird, as if it contains harmful chemicals instead of pure essential oils. Other sellers say the perfume leaked from the packaging as soon as they opened it, leading to a mess everywhere. Then there are reports of odors lingering long after applying the fragrance. These types of problems occur when someone tries to purchase an item from a reputable seller only to find something else entirely.
If you want to avoid becoming a victim of scamming, then here's how to spot a bad deal:
Check the price. Look carefully at the list price and compare it to the sale price. Remember, the latter is always lower than the former.
Read reviews. Don't just rely on the description provided by the seller. Check customer feedback to see whether the experience matches up with reality.
Look closely at the photos. Are all images of the actual product available? Is everything pictured accurate and free of damage? Also, look for signs of tampering. Does anything appear to be missing?
Avoid shipping costs. If the seller provides free shipping within the US, take advantage of it. Otherwise, ask yourself if you really need to pay extra for delivery.
Ask questions. When you receive an order from a store or a website, don't hesitate to contact the owner directly. Ask how the package will arrive to your doorstep. Do they use trackable services? Will there be a signature required upon receiving the parcel? Make sure you understand exactly what will happen once you open the box.
It's easy to tell if a perfume is legitimate. Just follow these steps:
Compare the label to the picture posted on the seller's listing page.
Make sure the name displayed on the bottle belongs to the same brand as advertised elsewhere.
Verify the authenticity of the seal.
Be aware of possible scams. Avoid ordering from unknown sellers and never give anyone access to your credit card information without knowing exactly who you'll be dealing with.
Finally, read our guide to spotting fake perfume for further tips on how to avoid getting ripped off.
There's no denying that FragranceNet is very convenient. Not only does it provide shoppers with an extensive collection of discount perfumes, it allows them to shop securely thanks to its secure checkout process. Unfortunately, this convenience comes with risks.
One thing to note is that most of FragranceNet's inventory consists of old stock. While many sellers still carry the latest releases, they tend to focus on older ones.
Since FragranceNet specializes in refurbished items, it's difficult to determine whether a perfume or cologne you're considering buying is truly worth your time and money. After all, you'd think that a brand like Hermes would produce great stuff regardless of age. Even if the perfume you choose performs poorly, it shouldn't cost you any less than a comparable brand. Of course, if you're willing to spend hundreds of dollars, you could opt to purchase a rare vintage bottle rather than settle for a generic version.
To help you decide between a newer and a classic perfume, consider the following factors:
Composition: Most brands contain synthetic materials that are toxic, carcinogenic, flammable, irritating, or otherwise dangerous.
Performance: The majority of today's perfumes are made with artificial fragrances and preservatives. Their effectiveness diminishes quickly after application. Plus, they often leak into fabrics.
Design: Vintage perfumes tend to feature beautiful packaging with intricate details. On the other hand, modern versions are typically compact, plastic-y, and bland.
Price: Old items command higher prices compared to recent releases.
So, if you're looking to save big bucks on luxury perfumes, then FragranceNet is definitely not the place to start.
Perfumes can be expensive, but FragranceNet sells them in bulk at a fraction of the price when compared with other online retailers. If you're looking for an affordable way to stock up on perfume then this site might be perfect for you. But there's one big question that remains unanswered: Is FragranceNet really safe? And if it isn't, how do I find out which perfumes are legitimate and which ones aren't?
Before we dive into the answer to these questions let's take a look around at some of the most popular brands sold by FragranceNet.
FragranceNet offers many different kinds of perfumes including original scents, designer originals, celebrity exclusives, limited edition collections, and more. The prices vary depending on the brand as well as whether they're selling new bottles or used ones.
If you're interested in buying something like Chanel No 5, you'll have to pay significantly less than $80 (or even just under $50) per bottle if you purchase it directly through FragranceNet instead of going straight to Chanel's website. That said, there are plenty of high-end luxury products available too.
FragranceNet also stocks several discount stores such as Nordstroms, Macy's, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales, and others. These locations offer discounts on their own branded items as well as those from other companies. There may be better deals elsewhere, though.
There are two main differences between original perfume and fake perfume: quality and authenticity. This means that while both types of product will smell nice, only authentic perfumes are guaranteed not to contain any harmful chemicals. Fake perfume contains chemical additives that could potentially harm your health.
Fake perfume is often cheaper because it doesn't require much maintenance or care after being purchased -- you don't need to keep it sealed away somewhere or cleanse it regularly. In fact, since it was never meant to last very long anyway, using it right away won't make much of a difference either.
It should go without saying that buying from a reputable retailer like FragranceNet ensures that you're getting genuine perfume. However, if you want to check for yourself, here's what to look for:
The best place to start is checking the ingredients list. If there are no recognizable names listed alongside common allergens and known toxins, then the company has probably done its due diligence when sourcing all the materials used. It is possible to use natural essential oils and plant extracts, but anything synthetic is highly suspect.
Another good sign of authenticity is packaging. Some companies will add extra layers of protection to ensure that the contents stay fresh for longer periods of time. For example, Hermes uses metal containers, whereas Guerlain adds a special layer of glass that prevents air and moisture from penetrating during storage.
Finally, if a store allows customers to inspect the goods themselves, you should feel free to do so. Most major retailers allow you to open packages and sniff every single item inside. You shouldn't get sickened by the scent of a fragrance, but you definitely should avoid purchasing anything that smells bad.
FragranceNet claims to be "the world’s largest independent supplier" of fine perfumery. They've been operating since 1999, and claim to ship over 2 million shipments each year. Their reputation goes back further than that however, having served as a trusted source of information about perfume since 1994.
In addition to offering a wide variety of products, FragranceNet also provides customer service via phone and email 24/7. When you call them, you can speak with someone who knows your order(s), and they'll tell you whether everything went smoothly and explain why certain things happened.
You can also contact them through their support page where they provide additional details about their policies and processes. If you ever have concerns about shipping or payment methods, you can also request a refund within 48 hours of placing your order.
They also have a strong privacy policy which makes sure that none of your personal data is shared with third parties. All orders placed on the site are protected by SSL encryption technology, meaning that sensitive information sent across the internet cannot be read by anyone else.
Since you can trust FragranceNet with your money, you can rest assured knowing that you're dealing with a reliable business.
One of the first places people turn for advice on finding the best perfume is Reddit. While it's true that anyone can post whatever content they want on the platform, it's worth mentioning that Reddit users tend to gravitate toward subreddits dedicated to beauty and fashion topics. As a result, you'll find lots of great tips and resources for making informed purchases.
For instance, /r/perfume is home to thousands of active members who share their experiences with various brands and help newcomers figure out which ones work best for them. On top of that, /r/fragrancedb is another subreddit filled with hundreds of posts discussing perfume blends, notes, and ingredients.
As far as general shopping advice goes, /u/nofragrantnet recommends visiting Reddit's Marketplace section. Not only is it chock full of useful links, but it also features listings from merchants and manufacturers alike.
This includes sales from major retail chains like Sephora, Ulta Beauty, Amazon, eBay, etc., along with smaller shops like Nasty Gal, Charlotte Russe, and ModCloth.
Lastly, /u/Narcissistic_Pimp recommends using Instagram to browse photos of celebrities wearing various perfumes. Many stars choose to show off their favorite scents on social media platforms, giving followers a sneak peek behind the scenes.
While FragranceNet certainly appears to be a legitimate company, there are still reasons to be skeptical. After all, it seems obvious that anyone would be willing to profit from the sale of counterfeit perfume.
However, FragranceNet takes steps to protect itself against fraudulence. These include verifying the identity of buyers through valid government IDs, requiring a minimum transaction amount ($20 USD minimum), and providing proof of delivery upon shipment.
Furthermore, they employ anti-counterfeiting measures to prevent counterfeits from slipping past their detection systems. This involves scanning barcodes and packing slips to verify that the contents match exactly. Each perfume package comes with a unique code printed onto the label, and this number must match the code found on the receipt issued by the recipient.
Notably, FragranceNet requires all sellers to submit scanned images of their ID cards and driver licenses, and all transactions are verified manually by employees. So unless you're planning on doing some shady stuff, this shouldn't pose a problem.
On top of all this, FragranceNet works hard to maintain transparency throughout the entire process. Every seller is required to upload official invoices and receipts proving that they shipped the ordered merchandise. Once again, these documents are subject to manual review by FragranceNet staff.
To summarize, FragranceNet is a legitimate company with strict security protocols in place to safeguard consumers' rights. Since they're constantly improving their overall system, you can count on them to deliver quality perfume whenever you decide to shop.
Still unsure about whether FragranceNet is safe enough? Check out our guide to the best places to buy discounted perfume!
Perfume is a lot more than just an aroma that makes us feel good -- it's also one of our most expensive indulgences. So how do we ensure that the scent isn't coming from some shady website selling fake perfumery at bargain basement prices? And what about those cheaper versions of popular brands? Is there any way to be sure they're not fakes too?
The answer might surprise you... and maybe even make you rethink whether or not to purchase a perfume right now. We'll get into all this and more in today's article as we reveal everything you need to know about buying perfume online.
There are numerous ways to determine whether or not a particular perfume is legitimate (or not). In general, though, here are three things you should look out for when shopping around for perfumes:
1. The name itself. If the site doesn't have much information surrounding its brand, then chances are high that you won't find anything authentic on their site. Most reputable sites will list their products along with contact info, including email addresses and phone numbers. Also, don't forget to check out their customer service page -- many of these sites offer returns policies and/or return shipping options.
2. Shipping costs. Some companies may try to save money by avoiding shipping charges altogether and only offering free delivery through USPS Priority Mail. However, if you want to receive your order quickly, you might consider paying $12-$15 for standard shipping instead. This would still cost less than other major retailers such as Macy's which charge between $20-30 per item. Plus, you'd likely receive your package within 2 days after ordering compared to 4 weeks for Priority Mail.
3. Reviews. You shouldn't trust a company based solely off positive reviews alone, but it never hurts to see a few comments regarding the product. Make sure to ask yourself if anyone has had issues with the product or received a refund because it was defective. Also, keep in mind that negative reviews aren't always truthful either. For example, let's say someone claims that he purchased a perfume called "Honey" and found it to be awful. Well, perhaps Honey wasn't actually made by the manufacturer listed on the label and was simply a knockoff. Or maybe Honey was sold under different names altogether!
If you have trouble finding reviews, however, you could always take advantage of social media platforms to see what people think. Many big brands post information about their products on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, etc. These posts typically include pictures and videos of the product being used, and often times the official hashtag (#) of the makeup line. It's best to use common sense while checking out these profiles and avoid purchasing something that looks suspiciously similar to another product already available online.
It goes without saying that if you're going to shop online, you should always read up on each site first before committing to a purchase. There's no point making a mistake due to poor research. That said, once you've narrowed down your search results to five or six trusted stores, it becomes easier to figure out which ones provide genuine perfumes. As long as you follow these tips above, you should be able to find quality products for less than half the price.
As mentioned earlier, there are plenty of reasons why a person might choose to purchase a perfume over traditional cosmetics. Not everyone wants to spend hundreds of dollars every year on face cream, foundation, mascara, eyeliner, lipstick, and eye shadow. But what happens when you decide to splurge on a new bottle of cologne? Are you guaranteed that the perfume you bought is indeed the exact same formula that was created years ago?
Unfortunately, the truth is that it's impossible to guarantee authenticity unless you physically inspect the container. Even then, there are certain factors you must consider such as the packaging design and labeling.
For instance, did the perfume come wrapped in plastic wrap rather than cardboard box? Do the bottles contain holographic stickers on them? Was the seal broken during shipment? Did the store clerk remove the labels entirely? How old is the logo? Does the perfume smell exactly the same as when it was originally released?
These questions seem pretty basic, but unfortunately, they're often overlooked. After all, who cares if the actual bottle of perfume smells the same as the last time you wore it? But the fact remains that you wouldn't want to risk getting sick or having allergic reactions to a product that's been altered since it left the factory.
So what can you do to protect yourself against potentially dangerous scents? First, stick to reputable sellers with proven track records. Second, make sure to closely examine the containers themselves. Third, remember that you can always call the company directly to verify authenticity. Lastly, make sure to compare the current sales price to previous purchases, especially if the perfume was recently discontinued.
Also, don't forget to double check your credit card statement to confirm that the total amount paid matches the sale price. While we obviously can't control what others do with their own personal finances, we hope that these steps help you identify potential problems before spending thousands of dollars on a single bottle of perfume.
While it's important to remain vigilant when looking for perfumes online, it's equally critical that you recognize legitimate websites from scam operations. Luckily, there are several warning signs that you should look out for whenever browsing for perfume online.
First, don't hesitate to ask the seller a series of questions. If you can't find answers to your queries, move onto the next retailer until you reach a place where the staff seems knowledgeable enough to address your concerns. Next, pay close attention to the language used throughout the site. Avoid phrases like "lowest wholesale price," "sale ends soon," and "limited quantity." When in doubt, ask the vendor straight up if you can speak to a manager or representative directly. Finally, if you notice discrepancies between the description and picture posted on the site and the actual product, don't hesitate to leave immediately. Chances are, you'll walk away with a better deal elsewhere.
But wait, what if the company sends me an invoice? Shouldn't I have to pay upfront for the perfume?
That depends on the state law in question. Generally speaking, payment plans are accepted in states like California, New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Florida, Massachusetts, and Washington DC. On the flip side, some countries completely ban payments via credit cards. Instead, customers must mail cash or checks to cover fees.
In addition, if you live in Alaska, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, North Dakota, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, Wyoming, or Virginia, you cannot accept credit cards for payment. To prevent fraud, vendors will usually require a physical signature to complete transactions. Of course, the safest option is to request an international check or wire transfer instead.
You might be wondering if Sam's Club sells fake perfume. Sadly, yes, it does. According to reports, the retail giant has partnered with various counterfeiters to manufacture inferior copies of well known perfumes.
One of the biggest culprits is Scentbird, a site that offers thousands of designer fragrances for sale. Unfortunately, many of these perfumes were produced using counterfeit notes, meaning they weren't manufactured by the brand's respective manufacturers.
Thankfully, Scentbird is not the only site Sam's Club partners with. Other perfumes offered on the site include Chanel No5, Estee Lauder, Calvin Klein, David Yurman, Givenchy, Hermès, Kenzo, L'Oreal Paris, Marc Jacobs, Prada, Ralph Lauren Polo Sport, Tom Ford, Vera Wang, Versace, and Valentino.
Fortunately, Sam's Club has banned counterfeit perfume from their shelves. They even go as far as to prohibit vendors from selling the items directly to customers. Instead, Sam's Club requires vendors to send orders to third party fulfillment services. Those companies handle the entire process, ensuring that customers receive authentic products and that none of them turn out to be counterfeits.
Sam's Club has become increasingly strict about preventing fake perfumes from hitting their shelves in recent years. Back in 2018, they even filed lawsuits against two suppliers, accusing them of supplying counterfeit products to the chain's stores across America. Thankfully, both cases ended favorably for the retailer, resulting in a permanent halt to the practice.
And while Sam's Club certainly takes great measures to curb the spread of imitation merchandise, it's worth noting that the retail giant has a history of partnering with questionable businesses. For example, in 2017, they worked with a business named "Sell My Car" to sell cars that didn't belong to the owner. At the time, the CEO of Sell My Car claimed that his company provided auto dealerships with vehicles that needed repairs.
Just follow our battle-tested guidelines and rake in the profits.