Original or fake? 8 things to check before you buy a perfume

1. Price: the first red flag

If a famous perfume is sold far below everyone else's price, ask why. A genuine bottle has a real cost, and sellers can't go much below it. A fair discount is normal; half the market price usually means something is off.

2. Cellophane and box

Genuine cellophane is usually tight and smooth, with neat, narrow seams. Loose, wrinkled or clumsily glued wrapping is suspicious. Check the box too: sturdy card, crisp printing, even colour and no spelling mistakes. Wonky fonts or a blurry logo are bad signs.

3. The batch code

Most brands print a short code under the box and etch or print the same code on the bottle. The two should match. Sites like CheckFresh can even decode the production date.

But a valid code doesn't prove a bottle is real, because counterfeiters copy real codes. A missing or mismatched code, though, is a serious red flag.

4. Bottle, cap and sprayer

Genuine bottles tend to be heavy and clear, with no bubbles or sharp edges. The cap should sit snugly and precisely. A good sprayer gives a fine, even mist; one that spits drops or squirts is suspicious. The tube inside is usually thin and barely visible.

5. The colour of the juice

Compare the colour with the brand's official photos. Small differences are normal, since colour shifts a little between batches and with age. But if a nearly clear perfume turns up deep yellow, or the other way round, be suspicious.

6. Smell and longevity: the real test

Fakes often open close to the original, because top notes are the easiest part to copy. The difference shows after half an hour: a harsh alcohol smell, a quick fade, or a flat, lifeless dry-down. If you can, test on skin and wait an hour or two.

Every perfume page on Moshkin shows the longevity and projection people report. If yours lasts far less than that, be suspicious.

7. Authenticity stickers and importer codes

In Iran, officially imported perfumes usually carry an authenticity sticker and a Food and Drug Administration (IRC) code you can look up. Missing one doesn't always mean fake, since many bottles come through unofficial channels, but having one is reassuring. Elsewhere, authorised retailers are the safe bet.

8. Who are you buying from?

A seller who gives an invoice, has a return policy and a visible track record cuts your risk a lot. A shop that hides prices and only answers in private messages, or sells unboxed bottles at odd prices, is rarely worth the gamble.

If you have doubts after buying

Compare it with a bottle you trust (a reputable shop's tester, say): one on each wrist, then smell again after an hour. The difference usually shows in the dry-down, not the first minute.