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If a deal smells too good to be true, it probably is. This is true, literally, in the case of counterfeit perfumes and fragrances. It’s a huge market with annual sales of $25-30 billion (Source: New York Times) and counterfeiters are making their presence felt. According to U.S. Customs the street value of merchandise seized jumped from $1.2 million in 2007 to $6.7 million in 2008 — an increase of 459 percent. And that’s just what was seized (Source: Harpers Bazaar)

Harper’s Bazaar just published a profile of the market for counterfeit perfumes (Source: Harpers Bazaar) and the subject received coverage this past week on ABC News Good Morning America

The report reveals that what’s found in some of the counterfeit fragrances are substances you would not want to have anywhere near your body, including: bacteria, anti-freeze and urine. It’s believed that the latter is used to neutralize the pH and also for its color. Besides from the unappealing (to say the least) quality of the fakes, it can cause skin problems. As with other counterfeit products, the profits also make their ways into the coffers of organized crime and terrorist organizations.

Applied DNA Sciences has begun applying its DNA based anti-counterfeiting solutions to the luxury goods market. Wine is just one product where we’re marking labels and packaging materials (and we can actually authenticate the wine!). Until we start working with the fragrance industry, Harper’s offers a few tips to avoid being faked out:

HOW TO SPOT A FAKE SCENT
TAKE A CLOSER LOOK. If the liquid looks too pale, it could be an alcohol-heavy phony. If it's too dark, it could consist of impure or faux ingredients.

BE A LABEL CONNOISSEUR. If the label is off-kilter, smudged, poorly printed, or misspelled, it's not legit. If the bar code or an identifying mark looks sketchy, it could be a phony.

BUY RIGHT. Top-quality perfumes are sold at department stores, beauty specialty stores such as Sephora, and sometimes high-end boutique pharmacies and apothecaries.

DON'T BE FOOLED. Real fragrances are not sold on tables in tourist hot spots or at flea markets, supermarkets, discount stores, or out of the back of a truck.

BEWARE THE BAIT AND SWITCH. Some unsavory vendors will display the genuine fragrance up front when you're shopping but substitute a fake when handing over your purchase.

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