Counterfeit Perfume Brands by SJS

Businesses and consumers across Southeast Asia are at risk from counterfeit products ranging clothing through to motor oils. Now there is an increase in the number of perfume brands being counterfeited and sold in Southeast Asia.

Many of these counterfeit perfume brands are reported to originate from Gulf Countries and then exported in bulk to Malaysia, Jakarta and Bangkok. However, increasingly these perfume brands are being counterfeited by groups active in Malaysia and Thailand, sourcing cheap ingredients from local suppliers and having the packaging printed by errant smaller print shops.

Some of these fake perfume products may contain dangerous toxins and stabilisers – even urine to bulk up the liquid.

Confronting these counterfeiters in Asia hasn’t been an easy battle for luxury perfume makers to fight, mainly due to the fact there is a lack of copyright protection concerning fragrances in most countries. Instead, the luxury perfume makers need to focus on trademark infringement as per regular items such as handbags etc.

Counterfeit perfumes pose several issues, both for consumers and the industry. Here are some key problems:

1. Quality and Safety: Counterfeit perfumes often use substandard or harmful ingredients, which can cause skin irritation or allergic reactions. The lack of quality control means consumers may expose themselves to unsafe chemicals.
2. Misleading Branding: These products can misrepresent the original brand, leading consumers to believe they are purchasing a legitimate product. This can damage the brand’s reputation and customer trust.
3. Economic Impact: The counterfeit market undermines legitimate businesses, leading to lost sales and revenue for brands. This can also affect jobs and the economy as a whole.
4. Legal Issues: Purchasing and selling counterfeit goods is illegal in Southeast Asian countries. Consumers or sellers can unwittingly become involved in legal disputes or face penalties.
5. Environmental Concerns: The production of counterfeit perfumes often lacks environmentally responsible practices, contributing to pollution and waste.
6. Lack of Transparency: Consumers have no guarantee of the product’s origin, and counterfeit items often lack proper labelling, making it difficult to know what they are actually buying.
7. Diminished Consumer Experience: The experience of purchasing a luxury product is often diminished with counterfeit items, which may not perform as expected in terms of scent longevity and packaging quality.

Overall, the risks associated with counterfeit perfumes extend beyond just the product itself, impacting health, legality, and the economy. The consumer is getting short changed, harming legitimate producers and impacting innovation & investment.

The prime response to combat fake perfumes is to engage corporate investigators to track down the vendors, distributors and importers / manufacturers of the counterfeit perfumes; then executing raids with the assistance of government agencies such as Customs, Police, Ministry of Trade etc.

Another method to protect the  perfume brands is to set up a distribution system whereby the bottles of perfume are only sold in places that have a luxury aura and comply with certain criteria, such as prices and levels of service. This creates a stark demarcation between where you can buy genuine bottles of Tom Ford, Chanel and Prada perfumes versus the fakes / pass-offs being sold at street markets or online social media sales sites.