Fragrances can be quite expensive, and depending on your taste and favourite designer, they can be get very expensive indeed.
The few big name retailers on the high street are usually quite expensive, but fortunately we have this little known invention called the Internet which we can use to buy fragrances, aftershaves and the like for ourselves and others.
The biggest problem is the fakes, counterfeits and non-genuine products which are now being sold; Unfortunately we cannot tell from a picture whether or not you’ll end up receiving the real deal or a cheap knock off. So, where is the best place to get cheap fragrances? My top pick is Amazon, but it comes with a big warning!
Amazon sell cheap fragrances
If you search Amazon you’ll know that for quite some time they’ve sold a huge range of all kinds of aftershaves and fragrances for men and women. They have some seriously good deals, top cheap aftershaves and since they are a well known retailer they’ll sell genuine products, and sell them a lot cheaper than the high street.
However if you read some reviews you’ll notice there is a LOT of people who are reporting they are being sold fakes and counterfeits…Why is this happening?
It’s because Amazon allow 3rd party sellers. A lot of people may not know, or even notice, but there are other sellers who sell on Amazon, and can sell the same products as Amazon, and can compete with them, as well as other sellers for business.
Usually this is done by offering the best deal to you, the customer. Some people don’t know, or don’t realise that if they are buying on Amazon, it does not mean they are buying FROM Amazon. Sadly, there are a lot of sellers on there who seemingly (according to review) selling fake products.
Note: This is not to say that every seller on Amazon sells fake goods, but in this case there are some, and I can’t recommend using any, unless you’re familiar with the company.
The way that Amazon handles reviews is for the product, not the seller/shop, so you’ll find reports of fake aftershaves within the reviews of a lot of the scents, even if they’re being sold by Amazon, because some people may have bought from a 3rd party seller.
What can you do?
If you buy from Amazon, make sure the product is marked “Sold And Dispatched By Amazon“. This means exactly what it says on the tin, so you know you’re dealing with Amazon and only Amazon.
As you can see from the example above this is shown, so is sold by Amazon, and dispatched by them too. You’ll also notice it states “35 new from…” what does that mean? There are 35 other sellers selling this too;
Make sure you are buying from Amazon and not a store/seller you’ve never heard of. Make sure it says both Dispatched AND Sold, some 3rd party sellers use Amazon Fulfilment, which means it will say “Sold by company X dispatched by Amazon“, make sure it’s both sold by, and dispatched by Amazon.
Buy from authorised shops only
The other advice is to always only buy from authorised resellers of the scent you want to buy. This could be the specialist perfume shops out there, or the department stores out in the city or online.
Some may be more expensive, but at least you have the piece of mind that you’re getting the real deal.
Watch out for deals – Christmas sets are always good!
A lot of stores have deals on, and offer either older or less popular fragrances cheaper, or good deals on new or popular scents. It’s always good to keep an eye out. Many brands put together sets, so you get an EDT or aftershave with shower gel or aftershave balm and the set is usually the same price as the bottle alone, so you’re getting a bit more for your money.
Verdict
Sadly fragrances get ripped off, and lots of dodgy seller and shops sell fakes. It’s really hard to tell the difference when buying online, since you cannot test or even see what you’re buying. If you buy a fake it will more than likely not be as good, not last as long and may even be dangerous.
My top tip when buying scents from Amazon is to make sure you’re buying direct from Amazon UK and not a seller. Check the price, and see if other reputable online retailers can beat it, or others on the high street. Stay away from any company you’ve not heard of if you want to minimise the risk of getting a fake.
Let me know if you’ve found any bargains, and of course you can check out the top men’s fragrances on the blog if you’re looking for recommendations for a new signature scent.
About Michael
Michael Adams is the founder and editor of Michael 84, blogger from Newcastle, UK. Sharing men's fashion tips, style advice and lifestyle information for all guys.
