How to spot a fake perfume decant

A decant is only as good as the bottle it was filled from. Because the scent leaves its original packaging, the buyer has to trust the seller – and that is exactly where fakes and diluted fills slip in. These are the checks worth making.

1. Ask for proof of the original bottle

An honest seller can show the full bottle the decant comes from, ideally with the batch code on the bottom of the bottle or box, and a receipt or invoice. If the seller avoids the question, walk away.

2. The price is too good to be true

Divide the price of the full bottle by its volume. If a decant costs far less per millilitre than the original in a regular store, the seller is either losing money or not selling the real thing.

3. Check the atomizer and the label

• A sturdy glass atomizer, not thin plastic.
• A label with the perfume name, concentration, volume and fill date.
• A tight cap and an even, fine mist when sprayed.

4. Smell and colour

If you can, compare the decant with a tester in a store. A fake often smells right for the first few minutes and then turns flat or sharp. A noticeably different colour or cloudiness is also a warning sign.

5. Seller transparency

Check reviews, how long the seller has been active and whether they answer questions about origin openly. Contact details, terms and a complaints procedure are the basics.

How we do it at Lunève

Every decant is filled from an original retail bottle with proof of purchase. For every perfume we show the invoice and a photo of the bottle, and each atomizer is labelled with its fill date. If anything is unclear, just ask.