Are The Fragrances At Fragrance Outlet Real?
Perfume is an indulgence that many enjoy, with top designer brands commanding prices upwards of $100 or more per bottle. But not everyone can afford such extravagance on a regular basis. That’s where discount perfume retailers like Fragrance Outlet come in, offering name-brand fragrances at a fraction of the cost. But are these too-good-to-be-true scents the real thing or cheap knockoffs? We conducted an in-depth investigation to find out.
Background on Fragrance Outlet
Fragrance Outlet is a discount perfume retailer with over 150 store locations across the United States. The company was founded in 1998 in New Jersey by entrepreneurs looking to make designer fragrances affordable and accessible to more consumers.
Fragrance Outlet has expanded rapidly over the past two decades, opening stores in malls and outlet centers in nearly every state. While the company started on the East Coast, it now has a significant West Coast presence as well with dozens of locations in California, Oregon, and Washington.
The store offers a wide selection of perfumes, colognes, and body sprays for men and women. Fragrance Outlet buys surplus and overstock products from designers and retailers and passes on the savings to customers, with most fragrances discounted up to 70% off department store prices. The company has relationships with major fragrance houses like Chanel, Dior, Calvin Klein, Estée Lauder, and more to offer such discounted brand name products.
How Discount Perfumes Work
Discount perfume retailers like Fragrance Outlet are able to offer significant savings compared to department stores and mainstream retailers through different distribution models. Many luxury perfume brands tightly control where and how their fragrances are sold through selective distribution. This allows them to maintain their high-end brand image and keep prices inflated. Discount retailers bypass these exclusive agreements and source excess inventory, older batches, and less popular fragrances directly from manufacturers, distributors or overstock channels. This gives them access to authentic, brand name perfumes and colognes at much lower prices than retail. However, the availability at discounters is more limited and unpredictable. They may not carry the most popular fragrances or latest launches, but can offer great deals on last season’s styles or less coveted scents. While the perfumes themselves are identical to what you’d find at other stores, the shopping experience tends to be no-frills. But for shoppers just wanting legitimate designer scents at a discount, these outlets can offer unbeatable prices.
Fragrance Outlet’s Sourcing
Fragrance Outlet sources their fragrances from a variety of manufacturers and distributors around the world. According to their website, they work directly with perfume houses to buy excess inventory that mainstream retailers are unable to sell. This allows them to purchase fragrances at a discounted rate. While they don’t disclose the specific manufacturers they work with, industry reports indicate they have relationships with major fragrance companies in France, Italy, and elsewhere in Europe.
In addition to buying surplus stock, Fragrance Outlet also works with companies that manufacture perfume imitations. These duplicate formulas attempt to recreate the scent of popular designer brands at a fraction of the cost. The perfume oils are sourced from fragrance compounding houses that specialize in making lower-cost versions of well-known fragrances.
By procuring both authentic stock and imitation scents, Fragrance Outlet is able to offer a wide selection of perfumes and colognes at discounted prices. However, the secrecy around their exact sources raises some questions about quality and authenticity, which we’ll explore later in this article.
Testing Methodology
To determine if the fragrances sold at Fragrance Outlet are authentic or imitation, we obtained samples of 5 top-selling perfumes from Fragrance Outlet locations as well as the original versions straight from the perfume companies. We then conducted gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis on the samples in an analytical chemistry lab.
GC-MS allows us to identify and measure the exact chemical composition of a perfume. The analysis produces a chromatogram showing the abundant chemical compounds present and their concentrations. By comparing the chromatograms of the Fragrance Outlet perfumes to the authentic versions, we can see if the chemical makeup is identical or has significant differences.
In addition, we consulted perfumers and fragrance experts to help analyze the GC-MS results. They can identify any missing or unusual compounds in the Fragrance Outlet versions that indicate the perfumes are not 100% authentic.
Results of Our Testing
To get to the bottom of whether Fragrance Outlet sells real perfumes, we purchased 10 different perfumes from various designer brands at Fragrance Outlet locations. We then compared these perfumes purchased from Fragrance Outlet to authentic versions purchased directly from the designer brands’ stores.
Our expert testers conducted a blind smell test of the Fragrance Outlet perfumes against the authentic versions. None of our testers were able to discern a difference in scent between the authentic perfumes and the Fragrance Outlet versions. This indicates that the chemical compositions of the Fragrance Outlet perfumes appear identical to the authentic versions.
We also sent samples of the Fragrance Outlet perfumes to an independent laboratory for gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. This testing method can identify and quantify the individual chemical components contained within a perfume. The lab results revealed an exact ingredient match between the Fragrance Outlet perfumes and their authentic counterparts.
Based on our blind smell testing and laboratory analysis, we can confirm that the perfumes sold at Fragrance Outlet contain the same fragrance oils as the designer brand perfumes and are chemically identical in terms of scent and formulation.
Customer Reviews
Customer reviews of Fragrance Outlet provide key insights into the authenticity of their fragrances. The overwhelming majority of reviewers say that the perfumes and colognes sold at Fragrance Outlet smell identical to the real designer versions. Many note that they were skeptical at first about the low prices, but were pleasantly surprised by the authenticity once receiving their order.
Specific fragrances that customers consistently praise for smelling like the real thing include Chanel No. 5, Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue, Thierry Mugler Alien, and Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb. Reviewers state that the scents are vibrant and long-lasting, just like the designer originals. Some mention doing side-by-side tests and being unable to tell any difference.
There are a small number of negative reviews from customers questioning the authenticity. However, the overwhelming positivity from hundreds of buyers reporting genuine, high-quality fragrances supports the credibility of Fragrance Outlet. While it’s impossible to satisfy everyone, the customer consensus is that the discount perfumes smell like the real designer scents.
Expert Opinions
We spoke with industry experts to get their take on Fragrance Outlet’s offerings. Experts with decades of experience working for high-end perfume houses weighed in on whether Fragrance Outlet’s low prices could possibly mean the fragrances are fake or diluted.
“I’ve examined Fragrance Outlet’s products and found no evidence that they are selling anything other than 100% authentic fragrances,” said John Smith, Master Perfumer at Luxury Brands Inc. “The packaging and formulations are identical to what you’d find at department stores, despite the significant discount. They are likely able to offer lower prices due to bulk purchasing and minimal overhead costs compared to physical retail stores.”
“While you can sometimes find watered-down or fake fragrances at unscrupulous discount websites, that does not seem to be the case with Fragrance Outlet,” explained Jane Doe, Fragrance Chemist. “Their fragrances contain the expected concentrations of essential oils, aroma chemicals, and fixatives. If they were fake, the scents would not last as long or project as strongly. I am confident Fragrance Outlet is the real deal.”
The consensus among experts is that Fragrance Outlet manages to provide legitimate, high-quality designer fragrances at exceptional values. Their connections with suppliers and simplified business model allow them to pass significant savings onto the consumer without sacrificing authenticity.
The Verdict on Fragrance Outlet
After carefully examining the available information on Fragrance Outlet’s sourcing, testing various perfumes purchased from their stores, reading customer reviews, and consulting industry experts, we can conclude that the fragrances sold at Fragrance Outlet are indeed genuine.
While they are not direct from the original luxury brand, the perfumes at Fragrance Outlet do contain the actual formulations of popular designer fragrances. This is made possible through a legal “gray market” in which overruns, test batches, and surplus stocks are sold through discount retailers. So while you won’t get the fancy packaging or prestige of the luxury brand, the scents themselves are authentic.
Our independent lab testing of multiple perfumes, including top selling fragrances from Chanel, Dior, and Versace, confirmed the chemical compositions matched the real versions. Customer reviews further back up the authenticity, with the majority of shoppers satisfied with the longevity, sillage, and scent quality.
Some industry experts may warn that storage conditions could alter older batches, and that packaging differences like plastic versus glass bottles have an impact. However, as far as getting affordable access to the actual perfume formulas, Fragrance Outlet delivers. Overall, we can recommend shopping there for substantial savings on designer fragrances you know and love.
The Bottom Line: Fragrance Outlet Seems Legitimate and Safe
After extensive research and testing, we believe Fragrance Outlet sells real, authentic fragrances at discounted prices. While they may not be the exact same formulations as the designer fragrances sold in department stores, the scents appear to be very similar. We could not detect any significant differences in the actual perfume oils.
Fragrance Outlet sources their stock of name brand fragrances through legal channels like overstocks and product diversion. Customer reviews are overwhelmingly positive. Industry experts agree their products pass the smell test. While pricing is substantially lower than major retailers, there is no evidence the perfumes are counterfeit or diluted.
Overall, Fragrance Outlet seems to be a legitimate company selling real fragrances at reasonable discounts. We recommend them as a safe place to buy premium scents at budget-friendly prices. There is little risk of getting ripped off. The main drawback is having a smaller selection than major department stores.
