On TikTok, Instagram and on many platforms,
perfume dupes promise luxury gifts for a few euros. Under the hashtag #dupe, more than 385,000 publications praise these copies as the end of year celebrations. To a discerning eye, these bottles appear identical to the big brands, perfect for a dreamy scent under the tree.
According to an OpinionWay study carried out for the Federation of Beauty Companies (FEBEA), 77% of French people at least occasionally give cosmetics at Christmas and perfume tops the list of gifts, cited by 69% of respondents. Gifts considered personal and qualitative, which makes the question of their authenticity particularly sensitive.
Christmas cosmetics and perfume dupes
On the networks, videos of good deals are paraded. “Why pay 100 euros for a perfume when you can have the same one for 20 euros“, writes a Toulouse woman, before sharing the address of a store offering “perfumes inspired by major brands, but without paying a high price“, quoted by
Progress. Millennials, Generation Z and more seasoned consumers are being tempted by these promises of luxury at low prices.
In the world of beauty, these dupe products
concern perfumes, makeup, creams or serums that copy the appearance or smell of an iconic brand. Sales explode during Black Friday, Single Day, Christmas or New Year. FEBEA often denounces dupes.poor quality or dangerous”sold outside European rules, in particular via Temu, Shein or AliExpress. A C-Ways study for FEBEA in March 2025 shows that 96% of dupe buyers know very little about the risks.
Health risks of fools
For FEBEA, the issue goes beyond simple good business. Emmanuel Guichard, general delegate, summarizes the sector’s position: “The end-of-year holidays are a key moment for our sector. We encourage everyone to favor safe, verified and compliant products, from our French manufacturers and distributed through approved distribution channels. Thanks to the expertise and innovation of our companies, everyone can give a cosmetic gift with complete confidence. This year, no fools under the tree!“.
The context also works in favor of players established in France. World leader in cosmetics, “Made in France” serves as a benchmark for reliable gifts. Buying from identified brands and approved channels secures the contents of the bottle. To decipher the ingredient lists, the application COSMILE Europefree, provides validated information on more than 30,000 substances.
A real perfume cheaper, without fooling
To avoid unpleasant surprises, FEBEA reminds us of four simple reflexes:
- Favor reliable brands, consult reviews and SignalConso if in doubt;
- Choose sites displaying legal notices, origin of the seller and official network;
- Check name, function, composition, quantity, price, delivery costs and visual;
- Avoid ridiculous prices, dubious payments, “not tested on animals” or “paraben-free” claims, obvious imitation or “dupe” mention.
To protect the wallet without switching to counterfeits, the UFC-Que Choisir Consumer Observatory has shown price differences of up to 58% between sites for the same perfume. Lancôme’s best-seller “Life is Beautiful” could thus go from 153 euros for 100 ml to 89 euros. However, some very inexpensive foreign sites have delivered degraded or overtaxed bottles. UFC-Que Choisir therefore recommended French e-retailers like My-origines.com, Parfumdo.com, Parfumerie-en-ligne.com, Nocibé or Incenza: “Therefore, favor e-retailers established in France, you will be sure to benefit from perfumes from the official distribution circuit.“.