Spotting Fakes Series: Episode 1 (Initio)

Hey good people!

Unfortunately, one of our brothers in the community recently received a fake bottle. Situations like this really suck, and they happen more often than we think. Because of that, I decided to start a small series on how to spot fake fragrance bottles.

The goal is simple: help our community avoid getting scammed.

A few basic rules before buying

Always ask for pictures before buying. Ask for clear photos of:

-Front and back of the bottle

-Bottom sticker / batch code

-Atomizer without the cap

-The box and its bottom label

-Fill level

Of course, sellers can send fake photos too, but it’s still your first line of defense.

Do a quick legit check on the seller. Look at:

-How long they’ve been in the group

-Previous sales posts

-References from other members

-Whether their profile looks real or newly created

If the price looks too good to be true, there’s usually a reason.

Use a trusted middleman (admin) if needed.If you’re not 100% confident in the seller, ask an admin to act as a middleman.

How it works:

-You send the money to the admin.

-The seller sends the bottle to the admin.

The admin verifies the bottle is authentic.

-If everything is good, the admin sends the money to the seller and ships the bottle to you.

It adds a step, but it can save you hundreds of dollars and a big headache.

Other important information:

-Batch codes: bottle and box should usually match. Some counterfeiters copy codes, but mismatches are a red flag.

-Quality of printing: luxury brands have very sharp, precise printing. Blurry text, uneven spacing, or crooked labels are suspicious.

-Bottle weight and glass quality: most niche houses use heavy glass and high-quality molds. Fakes often feel lighter or slightly rough around the seams.

-Atomizer quality: niche brands usually have smooth, fine mists. Cheap atomizers can feel loose or spray unevenly.

-Fragrance performance: this is the least reliable indicator, but if a fragrance disappears in 10 minutes when the original lasts 8+ hours, something may be off.

Today’s example: Initio Parfums Privés

Initio bottles can be tricky because the brand has had packaging updates and label variations over the years. Because of this, you cannot rely only on the label design to authenticate them.

Here are a few helpful things to check.

Atomizers

-2021 and earlier: metal base with a tall, skinny atomizer stem.

-Post-2021: fully plastic atomizer assembly.

Bottle seams: Initio bottles have distinct seams that run from the atomizer down toward the corners of the bottle and are slightly offset. Poorly aligned seams can indicate a fake.

Cap mirror plate

The cap should contain a mirror-like plate that sits perfectly flush with the cap.If you see gaps, crooked alignment, or cheap plastic, that’s suspicious.

Cap interior

Older bottles (2021 and earlier): round interior shape

Newer bottles: hexagonal interior

I have a few pictures on my laptop that might help illustrate these differences, so I’ll post them below for reference. Hopefully this helps some of you avoid getting burned in the future.

More to come in this series: next time I might cover Parfums de Marly, Creed, or Xerjoff, since those are heavily counterfeited as well.

Stay safe out there and always trust your nose and your instincts.

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