Is perfume/cologne purchased from abroad "better" than if bought in the United States?

Is perfume/cologne purchased from abroad "better" than if bought in the United States? - Dollar banknote on white table

A friend told me that it is better to buy perfumes and/or cologne in Europe as opposed to the United States.

Her reasoning is that perfume/cologne that is sold in the US is water-based and contains more alcohol (by mandate) while a fragrance's European counterpart would be oil-based; producing richer scents that stay with your skin for a longer period of time. Her advice is to purchase from a duty free shop before heading back into the United States or at an EU department store.

For example and clarity: If I was to buy Terre d'Hermès at Saks Fifth Avenue in NYC does that bottle have the same formula and ingredients as Terre d'Hermès sold at Liberty in London?

europeshoppingduty-free


Best Answer

Ok. Let's forget for the moment that we don't know if we are comparing EDT to EDP to Parfum itself, but let's assume that we are actually comparing Apples to Apples.

Speficically when it comes to Terre d'Hermes it has been reformulated due to restrictions imposed by IFRA on ISO E Super. So if you bought it before the restriction and after you will definitely be buying a chemically different product.

There is no indication that there is an en masse difference between perfume products sold in Europe and the US.



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How do you know if perfume is from origin?

How we as the consumers can identify the perfume sold is original or fake:
  • The Packaging. They misspelt the perfume name on the box. ...
  • The Bottles. You should always look at the country of origin at the bottom of the plastic stickers or beneath the bottles (eg: Made in France, Made in the USA). ...
  • The Content. ...
  • The scent.


    • Can perfume go through customs?

    There aren't any quantity limits for checked luggage, but if you're packing your perfume in hand luggage, you have to follow the TSA's 3-1-1 rule. Essentially, the 3-1-1 rule dictates that liquids in hand luggage have to be in 3.4 oz (100 ml) bottles or less.

    Can you buy perfume from overseas?

    (Like most luxury products, perfume is usually expensive, and it's much cheaper to buy in the US than in other countries.) But unfortunately, most perfumes cannot be shipped internationally. This isn't a decision made by the merchant, and it's not a decision made by the package forwarding services.

    What country makes the best cologne?

    French perfume. France is renowned for its perfume industry and is home to some of the world's most famous perfumeries, such as the Maison Guerlain.


    5 Biggest Fragrance Mistakes And How to Avoid Them



    Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

    Images: Karolina Grabowska, Karolina Grabowska, Karolina Grabowska, Karolina Grabowska



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