Are Lattafa Perfumes Original? How to Spot Fake Arabic Perfumes in Malta
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Arabic perfume houses like Lattafa, Armaf, Afnan and French Avenue have exploded in popularity, and where there is demand there are fakes. A fake can smell close for ten minutes and then disappear, or worse, irritate your skin. Here is how to make sure you are buying the real thing in Malta.
1. Check the price
Genuine Arabic perfumes are already great value, so a price that seems far too low is the biggest warning sign. If a full 100ml bottle of a popular scent is being sold for a fraction of the usual shop price, ask why.
2. Look at the box and cellophane
Genuine boxes are printed sharply, with clean fonts, correct spelling and a tight, neat cellophane wrap. Blurry printing, spelling mistakes, loose wrapping or glue marks are red flags.
3. Find the barcode and batch code
Real bottles have a barcode on the box and a batch code printed or etched on the box and bottle. The codes should be clear and match. Missing or scratched-off codes are a warning sign.
4. Inspect the bottle and cap
Brands like Lattafa are known for heavy, detailed bottles and weighty caps. Fakes often feel light, have rough edges, crooked labels or caps that do not sit properly.
5. Smell and longevity
A genuine Arabic perfume develops over hours: the opening, heart and base notes change as it wears. Fakes tend to smell sharp or alcoholic and fade very quickly.
6. Buy from a seller you can contact
Buy from a shop with a real address, a phone number and clear return details, not an anonymous social media account. At Fragrance & Co we source our full-size perfumes from established European distributors and every bottle we sell is genuine.
A note on inspired and travel-size perfumes
Some shops, including ours, also sell affordable travel-size blends inspired by popular scents. These are honest products as long as they are clearly labelled as inspired blends and not sold as the original brand. Our 35ml travel range is clearly marked as our own Fragrance & Co blend.
Shop genuine Arabic perfumes in Malta
All our full-size perfumes are 100% genuine, with fast delivery across Malta & Gozo and free delivery on orders over €50. Not sure what to choose? Message us on WhatsApp and we will help you pick.