Alternative Designer Fragrances

Alternative designer fragrances are the equivalent of designer clothing knock-offs.

Alternative designer fragrances (ADF) have existed for decades. The 1980s and early 1990s saw the rise of such alternative designer fragrance lines such as Designer Imposters perfume sprays. These fragrances still exist and are in direct competition with designer fragrances.

Definition

Alternative designer fragrances are inexpensive versions of designer perfumes. These perfumes use the same family of fragrance notes as their designer counterparts but with a higher alcohol content.

Cost

Many alternative designer fragrances sell for under $20. These fragrances can be bought in bulk for under $100 at many online ADF wholesale retailers.

Manufacturers

Often the parent company of many designer fragrances create ADFs to be sold at drug stores, mail order retailers and online retailers. According to Business Week, Inter Parfums Incorporated manufactures and markets designer perfumes by Burberry, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Christian Lacroix.

Types

Lines of ADFs include Royal Platinum, the Dorall Collection and Preferred Fragrance. Each line produces "knock-off" versions of such designer perfumes as Calvin Klein's Obsession and Armani Code.

Legal Actions

Some ADF manufacturers try to imitate designer fragrances, down to their packaging and logo infringing on trademark laws. A couple of lawsuits have been filed against Preferred Fragrance for such infringement, including a lawsuit filed by Estee Lauder.

References

• Inter Parfums Inc.
• Preferred Fragrance Inc.

Resources

• Royal Platinum