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Are My YSL M7s From INDIA FAKE? (Please Help!)

post #1 of 25
10/9/12 at 8:30am
Thread Starter 
Dear Friends,
After some discussions on base notes - i seeked out "Parcos" a so called established retailer in Mumbai (Bombay) who had stocks of M7 and M7 Fresh - elated i had asked my girlfriend to purchase this.

To my astonishment the moment i held the bottle in my hand esp the original m7 - i felt there was something wrong - (or me just being paranoid??) - 1.The insight fold-in had no placement instructions 2.The Ingredients for a pre-formulated bottle should only have four, this has a few more yet the bottle, resembles a pre-formulated bottle 3.The Smell itself, is alright - but too early in the game to see if its legit or not?

The story gets fishier - as it says imported date 05/2012 and use by 2017 - i dont get it wasnt this discontinued a long time ago - or is this excess stock from somewhere else?


I am posting some pictures, hopefully those in India and everywhere else can help me!

















Phew! I've also written to the company that imports it!
Sorry for the sub-par shots, need to fix the room lights!
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post #2 of 25
10/9/12 at 8:47am
Month and year of import don't have anything to do with the month and year of production.

I also doubt there would be only four ingredients in any fragrance sold in the last 50 years.
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post #3 of 25
10/9/12 at 8:55am
Watching the picture with bottom of the bottle ( picture no.4) I could say that mine is different.
1. My bottle has a code in the middle
2.It's written B.R.I. 92521 NEULLY CEDEX-MADE IN FRANCE .Yours have more words.
3.It's not written PERFUMES under YVES SAINT LAURENT
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post #4 of 25
10/9/12 at 9:07am
It's looks just fine, some vintage batches from 2005. and 2006. have been packed in the newer boxes with more ingredients printed. Check the code on this website for the date of production, I'm sure it is one of the last batches
http://checkcosmetic.net/

Also, it is possible that even thou you have a vintage bottle, there is a reformulated juice inside It is a shame, but they have been doing that also in the transition years for non-US markets - info from YSL boutique in Paris back at the time...
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post #5 of 25
10/9/12 at 9:17am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by chopwet View Post

Month and year of import don't have anything to do with the month and year of production.

I also doubt there would be only four ingredients in any fragrance sold in the last 50 years.

Obviously, you do not decipher the method of discontinuation of these, and yes many have more - but the pre-formulated ones were thought to only have 4 printed.

- - - Updated - - -

Quote:
Originally Posted by eddie_man View Post

It's looks just fine, some vintage batches from 2005. and 2006. have been packed in the newer boxes with more ingredients printed. Check the code on this website for the date of production, I'm sure it is one of the last batches
http://checkcosmetic.net/

Also, it is possible that even thou you have a vintage bottle, there is a reformulated juice inside It is a shame, but they have been doing that also in the transition years for non-US markets - info from YSL boutique in Paris back at the time...

Thanks for the links eddie ; well i can definitely recall the smell being preformulated type, reason being i've used this once before and even broke a bottle in my room, which the scent lingered for many months lol (but cant be too sure yet) - i am just worried about the box honestly, it looks cheap! also you may be right - might be old stock repackaged into old boxes - the M7 bottle is also slightly scarred - too many theories really! - ill give check-cosmetic ago.
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post #6 of 25
10/9/12 at 10:05am
I'd go by the smell after a few uses.
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post #7 of 25
10/9/12 at 10:30am
Baccarose is the Authorized importer of many luxury perfume brands in India.
The company is legit and I guess you've got the legit bottles as well.
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post #8 of 25
10/9/12 at 11:43am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by staticx View Post

Baccarose is the Authorized importer of many luxury perfume brands in India.
The company if legit and I guess you've got the legit bottles as well.

Thats comforting - i've written to them, probably its old stock repackaged with outgoing model boxes, keeping my fingers crossed!
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post #9 of 25
10/9/12 at 11:43am
Definitely fake. Send it to me immediately and I will dispose of it properly ;-).
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post #10 of 25
10/9/12 at 12:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SmellsLike View Post

Definitely fake. Send it to me immediately and I will dispose of it properly ;-).

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post #11 of 25
10/9/12 at 2:33pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by SmellsLike View Post

Definitely fake. Send it to me immediately and I will dispose of it properly ;-).

hahaha! well said!
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post #12 of 25
10/9/12 at 3:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by chopwet View Post

...I also doubt there would be only four ingredients in any fragrance sold in the last 50 years.

I have a few bottles with only 3 ingredients listed
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post #13 of 25
10/9/12 at 4:54pm
Who in their right mind would buy a perfume from a shop in India? Don't get me wrong, I have bought expensive smells in India but not from any local shop, only at department stores.

Having said that I prefer it in the UK from well known suppliers and the cost difference isn't huge.

INR3300 = £38. And for not much more you could buy it from somewhere reputable.
http://www.fragrancenet.com/m7-colog...mf/en_US/01555
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post #14 of 25
10/9/12 at 7:13pm
That is real, honestly there is no point for counterfeiters to knock off fragrances which were not popular to begin with.
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post #15 of 25
10/9/12 at 8:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by vinramani09 View Post

That is real, honestly there is no point for counterfeiters to knock off fragrances which were not popular to begin with.

I agree.

Also, it looks real to me.
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post #16 of 25
10/9/12 at 11:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bgoc View Post

Who in their right mind would buy a perfume from a shop in India? Don't get me wrong, I have bought expensive smells in India but not from any local shop, only at department stores....

I think that's a bit rich to say that about the whole of India and the many hundreds of thousands of totally legit local shops there. If I was Indian I would consider this statement a slap in the face.
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post #17 of 25
10/9/12 at 11:14pm
Legit. Enjoy it.
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post #18 of 25
10/9/12 at 11:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by chopwet View Post

I think that's a bit rich to say that about the whole of India and the many hundreds of thousands of totally legit local shops there. If I was Indian I would consider this statement a slap in the face.

It was indeed. But again, commenting on this would spark useless debate. Better ignore it! There is no point in proving it right or wrong either.
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post #19 of 25
10/10/12 at 3:44am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by bgoc View Post

Who in their right mind would buy a perfume from a shop in India? Don't get me wrong, I have bought expensive smells in India but not from any local shop, only at department stores.

Having said that I prefer it in the UK from well known suppliers and the cost difference isn't huge.

INR3300 = £38. And for not much more you could buy it from somewhere reputable.
http://www.fragrancenet.com/m7-colog...mf/en_US/01555

I think the India, you mention here is probably 20-30 years ago -
Parcos is an established specialist independent perfume retailer.
(with strong presence in major cities, its not a knock-off alley type of shops
you'd find from the 80's India selling "Chenelle") - Your statement here clearly shows;
you haven't travelled in a while.

http://www.expressavenue.in/images/t...parcos-big.jpg

My only reservation is the box, the fragrance itself looks/smells fine, and worried that
the importer/retailer themselves wouldn't know if this is off questionable origin.

Nevertherless, the more i inspect the bottle, the more legitimate it looks!

- - - Updated - - -

Quote:
Originally Posted by vinramani09 View Post

That is real, honestly there is no point for counterfeiters to knock off fragrances which were not popular to begin with.

Now, this makes a lot of sense to me!
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post #20 of 25
10/10/12 at 3:45am
As staticx said, Baccarose is the authorised importer of several brands of fragrance in India, including YSL. That said, I wouldn't pay much attention to 'best before 2017', as I guess they've put it just to boost sales.
I've shopped from several Parcos stores in India, and have never had any reason to doubt the legitimacy of the stuff they sell. They have stores only at prominent places including Delhi and Bombay airports. They source their fragrances from the same importers/wholesalers as the big brand departmental stores in India like Shoppers Stop. The only place I'd trust more would be a YSL boutique, but then there isn't one in India till now to the best of my knowledge. Moreover, I bought my bottle of Fahrenheit from the Dior boutique in New Delhi, and heck, even they buy it from the authorised Dior fragrance importer/wholesaler in India (which is not Baccarose by the way, but some other firm).
All said and done, I believe that the probability of your bottles being fake is extremely small. I think you should test the smell carefully, and may want to send your bottles to YSL if still in doubt. Hope this is helpful.
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post #21 of 25
10/10/12 at 3:56am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by freewheelingvagabond View Post

As staticx said, Baccarose is the authorised importer of several brands of fragrance in India, including YSL. That said, I wouldn't pay much attention to 'best before 2017', as I guess they've put it just to boost sales.
I've shopped from several Parcos stores in India, and have never had any reason to doubt the legitimacy of the stuff they sell. They have stores only at prominent places including Delhi and Bombay airports. They source their fragrances from the same importers/wholesalers as the big brand departmental stores in India like Shoppers Stop. The only place I'd trust more would be a YSL boutique, but then there isn't one in India till now to the best of my knowledge. Moreover, I bought my bottle of Fahrenheit from the Dior boutique in New Delhi, and heck, even they buy it from the authorised Dior fragrance importer/wholesaler in India (which is not Baccarose by the way, but some other firm).
All said and done, I believe that the probability of your bottles being fake is extremely small. I think you should test the smell carefully, and may want to send your bottles to YSL if still in doubt. Hope this is helpful.

Thanks a lot Freewheeling - i think my bottles are legit; in all honesty, i just think the worn off boxes was replaced with outgoing cheaper boxes and i just freaked out; Thanks a lot of your insights! by the way i've written to YSL and Baccarose lets see who replies first!
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post #22 of 25
10/10/12 at 6:31am
They mention the expiry date just to follow the standards set by the Govt. This probably has nothing to do actually with the product (yes it wont EXPIRE after 2017!!). But they've to mention it to follow the rules.

Forget the Box and enjoy the Fragrance!! It is Legit....!
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post #23 of 25
10/10/12 at 9:18am
I just looked at the bottle and box and I immediately knew it was legit. Bottles like M7 are the ones fakers struggle with. They never seem to be able to get the lid to sit flush atop the bottle.

Secondly, M7 was never all that popular and I hadn't heard of a fake until now.

Enjoy your purchase.
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post #24 of 25
10/10/12 at 10:18am
Thread Starter 
Thank you gentlemen!
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post #25 of 25
2/14/13 at 8:43pm
Sorry for bumping an old thread, but I think I might have some information that could be useful to people traveling to India. Lately, some of our big cities have become major centers for global business, and we have many people from other parts of the world staying in Indian cities for varying periods of time. As long as you use your discretion, shopping here can be a pleasant experience.

I'd like to dispel the notion that anything and everything available in India is fake, although I definitely understand where the paranoia is coming from. I myself am skeptical about buying from certain local and online retailers here. Fortunately, it is becoming increasingly easier to shop safely, and the products sold in big malls are definitely authentic.

Parcos, for example, is a reputed chain of perfume stores located in malls around the country, not a tiny shop in a shady alley. Their SAs could improve, and they mostly sell commonly available designer fragrances, but buying anything from them is completely safe.

The Guerlain website lists them as a registered retailer. I've bought M7, M7 Fresh, Live Jazz, Habit Rouge and even LIDGE from them, a fragrance people can't seem to find easily in many parts of the world. So the next time anyone is in India and finds something interesting in a large mall, departmental store, or duty free shop, don't hesitate to pick it up. The juice is real, although the prices could be slightly higher than expected.
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