At E.K. Perfume Center on Hillcroft, there are literally thousands of scents to choose from.
"There is a sweet trend with the ladies, a lot of the ones that are selling are Ed Hardy, men and ladies actually. Also, Juicy Couture, and Viva la Juicy," said owner Edit Khan.
They are hot and trendy fragrances in time for Valentine's Day. But buyer beware cheap fakes, which can smell very much like the real thing.
"It is not the same quality. It will not stay on you as long," warned Khan.
Quality is not the only thing to worry about, an article by fashion magazine Harper's Bazaar recently revealed a little know secret about these designer impostors.
The magazine reported that some counterfeit fragrances contain bacteria, antifreeze, and even urine.
"These ingredients, including the antifreeze, are very harmful to the skin's surface. They penetrate, which is not safe and they irritate, which is unpleasant," said dermatologist, Dr. Adelaide Hebert with UT Physicians.
Dr. Hebert also said the toxic chemicals and bacteria can lead to ugly rashes or allergic reactions.
"Many patients apply perfume to very delicate areas of the skin such as behind the ears, on the neck and on the wrist. These areas are thin, in terms of the skin, and thus penetration is enhanced," she said.
So, before you spritz on your favorite scent make sure it's the real thing. Here are a few of the red flags to look for:
-Loose packaging -Incorrect labels or misspellings -The color is wrong -The bottle is warped or has bubbles in the glass.
And if the price tag looks too good to be true it probably is.
"There is a sweet trend with the ladies, a lot of the ones that are selling are Ed Hardy, men and ladies actually. Also, Juicy Couture, and Viva la Juicy," said owner Edit Khan.
They are hot and trendy fragrances in time for Valentine's Day. But buyer beware cheap fakes, which can smell very much like the real thing.
"It is not the same quality. It will not stay on you as long," warned Khan.
Quality is not the only thing to worry about, an article by fashion magazine Harper's Bazaar recently revealed a little know secret about these designer impostors.
The magazine reported that some counterfeit fragrances contain bacteria, antifreeze, and even urine.
"These ingredients, including the antifreeze, are very harmful to the skin's surface. They penetrate, which is not safe and they irritate, which is unpleasant," said dermatologist, Dr. Adelaide Hebert with UT Physicians.
Dr. Hebert also said the toxic chemicals and bacteria can lead to ugly rashes or allergic reactions.
"Many patients apply perfume to very delicate areas of the skin such as behind the ears, on the neck and on the wrist. These areas are thin, in terms of the skin, and thus penetration is enhanced," she said.
So, before you spritz on your favorite scent make sure it's the real thing. Here are a few of the red flags to look for:
-Loose packaging -Incorrect labels or misspellings -The color is wrong -The bottle is warped or has bubbles in the glass.
And if the price tag looks too good to be true it probably is.
