Die Schattenseiten der Duftzwillingsbranche: Ein kritischer Blick auf Regelverstöße und mangelnde Sicherheit

The Dark Side of the Fragrance Clone Industry: A Critical Look at Regulatory Violations and Safety Issues

The world of fragrance clones is enticing. The idea of enjoying your favorite scents at an affordable price attracts many customers. But what’s going on behind the scenes in this industry? ECLAT GmbH, known for its German-made fragrance clones, room scents, and cosmetic products, conducted a comprehensive analysis this year. We wanted to find out if our competitors were meeting the legal requirements and safety standards essential for consumer protection. The results were alarming.

The Requirements of the EU Cosmetic Regulation: What Fragrance Clone Manufacturers Must Deliver

The European Union (EU) Cosmetic Regulation ensures that all cosmetic products available on the market are safe for consumers. This regulation also applies to fragrance clones, which are classified as perfumes and cosmetics. A critical component of the Cosmetic Regulation is the CPNP (Cosmetic Products Notification Portal) registration. This registration is mandatory and ensures that a product is registered and thus approved for sale within the EU.

A CPNP registration allows national health authorities to quickly access important information, such as ingredients, origin, and manufacturer, if an issue with the product arises. Without this registration, it’s comparable to driving without a license—a serious violation that is not only illegal but also endangers consumer safety.

Challenges in Complying with Labeling Requirements

In addition to the CPNP registration, the Cosmetic Regulation requires clear and complete labeling of ingredients, origin addresses, and other essential information on the product packaging. This information not only helps consumers make informed decisions but also enables traceability and transparency. However, our investigation revealed that many providers fail to comply with these labeling requirements. This could be due to a desire to bypass legal requirements, avoid accountability, or simply a lack of necessary expertise.

Some providers even go so far as to list an address outside the EU, for example, in the United States—apparently to avoid EU oversight. This strategy of hiding essential information from consumers is not only unacceptable but also poses a potential risk to customers.

Why Compliance with Safety Standards Is So Important

In an industry where regulatory violations and inadequate safety standards seem commonplace, consumers should be particularly mindful of transparency and safety standards. Manufacturers who comply with the strict requirements of the Cosmetic Regulation and IFRA (International Fragrance Association) offer products that are tested according to established guidelines for the use of fragrances. These IFRA guidelines ensure that fragrances do not pose harmful effects to health.

Be Critical When Purchasing Fragrance Clones

It may be tempting to buy fragrance clones offered at particularly low prices, but caution is advised. A product that does not meet the basic requirements of the Cosmetic Regulation poses a risk. Without CPNP registration and proper labeling, consumers have no guarantee that the ingredients used are safe or that no harmful substances were used in production.

Purchasing a perfume is a decision that should be based not only on fragrance but also on safety. If a provider hides essential information or fails to meet legal requirements, customers should be cautious. The price of an apparent bargain may ultimately come at the expense of one’s health.

Our Call to the Fragrance Clone Industry

Safety and quality should be top priorities in the fragrance clone industry. We urge all providers of fragrance clones to take the legal requirements of the Cosmetic Regulation seriously and to ensure the safety of their products. It should be the responsibility of every manufacturer to offer consumers safe and transparent products.

Only together can we ensure that the fragrance clone industry provides a safe and reliable alternative for everyone who loves the scents of major brands. Be critical when purchasing fragrance clones, and look for products that are tested and transparent.