US Customs has seized counterfeit Giorgio Armani Acqua Di GIO - the Armani masculine scent fragrance. The counterfeit products are very similar visually to the authentic product and are quite common on ebay and other internet vendors. Comparison to an authentic products appearance and scent is the easiest way to detect a fake.
There is no way to determine authentic Acqua Di GIO products from stock (catalog) photos often used for internet sales. Stock photos are common in eBay listings where counterfeit items are described as "100% Genuine" or Authentic" and sold to unsuspecting buyers. If the price is too good to be true, the product you will receive is likely a fake.
Check is the imprinted batch number on the box. The batch number on the box must match the number on the bottle. Other differences in packaging and the bottle manufacture are noted below. The best way to be assured of receiving a genuine product is to buy from local authorized Armani dealers.
This is a "stock" file photo. There is no way to tell a real product from a counterfeit product from a vendor using a stock photo.
If you want to risk buying a fake product, insist on actual photos of the product, including batch#.
Both the authentic and this counterfeit Acqua Di Gio came sealed in plastic and look almost identical.
The box is white/ivory in color and text is darker on the authentic product.
The counterfeit box is tan and the text is grey.
Could you tell which of these Armani Acqua Di GIO products is real, and which is counterfeit?
Authentic Acqua Di Gio text is grey, while the text color is much darker on the counterfeit.
The ingredients in counterfeit fragrances are unknown.
Compare the vaporizer head on the authentic and counterfeit Acqua Di Gio.
The head on the authentic product is taller and the base of the head is shorter.
Look for a batch number imprinted on the bottom of the box. It is difficult to see. The batch number will match the number on the bottle base.
If the batch number is missing or does not match, you probably have a fake.
The embossed number on the bottom of the authentic Acqua Di GIO box will match the number on the bottom of the bottle on authentic products. However, the numbers may also match on the better fakes.
If the batch number does not match, it is a fake.
Can you tell which of these two Giorgio Armani Acqua Di GIO boxes is the authentic product?
When purchasing from online vendors, there is a high risk of buying counterfeit products that are visually nearly identical the the authentic product.
Note the different sprayer head configuration on the real and counterfeit bottles.
The authentic Acqua Di GIO has a black spray nozzle while this fake has a white nozzle. Counterfeits may also have a black spray nozzle.
Authentic Acqua Di GIO packaging has printing on the inside of the box. However, the better fakes also have printing on the inside of the box.
If the product does not have printing inside the box, it is a counterfeit.
This counterfeit Giorgio Armani Acqua Di GIO seized by US Customs is visually very similar to the authentic product. Counterfeit fragrances may contain ingredients that are harmful to your health and not FDA approved. (photo US Customs)
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