TrendyGround has been collecting and reselling genuine perfume for more than 15 years, specialising in discontinued and rare fragrances — precisely the category that counterfeiters target hardest. That is why authentication is a process here, not a promise.

What we check on every bottle

1. Batch code — matched, not just present

The code is read from the bottle (and the box where one exists) and the two must agree. Codes are then dated using our free batch code checkers, which cover 40+ houses. A missing, duplicated or mismatched code is a stop — we do not list the bottle.

2. Seals and cellophane

On sealed stock we photograph the wrap: it should be applied by machine, pulled taut, with one clean seam and sharp folded corners. Hand-wrapped, cloudy, glue-marked or double-sealed plastic is treated as suspect.

3. Box printing and finish

We check print sharpness, the accuracy of small legal text, embossing and foil work, and the address and wording used by the house in that era — the details counterfeiters most often get wrong.

4. Bottle moulding and glass

Genuine bottles have clean seams, even wall thickness and crisp screen-print or engraving. We compare against known reference bottles from the same production era.

5. Sprayer, stopper and neck

Sprayers are tested before listing and splash stoppers are checked for fit. Staining, corrosion or a fused stopper tells us about how the bottle was stored, which is recorded in the condition notes.

6. The juice

Finally, the perfume itself: colour for its era, absence of sediment or cloudiness, and a wear test for projection and longevity. This is the check no photograph can replace.

What you get as a buyer

• Photos of the verification points — batch code, seals, box and any wear — on request for any bottle.
• A condition grade and a stated fill level, using the scale in our vintage perfume condition guide.
• A stated batch year wherever the code is readable.
• 100% authenticity guarantee — if a bottle is ever shown not to be genuine, we refund it in full. Every order also carries our 30-day return window.

Check a bottle you already own

Bought your fragrance elsewhere and want a second opinion? Send us clear photos and we will tell you what we can see — free of charge:

• The bottle, front and back, including any engraved or printed text
• The batch code (bottle and box, if you have both)
• The box, all four sides and the base
• The sprayer nozzle and the underside of the cap

You can also run the batch code yourself first — there is a checker for most major houses in our batch code library — and work through the fake perfume guide for the full checklist. When you are ready, send the photos through our contact form.

Frequently asked questions

Will you authenticate a fragrance you did not sell?

Yes. Send photos and we will review them and tell you honestly what we see. We never charge for that first opinion.

The batch code on my box does not match my bottle — is it fake?

Not automatically, but it needs explaining. Boxes get swapped during storage and shipping, so a mismatch is common on older stock — however a code printed in the wrong style or a bottle with no code at all is a genuine red flag. Send us both and we will look.

Do you sell sealed bottles only?

No. Roughly half of the vintage perfume market is open, partially used stock, and rare formulations rarely survive sealed. What matters is that every bottle is genuine and that its condition is described accurately.

What if a bottle turns out not to be authentic?

Tell us, send it back within 30 days, and we refund it in full. Authenticity is guaranteed on every order, and we would rather have the bottle back than have a collector unsure about it.

Browse Verified Bottles →

Not sure about a bottle? Send us photos and we will help.