Dear friends and ISPC members,
You may have noticed the growing spotlight on “dupes” in mainstream media and social media platforms like TikTok. Rising perfume prices, economic challenges, the pursuit of bargains, and misconceptions about authentic creations have all contributed to this trendy phenomenon.
However, let’s be clear: dupes are not a trendy innovation – they are fakes and imitations that should be recognized as such. While copying may serve as part of a perfumer’s early training, it should remain confined to that phase. True pride for a perfumer-creator lies in crafting original, innovative olfactory expressions.
The existence of copies is nothing new in our industry, but public interest in them is undeniably growing. What remains less understood is this critical reality: perfumers’ creations are not protected by intellectual property rights.
In the absence of such legal safeguards, our profession must rely on self-regulation and a commitment to a shared ethical code. This is where The Charter—designed to uphold creativity and ethics—becomes essential. It is available for download on our website, and we believe now is an especially important time to read, respect, and champion its principles, both within and beyond the world of perfumery.
Best wishes,
Francis Kurkdjian
THE ISPC CHARTER : BRINGING PERFUMER-CREATORS TOGETHER IN TIMES OF DUPES
From inspiration to plain copy, imitation is omnipresent in the history of modern perfumery. We, perfumer-creators, know the value of imitating great classics when it comes to learning our craft. But we also know that there is no glory in selling a perfume that mimics, purely and simply, the olfactory form of another.
Recently, under the combined influence of social media and the general rise in prices, copies don’t hide anymore. They even claim themselves, in the form of these “dupes” openly quoting the perfume they are imitating. This phenomenon – and the success it meets – betrays a lack of consideration for creation, which the general public is often uneducated to. Yet, the value of creation is the first difference between a perfume and its dupes. And it is the very notion that defines us, perfumers-creators.
As ISPC members, we are the signatories of a Charter written as the code of ethics of our profession. In our times of dupes, this text gives sense, more than ever, to the values that we share as perfumers-creators. If we respect it, embody it and defend it, the Charter helps us stand together as a strong community and protects us from within. Let it be our common reference, allowing us to speak in a united voice to protect our shared values – starting with the respect of creation.
