Detection of Counterfeit Perfumes by Using GC-MS Technique and Electronic Nose System Combined with Chemometric Tools

Abstract

The Scientific Committee on Cosmetic and Non-Food Products has identified 26 compounds that may cause contact allergy in consumers when present in concentrations above certain legal thresholds in a product. Twenty-four of these compounds are volatiles and can be analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) or electronic nose (e-nose) technologies. This manuscript first describes the use of the GC-MS approach to identify the main volatile compounds present in the original perfumes and their counterfeit samples. The second part of this work focusses on the ability of an e-nose system to discriminate between the original fragrances and their counterfeits. The analyses were carried out using the headspace of the aqueous solutions. GC-MS analysis revealed the identification of 10 allergens in the perfume samples, some of which were only found in the imitated fragrances. The e-nose system achieved a fair discrimination between most of the fragrances analyzed, with the counterfeit fragrances being clearly separated from the original perfumes. It is shown that associating the e-nose system to the appropriate classifier successfully solved the classification task. With Principal Component Analysis (PCA), the three first principal components represented 98.09% of the information in the database.

Meta-Analysis and Analytical Methods in Cosmetics Formulation: A Review

“…The olfactory system comprises transduction mechanisms, a process which involves various proteins in receptors located in the olfactory epithelium [72]. These proteins transform chemical patterns into electrochemical impulses, which are interpreted by the brain [73]. Analyzing the profile of a perfume is not a simple task; modern formulations can contain more than 100 compounds in a single sample, requiring both the olfactory expertise of a perfumer and the utilization of advanced analytical techniques to evaluate perfumes from different perspectives [74].…”

A cost-effective counterfeiting prevention method using hashing, QR code, and website

“…It not only harms legitimate manufacturers or brand owners by diluting their brand reputation and market share but also poses risks to consumer health and safety [4]. Counterfeit goods can range from counterfeit currency [5] and documents to counterfeit designer clothing [6], electronics [7], pharmaceuticals [8], and other consumer goods [9]. An actual picture of counterfeiting we can observe in developing countries [10] like Bangladesh [11], [12].…”