Counterfeit designer scents push Kenyans to pricier niche perfumes

Cierra Perfumes Brand and Content Lead Peter Gitau during an interview at the shop's outlet in the CBD, Nairobi, on February 11, 2026.

Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation Media Group

Walk through any mall in Nairobi, and you will catch it before you see it: a wave of familiar designer scents trailing behind shoppers who paid a fraction of the real price.

The counterfeit perfume trade has grown so sophisticated that even seasoned buyers struggle to tell a fake Tommy Hilfiger or Gucci bottle from the original.

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