Imported perfumes disappear from Moscow: even Duty Free is empty

Old stocks in warehouses have come to an end

Muscovites are sounding the alarm: imported perfumes familiar to our women are gradually disappearing from the shelves of Russian beauty stores – every week it is becoming more and more difficult to find them. Chanel or Dior bottles, which have become a symbol of a beautiful life for Russian women, are disappearing not only from chain stores, but even from Duty Free. The MK correspondent assessed the situation on the perfume market.

Talk about parallel imports has been going on for a long time – it is assumed that goods of familiar brands can be brought from friendly countries. But at the moment there is no concrete solution to this problem, and the range of stores is rapidly depleted.

In a privileged position today are those stores that were closed for half of 2022 (until they figured out the ownership and trademark). While the store was closed, no one encroached on its stocks – therefore, more were preserved there than anywhere else. You go in, and at first it seems that everything is in order: at least all the familiar brands seem to be in stock.

– Do you have any left? – you ask the consultant about a specific fragrance that you are going to buy as a gift. Suddenly, the consultant nods happily and leads you to the right rack. Really?

Yes, indeed in stock – and even the price does not particularly bite. However, when the first euphoria subsides, you pay attention: yes, the bottle you need is there, only on the shelf it is almost bored alone. Another fragrance from the same line – only in large (and expensive!) bottles of 100 ml and just a couple of boxes, and also a bottle of shower gel for some other one. Everything, on this imaginary abundance ends.

We are now selling what we have in stock. It’s definitely not worth counting on new items, I can say that right away. Then there is a difficult question: some brands flatly refused to cooperate with Russia, some we can bring, but it will be difficult and expensive. What you took, by the way, will no longer be for sure, these are leftovers, – the sales assistant willingly says.

I draw your attention: the expiration date is indicated on the bottle – until April 2024. Of course, it is easier to use a bottle of 30 ml in a year, and in general it is generally accepted that perfumes do not have an expiration date, these are all formalities … but the fact remains.

Back in the summer of 2022, it was said that Muscovites continue to wear perfume and make up at the expense of the regions, because stores make “transfers” – they redirect the products left in warehouses from the regions to Moscow, because there are more customers and money. This information was not advertised, but they did not make a secret out of it either – sellers willingly shared information with customers.

– Look in the online store, maybe it’s worth ordering there. You know, it happens like this: there is one bottle left somewhere in Yekaterinburg, well, they’ll just bring it to you, – the sales consultants, who were left alone with empty tester bottles, easily suggested.

But these stocks are running out. Gradually, even Duty Free shops in the capital’s airports are emptying, where traffic is a priori lower than in chain stores in the city. As marketer Snezhana Guryeva noted in a conversation with an MK correspondent, the events of the past year had a serious effect on Russians, and if people have the opportunity to buy something for future use, in reserve, they will probably take advantage of this opportunity.

“I wouldn’t be surprised that they rake everything clean.” This is a completely normal consumer desire. Our consumers are not ready to change into an attitude like “these left, new ones will come”, they want to continue using what they are used to. Therefore, the only solution is to establish supplies through parallel imports. Otherwise, I do not rule out that people will argue categorically: “If I cannot buy my favorite perfume, I will not buy any at all,” the expert believes.