How to avoid fake perfume and oils when shopping in Sharm el Sheikh?

Shop sellers are specifically interested in buying perfume worth $100+ and branded cosmetics from tourists (not dates or souvenirs) - suggesting a resale scheme worth being cautious about.

When picking bulk oils, look for specific brands: Isis has a good celery scent, Royal (lilac packaging) has marjoram (hard to find), and imported Al attar tastes better than local versions.

Bulk incense (habak) is sold both in large Fix chain stores and street shops - scent and quality vary noticeably between vendors, though both are strongly fragrant.

In dedicated perfume shops, oils from known Arabic brands can be cheaper than in the Fix chain, contrary to expectations; sellers explain that mass-market oils have lower concentration.

Authentic Egyptian mint is hard to find - the commonly sold version is too finely chopped with an overly strong menthol smell; genuine mint should be coarsely cut, include twigs, and have a milder, distinct aroma.

Perfume at Sharm el Sheikh airport duty-free is 2-2.5x cheaper than in Russia, but travelers report mixed experiences with authenticity - check bottles for signs of counterfeiting before buying.