What do perfumes and bootlegging have in common? For publisher Mikaeel Abdul-Malik it was a natural connection.
“Our business model put us in contact with a lot of street vendors in the North East,” says Abdul-Malik. “Many of the vendors who carry our books also carry fragrance oils and other products that traditionally do well on the streets.”
After dealing with dozens of merchants and their wares, Abdul-Malik had an epiphany. He realized it is perfectly legal to sell perfumes that smell like the name brands, in the United States. With his business model already in place Abdul-Malik started distributing his “Smells Like” perfume to street vendors throughout the New York Metropolitan area. Having gained a foothold on the streets, Abdul-Malik has now aimed his sights at the internet.
“I consider myself a legitimate bootlegger, so I named my company, Boot Leg Perfume Company. The website is bootlegperfume.com.” Most people who make this type of perfume use terms like, comparable to, if you like Brand X you’ll like ours, etc. Since Boot Leg Perfume was originally marketed on the street, they needed a more direct form of marketing. Therefore the boxes and bottles say point blank, “Smells Like” Brand X. “At present we have seven fragrances that we have copied. We also have a money back guarantee. I feel the only thing that can stop me now, is the perfume industry itself.”
Abdul-Malik realizes that copying designer perfumes is controversial. But he considers himself a modern day Robin Hood. He’s helping people smell good and save money at the same time. By Christmas he plans to have over sixty fragrances in his inventory. That’s if he’s still in business. http://bootlegperfume.com
