UK airport warning as 'departure lounge is worst place on Earth' to buy common item

An expert said it was a common error06:58, 03 Aug 2026People who shop at duty free in airports are being told to think twice by an expert.‌Holidaymakers could end up paying 10 times more than they need to for perfume if they buy it at the airport instead of planning ahead, according to an expert. While many travellers still assume airport duty-free offers the best deals, UK fragrance research site ScentVerdict said the departure lounge was one of the worst places to buy perfume because shoppers are rushed into making expensive decisions.‌The biggest example is Tom Ford's Lost Cherry. A 100ml bottle typically retails for around £300, but analysis by ScentVerdict found 14 UK dupe brands selling their own interpretation for a median price of just £30 – around one tenth of the cost.‌Daniel Gri