Jason Wingate, the CEO of Canadian sales and marketing firm Emerald Ocean, told BI any products that need to be applied to the skin were "categories where buying dupes is just asking for trouble."

He said doing so required careful consideration.

"While the packaging might look similar, what's inside could be untested," Wingate said.

Destiny Chatman, from UK savings app TopCashBack, said people should compare ingredients on off-brand products, and avoid anything with clear disparities from the original product.

"No two products will have identical ingredients; however, if major ingredients are different then you should probably pass," Chatman said.

Ant Robinson, from price-comparison website HalfPricePerfumes, warned anyone looking for dupe fragrances to be aware some can be dangerous.

"The idea of a great fragrance at a fraction of the cost might tempt you, but counterfeit fragrances often contain dangerous — and sometimes, downright disgusting — ingredients," he told BI.

The US Customs and Border Protection has warned that counterfeit makeup and perfume products often contain hazardous ingredients and urged shoppers to focus on reputable retailers and sellers.

"Always make sure that the fragrance you're purchasing is from a legitimate retailer so you know that it isn't fake," Robinson said.

Consumers should also exercise caution when purchasing dupes of luxury-brand bags and purses, Chatman said.

"If it visually looks similar to the original to you, then you should buy it but if there are main differences you can point out, then it's likely to also be visible to others," she said.

She said that sometimes, you can only compare a knock-off to its more expensive product when you try both of them, as, purses or bags cannot be tested in-store like makeup or perfume.

For Wingate, electronics and tech "are the biggest no-go" when considering buying a dupe.

"The safety risks from poor components and bad engineering are serious," he said, adding that he has seen counterfeit chargers catch fire and fake batteries leak. "It's not worth risking your safety to save a few bucks."

Stevie Johnson, managing director of influencer marketing agency Disrupt, told BI that large companies that sell tech products have to meet certain safety standards to avoid potential hazards in their products — and you can't be certain that their dupes are complying with those criteria.

He told BI he'd bought a cheap imitation pair of Airpods, which, except for a slightly poor microphone, he felt worked well, and was worth the saving.

But he said people should be wary of dupes of more expensive tech products, especially those that touch the body.

I grew up in Michigan and visited the delightful German-inspired town of Frankenmuth several times in my youth.

After not visiting in years, I went back last December and found that the city is still very darling with Bavarian-style architecture and a glockenspiel that signals the time regularly.

It snowed during my visit, and the light dusting of white atop seasonal holiday décor greatly enhanced my feelings of being in Europe.

Unfortunately, the area doesn't have mountains, which made it feel a bit less immersive.

Christmas ornaments may have originated in Germany, but Frankenmuth has a lot to offer for those looking to deck their halls this holiday season.

The town's Bronner's Christmas Wonderland is more than 7 acres and calls itself the "World's Largest Christmas Store." It has thousands of items for sale in its endless rows of ornaments and décor.

Northern Georgia is home to the alpine town Helen.

Here, I found a hillier landscape that better evoked feelings of Bavaria. The town's cobblestone streets and beer halls made this an enchanting getaway spot.

Helen's relatively warm year-round weather drew me there in early spring. I enjoyed beautiful, sunny weather that was more appealing than what's found in more northern towns like Frankenmuth at that time.

With daytime highs topping 70 degrees Fahrenheit during my stay, Helen is also much warmer than Munich in April.

Surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, Helen offers a variety of outdoor adventures ranging from waterfall hikes to tubing.

The area is also home to many wineries, which made it a great option for my annual girls' trip.

Breathtaking mountain scenery — check.

Charming Bavarian-inspired buildings — check.

German eateries slinging up hefty liters of beers — check.

When it comes to enjoying authentic year-round Oktoberfest vibes in the US, there's nowhere that beats the charm and European-style beauty of Leavenworth.

Set in the Cascade Mountains, the town offers a rugged landscape just begging to be explored.

I visited in summer, when hiking and careening along the town's alpine coaster was on the agenda — but the region also offers great skiing in the winter.

Even though Leavenworth is technically smaller than Helen and Frankenmuth by square miles, it felt the largest to me because of its many offerings.

Plus, the heart of the downtown area is free from vehicle traffic, making it very walkable.

I fell in love with this adorable town as I walked its pedestrian-friendly streets, passing a statue of a lederhosen-clad bear and restaurants filled with cheerful accordion music.

I really feel like Leavenworth transported me back to my past visits to Bavaria.

My husband and I enjoyed skipping between beer gardens and munching on giant pretzels — just like we did on our honeymoon in Munich.