Testing scents 101
Try fragrances in store, live with a decant, and decide what deserves a full bottle.
Try it in store
A fragrance counter is a good place to narrow your choices. Start on a blotter to see which scents interest you, then try your favourites on skin. Leave some space between each application so the scents do not compete.
Give the fragrance time to settle before deciding. The first few minutes are only the opening; the scent you wear later may feel softer, warmer, or woodier. If you can, step outside the store and check it again during your day.
Take a decant home
A decant is a small amount of fragrance taken from a larger bottle. It lets you try a scent in everyday life before committing to a full bottle. Buying a fragrance without trying it first is called blind buying; a decant helps you decide whether it is worth the cost.
Check whether your sample has a spray or a dab applicator. Start with one or two sprays on clean, dry skin, or apply a small amount from a dab vial to your wrist. Let it dry naturally. Wear it more than once if the sample allows.
Close the cap firmly after use, and keep the vial upright in a cool, dry place away from heat and direct sunlight.
Find decant providers
Choose your country to see names from our current list.
In United Kingdom
- Fragrance Samples UKfragrancesamplesuk.com (opens in a new tab)
- Visionary Fragrancesvisionaryfragrances.com (opens in a new tab)
- Decanteddecanted.uk (opens in a new tab)
- Scent Samples UKscentsamples.uk.com (opens in a new tab)
Links open the provider’s own website. Check the current range, delivery to your address, and returns before ordering.
Compare what matters
If you are choosing between an original fragrance and an alternative, wear each on separate days under similar conditions. Use roughly the same amount, then note what you enjoy about the opening, the settled scent, and how long you can still notice it.
Weather, setting, and how much you apply can affect your impression. Bottles from different production batches may also smell or perform slightly differently, so a sample or someone else's review may not exactly match the bottle you buy. A note list or a quick spray in the air cannot tell you everything about how a fragrance wears on your skin.
Before you buy
After a few wears, ask yourself:
- Do you still enjoy the scent after several hours?
- Would you reach for it again?
- If you are comparing an alternative with its inspiration, do the differences matter to you?