Best way to try perfumes?

[Mrcpy]

Trying to discover perfumes that I like without making expensive mistakes. Happy to spend £££ for the right bottles but how do I find out what they are?

• Go to the shops
• Perfume subscription service (which one?)
• Decants from ebay (any reputable seller recommendations?)
• Dupes from perfumeparlour
• Discovery sets (any recommendations?)
• Advent calendar (which one is best for fragrances?)

Also does anyone else find Fragrantica really confusing? What’s an easier way to develop my sense of smell?

I've started ordering samples from scentsamplesuk.com. Found them through a link on another recent thread.

They delivered really quickly and seem very efficient. I had some 1ml samples, one of which I really liked, one of which I hated. Saved me making an expensive mistake. I've now ordered a full size of the sample I liked.

Trying some on in shops is a good way to get a quick sense of what you like or don't (you'll get a whiff of the topnote which isn't the same as spending time with a perfume). Trying samples at home is a good plan - try spraying some just after you've had as shower, see if you like it after a couple of hours etc.

Notino have some really good value sample discovery boxes for popular brands/ types (www.notino.co.uk/beauty-box/).

I've also just ordered from scent samples, based on the other thread! Can't wait for them to arrive. I think the problem with trying in shops is that it all blends into one, and really you need to wear something for a few hours to see if it suits you and you like it.

www.scentsamples.uk.com/just-arrived

I buy from ebay, notino or scent samples uk.

Perfume subscription services are no good for me as there are whole genres and notes in perfume that I cannot stand (florals, fruitchoulis (or as someone referred to them on here - pink mingers 🤣), chypres, tuberose) so the payoff isn't worth it.

I find that dept stores aren't as forthcoming as they used to be with free samples. I used to hit up Harvey Nicks on the regular and come out with Tom Ford, By Killian, Juliette Has a Gun samples by the handful. Now you have to be quite pushy to get any!

Two sites I've used and really enjoyed in the past have been Bloom Perfumery who are in London and online. And Surrender to Chance who are in the USA. Worth browsing their sites and be inspired!

N.B I found both these sites recommended on Style & Beauty in the past.

If you've got £75 to spare Liberty have a perfume sample box for sale just now. I'm tempted.

Following with interest. My favourite was Dolce &Gabanna Rose The One, now discontinued. If anyone can recommend anything similar please do!

@Mywelshmammy

Get your card out 😃ta da

Escentual do a monthly blind trial of samples with a different note each month. I've done vetiver and bergamot so far. The money you spend can be used as credit towards a purchase. They have some high end fragrances as well as more affordable designer ones.

This month's almond box has just arrived and it's much more my style than the previous two. I think it might be an expensive month. Bracing myself for vanilla month in September. I love gourmand fragrances.

www.escentual.com/escentual/escentualscents/

I have a subscription thing with The Fragrance Shop. Scent addict. For £12 a month you get a small bottle ( to fit in the atomiser you get at the beginning) which lasts a month. You get to choose the ones you want to try. If you then go on to buy a full size, you have your £12 refunded off it. You can also pause your subscription. I really like it.

Jumping on a really old thread, but I too was also searching for the best place to test out new fragrances and found Decanted to be brilliant.

https://decanted.uk/collections/aftershave-samples