How to Test Perfume Samples at Home & Why It’s Better

Basking in the glory of your newest perfume purchase feels incredible. On the other hand, finding yourself stuck with a fragrance you don’t like after spending a hefty amount can be quite crushing. There’s only one solution:

Test, test, test…AT HOME

To ensure that you never experience a fragrance fail, it is crucial that you optimize the testing process that precedes the purchase. There is something wonderful about spending a few hours in the department store smelling a variety of fragrances and feasting your eyes on the shelves of precious glass bottles. However, the experience feels incomplete and can often be overwhelming. You have to make snap judgments about a perfume based on just the top notes because it becomes impossible to detect nuances in the fragrance layers when nasal fatigue sets in. Hence, the best way to test perfumes and determine if they are full-bottle-worthy is to get samples and wear them for a few days. As you experience the complete fragrance cycle and understand how it fits into your lifestyle, you will be able to make informed decisions. This brings us to the question of how you can test perfume samples most effectively. Don’t worry; we have you covered with this thorough guide. Recommended read: How to get totally FREE perfume samples

Testing perfume samples 101

Before you spray the perfume sample, here are two important things you need to keep in mind.1) Perfume Pyramid: To evaluate a perfume properly, you need to experience the top, middle, and base notes. It can often be that a fragrance, whose top notes enthralled you, turns out to be disappointing in the dry-down stage. On the other hand, you may not like the opening notes of a certain perfume but love the scent that envelopes you an hour in.

2) Concentration: The longevity of a fragrance is important for many of us when deciding if the item is worth the splurge. You should remember that the concentration of a perfume determines its longevity on the skin. Expecting an Eau de Cologne to perform the same way as an Eau de Parfum is unrealistic. In fact, other factors like weather conditions and note arrangement can also affect how long a fragrance lasts.To keep nasal fatigue from clouding your impression of the samples, refrain from overdoing the process. Since you do not have to fulfil any of the obligations that come with sampling in a brick-and-mortar store, take your time. If possible, you can even note down your reactions to each perfume and track your sampling journey for future reference.

Testing on paper blotters

You must have used paper strips or blotters to test your perfumes several times. They are made with particularly absorbent, porous material that allows a fragrance to get absorbed swiftly.

Make sure to hold the strip away from you when spraying the perfume on the other side. Do not soak the strip; one or two sprays should be enough. If you are planning to test multiple fragrances, the number should remain constant so you can test the concentration accurately.Wait a few seconds and let the alcohol evaporate before bringing the strip under your nose and inhaling. Instead of touching it to your nose, sniff the strip lightly in short breaths, and then set it aside. One handy trick is to bend the fragrant side upward so that it doesn’t touch the surface.Enjoy the sensation of the top notes as you wait for the fragrance to delve into its heart and base notes. Smell the strip every hour throughout the day to experience the complete fragrance cycle. If you are simultaneously testing multiple fragrances, make sure that the strips stay far away from each other to avoid tainting the smells.

Testing on skin

In case you had chosen random samples, the paper strip experiment will allow you to narrow down a few favorites that are worthy of being tested on the skin. However, if you had only ordered samples of your wish list fragrances, it is worth the effort to try them all out on your skin. This is because certain perfumes you disliked on the paper strip may transform completely upon mingling with your skin chemistry. Every perfume will react with the warmth, flora, and natural oils of your skin and transform into a version of itself that is uniquely you. Since you will be sporting the fragrance on your skin at the end of the day, this is a non-negotiable step. Since samples come in a limited quantity, you have to be efficient when spraying the perfume (to make it last longer). To test it across one whole day, you should begin the experiment immediately after your morning shower. Make sure your skin is warm and clean because open pores react with the fragrance more readily. Direct the spray towards your pulse points because they are rendered naturally warm by the veins underneath. Wrists are the most commonly chosen spot for fragrance testing. For convenience’s sake, you may spray them on the back of your hands, but remember that the perfume will take longer to diffuse. After the fragrance dries naturally on the skin, inhale the top notes without touching your nose to the spot. The fragrance will develop over the course of the day, and you can periodically take a sniff to take note of how it is changing. It goes without saying that you should stay away from other fragrances during the testing period to keep your experience untainted. It has never been easier to give yourself the gift of experiencing a new perfume on your wish list every day. Order your samples now!