Fragrance Buying Guide
Tester Perfume vs Original: What is a tester perfume?
Browsing our store, you’ll often see the option to buy a tester bottle. Here’s exactly what that means — how testers differ from the original, why they exist, why they cost less, and when you should (and shouldn’t) buy one.
20–50%Lower price
100%Original juice
SameFragrance inside
At a glance
Tester vs Original
| Tester | Original packaging | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | 20–50% lower | Full retail price |
| Outer packaging | Plain carton, no cellophane | Branded, sealed retail box |
| Labelling | May read “not for sale” | Full retail labelling |
| Cap / lid | Sometimes absent | Always included |
| The fragrance | 100% original | 100% original |
| Best for | Personal use & savvy buyers | Gifting & collectors |
| Same fragrance, same bottle — only the packaging changes. | ||
The differences
What actually changes
01
The Price
Beautinow lets you buy your favourite perfume at a lower price by choosing the ‘tester version’ produced by the brands themselves. Tester versions are generally priced 20–50% lower than ones in original packaging.
02
The Packaging
Tester perfumes come in an outer carton box without cellophane or label, produced by the perfumeries themselves. Sometimes the box or the bottle carries a ‘not for sale’ label. See the examples below.
03
The Bottle
The bottle of a tester perfume — and the fragrance inside — are original. As shown above, the bottle may carry a ‘not for sale’ label, and tester perfumes sometimes do not come with a lid or cap. See an example below.
The reason
Why do perfume testers exist?
Brands produce perfume testers to:
- Present their fragrances to brand distributors.
- Let distributors such as perfume stores offer customers the chance to smell a fragrance before they buy.
In short
Why not just sell perfumes in original packaging? Simple — brands don’t want testers resold. The goal is to let stores introduce as many people as possible to the fragrance.
Where to buy
The best place to buy tester perfumes
Due to high demand, we at Beautinow purchase these testers in bulk from our extensive network of official brand resellers. Our tester perfumes are original, new, unopened and unused.
We specialise in sourcing and offering the widest range of tester perfumes from both niche perfumeries and designer brands. Discover our tester perfumes for sale online — if you’re wondering where to buy tester perfumes online, you’re in the right place.
Should you?
When to buy — and when not to
Buy a tester
If packaging doesn’t matter to you and price does, a tester is ideal for personal use. The main benefit is a lower price thanks to the basic packaging — the fragrance itself is identical.
Choose the original
Buying a fragrance as a gift? Retail packaging is the safer choice. Gifting a tester isn’t ideal practice — though it depends on how well you know the person receiving it.
Are tester perfumes stronger?
Testers are the same as perfumes in original retail packaging. As with any perfume, there can be batch differences. Some perfume lovers claim tester bottles are always stronger — to convince in-store customers to buy a full bottle — but that’s not our experience at Beautinow.
Conclusion
The bottom line
The main reason tester perfumes are cheaper is the difference in packaging — nothing more. The infographic below summarises the differences, so it’s easy to share with fellow perfume lovers.
Shop original testers for less
The same fragrance, the same bottle — at 20–50% off retail. Explore our full range of niche and designer testers.
Browse tester perfumes
