Sampling guide
How to test a sample
- Spray once or twice on clean, dry skin, such as the inside of your wrist or elbow. Skin changes how a scent smells, so it tells you more than a paper strip.
- Do not rub your wrists together. It can flatten the opening of the fragrance.
- Smell it straight away, again after about 15 minutes, and again after a few hours. Fragrances change as they dry down.
- Test one fragrance at a time. Two or three in a day, on different arms, is plenty before your nose tires.
- Wear it for a full day, ideally two or three, before you decide. First impressions and real life often differ.
How long will it last?
There is no single answer. Wear time depends on the fragrance, how concentrated it is, your skin, the weather and where you spray. Moisturised skin tends to hold scent better than dry skin. Spraying on pulse points such as the neck and wrists, and storing your atomiser upright away from heat and sun, helps a fragrance perform at its best.
EDT, EDP and Parfum
These labels describe how much fragrance oil is in the bottle. Eau de toilette (EDT) is usually the lightest, eau de parfum (EDP) is usually richer, and parfum or extrait is usually the most concentrated. Each house makes its own formulas, so treat the label as a guide and not a promise.
| EDT Eau de toilette |
EDP Eau de parfum |
Parfum Extrait |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Fragrance oil | About 5 to 15% | About 15 to 20% | About 20 to 30% |
| Typical wear time | 3 to 5 hours | 6 to 8 hours | 8 hours or more |
| Feel | Light, fresh, airy | Rounder, fuller | Deep, rich, close to the skin |
| Best for | Warm days, the office, daytime | Everyday wear, most occasions | Evenings, cooler weather, special occasions |
| Sprays you need | More | A moderate amount | Fewer |
| Price | Usually lowest | Usually mid | Usually highest |
Disclaimer: This comparison is a general guide only. The figures are typical industry ranges, not exact measurements, and they are not specific to any one fragrance we sell. Strength, longevity and projection vary between brands and formulas, and with your skin, the weather and how you apply it. Some EDTs outlast some EDPs. For the exact concentration, check the label or the brand.
If you like an EDT but want more presence, try the EDP of the same scent in a 2ml sample first.
Top, heart and base notes
Top notes are the first impression and fade first. Heart notes form the middle of the scent. Base notes are what lingers on skin the longest. This is why waiting a few hours tells you more than the first spray.
Which size should I pick?
- 2ml, about 20 to 30 sprays: first impressions and quick testing.
- 5ml, about 50 to 70 sprays: a few weeks of wear, or carry it with you.
- 10ml, about 100 to 140 sprays: daily wear or a longer trip.
Keeping your sample at its best
Store it upright in a cool, dark place, away from direct sun and heat.