Gone are the days of standing under fluorescent lights in a department store, a pushy sales assistant snapping at your heels as you inhale your tenth spritz on another little bit of cardboard – each scent blending more into the last.
Everyone’s over that. Thankfully, there are now much better ways to find your next signature scent that don’t require you to volunteer yourself for a raging headache in the middle of David Jones.
Enter: Designer Perfume Decants
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Top 5 reasons to buy fragrances via perfume decants
Reason #1: Wide range of brands available all in one place
Stores that specialise in fragrance decants, like Scent Collection, typically carry a vast range of fragrances from a variety of renowned global brands. You can expect to find all the usual heavy-hitters: Marc Jacobs, Chanel, Jean Paul Gaultier, Giorgio Armani, Versace, Viktor & Rolf, Hugo Boss, and Dior – you get the idea.
But you’ll also experience the benefit of many niche or artisanal brands in stock, all in the same place. Think Le Labo, By Kilian, Creed, Xerjoff, Jo Malone and Maison Francis Kurkdjian, among many others.
It becomes a one-stop-shop situation where you can enjoy the convenience of having hundreds of authentic fragrances at your fingertips. No trips to multiple stores needed, nor having to order from a bunch of different websites while paying shipping fees every time.
Reason #2: Get multiple designer fragrances for less than the cost of a single retail bottle
It is an absolute fact that purchasing decants involves far less commitment, expense and risk than purchasing full bottles. You’re only ever paying for a fraction of the retail bottle cost – while still getting to enjoy a significant amount of authentic fragrance.
The average price of a 5ml atomiser sits at around $30 (of course with some variance among brands), and will get you 75 sprays – that’s around 2 months worth for most people.
On the other hand, a 100ml retail bottle will set you back anywhere from a couple of hundred at the lower end of the market, up towards a thousand dollars at the higher end.
We’ve pulled 5 popular fragrances to compare below:
Pricing above accurate as of blog publish date.
By purchasing decants, you can enjoy all 5 of the above designer fragrances for
less than the price of any one of the full-sized bottles
Reason #3: A relaxed purchasing experience, take your time, read & learn about the scents
We’re all way past the point of high pressure sales situations, right?
Everyone’s done it at some point – a snap purchasing decision that cost hundreds of dollars because you felt a bit sorry for the salesperson who was ever-so-nice, but also who you’d really rather had left you alone.
Purchasing decants is a low-stress experience that allows you to truly take your time, read about the scents, compare your options, and make a considered decision, all at your pace.
Reason #4: More affordable to purchase a variety of scents for different moods and occasions
Depending on the brand, you can generally expect to get 5-10 fragrances for the same cost as a full bottle of a single designer fragrance – especially those at the higher end. This is the perfect way to experience a whole range of scents for different moods, settings and occasions.
“Why do I need more than one fragrance?”
Different settings and situations call for different scents.
EDT or EDC, Parfum / Extrait, & EDP
Explained below:
EDT or EDC
You want something light in hot weather, or in professional settings where you’re in close proximity to others for extended periods e.g. in an office. EDT’s (Eau de Toilette) are the typical go-to here with a lighter concentration and wear time of 3-5 hours. EDC’s (Eau de Cologne) are a little lighter again, typically projecting for up to 2 hours.
Our top 6 EDTs & EDCs by sales
Price range: $22.99 through $38.99 inc. GST
Price range: $42.99 through $77.99 inc. GST
Price range: $25.99 through $45.99 inc. GST
Price range: $15.99 through $25.99 inc. GST
Price range: $25.99 through $44.99 inc. GST
Price range: $24.99 through $43.99 inc. GST
Parfum / Extrait
For formal occasions or special events, you’ll likely want something head-turning that will last all night. A Parfum (sometimes also referred to by Extrait, Extrait de Parfum or Elixir) will do just that, holding up beautifully on the skin for 8-12+ hours.
Our top 6 Parfums / Extraits by sales
Price range: $31.99 through $56.99 inc. GST
Price range: $39.99 through $72.99 inc. GST
Price range: $19.99 through $33.99 inc. GST
Price range: $29.99 through $56.99 inc. GST
Price range: $31.99 through $54.99 inc. GST
Price range: $34.99 through $61.99 inc. GST
EDP
For nights out, shopping trips, holidays or other casual encounters, you may reach for something in between. This is where EDP’s (Eau de Parfum) shine, as they project well for 5-8 hours.
Our top 6 EDPs by sales
Price range: $39.99 through $72.99 inc. GST
Price range: $19.99 through $32.99 inc. GST
Price range: $31.99 through $52.99 inc. GST
Price range: $32.99 through $58.99 inc. GST
Price range: $37.99 through $70.99 inc. GST
Price range: $23.99 through $39.99 inc. GST
Reason #5: A smaller commitment if you end up not liking something
Don’t like one of the scents you purchased? Well, at least you only have 5ml of it. Pass it on to a friend, family member, or colleague who it may resonate with more.
At least you know that fragrance isn’t for you without breaking the bank, and you’re another step closer to finding your next signature fragrance.
Top 4 reasons why perfume decants are better than department stores
It might seem obvious at first that the best way to sample fragrances is to march down to your nearest department store. But there’s a few key reasons why this is basically guaranteed to backfire.
Reason #1: Fragrances change significantly 10-15 minutes after you first spray them
Standing in a store and spraying a perfume only partially reveals the top notes – which last the shortest amount of time. You really need to wear a fragrance for at least a full hour to truly experience what it’s like.
You might buy a fragrance because you love the initial top notes, only to be disappointed that it changes significantly a few minutes later, which you may not realise until you’ve already taken it home.
People also tend to get nose fatigue (also called olfactory fatigue or olfactory adaptation) from sampling many fragrances in quick succession, leading scents to blend together to the senses. You may love a fragrance in store, while the reality is you only love it layered with the previous 3 scents you tried. When you then apply it on its own at home, it may end up disappointing you.
Reason #2: Travel/convenience
In our busy modern lives, simply travelling to a store can knock out hours of the day. Whether you’re battling traffic, trying to find a park, or pushing through crowded aisles, the in-store experience doesn’t often evoke a relaxing atmosphere where you can truly focus and enjoy the fragrances you’re sampling.Â
By purchasing small decants, you can sample authentic designer fragrances slowly in the comfort of your own home, and whenever it suits you. No traffic, no fluorescent lighting, no laps of the parking lot.
Reason #3: Limited stock
Brick and mortar stores only stock a fraction of their online counterparts. Chances are, you’ll only find the mainstream options available to sample or purchase in-store. For your niche fragrances, you’ll likely need to travel to specialised stores which can be few and far between.
Reason #4: Customer service (too much or not enough, no in-between)
Tried buying something in a department store lately? For reasons, if you want to actually buy something, all shop assistants within a kilometre radius seem to simply vanish into the void.
Meanwhile if you just want to sample something, half a dozen assistants will undoubtedly be hovering over your shoulders, ready to schmooze you into handing over your hard-earned cash, ready or not.
How to safely buy authentic designer perfume decants
Ready to dive into the world of fragrance?
Similar to buying other designer goods, care should be taken when purchasing designer fragrance decants. Not all suppliers are held to the same standard.
Check out our blog, Buying Authentic Designer Perfume Samples and Decants in Australia: The Complete Guide, for a comprehensive guide on where and how to ensure you’re purchasing authentic, decanted designer fragrances.
Or, get started right away by browsing our library of authentic fragrances below!
