Buzz
Is it worth buying tester colognes? (And the best places to get them)
Tester colognes are the sample bottles you'll see in retail stores for customers to try out scents before making a purchase. These testers are often available online for much lower prices through trusted sellers like Fragrancenet and FragranceX. Our complete guide breaks down everything you need to know—from how testers differ from regular colognes to where you can grab affordable tester bottles and fragrance samples.
- Buy tester fragrances from reliable websites like Fragrancenet.com and the Fragrance Warehouse.
- The scent inside tester bottles is the exact same as the one sold in stores.
- Tester colognes typically come in simpler packaging, which is why they cost less.
Instructions
Where to shop for tester colognes?
Shop for fragrance testers online. Discount fragrance and cosmetics websites are the top spots to find tester bottles. You might also come across them on auction platforms like eBay or Mercari, but it can be trickier to verify the authenticity of individual sellers.
- Fragrancenet, Fragrance Warehouse, and FragranceX are all trusted names known for selling genuine tester products.
Some physical stores may sell their testers. If you find a scent you like in-store, try asking if the retailer—like Macy’s or Sephora—would be willing to sell the tester. Just keep in mind that big chains often prohibit this.
- Smaller shops might be more open to selling their display bottles.
- Availability is limited—most stores only carry one or two testers per fragrance.
What exactly are fragrance tester bottles?
Tester bottles are in-store sample displays. These are provided by brands so customers can try the scent before buying. The fragrance itself is identical to the retail version, though the packaging may be more basic and lack premium elements like embossing or fancy paper.
- Depending on the seller, a tester bottle might not be filled to the top.
- Online discount stores often stock unused testers in brand-new condition.
How is a tester different from a retail bottle?
Packaging is what sets testers apart from retail bottles. The scent remains the same, but the visual presentation differs. Testers typically come in no-frills packaging that's far less expensive than the fancy retail versions.
- Fragrance packaging can cost up to six times more than the formula itself.
- Tester bottles may mimic the shape of the retail version but often feature basic black ink and no cap.
- They usually arrive in plain boxes with minimal or no branding—often black and white, without textured finishes or premium shapes.
- Manufacturers often mark testers with laser-etched labels or bottom stamps, commonly labeled “Tester” or “Not for Sale.”
The fragrance inside tester bottles is just as high-quality as retail versions. Since testers are meant to represent the product, brands ensure they contain the same formula as the one you’d buy off the shelf.
- Experts say testers are likely filled from the same batches as retail bottles.
- There’s a myth that testers are stronger to boost sales, but it’s not true.
- Fragrance tends to deepen over time as alcohol evaporates—called maceration—giving the illusion of a stronger scent.
- To macerate your tester or retail fragrance, spray it 5–10 times, then seal it in the box and store it in a cool, dry place for a month.
Why are tester perfumes so inexpensive?
Testers are primarily for promotion—not profit. While retailers may occasionally sell them, testers are typically used for marketing purposes. They might arrive slightly used or differently packaged than the full retail version. In truth, the cost of creating a fragrance is minor compared to its retail price, which reflects R&D and branding expenses.
- The final price tag includes profits for manufacturers and retailers, commissions for sales staff, and sometimes fees tied to celebrity endorsements.
Is it a good idea to buy fragrance testers?
Testers offer a budget-friendly way to explore luxury fragrances. Many fragrance lovers choose testers to enjoy high-end scents without paying full price. However, some people are concerned about authenticity when buying testers.
- Tester colognes are often sold through the grey market—where genuine products are distributed by sellers without direct brand affiliations.
- These authentic testers might come from countries where the price is lower or as surplus from licensed retailers.
- While legal, some buyers prefer to purchase directly from brands or their official partners to ensure full brand support.
Is it possible to buy tester colognes in bulk?
Bulk fragrance purchases are available through wholesalers. Testers can be bought in large quantities from wholesale distributors, but discounts are usually reserved for businesses. Most wholesalers have minimum purchase requirements.
- These suppliers typically work only with retailers or distributors—not individual buyers.
- If you're planning to start your own fragrance shop, consider networking within the perfume industry for supplier connections.
Is it possible to get free tester fragrances?
Free testers are hard to come by. Because of their demand in the grey market, fragrance testers are rarely handed out. Your best chance is knowing someone who owns or works in a perfume shop where unused testers might be up for grabs.
Score free perfume samples from stores, websites, or brands. If you're new to fragrances, you might not know where to find perfume samples. Many fragrance retailers provide complimentary 2mL vials so customers can try out scents at home to see how the perfume wears throughout the day.
- There’s often a limit to how many free samples a store or site will offer per customer, though they may be more generous with purchases.
Where to Find and Purchase Perfume Samples
Buy perfume samples from department stores and online shops. Budget-friendly fragrance sites frequently sell brand-packaged samples for just a few dollars, sourced from the grey market similar to testers.
Try decants or scent splits for more variety. Decants are small portions taken from full-sized bottles and sold individually. Reliable sellers like DecantX and Scent Split offer genuine samples.
- Always buy from well-reviewed, trustworthy sources when purchasing scent splits.
Join a monthly fragrance subscription service. Services like ScentBox and Scentbird deliver 5–10mL perfume samples each month for a flat fee. You can choose which scents you receive.
- These subscriptions often include fragrance quizzes and educational content about scent profiles and ingredients.
- Both services offer multiple subscription tiers so you can decide how many fragrances you want each month.
Try a fragrance discovery set before committing. Many brands offer sample collections so you can explore multiple scents from their lineup before investing in a full-sized bottle.
- These discovery sets often highlight a brand’s bestsellers or signature scents.
- Some are themed around specific scent families, like floral, woody, fresh, or oriental fragrances.
Blind Buying Perfumes
Be careful when blind buying perfumes. Blind buying means purchasing a fragrance without ever having smelled it. Many people do this based on glowing reviews or hype.
- It's common to end up not liking a scent when you haven't tested it beforehand.
- If a blind buy doesn’t work out, consider gifting it, swapping it, or listing it on eBay to recover some of your money.
Research thoroughly before making a blind purchase. If you're going to buy a perfume without testing it, study its scent profile and user feedback beforehand.
- Check reviews on online stores, browse fragrance forums, and watch YouTube videos for firsthand impressions from others who’ve tried it.
Pick fragrances with familiar scent notes. If you’re already into perfumes, note the fragrance notes you enjoy and check if the new fragrance you’re eyeing includes them.
- Explore flankers of your favorite perfumes—these are variations of a best-selling scent, keeping a similar feel but with a fresh twist.
- Perfume houses often base flankers on their top-selling formulas, tweaking a few notes to create something new yet familiar.
Tips for Picking the Right Fragrance
Start by spraying it on a scent strip. Most fragrance counters provide paper testers near their display bottles. Give the strip a spritz and carry it with you to see how the scent evolves over time.
- Limit yourself to just a few scents per visit—sniffing too many can overwhelm your nose and dull your ability to detect different notes.
- Use coffee beans to reset your sense of smell between tests—they’re often available on the counter.
- No coffee beans? Inhale the scent of your sleeve or a part of your skin that hasn’t been sprayed to refresh your nose.
Test perfumes on your skin for the best results. Trying the fragrance on your body for a few days helps determine how it interacts with your skin’s chemistry and daily routine.
- Your body temperature, diet, and especially your skin’s pH level all influence how the perfume smells on you.
- Avoid layering scents—don’t apply any other fragrant products when testing, or you might not get a true impression.
- Smell the fragrance on the strip before applying to your skin, especially if you’re prone to headaches from certain notes.
Apply the fragrance to your pulse points. Most people spritz perfume on their wrists and behind the ears. While rubbing your wrists together is common, it generates heat through friction, which can alter both the scent and its lasting power.
