How To Find The Perfect Perfume.

As a self-confessed perfume addict, I’m going to share a major secret. I’ve stopped “buying” perfume, and have joined a fragrance subscription service that lets you choose perfumes to try and sends you a full size sample of it to your door each month, for only $15. (!!!)

I mean… I’m the girl who rips the fragrance pages out of magazines to keep for reference and I almost always choose perfume samples at Sephora – basically I’ve built up a pretty vast perfume collection over the last few years. I’m always on the hunt for new fragrances that I’ve not worn before but definitely smell like me – anyone who wears perfume knows what smell is “them.”

The saddest part of my perfume addiction collection is the zillion sample vials I have – literally, a bowl full – that I’ve smelled or worn once or twice but never again. Unless you have one with a mini sprayer, applying a perfume sample is inconvenient at best and really more of a liability. Sure, you might dab the right amount on *or* inevitably you will apply too much and smell like you showered in some fragrance that you’re not even sure suits you. I mean, am I right or am I alone in my sample struggles?! But don’t even worry, because I’ve got your beautiful smelling self covered.

Meet Scentbird, your new fragrance BFF. It’s a subscription service (for both men and women!) that sends you full-size samples of luxury perfumes to your door each month. For only $15!!! I’d say this is what my dreams are made of, but I guess it’s probably more appropriate to say this is probably what they smell like. Most designer perfumes are upwards of $100 for very little product, so this is a legit value for what you get.

I actually died a little bit inside when I got my first one… It’s a “full size” sample (30-day supply = .27 oz) and comes in a slick little case that twists up like lipstick to spritz, and back down to keep the scent safe when you’re done.

Once you sign up and create an account, you take their TruScent quiz and tell them what kind of scents you like to wear and gravitate towards. They’ll recommend perfumes based on that plus the database of the community’s feedback, and you can create a list for them to fulfill throughout your subscription!

Picking out samples is actually fun, as they have great info with user reviews to help you choose. It’s just a great, cheap alternative to the financial commitment of a full size fragrance. I mean, let’s be real – perfume ain’t cheap, so having the chance to actually wear a scent over the course of a month is a game changer when you’re usually limited to spraying it in a store and hoping for the best.

Once I got signed up and took the quiz, I looked over a tonnnn of the perfumes on their site, had a mini-scent identity crisis, and finally decided on Givenchy Very Irresistible L’Intense.

It’s profiled as classic, floral, and good for date night. The main notes are rose, plum, patchouli, and musk. Upon first smell, it seemed a bit heavy (old lady, maybe?) but once I actually had it on my skin it took on this deliciously warm, spicy/sexy scent that totally suits me for winter. I’m actually debating signing up for two subscriptions for double the samples as I write this, that’s how much I like them.

Here’s an idea (heh) –  if you hate your boyfriend’s cologne, get him a subscription and force him into trying new scents! Just, maybe pick for him. ;) This would also make a phenomenal present for any girlfriend, too… and since they’ll fill out and select their own scents, it’s a thoughtful yet foolproof gift idea for the holiday season.

I really hope you guys check Scentbird out if you’re into wearing fragrance at all! I’m trying to keep my excitement in check but I’m really fucking into them. I suggest you do the same. It’s a total win-win. If you want a low risk way to try new perfumes because you don’t know much about scent or what you like, this is a great way to do that. Or if you’re the girl who always wastes money on full bottles then ends up with half empty perfumes you’re tired of wearing (*guilty*), eternal samples from Scentbird will fix that.

This post was created in collaboration with Scentbird, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to try and review their truly amazing service. The best part is you can use the discount code “SCB15” for 15% off your first month’s subscription – head over to Scentbird and sign up, then take the quiz and start sampling scents to your heart’s content.

Now that we’re on the topic, you tell me – what’s your all-time favorite perfume? What kind of notes do you like in your fragrances? If you can’t tell, I LOVE TALKING ABOUT THIS STUFF. So, please spill your scented little secrets with me in a comment.

xx