Even if you love perfumes, there's a good chance you don't have tens of dollars to invest in buying every new fragrance that comes out on the market. Sometimes, you just want to try a perfume and see how it affects your skin. Instead of spending crazy bucks to buy a bottle of perfume, get some free samples to try it out!
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Order Samples Online
Step 1. Order from perfume retailers
Many online retailers offer free samples when you purchase items on their site. Choose a perfume and add it to the cart. At the time of paying, you will be asked to add the samples you want to try. Some sites only offer free perfume samples, others will allow you to try different beauty products as well. Choose the ones you prefer and they will automatically be added to the cart.
- In some cases, you will have to exceed a minimum of expenditure to get free samples; in other cases you will have to buy something from the beauty department. For example, you will not be able to buy a dress and receive free perfume samples.
- Online stores offering samples of various fragrances are Sephora, Douglas and Narcisse.
Step 2. Register on the perfume manufacturer's website
Many manufacturers send out offers to try new fragrances to people subscribed to their mailing list. Decide which producers you prefer and would like to receive freebies from and subscribe to their mailing list.
- Check for offers when you know new perfumes are due to come out.
- This may take a long time and lead to little rewards. Many companies will have limited quantities of samples, so you will need to check at the right time.
- Create an email address specifically for this purpose. This way you will avoid seeing your usual mailbox flooded with spam.
- Some manufacturers that may interest you are Hermès, Burberry, Calvin Klein, Marc Jacobs, Ralph Lauren and Dolce & Gabbana. Browse the catalogs and take a tour of the perfume shops to get an idea of the companies you might like.
Step 3. Contact customer service directly
Instead of waiting for a new perfume to come out, try asking for a free sample first. Write to the manufacturer's customer service to find out if it is possible to have a sample.
Be polite. Don't be offended and don't feel bad if they say no. Some companies will send you freebies, others won't
Step 4. Sign up for specialized sites
There are sites that gather online offers, such as sending samples. These can be found on manufacturers' websites, Facebook and other sites. You will be sent emails containing the offers on a daily or weekly basis, or you will find them on the aggregator site.
- Use an alternate email address, not your usual one, so you don't fill your spam box.
- Never give out information about your credit card. These aggregators should direct you to sites for free samples, not to pages where you can buy something. The same thing goes for shipping costs. Also, don't be persuaded to buy products for freebies.
Method 2 of 2: Obtain Samples in Person
Step 1. Go for a walk in the shops that sell perfumes
Many retailers have testers to allow customers to try the fragrances. You won't be able to take them home, but you can spray the perfume on a card to try it out.
- If you want to smell a new perfume before you buy it, use the tester to smell the fragrance. Spray it on your wrists or behind your ears. Let it dry and feel how it is in contact with your skin. Pay a visit to one of these stores before an important appointment.
- Bring empty glass vials with you and ask the shop assistants if you can make the samples yourself. High-end stores allow customers to make small perfume samples themselves. Either way, be prepared to hear yourself say no.
Step 2. Ask for freebies from retailers
Many retailers have free samples on hand to give to customers. Large shops, such as La Rinascente, in their perfume department, already have samples on the exhibitors, next to the products. In other shops they give free gifts on request.
- Take a tour of the perfume department of the shops. Keep your eyes peeled for samples. If you can't find them, ask a salesperson.
- The availability of some freebies will depend on the stock in the store and whether the manufacturer has sent them or not.
- Try Sephora, which usually has perfume samples. Other possibilities are La Rinascente and other perfume chains such as Marionnaud and Douglas.
Step 3. Swap samples
This way you can get rid of the ones you don't like, and get some in return that you want to try. Or you can share the scents you have with someone who has the fragrance you want to test. Basically, you send samples to someone who, in return, sends you more.
- Swapping can be a great way to get freebies, but it still has its drawbacks. You won't always find honest people. You may receive old samples, they may not be what you thought or, in rare cases, you may be scammed. However, many online sample trading forums have regulations and a review system that helps keep them a safe and fun environment for everyone. Just be careful.
- Try the Basenotes forums. There is the "items for sale" and "items to trade" section. Other such forums are Reddit's perfume and cologne exchange and Perfume Posse's Swapmania.
Warnings
- You may have to pay to receive the samples. It depends on the manufacturer, but they are not always free.
- Not all manufacturers have test samples.
