Tips For Purchasing Perfume from Online Fragrance Shop
Worldwide spending per year on fragrances for both men and women exceeds $31 billion US.
With numbers like these, you've probably contributed a bottle or two to the yearly collective spend. In fact, if you are a lover of quality perfume brands, you could be dropping well over £100 on each beautiful bottle.
But is there a way to get your hands on those top brands at a more reasonable price? Actually, yes! If you're looking for the cheapest place to buy perfume, it's time to embrace online fragrance shops.
Of course, buying perfume online comes with its own set of challenges. Lucky for you, we've got the tips and tricks you need to master the art of finding cheap fragrances on the internet. Follow along for the complete guide to online fragrance shops.
Learn The Lingo
One of the largest challenges to purchasing from online fragrance shops is the inability to sniff and test the perfumes before you purchase. This can make it more difficult to find a fragrance that suits your body chemistry, and even choose a desirable scent.
You'll be relying heavily on the descriptions and features in the fragrance for guidance instead of a purely scent-driven experience.
Type
The first element to be aware of is the strength and staying power of different fragrance types. There are 5 categories for fragrances that describe the concentration of the formula in the bottle.
Perfume or Parfum has the highest concentration, sitting around 20-30% pure fragrance, with the rest of the bottle acting as a carrier. This will typically last around 8 hours on the wearer.
After Parfum, you will find Eau De Parfum or EDP. This contains about 15-20% potency, followed by Eau De Toilette (EDT) with 5-15%. The next category is commonly confused as being a distinction to a man's fragrance and a woman's, however, Eau De Cologne or EDC is available for both sexes and contains 2-4% fragrance.
The last type is Eau Fraiche, which contains about 1-3% concentration and lasts 2 hours or less on the skin. You'll likely notice a much softer scent right from the first spray of these fragrances, making them a great option for subtlety or short wear periods.
You'll notice perfume pricing for these different types also declines as the potency decreases.
Notes
The next factor you will need to familiarize yourself with is notes. Notes are used to describe the scent and experience of the fragrance. Similar to tasting a bottle of wine, you'll see descriptions listing items such as flowers, fruits, woods, or oriental elements.
This gives you an idea as to what you'll be able to pull from the overall fragrance.
If you have a few bottles already in your collection, take the time to research your favourites and see what notes are present. This will give you an idea of what you like and give you a place to start with your search.
Whether you want to shop for a similar fragrance to match your taste, or try something different, getting familiar with how different notes sit on your skin will be a valuable measure.
Placement
Now that you understand the note descriptions, notice where they sit within the fragrance's composition. Each perfume will have three categories where the note could live.
The first category is the top note. This is what you'll notice when you first spritz your fragrance. The top notes typically settle off after a few minutes and provide a more subtle influence for the deeper aspects.
Next, you have the middle notes or heart notes. This part of the scent sticks around for much longer and is the main driver of the fragrance. While the top and base notes will influence the delivery of the middle note, this is where the majority of the body originates from.
And of course, the bottom note is known as the base note. This is the longest-lasting element and provides those foundational scents for the middle and top notes to build on.
Families and Sub-Families
Each collection of notes will fall into a family and sub-family category. The families of fragrance give a more general idea of the overall scent experience. The 4 main families include floral, fresh, woody, and oriental.
Within these families, you'll find more specific identifiers. These sub-families will likely help you gain a better idea of the fragrance and choose a suitable perfume for your taste and style.
These sub-families also allow for some crossover. For example, in the floral family, you'll find 'floral oriental' or 'floriental'. This is sub-family also crosses over into the oriental family.
Refer to a fragrance wheel to discover what sub-families fit into each category.
Consider Application
Now that you know the lingo and can decipher the description listings, you can zone in on your desired use for the fragrance. What is your purpose for this fragrance and where will you be wearing it?
If you are purchasing a fragrance to wear to work, you'll likely be seeking a different experience than one for a date night. Typically, both men and women find fragrances that are more on the fresh or floral side are best for professional environments and use woody or oriental fragrances for a more sensual scent on special occasions.
However, when it comes to perfume, your own unique style and needs will rule as the deciding factor. Don't feel restricted by the common preferences, but use them as a measure when finding your signature scent.
Try Samples
If you've narrowed it down to a few different fragrances, or you are still feeling lost with understanding notes and families, ask for some samples.
Some companies will provide free samples for testing, while others will offer smaller sizes for sampling at a discounted price. Samples are a great opportunity to wear the fragrance on your skin and see how the notes intermingle with your body chemistry.
Each individual will notice different elements of the fragrance through wearing. You may even notice that certain notes take on an undesirable edge on your skin or perhaps smell stronger on you than others.
To get the best feel for a fragrance, try each sample independently and observe the changes throughout the wear.
Choose Reputable Fragrance Shops
Once you've decided on your perfect fragrance choice, you'll need to source the cheapest place to buy perfume without falling into scammy traps.
When choosing your online fragrance shop, do your research to ensure they are a reputable site to buy from. A few basic signs of a reputable company may be its purchasing options and brand transparency.
Their site should be able to clearly answer your concerns or provide an option to speak to customer service agents with any inquiries. Take special note of features that elevate their service.
Return Policies
Whenever you buy perfume online, there is a chance that the fragrance won't be the right choice. Whether the scent is different from what you expected, or it doesn't take kindly to your skin, having an option for return is a big plus.
Take note of the return policy offered by online fragrance shops and choose a company that has a reasonable option. While some stores may offer a 30-day return window, they may require that you pay a return fee or refuse the return if the product has been opened.
Price Match
Companies that offer price match will take the extra care to ensure you get the best value for your money. This will help you ensure that you are getting the cheapest perfume pricing possible and perhaps even save you enough money to choose a second scent.
Online Reviews
Have a look at what other customers have said about their experience with the online shop. Elements such as customer service, shipping time, and overall satisfaction with products will help you determine whether the shop is a reliable site.
Fortunately, most shoppers are happy to share their experiences and help you avoid mistakes. Don't forget to leave your feedback after your purchase as well to help future shoppers choose a great site too!
Quality Brands
Last but certainly not least, pay close attention to the brands available on the site. If there are slight differences in the spelling or logo design of cheap fragrances, they may be a low-quality knock-off rather than the real deal.
To avoid disappointment and foul-smelling look-alikes, stick to the fragrance shops that offer the original brands.
And of course, when in doubt with your fragrance selection, have a look at the popular choices category. You'll likely be able to recognise these scents easier than the brand new releases or lesser-known brands. Choosing popular perfumes will guarantee a high-quality and in-trend fragrance.
Find the Cheapest Perfume With Online Fragrance Shops
Now that you know the ins and outs of buying perfume online, you can set forth with confidence to choose your new signature scent. From understanding notes and families to finding the best fragrance shops on the internet, we're confident you'll be spritzing up a perfect perfume in no time.
Ready to get shopping at the cheapest place to buy perfume? Shop our selection today for the most popular brands at the best prices and ensure a seamless online shopping experience.
