SPOTLIGHT: MyPerfumeSamples.com...

Gosh I love "try before you buy" opportunities, and there's a great website where you can purchase top brand perfume samples for a very small outlay - MyPerfumeSamples. My darling friend IndieAna put me onto this US company - they decant genuine fragrances into sterile glass vials and small atomisers so that customers can actually wear a perfume to see how it performs on their skin before deciding whether to fork out the big buckaroos for a retail store bottle. I think it's a fabulous idea, and one I'll be taking advantage of on a regular basis...

They also sell retail samples in the original manufacturers packaging - like the ones they hand out at perfume counters or included in GWP's, but I haven't explored those yet. Oh and gift vouchers are available, from $25-$100 - this is going to well and truly eliminate some of my Christmas shopping headaches!

I recently placed my first order, and the parcel arrived safe and sound 10 days later. Apart from a whole range of individual scents, they do gift sets as well - collections of fragrances by perfume houses, seasonal mixes or categories (e.g. "White Florals", "Noir", "Top 5 Fragrances of 2013") that would make terrific pressies, and they all come prettily packaged. Not every fragrance manufacturer is listed, nor is every perfume available in each range (currently 423 in the women's section), but most of the big brands are there, along with some lesser known ones. They have weekly specials, and there's also a rewards program where you score points for every purchase you make - even more if you review the fragrance, or refer a friend. You can then redeem the points to reduce the cost of future purchases...

Prices vary depending on the brand, but the majority start from US $2-3. Sizes range from 1ml to 3ml vials, or 3ml and 5ml mini-atomisers, and they have men's colognes too. The glass vials arrive attached to cards with an identifying sticker, and are sealed inside cellophane bags - the atomisers have the label inked onto the glass, are also bagged in cellophane, and they're boxed and be-ribboned like the one above. Sweet!

So what did I order? 

Be Delicious Skin by DKNY 2ml vial

Oriens by Van Cleef & Arpels 2ml vial

Incanto Dream Golden Edition by Salvatore Ferragamo 1ml vial

Crystal Noir EdT by Versace 3ml atomiser

Velvet Orchid by Tom Ford 1ml vial

Violet Blonde by Tom Ford 1ml vial

All up I received six fragrances totalling 10ml for $33, including postage. Holey guacemole I'm thrilled to bits, and floating around in fragrance heaven! I've already made up a wishlist for my next order that includes Jo Malone Amber & Ginger Lily Intense and the new Versace Bright Crystal Absolu - expect to see a whole bunch of perfume review posts from me in the months ahead...

And if you're as heavily into anything to do with perfumes as I am, check out Gemma Sapphire's Fragrance Appreciation Week - I reckon it's going to be fabulous ♥

Take care of you,

kats xxx