An alternative to blind buying a perfume
A blind buy is a full bottle bought without wearing it first. Sometimes it works out. When it does not, the bottle sits on a shelf. A decant is the step in between.
Why blind buys go wrong
- You fall for the opening. The first minutes are the loudest part of a perfume and the shortest.
- Descriptions promise a mood. Your skin decides the scent.
- Hype travels faster than dry-downs. A much-talked-about scent can be great and still not be yours.
What the step in between costs
At 10ML the median 3ml decant costs €13.41 and the median 10ml costs €35.90, worked out from today’s catalogue. That is the price of knowing before you buy the bottle.
When the decant wins, you buy the bottle knowing you will wear it. When it does not, you have spent the price of a decant, not a bottle. The price-per-ml maths is here.
A simple way to test
- Pick your blind-buy candidate and one or two alternatives.
- Order each one as a 3ml decant.
- Wear one per day, on skin, for a full day.
- Wear the winner again for a week. If you still want it, the bottle is no longer a blind buy.
When a blind buy can make sense
If you know a house’s style well, or you are replacing a scent you have already worn, a blind buy is less of a leap.
Everywhere else, wear it first. Start with our bestsellers or new arrivals.
Questions people ask
What is a blind buy in perfume?
Buying a full bottle without having worn the scent, based on notes, reviews or hype.
How can I avoid a disappointing blind buy?
Wear the perfume first. A 3ml decant gives you around a week of wear, enough to know if it works on your skin.
Is a decant the same perfume as the bottle?
Yes. Every 10ML decant is filled from the original bottle, with nothing added or diluted.
10ML is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the perfume houses whose fragrances we sell.