Perfume doesn't have to be expensive. We have already reviewed budget perfumes that smell like a million. But still, if you want to get an original scent from a well-known luxury brand, and the price "bites", there is a way out. And this is a tester! What is a perfume tester, what is its difference from the original jar, why is it cheaper and is it worth buying - read further in our article.

What is a perfume tester and what is it for?

A tester (from the English tester, to test - "sampler", "try") is a demo sample of the original scent. It differs from the probe itself in that the probe is a small demo version of the perfume (about 1 ml), and the tester is a large, full volume (usually in a large, about 100 ml) jar. The tester is supplied by the manufacturer to perfume stores along with the main batch of perfume. It is necessary to display it on the showcase to sample the aroma.

Testers are produced in the same bottle as the original perfume, but the label must necessarily indicate that this is a test copy ("tester", "demonstration"). Instead of a designer cap, the bottle is closed with an ordinary plastic cap, or there is no cap at all. And sometimes the tester can go in the most ordinary bottle without the corporate design and any frills. The box in which the tester is packed is also ordinary cardboard, as a rule, in white with the indicated brand name and the name of the perfume and without a cellophane wrap.

The tester is placed on the shelves of perfume stores so that the buyer can taste the scent by applying it to a blotter (a special strip of thick paper for perfume samples) or directly to the skin. Thus, there is no need to unpack the original perfume for the customer to smell it "live".

Is the composition of the perfume in the tester the same as in the original bottle?

There is a huge amount of controversy over whether the composition of the perfume inside the original bottle and inside the test jar is correct? Some believe that a much lower concentration of perfume is poured into the tester, while others believe that, on the contrary, the highest quality perfume is poured into the tester in order to attract a buyer.

In fact, the content of the tester is absolutely identical to the original perfume, both in terms of olfactory composition and durability. It cannot be otherwise, because it is simply economically unprofitable for perfume companies to launch two separate production lines of the same perfume, but with different concentrations, in order to be bottled separately in original bottles, and separately in testers.

In addition, thanks to the tester, the buyer can and should feel all the overflows of the fragrance, its top, middle and base notes, how it unfolds on the skin, as well as evaluate its persistence and saturation. Therefore, the perfume in the tester = perfume in the original bottle.



When should you buy a scent tester instead of the original perfume bottle?

The first and most important reason for the popularity of testers is the desire to save money. Indeed, if you want to get a novelty from a well-known luxury brand or something from a niche perfumery, and the budget does not allow much, you can safely purchase a tester. This is definitely your option if:

• you plan to use it at home, and not carry it in a bag and show off to others;
  
• the quality of the perfume is important for you, not its appearance and the presence of an original designer bottle;
  
• you collect perfumes and want to replenish your "wardrobe" of fragrances;
  
• you are worried whether the perfume will suit you, whether it will be combined with your looks, whether it will open well on the skin.
  

Yes, this option will not work for a gift, because it will be clear that you were trying to save money.But even in this case, the tester may be appropriate when it comes to buying for a teenage girl who would like to receive some brand perfume... Packaging at this age will not be so important, but the perfume will be of the most genuine original quality.



What to keep in mind when buying a perfume tester?

You need to understand, nevertheless, that the manufacturer of testers produces less than perfume in the original packaging. And you won't be able to buy a tester in a perfumery store (especially large chain ones) that sells luxury brands. Here they all diverge for their intended purpose - they are put on the shelves. In addition, sellers who work directly with distributors of original perfumes face fines for selling the tester.

Therefore, it is best to look for a tester on the Internet. It also happens that the sellers of perfumery shops themselves, receiving testers, can sell them "from hand". But here you need to be extremely careful not to get a cheap fake "spill" of Turkey under the guise of a tester. Pay attention to these points.

1. On each tester, as well as on the packaging of original perfumes, there must be a batch code - an identifier by which you can find the name of the product and the date of issue right in the search engine.
   
2. The information on the bottom of the tester bottle should be the same as on the bottom of the original perfume: brand name, perfume name, country of origin. And if Chanel perfume is bottled exclusively in France, then no “made in UAE” or “Turkey” should be indicated.
   

Save smart and enjoy your favorite fragrances at affordable prices!