Buying Arabian perfume online without smelling it

The safest way to buy Arabian perfume online is to start small. A sample, a decant or the smallest bottle costs little and tells you far more than a description does.

People who search for how to buy perfume online, how to buy attar online or whether blind buying perfume is a good idea often skip the small step. Here is how to do it with less risk.

Step one: know what you can read

A product page gives you clues. Read these in order.

1. Format. Is it an attar oil, an eau de parfum spray or incense? They wear very differently. See attar vs eau de parfum.
2. Size. Small sizes are for trying. Large sizes are for scents you already know.
3. Notes. Top, heart and base notes. These come from the maker and describe direction, not exact smell.
4. Family. Oud, musk, amber, floral, fresh. If you do not know your family yet, read oud, musk and amber: a beginner's guide.

Ruling: the format and the family tell you more than the name does.

Step two: ask what the description does not say

Notes lists are short. Ask the seller, or look for text that answers these.

• Is it sweet, smoky, powdery or dry?
• Does it sit close to the skin or reach the room?
• Is the oud natural or synthetic? See natural vs synthetic oud.

If the seller cannot say, treat that as a clue.

Step three: check the seller

You cannot smell the bottle, so check the person selling it.

• A clear return and refund policy, written down.
• A real contact address or phone number.
• Photos that look like the actual product, not only a logo.
• A reasonable price. A very low price for a rare ingredient is a warning sign.
• Reviews that mention the scent and the delivery, not only "great".

Counterfeit and diluted products exist, so buy from sellers you can reach if something goes wrong. Many sellers will not take back opened perfume, so check this before you order.

Step four: order a sample first

Use a decant or a sample set where you can. Then use the slow test.

Try it slowly

1. Wash and dry your forearm.
2. Apply one small dab or one spray to one spot.
3. Note the start, the one hour mark and the four hour mark.
4. Wear it for a full day before you decide.

For more on testing, see how to test a perfume on skin before you buy it.

Common mistakes

• Buying a big bottle because the notes sound lovely.
• Buying a name you saw once, with no sample.
• Ignoring the return rules.
• Judging in the first five minutes.

Safety note

Check the ingredient list if you have allergies, and ask a doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure. Keep alcohol sprays away from flames and store bottles away from children and pets.

What a fair product page tells you

A seller who respects you gives you details. A page that says only "premium scent" and shows a picture is not enough. Look for the size in millilitres, the format, the notes, the maker, and how the product is packed and shipped.

If a page lists "oud" with no more detail, ask whether it is natural or lab-made. Neither is bad, but the price and the smell differ.

Reading the reviews

Read the middle reviews, not only the top and bottom ones. They tend to say the useful, plain things, such as "sweet at first, drier later" or "lasts a few hours on me". Notice who writes them. A review that says "fast delivery" does not tell you about the scent.

Reviews describe other skin, not yours, so use them as a guide, not a promise.

Delivery and storage

Heat in a parcel can change a scent. If a parcel sits in a hot van or a sunny porch, the perfume inside may suffer. Open it soon after it arrives, and store it in a cool, dark drawer. Read how to store perfume and attar for the full steps.

When to commit to a full bottle

Only after you have worn the sample for at least two or three separate days, in the weather you expect. Ask yourself whether you still like it after four hours, and whether you reach for it without being told. If yes, buy the bigger size.

A simple order plan

Here is a plan with round numbers.

1. Pick two or three scents from different families.
2. Order a small sample or the smallest size of each.
3. Wear one a day, with one dab or one spray.
4. Rest a day between them.
5. Order a bigger size only of the one you still like after four hours, in the weather you expect.

A small test order might cost a little more per millilitre, but it saves the cost of a bottle you never use. Round it as a small price for a clear answer.