How to Check Perfume Quality on a Sample

How to check perfume quality on a sample or first shipment

Most perfume faults can be seen before anyone smells the juice. Look through the bottle against light, check the fill level and the crimp, spray it ten times, read the batch code and the ingredient list. Smell comes last, against the approved standard, not against memory.

Look before you smell

Clarity. Hold the bottle against a light. The juice should be clear, with no haze, fibre or particle. On our line every bottle passes a lamp inspection for this.
Colour. Compare with the approved standard side by side. Some oils darken naturally over time, so the question is whether it matches what was approved.
Fill level. Bottles from the same batch should sit at the same level. Bottles are filled by weight, so a low bottle is worth weighing.
Glass and decoration. Check for chips at the neck, bubbles in the glass, scratched coating and misaligned print.

The pump and the crimp

Spray ten times. The first spray may take a few presses to prime; after that every press should give a fine, even mist with no spitting.
Check that the pump sits straight and the collar does not turn.
Turn the bottle upside down for a few minutes over a white tissue. Any mark means a leak.

Small sizes need one more check. Perfume under 30ml can slowly lose weight through the gap between the pump and the actuator, even unused. Weigh a few units on arrival and again a few weeks later. Our bottle guide explains the fix.

Codes and labels

Every bottle and every box should carry a batch code, and the two should match.
Read the ingredient list. Ingredients must be listed in descending order of quantity. A perfume label that claims a low alcohol content while listing alcohol first cannot be right, and tells you the label was copied, not checked.
Check the country of origin. Product made in China must say Made in China on the product label.

Smell last

Smell the bulk against the approved standard, on blotters, at the same time, in a room without other scents. Check again after half an hour and after a few hours: the top, heart and base should follow the standard. A difference in the opening that disappears later is often a maceration question; a difference in the base is worth raising.

When to ask for documents

For a retailer listing, the paper matters as much as the bottle: certificate of analysis, safety data sheet, IFRA certificate for the oil, and the stability and compatibility results. See import documents for the US, UK and EU.

Questions buyers ask

Is a darker colour a fault?

Not always. Some oils, such as those with vanilla notes, darken over time. What matters is that the colour matches the approved standard and does not change in stability testing beyond what was agreed.

How long should a perfume last on skin?

It depends on the oil level, the type of scent and the skin. Compare the bulk with the approved sample under the same conditions, not with a number from a website.

What should we keep from each batch?

Keep a retained sample of the approved standard and a few units from each shipment, stored cool and dark, with the batch code noted. Any later complaint is judged against them.