A fragrance decant is a smaller amount of a genuine perfume transferred from its original bottle into a new, clearly labelled sample vial. At ScentStick, every decant is hand-filled in Finland using fully sterile tools into our own high-quality glass spray bottles, in 2ml, 5ml and 10ml sizes. The fragrance itself is completely unchanged — same juice, same concentration, same performance as the original bottle, just in a smaller container without the original packaging. Decants exist so you can properly test a fragrance on your own skin, across several wears and seasons, before committing €150–400 to a full bottle. A 2ml decant gives you roughly 30 sprays — about two weeks of daily wear — which is enough to know whether a scent truly works for you.
Is a decant the same as a manufacturer sample?
No. Manufacturer samples are made and packaged by the fragrance house itself, usually in 1–2ml spray vials given away at counters. Decants are poured from a full retail bottle by an independent seller. The liquid is identical — the difference is who filled the vial and what the packaging looks like. Decants exist because manufacturer samples are only made for a tiny fraction of fragrances, in tiny quantities, and almost never for the niche houses people most want to try before buying.
Are decants authentic and legal?
A decant is only as authentic as the bottle it came from. We buy full, genuine bottles from reputable European retailers, decant them by hand, and never modify or dilute the fragrance in any way. Reselling a genuine product you own is legal in the EU; what decant sellers cannot do is pretend affiliation with the brand — which is why every ScentStick page carries an independent-reseller disclosure.
How should I store a decant?
Like any fragrance: away from direct sunlight, heat and humidity. A drawer at room temperature is perfect. Stored properly, a spray decant keeps its character for a year or more — far longer than it takes to use up 2–5ml.
Where to start
Decant of Parfums de Marly - Althair