Thoughts on five perfume samples

This new world order that we're currently in means that shops are being a lot more careful about putting out samplers. In most cases, they're erring on the side of caution and not leaving out samplers at all. This makes perfect sense from a health and safety perspective, but I do so very much miss being able to try fragrances before you buy!

Graciously, a neat little workaround of this problem is to order five samplers from the Feel Unique website. You then just have to cover the price of the postage and packaging, of £3.95. You can use this amount to spend on your next Feel Unique order too!

The five I ordered were: YSL Libre, Viktor & Rolf Bonbon, Issey Miyake L'Eau d'Issey, Jean Paul Gaultier Scandal, and Kierin Nitro Noir. Aren't the samplers just darling?

My thoughts on the fragrances, from left to right:


YSL Libre: this sampler really attests to the fact that the spray you get of a perfume when you're in the store isn't enough of a trial to see if it's for you. Because I loved this when I tried it on in the department store, but, having a sampler of it, I re-applied it a few times during the day, and the smell didn't linger as nicely as I'd want it to. It is still sensual, floral smell, and the incense-y sandalwood renders it a bit different, but it doesn't have the wow factor that I need to be willing to shell out the price of a perfume.

I think I wanted to love it as Dua Lipa is the model for it (and who doesn't wish they were as babely as Dua?) 7/10.

Viktor & Rolf Bonbon: speaking of being swayed because of who the model for the fragrance was, I selected this scent because I remember Anya Taylor-Joy being the model for one of the Viktor & Rolf perfumes, and assumed it was this. It wasn't; she reps the Flowerbomb Midnight. But nonetheless, her presence got me turned onto Viktor & Rolf, so in that sense, she earned her keep!

I really liked this fragrance. I'm usually a little wary of sweet perfumes, which this one obviously is. But this is a youthful, flirty smell, with a hint of musk. 8/10.

Issey Miyake L'Eau d'Issey: my favourite of the five! The main smell of L'Eau d'Issey is floral, which suits me perfectly (I have a few perfumes and they're all overwhelmingly flowery). There are also base notes of cedar wood, musk, and citrus, and they all complement each other very well.  This a fresh scent that would be ideal for late spring and summer. 8.5/10.

Scandal by Jean Paul Gaultier: it definitely has the dash of sleaze that you'd expect from a scent of this name, but it smelt too thickly of honey for me. I could envision the strong honey smell getting rather noxious if you put too much of it on. 5.5/10.

Kierin Nitro Noir: a unisex fragrance, this is definitely a bit different. I found it too pungent, and lacking the floral notes that I crave in my perfumes, so, not for me sadly. 5/10.

These are just my stream of conscious thoughts on the five perfumes. I won't be pivoting to becoming a fashion blogger, but I just thought I'd let you know about the awesome deal that's available, should you, like me, be hankering for the good old days of being able to walk into a department store and smell perfumes to your heart's desire!

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