Tester, decant, sample or perfume by weight? What's the difference

Tester

A tester is what brands send to shops so customers can try the scent. The juice is the same perfume, but the box is plain (often white or brown, marked Tester or Not for sale) and sometimes there's no cap. No fancy packaging, so it's usually cheaper.

• Upside: the same scent for less.
• Downside: not great as a gift.
• Watch out: plenty of fakes are sold as testers, so run the original-vs-fake checks here too.

Decant

A decant is a few millilitres (usually 2 to 10 ml) poured from a genuine bottle into a small atomiser. The price per ml is usually a bit higher than a full bottle, but you spend far less overall.

• Best for: trying a perfume before a full bottle, or owning several scents without spending much.
• The risk is the seller: buy from someone you trust.

Sample

Small 1 to 2 ml vials made by the brand itself, often handed out in shops or with a purchase. Tiny, but enough for a few wears.

Perfume sold by weight (inspired oils)

In many perfume shops (common in Iran and across the Middle East) perfume is sold by the gram: an oil that imitates a famous scent, mixed with alcohol and bottled for you. It isn't the brand's perfume, it's a lookalike. Some are good and last reasonably well, but the dry-down usually differs from the original and quality varies a lot from shop to shop.

• If you buy one, know you're buying a similar smell, not a cheap copy of the same perfume.
• Start with a small amount and test on skin; some oils irritate sensitive skin.

Which one is for you?

• Trying a new perfume: a decant or a sample.
• You know and love it: a tester for yourself, a full boxed bottle as a gift.
• Tight budget but you want genuine: a cheaper genuine alternative, or a decant.