Sample Size Me

"Ooh, you smell so good!" is one of my favorite compliments, as strange as that may sound. I've always loved perfumes and body sprays (I think my addiction started with the Bath & Body Works body mists back in grade school -- Cucumber Melon was my obsession), but I can't bring myself to pay $40+ for a designer scented water to spritz on myself, no matter how much I love it. I actually only own three "high-end" perfumes (Marc Jacobs Lola, Salvatore Ferragamo Incanto Charms, and Lolita Lempicka) and I bought Lola for less than half price when I found a bottle at Ross, as the other two were both gifts. Recently, though, I've been a bit bored with my scent selection and took a gander around Sephora's fragrance aisle to test some new perfumes. I immediately fell in love with the sweet scent of Lady Gaga Fame and was also impressed with Marc Jacobs' new fragrance Honey, as well as a longtime favorite Daisy Eau So Fresh (I'm not the biggest fan of the original Daisy but I really like this one).

Spritzing it on at the store is one thing, but getting a sample to test and try out for a little while longer is another. That's where these little suckers come in! I was out looking to test a specific scent (Vera Wang Lovestruck Floral Rush, if you were wondering) but they don't carry it in Sephora so I went up to Nordstroms to test my luck there. I didn't find what I was looking for, but came away with a few little goodies to call my own. Nordstrom offers little spray vials for you to fill with your favorite perfume to make your own sample when you visit! It allows you the opportunity to wear the perfume a couple of times to see how it reacts with your skin's natural chemistry before you decide to commit and purchase a full bottle. I got a bit carried away and came home with the three scents that peaked my nosebuds (like tastebuds?) whilst in Sephora earlier. Each vial holds between 1.25 to 2 ml and will give you on average 3-4 times use (assuming you use 2 sprays or so each time). They're perfect to throw in your handbag, backpack, or makeup purse as a pick-me-up as well. It's also a great way to get your hands on a recent perfume release (they always stock the newest scents like Marc Jacobs Honey that just came out!). So if you're in the hunt for a new perfume and just want a little carry along, go get yourself a couple of free samples! Who knows, maybe one of them will become your "signature scent." Any others you recommend I try?