Frequently asked questions

The questions we hear most about samples, decants and ordering at DecantGems. If yours is not here, write to info@decantgems.eu or use the contact page.

About our samples

What is a decant?
A decant is perfume transferred from the original bottle into a smaller vial. Ours are glass spray vials, filled by FragranceGems from a full bottle of the perfume named on the label. The perfume is the same; only the container is ours. The page How we fill your sample describes the process.

Is it the original perfume?
Yes. The vial contains the perfume as the house made it, taken from the house's own bottle. Nothing is diluted, mixed or added. It is not an official brand sample, though: the house is not involved in filling it, and the label is ours.

Why is there no box?
A decant never has one. You receive the perfume in our vial with our label, not the brand's bottle, box or leaflet. That is what makes a sample small and affordable, and it is also why we never describe a sample as packaged by the brand.

How much is 10 ml?
Enough for a good number of wearings: several test days at the very least, and for many people a few weeks of regular use. How far it goes depends on the pump, on how many sprays you use and on the perfume itself, so we do not print a number of sprays per perfume.

Which sizes do you offer?
The sizes available for a perfume are shown on its page. Every sample comes in 2, 5 or 10 ml.

Can I put several samples together?
Yes. On the sample sets page you choose a number of samples and build your own set, for example a few perfumes of one house or a few around one note.

Testing

How do I test a sample properly?
Spray it on skin, not on paper, and no more than one perfume per wrist. Smell it when you apply it, after an hour or two and again in the evening, because the opening, the heart and the base can differ a great deal. Wear it on a second day in different weather before you decide. A perfume behaves differently on each skin, which is exactly why a sample tells you more than a description.

Why does the sample smell different from the tester in a shop?
In a shop you usually smell a perfume on paper or in the air of the store, often next to other perfumes. On your own skin, at home, over a whole day, the same perfume shows another side. Your nose also tires after a few scents in a row; give it a rest between perfumes.

Where do the notes on a page come from?
From the house itself wherever it publishes them, for that exact perfume and concentration. If there is no reliable source we leave the notes out rather than guess. The glossary explains the terms.

Ordering and shipping

How are samples shipped?
In the Netherlands an order that contains only samples goes as letterbox post: it fits through the letterbox, so nobody has to be at home. Other orders and all orders outside the Netherlands go as a parcel with track and trace. The options and the exact cost for your address are shown at checkout. The shipping page and the shipping policy have the details.

Which countries do you ship to?
The Netherlands and the other EU countries listed on the shipping page.

Can I track my order?
For parcels you receive a track and trace code by e-mail as soon as the order has been dispatched. Whether a letterbox shipment is tracked is shown with the option at checkout.

What does 'Coming soon' or 'On request' mean?
Coming soon: we expect to be able to fill this sample and you can leave your e-mail address to hear when it is here. On request: we do not hold this perfume yet; leave your e-mail address and we tell you whether and when we can supply it.

Returns

Can I return a sample?
No. Samples are decants that we fill by hand for your order, and for hygiene reasons they cannot be returned or exchanged, opened or unopened. If your order arrives damaged, incomplete or with the wrong sample, send a photo to info@decantgems.eu within 48 hours and we replace it or refund you. Your statutory rights in the event of a defective product are not affected. The refund policy has the details.

What if the wrong sample was sent?
Write to us with your order number and a photo of the label. We correct our mistakes at our cost.

Who is behind the shop

Who are you?
DecantGems is the sample department of FragranceGems B.V., the Dutch company behind the perfume shop FragranceGems and the niche shop NicheGems. One company, one address, one customer service team. More on the about page.

Why are the reviews from FragranceGems?
DecantGems is new. Until it has reviews of its own, the reviews page shows what customers of FragranceGems wrote about their orders, labelled as such.

How can I reach you?
By e-mail at info@decantgems.eu, through the contact form or by WhatsApp message to +31 6 39 33 84 42 (chat only, please do not call). Customer service is available Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 20:00 Dutch time, and we aim to reply within 24 hours on working days.