The Perfumed Court Samples

I started falling in love with perfume in 2020 when we were stuck at home during the pandemic. There was something exciting about getting samples in the mail to try, especially if they were of the kind of fragrances that are hard to find in the stores (and at the time, we couldn't even get into stores, unless it was to buy groceries...or to hunt down the ever-elusive packages of toilet paper). I got so into the hobby that I joined a few Fragrance groups with other people who also enjoyed trying and collecting perfumes (my friends and family can only take so much scent talk, lol) and to this day, I still find myself trying new perfumes every chance I get.

My latest set of samples came from The Perfumed Court. They always have such a great selection, that honestly they are one of the few sites I gravitate towards first and foremost before making any full-sized purchases. This visit to their website did not disappoint. I ordered 10 samples, some niche, some designer and here are my thoughts...

Please note, I have tried literally hundreds and hundreds of samples, and at this point in my scent journey, there are many I don't love. That's okay! It's part of the sifting process that leads me to the ones I really love (and I really enjoy the search).  

Also note, just because I don't love something doesn't mean you won't. There are so many I don't care for that many love. If you're interested, try a few and see what you like for yourself. :)

Ranking the selections in this order of best to least favorite (in my opinion only), here is what I tried:

1. Chabaud, Lait de Biscuit

This was the one that made my heart sing. This is the one I immediately purchased a full-size bottle of with absolutely no regrets. This kind of fragrance is the reason I buy samples To come across something like this that smells so, so, so good makes up for the other I try that don't appeal to me. If I get one sample in an order that I love enough to buy a full-sized bottle of, I call that a very good day.

Lait de biscuit is not milky to me, which I thought it might be, and I'm glad. It's rare for me to find a milky frag that I enjoy (though I do once in awhile come across one). This one rather, is a light cherry vanilla biscuity smell and I love it so much. If you like sweet, gourmand scents, this is one to try. 

This one is so delicious that I included it in my Top 5 Gourmand Fragrance Picks for the annual Holiday Gift Guide.

Notes: Pastry, Vanilla, Caramel.

2. Lancôme Maison, Iris Dragées

To be fair, I already knew I loved this one because I own a full-size bottle. It's discontinued though, so having a sample to take on trips or just tuck in my purse for work seemed like a good idea to me. I hate when I really enjoy a perfume and it gets discontinued. This one is a delicious, sugared almond and Iris scent that smells very uniquely fresh, sweet and inviting all at the same time. It is more refined and luxurious feeling than other Lancôme fragrances (many of which I also love).

3. Jovoy Paris, Fire at Will

I'm so proud of myself for not buying this based on how much people were raving about it. It seems like everyone in the fragrance groups just loves it so much. I saw it compared to Tihota by Indult, but with a Mimosa note and that makes sense to me. A little orange juicy but no big orange pickup. It smells good. A touch of Tihota but lighter for sure and more complex (Tihota is a rich, linear vanilla). Nothing deep. It's pleasant. I'd wear it if I owned it, but I don't think you need it if you have Tihota. I like Tihota a little more.

Top Notes: Vanilla and Mimosa

Middle Notes: Vanilla and Brown Sugar

Base Notes: Musk, Amber and Vetiver.

4. Roja Dove, Bergamot Extrait

I was really hoping to like this one for me because it's from a very expensive perfume house that I don't get to try out all that often. I didn't dislike it, but it smells more like something I would appreciate on a man rather than myself. It is a clean, soapy citrus that is nice for day wear. It is very pleasant and light. It is also discontinued, so if you try and like it, you'd better snag a bottle before they are no more.

Top Notes: Bergamot, Lemon, Lavender, Orange and Rosemary
Mid Notes: Jasmine and Rose
Base Notes: Oakmoss, Ginger, Vetiver, Musk, Coriander and Patchouli

5. Vilhelm, Poets of Berlin

It smells like Marc Jacobs' Decadence to me in the opening. Very sharp, green. Dries softer and I can definitely smell a small touch of yummy vanilla, but it still smells like Decadence. I do not smell lemon or blueberry., which are both listted, and were what I was hoping to find.

I already own Decadence (another perfume that has been discontinued), so I will not buy a full bottle of this... it's good to know though, that if I run out of my Decadence, I can get Poets of Berlin to replace it. Vilhelm always make a high quality fragrance. Your nose can instantly detect that it's niche, even if you are blind smelling. 

Top Notes: Blueberry and Lemon

Mid Notes: Bamboo and Orris

Base Notes: Vanilla, Sandalwood and Vetiver.

6. Vilhelm, Dear Polly

I smell the black tea in the opening, then it starts to get a teensy bit apply (and lightly floral to me though I don't see any flower notes listed) alongside the tea. It's nice enough. If it was just tea/apple I'd like it quite a bit, however there is something every so slightly 'antiquish' in the dry that I don't like. 

Top notes are Bergamot and Apple

Mid Note is Black Tea

Base Notes: Black Amber, Musk and Oakmoss.

7. Masque Milano, Lost Alice

This is one I will have to wear again to decide on definitively. It's pleasant but may too common? Lost Alice has a traditional kind of perfume smell but it seems very high quality. It's not too strong. Usually, I don't bother to keep trying with something I don't love right off the bat, because there are way too many scents out there to go through, and there's no reason to try to force myself to like something, but although this feels typical, in terms of what you might expect from a perfume, there's something about it too, that feels special. This is the only one I am truly undecided on from the samples that I ordered (but that's half the fun of trying scents out).

Top Notes: Ambrette, Bergamot, Black Pepper, Clary Sage, Black Pepper

Mid Notes: Carrot Heart, Orris, English Tea, White Roses

Base Notes: Sandalwood, Broom Absolute, Steamed Milk Accord

8. Simone Andreoli, Glaze Ecstasy

It's a no for me. People love it but I don't. It has a floral (though I don't see anything floral listed in the notes!) to the sweet that is a turn off for me. There is something unique/distinct in here that I don't care for, though I can't put my finger on it. This was a big surprise to me because I love all of the notes in here, and my fellow gourmand lovers rave about how wonderful this fragrance is... maybe it's just my nose, but for me, it's a hard pass. 

Notes; Custard, Apricot, Vanilla, Raspberry, Caramel

9. Byredo, Pulp

I usually really like Byredo fragrances, although the ones I have tried don't really last very long on me so I was really surprised that this one was an instant 'no' for me, though it does get better as it dries down. The top notes smell like marijuana to me, and I don't like marijuana, so the perfume wasn't making me very happy. As it starts to dry down though, it turns into a pleasant, soft, outdoor scent that I do like (no weed). It didn't last long on me but that was okay because I knew it wasn't going to be a full-sized bottle purchase for me. I can't get past the opening.

Top Notes: Black Currant, Bergamot, Cardamom

Mid Notes: Fig, Red Apple, Tiare Flower

Base Notes: Praline, Peach Blossom and Cedar

10. Prada, La Femme. 

It smells a little light, a little floral-y fresh, and a little soapy in the beginning. It's not at all unpleasant but honestly, I don't want to own a full bottle of it. The mid is much better but it still smells like a really pleasant bar of soap. It's soft, not a big projector but not super soft like some fragrances can be. When it dries down completely is where it loses me entirely. It's too heavy/flower/soapy for me. I know a lot of people love this, and it's always described as being very fresh.

Top Notes: Magnolia, Bergamot and Carrot Seeds

Mid Notes: Frangipani, Tuberose, Ylang-Ylang, Iris and Spices

Base Notes: Beeswax, Vanilla and Vetiver

It makes me happy to try samples and it saves me money too. As a frag head, I used to be tempted to blind buy, but after being burnt one too many times, I turned to samples and now I've not looked back (for the most part). Try before you buy is my motto. If I find at least one fragrance that I enjoy enough to buy a full-sized bottle (like I did with this order), I consider that a major win.

Ready to sample some fragrances from The Perfumed Court?

CLICK HERE TO MAKE YOUR OWN SELECTIONS