The 8 Best Perfume Subscriptions
Which Perfume Subscription is the Best?
Perfumes have been an integral part of human culture for centuries, with scents carefully crafted from flowers, herbs, and exotic spices. From ancient Egypt to modern-day fashion houses, wearing perfume has always been a way to express identity, mood, and even status. Fast forward to today, and the art of choosing a fragrance has evolved.
Perfume is no longer just about sniffing your way through the options at the department store counter - perfumes can capture emotions in a bottle, or even become as distinctive as your signature. But here's the thing: perfume shopping in traditional stores can be overwhelming.
Thursday, January 23rd
2025 Perfume Subscription Reviews
Scentbox
Scentbox is the perfume subscription that checks all the boxes. Want to mix men's and women's fragrances? No problem. Rewards program? Yep. Options for standard, premium, and even top-shelf platinum brands? Absolutely. We tried Scentbox for a year and it was our clear favorite among perfume subscriptions, especially with 5 exchanges allowed every 12 months: you're never stuck with something you thought you'd love that didn't smell as clean or last as long as you'd envisioned. For yourself or as a gift for someone else (maybe someone who could use a little "freshening up”...), Scentbox should be the first perfume subscription on your list.
Purpl Lux
FragranceNet's perfume subscription, Purpl Lux, carries on the company's tradition of excellent selection and phenomenal customer service. You can easily choose between men's and women's scents at will, from everyday wear classics to formal night premium fragrances - and you can see all of the 800+ options before you even sign up. This subscription is already affordably-priced at $14.95/month, but paying for a year in advance brings it down to just $9.95/month for 8mL of perfume in each delivery. Over 70,000 people have given this company a perfect score, and we think you'll be delighted by your experience with Purpl Lux too.
Olfactif
Olfactif is perfect for anyone looking to break away from the usual department store perfumes and dive into something unique. Focused on indie, niche, and luxury perfumers, this subscription introduces you to new scents every month, often based on seasonal themes. For $22, you get three 2mL fragrances (or $40 for six), with free shipping and frequent discounts. Olfactif gets a lot of praise, with an "A+" from the BBB and plenty of happy customers. If you're ready for a more adventurous perfume experience, Olfactif is our favorite subscription to recommend.
Scent Trunk
Scent Trunk's perfume subscription can definitely help you get noticed. When you choose one of their three membership plans, you get carefully-crafted fragrances from indie perfumers, not some overused brand-name scent that you'll find on the shelves of big-box retailers. That does mean that you might not love everything that you get here, but experimenting is half the fun at Scent Trunk. As you'd guess, this subscription is more expensive (at a little over $22/month with shipping), and customer sentiment is limited but enthusiastic. Scent Trunk isn't going to be the perfect perfume subscription for everyone, but it's worth trying if you're on the hunt for a unique new signature fragrance.
Perfume
If you've ever shopped online for discounted fragrances, you're likely familiar with Perfume. They've got over 13,000 name-brand scents and have been keeping customers happy for about 30 years. Their subscription does have some perks: at $14.95/month, it's a little lower-priced than rival plans, and you get a new atomizer every time. On the other hand, feedback for the membership and the fragrances is lukewarm; you'll notice when you're choosing from Perfume's starter options that some of the scents are old-fashioned or could be gotten for cheap at your local drugstore. And, some subscribers complain that the sample size perfumes come out smelling less than authentic. This isn't the best or the worst subscription, landing Perfume with a solidly "average” rating here.
The Fragrance Club
The Fragrance Club has been shipping monthly scents since 1997. It's set up like most of its competitors: you choose a queue of perfumes (or colognes) that you like, and you'll get monthly or bi-monthly deliveries. You'll pay under $20 for your monthly deliveries, with savings when you prepay for a year upfront. We'd recommend against it, though: there were only 37 perfume choices at the time of our review, the site was full of typos, and there's not much chance of returning or exchanging scents you don't like. The customer support team at The Fragrance Club told us to look for a major revamp in the near future, but until then, this subscription earns a lower rating.
Luxury Scent Box
Luxury Scent Box, also known as LUXSB, starts out strong as a perfume subscription: created by a couple of beauty industry experts, this boutique-backed club can connect you with your perfect scent profile. Available perfumes (and colognes) include both classic and niche brands that will be recommended to you according to the scent-matching quiz you can fill out during sign-up. This subscription is reasonably-priced at $15.95/month, with options for upgrades to premium fragrances as desired. Unfortunately, though, it seems like LUXSB may be closing up shop (if they haven't already), earning their perfume subscription a sub-par score from us.
Scentbird
At first glance, Scentbird is a well-rounded perfume subscription that gives you plenty of new scents to try on. They'll give you lots of guidance in choosing which ones to add to your queue, from an in-depth quiz to a library with fragrance notes. You get a little bit less here (8mL) but you also pay a little less too ($16.95/month). Scentbird looks pretty good - until you see that the BBB rates the company with an "F” and says that there's a clear pattern of customers paying for a perfume subscription and never receiving it. Until Scentbird gets that figured out and subscriber feedback reflects it, this will be the lowest-ranked perfume membership on our list.
Continued from above...
The options seem endless, and after sampling just a few, your nose might struggle to differentiate between scents. Add the high price tags for full-sized bottles, and you might feel hesitant to commit to a single perfume without fully experiencing it. Enter perfume subscriptions, the modern solution to all your fragrance woes.
Perfume subscriptions are all about convenience and discovery. For a monthly fee, you receive sample-size perfumes from a wide range of brands. It's the perfect way to try new fragrances before buying the full bottle, which can save you money and prevent any buyer's remorse. Plus, it's a way to break out of your usual scent preferences and experiment with something new - whether that's a light, breezy scent for spring or a deep, sultry fragrance for fall.
Another perk? Perfume subscriptions often partner with both luxury and niche brands, giving you access to a curated selection that you might not find at your local department store. And, since most subscription services come in handy travel-friendly sizes, you can carry them wherever you go - ideal for someone who's always on the move or who needs to freshen up after work and before drinks.
Additionally, these subscriptions sometimes come with personalized recommendations, often after giving you a quiz to see which scents match your style and favorite notes. With fresh perfumes arriving every month, it feels like a little just-for-you luxury delivered straight to your door.
With so many options available, it's super-easy to find the right perfume subscription for your "scent style”. Here are some criteria to consider when deciding where to get started:
- Brand variety. Some subscription services focus on well-known luxury brands, while others offer a mix of niche or indie fragrances. If you're someone who loves the classics, look for a subscription that includes iconic names. If you enjoy discovering up-and-coming perfumers, a service that focuses on smaller, boutique brands might be a better fit.
- Customization. Look into whether the subscription allows you to choose the scents you want to try or if it's more of a mystery each month. Some people enjoy the surprise, while others prefer more control over what they receive. Also, check if there's an option to swap fragrances if you get one you don't love.
- Pricing and flexibility. Prices for perfume subscriptions can vary, so choose one that fits your budget. Look into whether they offer monthly, quarterly, or annual plans, and whether you can pause or cancel your subscription easily.
- Value. The vials that come in perfume subscriptions sizes can range from tiny vials to larger travel atomizers that last for nearly 150 sprays. If you're someone who likes to really wear a fragrance before deciding, opt for a service that offers more generous samples.
- Additional perks. Some subscriptions offer added bonuses, such as discounts on full-sized bottles, access to exclusive perfumes, or fun packaging. If you're someone who loves those little extra touches, these perks could make one subscription stand out from the rest.
- Reputation. Perfume subscriptions can look really similar on the surface, so check out what members are saying about the overall experience. Does the company deliver what it promises, on time, with no drama if something goes wrong? What does the Better Business Bureau have to say?
Ready to smell fantastic? The fragrance fans at Top Consumer Reviews have put some of today's most popular perfume subscriptions to the sniff test and ranked them from first to worst. Whether you're new to perfumes or a seasoned collector, there's a subscription for you, so prepare to experiment a bit and find your next favorite scent - without breaking the bank.
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