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.
Good
Anyone can smell like Marc Jacobs Daisy or the latest by Burberry, but how about "a scene in the mountains of Tibet" or "a grand Celestial Gala in the dramatically beautiful Butterfly Nebula"? That doesn't come in every bottle of perfume you'll ever meet, but it's part of the unique scent palette you'll discover at Scent Trunk. This Canadian company has been around since 2015 when two college friends decided they could bring a "modern online fragrance experience" to an industry saturated with the same-old-scents. Fashion yourself a modern collector of fragrances on the daring side? If so, you'll love the surprises of a monthly perfume subscription here.
Do you like to be in control?
There are three membership options at Scent Trunk, and your first decision is how much control you'd like to have over what you receive. If you're a hands-on kind of person, your best bet is the Original Edition. At the time of our review, there were 32 different fragrances to choose from, ranging from "mouth-watering" scents like Stroopwafel and Golden Cocoa, to dark-and-mysterious perfumes like Black Hemlock and Treemoss. Whichever "flavors" catch your attention, you're bound to be entertained and intrigued as you consider the notes of each perfume, the story behind them, and even the background of the perfumer who created the scent. Just be aware that you'll have to manually choose what you receive from one delivery to the next - this subscription isn't automated.
Ready for a surprise?
Your other option at Scent Trunk is to choose one of two curated selections that follow a theme (and, being completely honest, we were a little disappointed to see that it's the same two themes that Scent Trunk has been offering for years). The first theme is "Supernatural Future", and it includes scents like Miss Layla's Truffle in January, Heather D'angelo's Neroli in March, and Shabnam Tavakol's Saffron in September. (We'll also point out that the subscription description referenced a $15/month price point, but it was still $18/month in the checkout and product selection section. Just FYI.). The second theme goes all the way back to 2021's collection in the "Botanical Machinist" series, with fragrances like Persephenie's Patchouli in December, Hans Hendley's Everlasting in July, and Loreto Remsing's Moon Jasmine in March.
About $22/month
All of the perfume subscriptions at Scent Trunk cost $18 per delivery, and shipping fees are calculated when you check out. In our test zip code in the southern US, our shipping cost was $4.68, bringing our monthly cost to $22.68. That's pretty steep when you consider that you're only getting about 100 spritzes from your 5mL spray bottle (and paying $4 to $8 more than many competitors on our list) - but then again, this is designed to be a luxe experience, and you get what you pay for. Also, you've got the option of paying on the first of the month or every month on the date you activated your Scent Trunk subscription (the 16th of the month).
Save 10% when you sign up for emails
You could score a bit of savings at Scent Trunk. Just keep an eye out for a pop-up when you first land on the site: if you give them your email address, you'll get a 10% discount on your first order and exclusive offers in your inbox. We're not 100% sure that the discount applies to both subscriptions and one-off orders of full-size fragrances, but it's worth a try.
Limited but positive reviews
As you might guess, this niche perfume retailer doesn't have the buzz of thousands upon thousands of customer reviews, but what's out there is typically enthusiastic. Even though not every scent is going to land for every wearer - body chemistry, personal preference, and style are all factors - Scent Trunk customers agree that the company delivers on its promises. You'll never doubt the quality or the artistry behind the perfume you receive here, even if a particular fragrance doesn't wind up in your regular rotation.
A bit lacking in variety over time
Beyond the price point, which isn't really a huge issue for what you're getting at Scent Trunk, our only other hesitation with this perfume subscription is the lack of variety. As we mentioned, it was a bit of a shock to see the same 12-fragrance rotation from all the way back in 2021 - drawing from what seemed to be the same selection as the choose-it-yourself scents. We even double-checked Scent Trunk's social media channels to make sure they hadn't gone out of business. (Fortunately, their socials had posts left within just a few days of our review, so no worries there.)
A fun way to experiment with 30+ new scents
If you're absolutely bored with brand-name perfume and are dying to break out of your fragrance rut, Scent Trunk could be your solution. We're huge fans of supporting indie perfumers and experimenting with cutting-edge scents, and this subscription has that vibe. However, there's at least one rival on our list that, frankly, does that better - with seemingly unending variety from one month (and one year) to the next. You've got nothing to lose by giving Scent Trunk a go for a while, though, because it'll take you nearly three years to work your way through all of the perfumes they offer. We give this subscription an above-average rating.
Continued from above...
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.
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:
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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