7 Best Perfume Subscription Boxes to Discover New Scents
It's basically a life hack.
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Have trouble committing? You're not alone, and it is precisely why perfume subscription boxes exist. After all, who has the $$$ to drop hundreds of dollars on full-sized fragrances that you may not even like anymore after a few wears? (And it does in fact take a while for you to crown a perfume your signature scent after seeing how it meshes with your body chemistry.) But when you sign up for a perfume subscription, you’ll get all the best perfumes, from iconic designer scents to cool niche fragrances, housed in display-worthy atomizers and dropped off on your doorstep for just $30 (or, in many cases, less!) per month. And we’re not talking teeny-tiny sample sizes, either—each delivery contains more than 100 sprays’ worth of product, so it’ll last ya a while. Truly it’s one of the best things ever invented, and we’re here to tell you everything you need to know about it.
Maybe you’re the type of person who wants a different scent for every occasion and mood, but you can’t always justify the price. Orrr perhaps you do most of your fragrance shopping online and know that spending hundreds of dollars on a fancy perfume or cologne without actually smelling it IRL is a v risky game. Whatever the case, fragrance subscription services are an easy solution and also a good way to find your ~signature scent~, so we've rounded up all the best perfume subscriptions to help you get started.
Keep reading for our top picks, and thank us later when you find your signature scent.
Scentbird
Pros
- Allows you to experience new scents before committing
- Scent quiz helps you narrow down your options
- Free shipping
- Affordable
Cons
- No exchanges, so process can be hit-or-miss
- Premium fragrances will cost ya extra
- Limited edition fragrances cost extra
If you want to try a designer fragrance without throwing down big $$$, Scentbird is the subscription for you, bb. You'll receive one travel-sized vial of perfume each month containing ~140 sprays, which is more than enough to last you the month. And while Scentbird's quiz can help you get started, you can also hand-select your fragrance from over 600 scents (!!). Other perks include the ability to add up to two additional fragrances each month (for an extra charge) and the option to switch to a bi-monthly or tri-monthly subscription later on.
- What you pay: $16.95/month
- What you get: One 8 mL bottle of the fragrance you choose
- Bonus items: Free atomizer case with first shipment
THE REVIEWS: "I've worn the same three perfumes my entire life, so this has been the perfect way for me to discover new scents," one tester writes. "The quiz you take to find the scents you prefer is very accurate, and it helps [you] choose a perfume you may enjoy if you didn't pick one."
ScentBox
Pros
- New atomizer case provided with each order
- Free exchanges available
- Free shipping
- Over 1,000 fragrances available
Cons
- Need to pay extra to access higher-end scents
- Doesn't offer quiz to help you narrow down selection
- Pricey
Often confused with Scentbird, ScentBox offers another fab fragrance-sampling experience to your doorstep, starting at just $16.95 a month (and only $9.72 for your first month). Just like with Scentbird, you'll receive a travel-sized vial of the fragrance you choose each month, which you can pick from a selection of over 600 designer scents. You can also upgrade your subscription to Premium or Platinum for access to even higher-end fragrances. And you also have the option to receive up to three scents per month (for an additional cost, ofc).
- What you pay: $16.95/month for Standard, $21.95/month for Premium, and $30.95/month for Platinum
- What you get: One 8 mL bottle of the fragrance you choose
- Bonus items: Free atomizer case every month
THE REVIEWS: "My experience with ScentBox has been exceptional," writes one reviewer. "I love having the name of the fragrance on the bottom, unlike others where you need to remove the vial. I also really appreciate getting a new case with each scent."
LUXSB - Luxury Scent Box
Pros
- Full-sized bottles offered at discounted rate
- Fragrance quiz can help you narrow down your options
- Free shipping
- New seasonal fragrances are offered every quarter
Cons
- No exchanges or returns offered
- Premium fragrances come with an upgrade fee
- Must opt into a two-month subscription to receive the initial discount
- Only one fragrance per month
Love getting access to exclusive brands? Then you'll love LUXSB. With this subscription, you can choose from a selection of buzz-worthy brands and hard-to-find scents based on picks from fragrance specialists or a fragrance survey you can take, all for $15.95 a month (and $10.37 for your first month). And if you find something you love, you can buy a full-sized bottle at a special membership discount.
- What you pay: $15.95/month
- What you get: One 9 mL bottle of the fragrance you choose
- Bonus items: Free atomizer case every three months
THE REVIEWS: As one tester writes, "I have been using LUXSB for over a year now and I absolutely love them. They have the largest sizes of any perfume subscription service I have found, and their selection is impressive. I love that I can select from both big-name designers as well as boutique fragrances."
The Fragrance Club
Pros
- Provides a bigger vial for a better price than competitors
- Offers bi-monthly subscription at sign-up
- Free shipping
Cons
- Has a much smaller selection than other subscriptions
- No tools for helping you narrow down selections
- Only one fragrance per month
For those who are liberal with their perfume spritzing (or who don't want to use up a whole bottle in one month), The Fragrance Club is the way to go. This service offers the biggest bottle each month for the best price, and it gives you the option to subscribe bi-monthly if a monthly fragrance drop is a lil too much for you. With your subscription, you also get to plan ahead with a fragrance queue that includes selects for your next three deliveries, which you can swap or modify at any time.
- What you pay: $14.99/month for Monthly, $17.99/every two months for Bi-Monthly, and $12.49/month for Yearly
- What you get: One 10 mL bottle of the fragrance you choose
- Bonus items: Free atomizer case with first shipment
THE REVIEWS: "Great selection, affordable pricing, and customer service that sets the bar for everyone else," one reviewer writes. "Throughly pleased with this company."
Perfume.com
Pros
- New atomizer case provided with each order
- You can allow experts to make selection for you
- Free shipping
Cons
- Doesn't offer quiz to help you narrow down selection
- Subscription options divided by gender
- Only one fragrance per month
If you're into surprises, you'll def appreciate Perfume.com's monthly subscription. For $14.95 a month (and only $7.47 for the first month), you'll receive a travel-sized vial of perfume in a cute new atomizer to your door, which you can either select yourself or allow Perfume.com's team of fragrance experts to choose for you. And since this service offers a catalog of over 500 fragrance brands, the options are pretty much unlimited.
- What you pay: $14.95/month
- What you get: One 8 mL rollerball of the fragrance you choose
- Bonus items: Free atomizer case every month
THE REVIEWS: "I love this company!" writes one reviewer. "The monthly club is great because you choose the many fragrances you're interested in & they surprise you with one of them monthly. The perfumes come in a beautiful little stylish traveling tube that rotates up (like a lipstick tube) to spray. So awesome!"
Skylar
Pros
- All fragrances are hypoallergenic, vegan, and cruelty-free
- Rollerballs allow for easy application and transporation
- Members get 20% off on other Skylar purchases
- Purchases give back to charity
Cons
- Selection is much smaller than other subscriptions
- Shipping costs extra
- Pricey
Looking for something totally unique? Instead of a perfume that’s already on the market, the Skylar Scent Club provides you with a clean, vegan, and hypoallergenic rollerball (valued at $30) for just $20 a month. You'll have the option to choose between the monthly limited-edition scent or any other rollerball in Skylar's catalog, and they offer a quiz to help you find your ideal fragrance. Other Scent Club perks include 20 percent off all Skylar products and the ability to purchase additional rollerballs for just $20 a pop.
- What you pay: $20/month plus $4.95 for shipping
- What you get: One 10 mL rollerball of the fragrance you choose
- Bonus items: 20% off other Skylar products
THE REVIEWS: "Scent Club is amazing!" one tester writes. "I can’t wait for new scents every month. The quality and scents themselves are above any high department store brand I’ve tried. I’ve found the ultimate fragrance and experience."
Wicked Good Perfume
Pros
- Amazing value for what's included
- All products are vegan and cruelty-free
- Handcrafted scents
- Free shipping
Cons
- No option to select your own fragrances
- May feel like a bit much to receive every month
- No designer fragrances available
Love a little scent cocktail? This perfume subscription ships a themed collection of rollers, sprays, oils, and more in limited-edition scents, all of which are designed to be layered so you can create custom fragrances all month long. Plus, Wicked Good products are formulated with clean, responsibly-sourced, and 100 percent vegan and cruelty-free ingredients. With each shipment, you'll receive a full-size perfume spray, rollerball, and one or two other surprises, like a bath bomb, body butter, scrub, or candle.
- What you pay: $33/month
- What you get: One 30 mL perfume spray bottle and one 10 mL perfume oil roller
- Bonus items: One to two other scented goodies
THE REVIEWS: According to one reviewer, "I am so excited about this box. The scents are unbelievably good (not too overpowering) and fade into new subtle scents throughout the day. The packaging is so well done and personalized. I’ve already recommended this box to most of my friends."
How does a perfume subscription work?
Ideal for scent connoisseurs and fragrance commitment-phobes, perfume subscription boxes give you the ability to sample designer, niche, and even exclusive fragrances at a fraction of the cost of a full-sized bottle. Depending on the service you use, you'll have the option to choose your scent of the month or have one chosen for you, and you can look forward to receiving it right on your doorstep in a handy, travel-size container, which will contain enough product to last ya through the month.
How much does a perfume subscription cost?
You'll find there are perfume subscriptions out there for every budget, with options ranging from about $15 for basic subscriptions to over $30 for larger or more premium offerings. Most services provide free shipping within the U.S., and in many cases, you'll get a discount on your first delivery.
How many fragrances will you receive?
Most perfume subscriptions start with a base plan of one fragrance delivered per month, but you'll also find that—with many of these subscription services—you can opt to receive up to three different scents per shipment, such as with Scentbird and ScentBox.
Do you have the option to exchange scents you don't like?
Scent is subjective, so unfortunately, you won't always get to return or exchange a fragrance that isn't to your liking. However, a few subscription services do allow for some wiggle room, like ScentBox, which gives you one exchange shipment per month (and up to a maximum of five exchange shipments per 12-month period), and The Fragrance Club, which allows you to request a refund.
Daisy Maldonado is an editor who covers everything from the latest fashion news to deeper looks at beauty culture and the internet’s most talked-about pop culture moments. She’s especially interested in the intersection of style and digital culture, and loves exploring what the trends we follow say about us. When she’s not writing, she’s probably four pages deep on The RealReal searching for vintage designer pieces or planning her next trip abroad (she lived in Paris for a year and hasn’t stopped talking about it since). Her work has appeared in Vogue, Bustle, Allure, and many more.
Hanna Flanagan is an associate shopping editor at Cosmopolitan, sharing her recommendations for everything from denim and eye creams to coffee mugs and silk sheets. Before joining Cosmopolitan, she wrote fashion, beauty, and lifestyle content at People (so, yes, she’s basically a professional product tester at this point). Follow her on Instagram for photos of Timothée Chalamet and #OOTD mirror pics.
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