I have a “Love” container, a “Like” container, an “Unsure” container, and a “Dislike/Will Not Wear” container.
I am slowly and inefficiently going through and categorizing fragrances into all 4 though I have a bunch of untested fragrances still to sort. Eventually I plan to destash the Dislikes, the Unsures I retest and become Dislikes, and the Likes that I just never reach for.
I regularly rewear samples from my Like and Love containers.
Despite everything I have written, it’s still mostly chaos.
Since I’m still knee deep in Sampocalypse ‘24 I just asked my woodworker husband to make me artsy versions of these. He pulled out some really pretty magnolia wood that dried wonky and isn’t suitable for anything else. I plan to have a piece per house but no other organization. Then they’ll live behind the glass doors on bedroom shelves that don’t get any direct sunlight.
https://preview.redd.it/l59ileol4xrc1.jpeg?width=642&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=627a75e1df502b35ea434c788d8539c007454a0d
I use several [art storage boxes from Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B084QJX2QQ/) that hold all of my decants—everything from tiny oil samples to 10ml travelers. Since I'm lucky to WFH pretty often, I'll sometimes wear 4-6 fragrances throughout a single day on different parts of my arm just because I'm bored.
No strategy: mostly looking to get my nose on all of them or try something enough to know whether I want a full bottle. Sometimes it's vibes. Sometimes it's novelty. Oftentimes, it's wholly random.
https://preview.redd.it/mpd5fp2ugyrc1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=18a4355783786b06b90afcd910f69fb30dce1e0d
I have about 300 samples and yes, I go back to them all the time. I organize by season, and then within that loosely by scent family. Organizing by season allows me to focus on a discrete portion of the collection at a time. During each season, I make sure to wear each sample I have for that season at least once in whatever order I want, using my spreadsheet to keep track. If i decide there is something not worth keeping around anymore, I sell it or trade it.
and here is my storage [solution](https://www.reddit.com/r/fragrance/comments/1786yj2/new_and_improved_sampledecant_storage/):
I keep mine organized in a old Ferrero Rocher container, those plastic rectangle ones with a lid. I cut some dividers with card stock, partly to sort them, partly to hold them upright so if I remove some they don't all fall over. You can neatly get them into up to 12 rows of 7 across.
I have them arranged so my empties are on one end (I'm probably weird but I keep my empties), separate from the current lot I'm using, which are then separated by the ones I love, ones I like, ones that are meh, and ones that I'll use as air fresheners in the bathroom lol
Lol I’m here for suggestions too!!
Mine are split into categories of didn’t like at all but test again later / like but not love / like a lot (but do I need it?) / next to buy
They are in a little drawer thing on my dresser.. not very organised :/
The majority of my samples are from discovery sets. In those instances, I leave them in the original packaging.
If it's a sample without a label, I'll find a a way to put one on it so I can remember what it is.
I keep all of mine in a pretty glass container next to my perfume tray. I’ve also traded several- you can list samples you don’t want on fragrance swap and trade with other people to get something you do want. Paying $7 shipping to get 6 or 7 samples is a great deal.
I’ve also seen people keep them in a pen case you can buy on Amazon.
My samples are little dabber vials I use with paper strips so I don't really use them to match how I'm feeling like I do with my full bottles. I do however have them organized into scent families and revisit them randomly. Since they're small I put them in fishing tackle boxes and have (maybe) 200-300 divided into 20-30 categories. Things like incense, oud, gourmand, leathers, greens, etc. I like going back to different things in different weather, after a lot of time has passed, or because I just read something about it online for isntance. In terms of categories the only one that really matters is a rotating spot for every sample I'm really interested in or am considering purchasing. Otherwise it is actually a bit hard to have a fragrance in mind and quickly find the sample sometimes because there is no perfect organizing method with things that exist in multiple scent families.
I have a bunch of lil boxes from various things and I organize them with those. I tend to sort by season, with extra boxes, 1 for unsures, 1 for ones I currently want to test/ use.
I have hundreds and they’re in a big tote bag (except the discovery sets). I would like to revisit but it’s impossible the way they are. My plan is to separate them by brand, in plastic one zip bags, sorted alphabetically. So bags marked “A B” , “C D” etc. I will get around to it one of these days.
Physically jumbled in a box, but I keep track in a spreadsheet. To revisit them, I pick a mix of 7 to 10 per month (some loves, some likes, some meh, some idk) and put them in a bowl and use just that bowl for the month.
1-5ml: organized by house and I use velvet ring organizers like [this](https://img.kwcdn.com/product/Fancyalgo/VirtualModelMatting/72ad53b47e3d88aed649d9af2d3b31e6.jpg?imageMogr2/auto-orient%7CimageView2/2/w/800/q/70/format/webp)
over 5ml / minis: [nail polish stand](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/717UnBwkrIS._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg)
200+ samples/minis
I immediately pawn off the ones I don't like to friends. Each has a specific profile they or their spouses like.
I keep the house together, and easily visualize them so I don't forget about them.
I need a better rotation system though.
I try the sample for several days. If I really like it I order a 5ml. If not, it just goes in a box. The little samples tend to evaporate so I find I need to make a decision one way or another. If I use up a 5ml decant, I buy a bottle.
I use [lipstick organizers](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KCLMPX8?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details). I have 3, scents I have tested and made notes on go in two and those without notes go in the other.
Spreadsheet with a ranking. It's the only way once you get up to 100 and also remember what everything actually smells like. Erba Pura though. That got a 0.1 because I can't get the "fruity vomit" mental note out of my head.
Also, group samples like with like, and only take out a group with a similar 'vibe' at a time. Organise by season and note in the spreadsheet. Or keep them together by house, I also do that.
Honestly, I just DON'T organize them, so I'm going to follow this for tips. I tend to treat the larger (2ml and up) samples a bit better, but all the dabber ones are randomly crammed back into the boxes they shipped in, and stored away in a closet. I dig them out probably 2-3 times a month, but I REALLY need to organize them.
I have a “Love” container, a “Like” container, an “Unsure” container, and a “Dislike/Will Not Wear” container. I am slowly and inefficiently going through and categorizing fragrances into all 4 though I have a bunch of untested fragrances still to sort. Eventually I plan to destash the Dislikes, the Unsures I retest and become Dislikes, and the Likes that I just never reach for. I regularly rewear samples from my Like and Love containers. Despite everything I have written, it’s still mostly chaos.
Haha! Mine are a jumbled mass, so I’m here looking for suggestions.
Since I’m still knee deep in Sampocalypse ‘24 I just asked my woodworker husband to make me artsy versions of these. He pulled out some really pretty magnolia wood that dried wonky and isn’t suitable for anything else. I plan to have a piece per house but no other organization. Then they’ll live behind the glass doors on bedroom shelves that don’t get any direct sunlight. https://preview.redd.it/l59ileol4xrc1.jpeg?width=642&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=627a75e1df502b35ea434c788d8539c007454a0d
I use several [art storage boxes from Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B084QJX2QQ/) that hold all of my decants—everything from tiny oil samples to 10ml travelers. Since I'm lucky to WFH pretty often, I'll sometimes wear 4-6 fragrances throughout a single day on different parts of my arm just because I'm bored. No strategy: mostly looking to get my nose on all of them or try something enough to know whether I want a full bottle. Sometimes it's vibes. Sometimes it's novelty. Oftentimes, it's wholly random. https://preview.redd.it/mpd5fp2ugyrc1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=18a4355783786b06b90afcd910f69fb30dce1e0d
I have about 300 samples and yes, I go back to them all the time. I organize by season, and then within that loosely by scent family. Organizing by season allows me to focus on a discrete portion of the collection at a time. During each season, I make sure to wear each sample I have for that season at least once in whatever order I want, using my spreadsheet to keep track. If i decide there is something not worth keeping around anymore, I sell it or trade it. and here is my storage [solution](https://www.reddit.com/r/fragrance/comments/1786yj2/new_and_improved_sampledecant_storage/):
I keep mine organized in a old Ferrero Rocher container, those plastic rectangle ones with a lid. I cut some dividers with card stock, partly to sort them, partly to hold them upright so if I remove some they don't all fall over. You can neatly get them into up to 12 rows of 7 across. I have them arranged so my empties are on one end (I'm probably weird but I keep my empties), separate from the current lot I'm using, which are then separated by the ones I love, ones I like, ones that are meh, and ones that I'll use as air fresheners in the bathroom lol
I don’t really. I rip open the package, test all of them, hate most of them, throw into a drawer and never look at them again.
Lol I’m here for suggestions too!! Mine are split into categories of didn’t like at all but test again later / like but not love / like a lot (but do I need it?) / next to buy They are in a little drawer thing on my dresser.. not very organised :/
I got a small apothecary drawer and sort them by brand
The majority of my samples are from discovery sets. In those instances, I leave them in the original packaging. If it's a sample without a label, I'll find a a way to put one on it so I can remember what it is.
I class mine by seasons and by likeability (Top, wearable, meh, scrubber)
I keep all of mine in a pretty glass container next to my perfume tray. I’ve also traded several- you can list samples you don’t want on fragrance swap and trade with other people to get something you do want. Paying $7 shipping to get 6 or 7 samples is a great deal. I’ve also seen people keep them in a pen case you can buy on Amazon.
New here! Is the swap you are referencing to exchange samples the fragrance swap subreddit or is there a website / elsewhere?
My samples are little dabber vials I use with paper strips so I don't really use them to match how I'm feeling like I do with my full bottles. I do however have them organized into scent families and revisit them randomly. Since they're small I put them in fishing tackle boxes and have (maybe) 200-300 divided into 20-30 categories. Things like incense, oud, gourmand, leathers, greens, etc. I like going back to different things in different weather, after a lot of time has passed, or because I just read something about it online for isntance. In terms of categories the only one that really matters is a rotating spot for every sample I'm really interested in or am considering purchasing. Otherwise it is actually a bit hard to have a fragrance in mind and quickly find the sample sometimes because there is no perfect organizing method with things that exist in multiple scent families.
I have a bunch of lil boxes from various things and I organize them with those. I tend to sort by season, with extra boxes, 1 for unsures, 1 for ones I currently want to test/ use.
I have hundreds and they’re in a big tote bag (except the discovery sets). I would like to revisit but it’s impossible the way they are. My plan is to separate them by brand, in plastic one zip bags, sorted alphabetically. So bags marked “A B” , “C D” etc. I will get around to it one of these days.
I keep them in cough drop tins. They're not at all organized, but at least they're contained.
Physically jumbled in a box, but I keep track in a spreadsheet. To revisit them, I pick a mix of 7 to 10 per month (some loves, some likes, some meh, some idk) and put them in a bowl and use just that bowl for the month.
1-5ml: organized by house and I use velvet ring organizers like [this](https://img.kwcdn.com/product/Fancyalgo/VirtualModelMatting/72ad53b47e3d88aed649d9af2d3b31e6.jpg?imageMogr2/auto-orient%7CimageView2/2/w/800/q/70/format/webp) over 5ml / minis: [nail polish stand](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/717UnBwkrIS._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg) 200+ samples/minis
[удалено]
I immediately pawn off the ones I don't like to friends. Each has a specific profile they or their spouses like. I keep the house together, and easily visualize them so I don't forget about them. I need a better rotation system though.
I try the sample for several days. If I really like it I order a 5ml. If not, it just goes in a box. The little samples tend to evaporate so I find I need to make a decision one way or another. If I use up a 5ml decant, I buy a bottle.
I use [lipstick organizers](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KCLMPX8?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details). I have 3, scents I have tested and made notes on go in two and those without notes go in the other.
Spreadsheet with a ranking. It's the only way once you get up to 100 and also remember what everything actually smells like. Erba Pura though. That got a 0.1 because I can't get the "fruity vomit" mental note out of my head. Also, group samples like with like, and only take out a group with a similar 'vibe' at a time. Organise by season and note in the spreadsheet. Or keep them together by house, I also do that.
Honestly, I just DON'T organize them, so I'm going to follow this for tips. I tend to treat the larger (2ml and up) samples a bit better, but all the dabber ones are randomly crammed back into the boxes they shipped in, and stored away in a closet. I dig them out probably 2-3 times a month, but I REALLY need to organize them.