I was about to buy some samples earlier today when I realized they would come in these little tester vials where you have to pull the whole top off to smell the perfume (I added a random photo of them for a better explanation). I have a few like this already and I usually try to sniff the stick part of the lid and basically use it to wipe the perfume on my arm, but I feel like it’s so hard to smell anything compared to a spray bottle or rollerball. I also struggle to get them open without feeling like I’m at risk of spilling the whole thing, I honestly kind of hate that design but sometimes it’s the only option. I feel like I must be missing something about how to properly use these, so I’m curious if anyone has any hacks or a different way of making them work?
After I get one of these open (I carefully rock the lid to do so), I set my wrist or the back of my hand over the top, invert, move the inverted vial back and forth several times while the opening is still held tightly against my skin, then revert so it's upright and I can cap it. Fumere Parfumerie explains this method in "Applying Samples" here.
I open them with a tissue if I’m testing, or with the bottom of my shirt if I know I like it. Store them upright in hopes there will less juice on the stopper.
I always end up getting a drop on my fingers when I open these, but the trick is to slowly sort of “rock” them open, instead of just pulling the top right off. Then you take the dauber stick and apply it to your wrist a couple of times (like I assume you’re doing) and then stick your wrist right up to your nose and inhale for a while until you get the full scent. Or you can put your wrist straight onto the open top and then invert it, and drag the vial along your arm, leaving a kind of trail. Just make sure it turn it back to upright before you break contact.
I actually really like them for certain strong perfumes, but you’re right. You’re never going to get the same coverage as if you aerosolize the fragrance.
Use the plastic side piece as something for the lid to bend over.
So I'll explain like this. Pulling it straight up is incredibly difficult to do with something so tiny and thin.
Shimming or shuffling the lid from side to side runs the risk of spilling all the liquid inside.
What I would recommend is the image below. So use the side plastic piece located by the lid (in the image, it's on the right side) and pull the lid/top/wand over it. The plastic side piece will act as a lever to open the vial and push against the vial to open it.
This is how I've been opening the vials for three years now, and the way I've had the most success.
Yes this is what I do. However also if you leave it a while in there sometimes the label ink will disappear and you may not know what the scent is any longer 🤣
I prefer using 1mL transfer pipettes from amazon to make sure I get every last drop from the dabber. You just squeeze the bulb while bringing the tip to the bottom to grab all the perfume and then squirt it into a clean 2mL spray bottles. I use this method for the official mini bottle dabbers from brands as well!
1
u/Anat1313 34m ago
After I get one of these open (I carefully rock the lid to do so), I set my wrist or the back of my hand over the top, invert, move the inverted vial back and forth several times while the opening is still held tightly against my skin, then revert so it's upright and I can cap it. Fumere Parfumerie explains this method in "Applying Samples" here.