What are the ways to get perfume and cologne samples?
Some of these are free, some ride along with an order, and some are paid products that get called samples. The cost column sorts them out.
| Way to get it | What you get | Cost | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brand launch sample forms | A small vial or a scented card of a new perfume or cologne | Usually free; some delivery partners ask for a small fee | Request it on the brand's own page while stock lasts, often one per household |
| Sponsored social posts | A vial of a new scent, requested through a form linked from the ad | Usually free | The ad only shows to some people, so a TrySpree listing may be your only way to the form |
| Department store and beauty store counters | A small spray sample or a decant made for you | Free | Ask the associate at Macy's, Nordstrom, Sephora, Ulta and similar stores. Not every store or brand does it. |
| Samples with online beauty orders | Fragrance vials you pick at checkout or that come in the box | Needs an order | Choose them in your basket where the retailer offers it |
| Scent strips in magazines and mailers | A paper strip to smell the scent | Free with mail you already get | Nothing to request; good for a first impression only |
| Discovery sets | Several minis from one brand or retailer | Paid; some include a voucher toward a full bottle | Buy it; not a freebie |
| Sample subscriptions | A decant or travel spray each month | Paid subscription | Not free; cancel before renewal if you only want one |
Live perfume and cologne offers on TrySpree
The newest fragrance offers members have posted that are still open, each linked to its TrySpree page with the details and any catch. Every current fragrance offer is in free perfume samples; men's scents also appear in free men's samples.
| Offer | Cost | How you get it | Listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claim a FREE Giorgio Armani Si Passione Eclat Fragrance Sample | Free, no purchase | Request on the brand's site | |
| Grab a FREE YSL Black Opium Pink Glaze Fragrance Sample | Free, no purchase | Through a brand social post or ad | |
| Discover YSL Libre Santal Couture with a FREE Sample | Free, no purchase | Through a brand social post or ad | |
| Find Your New Favorite Scent with a FREE Bvlgari Sample | Free, no purchase | Through a brand social post or ad | |
| Indulge in a FREE Diesel Only Desire Fragrance Sample | Free, no purchase | Through a brand social post or ad | |
| Treat Yourself to FREE Aroma Passions Fragrance Samples | Free, no purchase | Request on the brand's site | |
| Grab a FREE Rabanne 1 Million Black EDP Sample | Free, no purchase | Through a brand social post or ad | |
| Try Guerlain L'Heure Bleue FREE with a Fragrance Sample | Free, no purchase | Through a brand social post or ad | |
| Score a FREE Infiniment Coty Les Osiums Fragrance Sample | Free, no purchase | Through a brand social post or ad | |
| Try Viktor & Rolf Bonbon FREE with a Fragrance Sample | Free, no purchase | Through a brand social post or ad | |
| Get Summer Fridays Body Fragrance Mist FREE After Cashback | Buy it, then get cash back | Join the program or app | |
| Claim Your FREE Maison Aurélle Perfume Sample Today! | Check the terms | Request on the brand's site |
How do I ask for a sample at a fragrance counter?
Spray the scent on a paper strip first, then ask the associate if they can make you a sample of it to wear for a day. Many will fill a small vial or hand you a pre-made one. Asking for one or two scents at a time goes over better than asking for a handful. Wearing a scent on your skin for a full day tells you far more than a sniff at the counter, since perfume changes as it dries.
Why do brands give away perfume samples?
Fragrance is hard to sell online because you cannot smell it through a screen. A vial costs the brand very little compared to a bottle, and a person who has worn a scent for a few days is much more likely to buy it. That is why launch samples cluster around new releases, and why they close quickly once the brand hits its target.
What should I watch out for?
- Look-alike sites.Request samples on the brand's own page or a delivery service it names, not on a site that copies the brand's look and asks for extra details.
- Long survey chains. A real sample form takes a minute. Free samples without surveys explains how to tell them apart.
- Surprise subscriptions. A one-time sample should never need a card unless the page says plainly that you are paying shipping.
Want makeup too? See free makeup samples by mail.
How do I get free perfume samples by mail?
Watch for launch sample forms from fragrance brands, which open when a new scent comes out and close once stock runs out. Fill in the form on the brand's own page with your name and address. TrySpree members post these as they open, including ones that only appear in social media ads.
Are free perfume samples really free?
Brand launch samples and counter samples usually are. Samples with online orders, discovery sets and subscriptions are not. Of the 12 live fragrance offers above, 10 are marked free with no purchase, 1 need a purchase, cash back or fee, and 1 have terms you should check.
How long do perfume samples take to arrive?
Usually two to eight weeks. Fragrance vials travel by regular mail without tracking, in a small envelope that is easy to mistake for junk mail. Some brands email when the sample ships; many do not.
Do I need a credit card for free perfume samples?
No for launch sample forms and counter samples. You need one for shipping-fee offers, online orders, discovery sets and subscriptions. If a "free" perfume sample asks for card details and mentions a plan, it is a subscription.
Can I get free cologne samples for men?
Yes. Launch forms cover men's colognes as often as women's perfumes, and fragrance counters will make a sample of most men's scents. Men's fragrance offers also show up in free men's samples on TrySpree.
How much perfume is in a free sample?
Very little. Vials usually hold a milliliter or two, which is enough for several wears. That is plenty to decide if you like how a scent lasts on your skin before you buy a bottle.
About TrySpree
TrySpree is a free sample site, running since 2013, where members share free sample offers from brands and TrySpree checks the links; it's free to use and supported by ads. See how offers are checked, or skip the survey sites with free samples without surveys.
More TrySpree guides
- Free Samples by Mail: Where free samples by mail come from, what each kind costs, and the live offers in every TrySpree category.
- Birthday Freebies: Free food, drinks and beauty gifts on your birthday: which loyalty programs give one, how early to join, and which need a purchase.
- Free Baby Stuff for Expecting Parents: Registry welcome boxes, formula and diaper programs, and live baby sample offers, with what each one asks of you.
- Free Makeup Samples by Mail: Ways to get makeup samples mailed or handed to you, which are free and which need an order, plus live makeup offers.
- Halloween Freebies: Free Halloween events, treats for costumes and trick-or-treat kits, with this season's live offers and last year's list.
- Veterans Day Free Meals and Freebies: Free meals, haircuts and other Veterans Day thank-yous for veterans and service members, what proof to bring, and live offers.
- Free Calendars by Mail: Who gives away free wall calendars each year, when to ask, what they want in return, and live calendar offers.
- Thanksgiving Freebies: Free turkey and dinner deals, kids turkey crafts, cooking help and community meals, with what each one asks of you.
- Christmas Freebies: Free Santa photos, kids ornament workshops, letters to Santa and holiday events, plus this season's live offers.