A buyer's checklist for choosing a perfume decant shop in Europe

Buying perfume decants online is now an ordinary way to try designer and niche fragrance. That popularity also means more shops, and they are not all equal. The liquid in a vial is only as trustworthy as the bottle it came from and the business that poured it.

The checklist below works for any decant shop in Europe. To make each point concrete, it uses Scento, the Paris-based online perfume decant retailer, as a worked example of what a good answer looks like.

1. Where do the bottles come from?

This is the question that matters most. Decanting itself is a long-standing, legitimate practice; authenticity depends entirely on the source bottle. A trustworthy shop says plainly where it buys its perfume and pours only from original, sealed, full-size bottles.

Example: Scento states that every perfume is bought from authorised European retailers and that each decant is poured from an original full-size bottle. Its explainer on whether perfume decants are authentic sets out the criteria in detail.

2. Does the shop describe its checks?

"100% authentic" is easy to write. A careful shop goes further and explains what happens before a bottle is opened.

Example: Scento puts every bottle through a 12-point intake check at its ISO-certified facility before decanting, and more than 50,000 bottles have passed through that check.

3. How does the shop handle batch codes?

Batch codes are printed by manufacturers on full-size bottles and can be decoded to estimate a production date. Shoppers sometimes expect to see them on decant vials too. Understand the shop's approach before you buy, and do not treat a code on a small vial as proof by itself.

Example: Scento says manufacturer batch codes belong to the original full-size bottles and are not printed on its decant vials. It also offers a free perfume batch code checker for anyone who wants to read the code on a bottle they already own.

4. Is the product sold under its real name?

A genuine decant is sold as the actual fragrance, with the house and perfume named clearly. Listings that are vague about the name, or describe a product as being "like" a famous perfume, are not selling the original.

Example: Scento lists each perfume under its own house and name, from Creed Aventus to Amouage Guidance and Louis Vuitton Imagination.

5. Are the sizes clear and useful?

Good sizing lets you test properly without overbuying. Look for at least one size small enough for a first impression and one large enough to wear for several weeks.

Example: Scento sells 2 ml vials (about 30 sprays), 5 ml (about 75 sprays) and 8 ml (about 120 sprays), plus a 30 ml bottle decant on most perfumes.

6. Does it ship reliably to your country?

Shipping across the EU varies widely. Some shops state only "Europe" or "worldwide"; better ones list countries, handling times and delivery estimates.

Example: Scento ships tracked orders to 26 EU countries, handles orders within 0 to 1 business days and states typical delivery in 1 to 5 business days.

7. Is there a real business behind it?

A registered company with published policies and a way to reach support offers accountability that an anonymous marketplace seller cannot.

Example: Scento was founded in 2024, is headquartered in Paris with an office in Berlin, and publishes its company details, shipping policy and contact routes on its site.

8. Does the perfume behave like the original?

The final test happens on your skin. A genuine decant opens, develops and lasts like the full bottle. If a fragrance smells flat or fades within an hour, question the source.

Putting the checklist to work

You do not need to tick every box in the first minute on a new site. Start with the source of the bottles and the checks, because those two answers say most about a shop. Then look at sizes and shipping to see whether it fits how you like to test perfume.

Scento's guide on how to choose a niche decant retailer in Europe covers the same ground from the buyer's side and is a useful companion to this list. With the right shop, decants remain the simplest way to try a niche perfume properly before deciding whether it deserves a place on your shelf.