As a fragrance lover who can’t handle scents that are too strong, I’ve often ended up buying perfumes that I can’t use long-term. They smell fine at first, but after wearing them for a few weeks, they start giving me headaches. That’s why I rarely reach for them again.
But Penhaligon’s is different. I’ve never had that problem with any of their fragrances. I truly love this brand—maybe even one of my favorites—because their scents are soft, high quality, and never overpowering on my skin.
Last week, I finally moved all my Penhaligon’s samples into more practical spray bottles. They originally came in long glass tubes, which were honestly hard to use. So after my sister finished printing my labels (lol), I decided to decant them all.
I’ve got quite a few samples—some marketed for women, some for men—but honestly, most of them feel pretty unisex and work really well in Jakarta’s humid weather. If you live in the Jabodetabek area, you know what I mean by “humid.” We’re basically living in a steam room most of the time, lol.
I don’t know why, but I find decanting perfume super satisfying. Transferring the juice into these little bottles feels almost therapeutic, and they look so cute too! I love having minis because they’re easier to bring anywhere. Plus, it’s not great to carry your full-sized perfume bottle around, especially under direct sunlight. It can mess with the formula and slightly change the scent over time.
Having mini decants like these is the best solution. And if you’re someone like me who loves tiny bags, trust me—it makes life so much easier. These mini sprays fit everywhere, even in my pocket.
Decanting is also a great way to try new perfumes over several weeks to see if we really love them—and more importantly, if the scent actually works well on our skin in the long run. I run a little store on Shopee where I share most of my perfume collection in small bottles ranging from 1 ml to 5 ml. Check it out if you live in Indonesia. ;)
