Like a lot of people, I’m a fan of smelling nice. It’s one of the simpler pleasures in life, and, just like with choosing my clothes and hairstyle to reflect what I consider to be the best version of myself, I get a thrill from the individualism inherent in deciding what kind of smell should be MY smell. That said, I’d never go do far as to call myself picky when it comes to the scents I’d like to be associated with, but, when I really think about it, I know that this is more due to my lack of knowledge than real apathy.
The language of perfume has always been one that gets a little lost in translation for me; I find it difficult to break down the compositional differences of floral and fruity, oriental and woody to single out a scent that says everything about me that I’d like it to. And since, along with many others, I don’t have the luxury of getting to treat myself to a new full-sized bottle of perfume a week, I don’t get many opportunities to take prospective scents for a test-drive to narrow my preferences down.
Finding your perfect scent is no measly achievement, and odds are, it’s not going to happen through a haphazard sniff in a Sephora followed by a stab in the dark with your Visa. To test out the possibility of an enduring perfume-and-wearer relationship, quality bonding time is required to really get to know the ins and outs of your could-be perfect fit. This is why, at Scentbird, a system has been established to allow those hoping for a real connection to date their perfume before they decide to marry it.
Founded by Mariya Nurislamova (CEO), Sergey Gusev (COO), Andrei Rebrov (CTO and Rachel ten Brink (CMO), Scentbird is all about removing the anxiety-inducing guessing game from the task of perfume selection, replacing it instead with a reminder that the heart of wearable fragrance is truly in the fun, magic, and emotionality it can induce.
For just $14.99 a month, the scent subscription service allows its users to a 30-day supply of the perfume of their choice to test out how it suits them and their lifestyle. The monthly selection includes over 450 scent options from top designer brands, including classic favorites like Dolce & Gabbana and DKNY, as well as newer, up-and-coming fragrances to excite and surprise their recipients. The monthly supply, at 0.27 oz/8ml, is far from stingy, and arrives handily encased in a travel-friendly spray bottle. With every first order, Scentbird sends out a refillable scent case that’s sturdy, eco-friendly, and sure to swiftly become the new best friend of all who fall in love with this service from the moment their first order arrives at the door.
Well, you say, that’s all well and good, what of the tricky process of selecting a scent that’ll be up your alley, if even just for a trial run? To help those who, like me, are clueless when it comes to understanding what a perfume will smell like by reading about its ingredients alone, Scentbird had a brainwave. To aid its users in their monthly scent selection process, the team behind the website have developed what they call a TruScent Recommender, which leverages a database of thousands of scent profiles, as well as perfume reviews posted online by real, everyday people. The tool also allows Scentbird lovers to chase down their perfect fragrance by searching by brand, occasion, mood, or even personality, completely removing the need to understand just what a top/middle/bottom note even is. But hey – with a service as addictive and informative as Scentbird at your fingertips, you might just be inspired to learn.
"It has always been our dream to make this site a friendly space where you can explore fragrances, experiment with them and mix up your routine without having to spend hundreds of dollars or commit to one single bottle for years," says CEO Mariya Nurislamova in a statement on the Scentbird site. "Play, have fun, keep things fresh — you are designed to." If that’s not a sentiment that gets you all aflutter, I’m not sure what can.
