Short answer
To make perfume samples, fill small clean vials from a finished, matured batch — by weight, using the perfume's density to turn the sample volume into a fill weight — with a clean pipette or syringe for each perfume. Label every vial with the product, version, batch code and concentration before filling, record who received which sample, and keep a retained vial of what you sent. Samples given or sold to consumers are still cosmetics in most markets, so they need the labeling that applies there; samples for a client's evaluation need to be traceable to the exact formula version.
Two kinds of sample
| Development samples | Consumer samples | |
|---|---|---|
| Who receives them | Clients, evaluators, testers | Customers, retailers, events |
| What matters most | Traceability to the exact formula version | Consistency with the product sold; labeling |
| Typical size | Small vials or blotter-ready bottles | 1–2 ml sprays or vials, or larger discovery sizes |
| Record | Submission log | Batch code and distribution |
Tracking development samples through a client's feedback is covered in fragrance mod and sample tracking. This article is about making the samples themselves.
Before filling
- Use a matured batch, made and checked like any other; a hurried sample batch may not represent the product.
- Choose glass vials with good closures; check spray vials for leaks.
- Make sure vials and tools are clean, dry and odor-free; see preventing cross-contamination.
- Print or write labels first, and label vials before filling.
Filling by weight
Volume marks on small vials are imprecise, and filling by eye is inconsistent. Weigh instead:
fill weight (g) = sample volume (ml) × perfume density (g/ml)
A 2 ml sample of a perfume measured at 0.82 g/ml is 1.64 g. Tare the vial, fill with a pipette or syringe to 1.64 g, and close. If you do not know the density, measure it once per formula; see how to measure density.
Use a fresh pipette or a cleaned syringe for each perfume, and decant a working amount from the batch into a small beaker rather than dipping into the batch container repeatedly.
Labels
Development samples need, at minimum: product or project name, formula code and version, concentration, batch or trial code, date, and your sample number. A reference in the submission log should tie the sample number to everything else.
Consumer samples are usually cosmetic products in their own right. What the label must show depends on the market and on the size of the container — small packages often have specific provisions, such as information on a leaflet or card instead of on the vial. Check the rules for where you distribute; the market pages are gathered in perfume regulations by market. Always include the batch code; see perfume batch numbers and lot codes.
Records
- A sample log: sample number, formula version, batch, date, volume, recipient, purpose.
- A retained vial of each sample set you send, kept with the log.
- For clients: the feedback received, linked to the sample number and version.
- For consumer samples: the quantity filled from each batch, as part of the batch record.
The submission log is where a client's comment "number 3 was closest" gets turned back into a formula version — the reason labs number samples rather than naming them.
Shipping samples
Alcohol-based perfume samples are flammable liquids for transport purposes, even in small quantities. Carriers have specific rules for how they can be packed and which services may carry them; see how to ship perfume. The routine of the lab as a whole is described in how to set up a perfume lab.
Frequently asked questions
Can I make samples from a trial instead of a batch?
For early development samples, yes — label them as trials. For anything a customer receives, fill from a proper batch so the sample represents the product.
Do samples age differently from full bottles?
Small vials have more air and surface relative to their contents and may lose top notes faster, especially if they leak. Sample ages are worth noting when collecting feedback.
Written and reviewed by the RUŌOD Lab team. This article is general education about perfume formulation and record-keeping; it is not legal, regulatory or safety advice, and the examples are illustrations, not validated commercial formulas. How we write and check these guides.