Frequently Asked Questions

A decant is a smaller quantity of perfume transferred from the original, full-sized bottle into a sterile, refillable atomizer. It allows you to try or enjoy a fragrance without purchasing the entire bottle.

Most fragrances are offered as 2 ml, 5 ml and 10 ml decants, so you can sample lightly or live with a scent for weeks before committing to a full bottle. We also offer curated decant sets that bring several fragrances together, ideal for discovery or gifting. Available sizes are shown on each product page.

Decants let you discover rare, niche and ultra-expensive fragrances before committing to a full bottle, or build a more versatile fragrance wardrobe without the full cost. For anything genuinely rare, it is the difference between trying it and never smelling it at all.

A 2ml decant usually lasts 20–25 sprays, enough for several occasions.

Kept away from heat, light and humidity — a drawer or cupboard is ideal — a sealed decant retains its quality for a long time. Because every decant is drawn from an authentic bottle, it performs exactly as the original.

Our decants come in high-quality, travel-friendly atomizers (spray bottles) labeled with the perfume’s name. We ensure hygienic handling and proper storage to preserve the scent.

Yes. All fragrance samples available on Gouttes Rares are 100% authentic, sourced directly from genuine bottles. We do NOT sell duplicate fragrances (dups), imitations, clones, or inspired scents.

No. Gouttes Rares has no official affiliation with, or endorsement from, any fragrance brand or manufacturer. We simply decant authentic perfumes into smaller atomizers for sampling purposes.

Yes. Most of the catalogue can be ordered as a full bottle, made to order alongside the 2 ml, 5 ml and 10 ml decants. Select the full bottle size on the product page. A few rare releases stay decant only, and if you do not see a full bottle listed for one you want, ask us through the Contact Page.

Each perfume on our website includes a detailed description with an olfactory pyramid showing top, heart, and base notes, along with barometers for occasions, seasonality, daytime use, longevity, and sillage. This makes it easier to discover fragrances that match your preferences.

The olfactory pyramid is a breakdown of the fragrance structure: top notes (first impression), heart notes (the main character), and base notes (the lasting trail). We provide this for each perfume so you can better understand how the scent evolves over time.

Orders are processed Monday through Friday. We aim to ship within 2 business days, though during peak periods or holidays it may take up to 5 business days.

We ship to over 220 countries worldwide via DHL. As one of the few companies holding an IATA dangerous goods certification, we're fully authorized to ship fragrances internationally, legally and safely.

Customs duties and import taxes are covered by us, so nothing is owed when your parcel arrives. How DDP shipping works.

Yes. Perfumes and fragrances are classified as dangerous goods (flammable liquids, UN1266) under international transport regulations, which means they cannot be shipped casually like ordinary consumer goods.

At Gouttes Rares, shipments are handled in accordance with DHL Dangerous Goods requirements, including the applicable IATA standards for air transport and ADR standards for road transport where relevant. Every eligible shipment is properly prepared, declared, packaged and labelled to meet these requirements.

This is a specialised process that many fragrance sellers do not handle properly. For you it means your order travels through a professional compliance process built specifically for international fragrance shipping.

Once your order is dispatched you will receive a tracking number by email, and you can track the shipment at any time on the DHL website. Please allow up to 48 hours for tracking to activate, or up to 72 hours over a weekend.

We do. All customs duties and import taxes are covered by Gouttes Rares. The price you pay at checkout is final — you will never be asked for customs fees, duties or import taxes on delivery. How DDP shipping works.

We accept Visa and Mastercard credit and debit cards, processed through a secure, PCI-DSS compliant payment gateway.

All prices are displayed and charged in USD. Your bank or payment provider may apply its own exchange rate or conversion fee if your account is held in another currency.

Due to the nature of perfume decants (hygiene and customization), returns and exchanges are generally not accepted. Please refer to our Refund Policy for details.

Please inspect your order on delivery. If an item is defective, damaged or incorrect, contact us within 5 days at [email protected] with photographs of the item and packaging and your order number, and we will put it right.

Once a return is approved and verified, refunds are processed to your original payment method within 5 business days. Your bank or payment provider may need additional time to post the credit.

Email [email protected]. We are happy to help with any question about an order, a product or shipping.