To decant perfume, transfer a small amount from the original bottle into a clean, empty travel atomiser, using either a small funnel or a decanting tool. Done carefully, it gives you a portable size for travel or a way to share a scent. Done carelessly, it wastes fragrance and can contaminate the bottle.
What is a decant, and why do people do it?
A decant is a small portion of a fragrance moved from its full-size bottle into a smaller container. People decant to carry a handbag-sized spray, to travel with a smaller amount, to trial a scent for a few days, or to share. Ready-made mini bottles and sample sets are an easier alternative. See discovery and sample sets and travel-size perfumes.
What you need
- A clean, empty travel atomiser, ideally glass, or a plastic one made for perfume.
- A small funnel or a decanting tool that fits your bottle’s sprayer.
- Tissue or kitchen roll and a stable surface.
- A label and pen.
Step by step
- Clean and dry the atomiser. Any water or residue changes the fragrance and can affect how it sprays.
- Work over a flat surface with tissue underneath, away from direct sunlight.
- Check how your bottle’s sprayer is fitted. Most perfume sprayers are crimped on and cannot be removed without damage. Do not force them off. If yours is crimped, use a decanting tool that screws onto the sprayer, or spray carefully into the atomiser through a small funnel.
- Transfer slowly and stop before the atomiser is full, leaving a little space at the top.
- Close the atomiser firmly and wipe away any spills.
- Label it with the fragrance name and the date.
- Prime the spray with a couple of pumps onto tissue before your first use.
Common mistakes
- A dirty or damp atomiser. It can dilute or spoil the fragrance.
- Forcing a crimped sprayer off. This can damage the bottle and cause leaks.
- Overfilling. It leaks and sprays badly.
- Using the wrong container. Some plastics react with alcohol or oils. Use containers made for perfume.
- Leaving decants in the light or heat. See how to store perfume.
- Forgetting to label. After a few weeks you will not remember which is which.
Decanting oils and attars
Concentrated oils and attars are thicker than eau de parfum and are not suited to spray atomisers. They are normally applied by dabbing, and are best kept in their original bottles or in small glass containers with a dropper. See attar vs oud oil vs EDP.
Flying and posting decants
A decant is a liquid, so airport and postal rules apply to it. See flying with perfume from the UK and posting perfume in the UK.
A note on selling or giving away decants
This guide is for personal use. If you plan to sell decanted fragrance, labelling, safety and consumer rules can apply. That is a separate question that this article does not cover, and you should check the official guidance.
Decanting vs buying a sample set
Decanting suits you if you already own the bottle and want a portable size. If you want to try a scent before buying, a sample or discovery set is simpler and avoids handling the liquid. Also see how to tell if a perfume will suit you before buying.
Frequently asked questions
Does decanting change the smell?
Not if it is done cleanly and quickly. A dirty container, sunlight or long exposure to air can change it.
How long does a decant last?
It should keep about as well as the original if stored cool and dark, but a half-empty atomiser has more air in it, so it is best to use it within a reasonable time. See how long a bottle of perfume keeps.
Is it safe to decant into plastic?
Use containers designed for perfume. Some ordinary plastics can react with alcohol or fragrance oils, so glass is the safest choice.
Can I decant oil-based perfume?
Not into a standard spray atomiser. Use a glass container with a dropper.
