We buy our testers from authorised French retailers and verified decanters. Each bottle's batch code is logged before the first spray, so the review reflects what you would actually receive, not a pre-production sample.

A single wearing tells you little. We test each perfume across different weather conditions, on both skin and fabric, and record how the pyramid shifts from the first hour to the dry-down at eight hours.

French houses reformulate more often than they admit. When we notice a difference between batches of the same reference, we say so plainly and explain what changed in the opening or the base.

Brands do not pay for coverage, and we do not accept free bottles in exchange for a favourable verdict. If a perfume disappoints, the review says so, with the same detail we give to our favourites.

A heavy oriental that lasts twelve hours in Paris can turn cloying by noon in Nagpur. Our reviews always include how a scent performs in high humidity, which matters more than the advertised longevity.

Price is part of the conversation, but value is about what you get for it. We compare each perfume against its closest competitors in the same family, so you know whether the extra cost is justified.