Essentia: 10ml designer and niche perfumes from $8.50

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Essentia is a California fragrance shop, founded by four brothers, that sells well-known perfumes in small sizes. It buys authentic designer and niche fragrances and rebottles them into its own 10ml atomisers, so you can wear something like Creed Aventus or CHANEL Coco Mademoiselle for a few weeks without paying for a full bottle. The site is clear that it isn't affiliated with or endorsed by the original brands; it simply decants the real thing, and you can also start with 10ml and move up to a full-size bottle.

It suits anyone who wants to test a pricey scent properly before committing, people who like to rotate several fragrances, and travellers who'd rather carry a small atomiser than a glass bottle. The 10ml sizes also make good stocking fillers and Secret Santa gifts, and the shop's journal has gift guides and side-by-side comparisons, such as Layton against Pegasus or YSL Libre against Coco Mademoiselle.

If you don't know where to start, the Essentia Scent Finder asks five questions and suggests three fragrances to try. The shop is also putting smart vending machines in public places as another way to buy.

The homepage sorts fragrances by mood and occasion: clean, versatile scents for work and everyday wear, bold ones for evenings out, and elegant picks that work as gifts. Women's favourites include Burberry Her from $7.95 and Lancôme La Vie Est Belle from $13.50, while men's picks include Bleu De Chanel from $13.95 and Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male Le Parfum from $11.50. For Christmas, its gift guides cover stocking fillers, Secret Santa and holiday host gifts.

What's worth a look

These six were on Essentia's homepage, with the prices shown when we checked. Prices say "from" because each fragrance comes in more than one size.

Creed Aventus is the obvious one to try in a small size, since a full bottle costs many times more than the 10ml. For everyday wear, Dior Sauvage and YSL Libre are two of the lower-priced picks on the homepage.

Current offers

We don't have a code for Essentia at the moment. When we checked, its site offered 10% off your first order when you sign up to its newsletter or finish the Scent Finder quiz, one code per customer. Check our Essentia page too, as we add codes when we find them.

How to save more

• Take the Scent Finder quiz on Essentia's site before your first order: it suggests three fragrances and gives you the 10% off code.
• Try a 10ml before buying a full bottle anywhere: if it doesn't suit your skin, you've spent a fraction of the price.
• Look at the comparison guides if you're torn between two similar scents, rather than buying both.

Products, prices and offers checked on the store's own website on 6 Nov 2026. Prices and stock can change.

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