Every so often you hear an idea for a company and it just instantly clicks as being brilliant. ScentBird is one of those companies, and this is their idea: Instead of having people buy a full bottle of cologne for $100+, why not sell just a small vial of it for about $15? A full bottle of cologne is much more than most people ever actually use, while selling a small vial with just about a month’s worth of cologne affords people the opportunity to try a whole variety of colognes they otherwise never would have. Sounds like a really great idea? Well, let me tell you, it really, really is.
The Tom Ford Noir vial
You sign up for a subscription which gives you a new vial of cologne every month for just $14.95 (along with your first month’s vial you also get the “sprayer” into which you slip/interchange the new vials each month). Using the cologne every day, with about four sprays (one for each wrist, and two for both sides of your neck — read more on this here), it should easily last you a month. Realistically, if you do not wear cologne every day, and also interchange with other scents, it could last you much longer than one month. My first vial was only about half empty at the end of a month.
My Colognes
You choose any cologne from their selection to add to your queue — think Netflix — and then, in order of your queue, the colognes will ship each month. If you do not have something in your queue, ScentBird will choose for you. The first two months of trying this service I picked the two Tom Ford colognes offered through ScentBird — Grey Vetiver and Noir. After that, I purposely left my queue empty to see what would arrive. In the end, ScentBird sent an intriguingly named MALIN+GOETZ fragrance called Cannabis (as is made clear right away in the description, it’s just a cute name, nothing more).
The sprayer into which you insert each vial
I personally liked both Tom Ford fragrances — no surprise there. Though Tom Ford colognes can, in fact, be a little much sometimes, both of these options are far from being over the top. Indeed, both of these colognes are formulated to be a little more classic than some of Tom Ford’s higher end, more unique options. Noir is very aromatic and rich, and is something I reserve for when I am in the mood. The Grey Vetiver, on the other hand, is my preference between the two scents. It is far more earthy, cool, and refined. Finally, I must say that that Cannabis fragrance was a pleasant surprise! I thoroughly enjoy its scent. It happens not to be as unique or reach as either of the Tom Ford colognes, but it is still rather rich and herbal in its own way. It is a more classic-style cologne with a twist. In the end, I am happy with, use, and enjoy all three of the fragrances I have received from ScentBird.
Finally, I should also point out that you absolutely can, if you would like, buy the ScentBird mini vials one-off, without a subscription. They cost a bit more — $16.95 to be exact — but it is a great alternative to shelling out for a full bottle of cologne in many cases.
The Not-So-Good
Some of the not-so-good: (1) The selection on ScentBird is, understandably, limited. Not every cologne you might want to try is available — not even close. Like I mentioned, only two of Tom Ford’s many scents are available. Many of the higher end fragrances you simply will not find offered here. They need to remain exclusive to retain their price and allure. In short, you ain’t going to find Tom Ford Oud Wood on this service. They have a lot, true, but it’s not everything, and it’s middle shelf and below, not top shelf. This is to be expected, but it is still worth pointing out. (2) You cannot sample a cologne. This makes sense, as each month essentially is a sample, but still, once you order a cologne, you’re stuck with it, like it or not. They don’t offer any smaller sample size. Realistically, I am not sure this is feasible for them to do anyway, but, again, worth pointing out. (3) Cancelling the service after my three months of testing was annoyingly difficult. The website did everything it could not to let me cancel, and, after jumping through all its hoops and finally cancelling my service, I received more than one email trying to get me to sign back up. Not classy.
Each cologne comes with a little card explaining more about it
Price, Value, & Conclusion
Back to all the good, though. I really, really love this service. Full bottles of colognes are not something I really ever buy, so I am stuck with the same one or two for years. Also, considering how long a full bottle of cologne lasts, most guys will only ever buy fragrances that they are super comfortable with. This prevents them from ever finding out if there is something they would really love outside of their previous comfort zone. ScentBird delivers the perfect amount of cologne, and is the perfect way to branch out to more fragrances and scents. It is, hands down, one of the smartest, cleverest ideas I have seen recently, and has actually changed this area of my life. I used to wear cologne only on occasion. Now, I look forward to wearing cologne almost every day.
If you are someone that wears cologne every day (and are not a “signature scent” type), for the $14.95 a month ScentBird costs, I highly recommend you give it a shot. It may well do to you what it did to me.