It is the first question most people ask before trying a decant, and a fair one: how many wears will you actually get from a small measure? The honest answer depends on a few things, and it is worth knowing what they are before you decide which size makes sense for you.
How many wears you get depends on the atomiser, how firmly it is pressed, how many sprays you use each time and how many pulse points you cover. A 2ml measure is suited to several wears, but we do not quote an exact number, because it varies from person to person. If you would like to know how a decant is prepared, that is explained on our how decants work page.
Concentration and how much you use
How long the scent itself lasts on skin, as opposed to how many wears you get from the bottle, is a separate question, and it is related to concentration. Eau de toilette is often lighter than eau de parfum, though performance varies a great deal from one fragrance to another. Eau de parfum contains a higher proportion of fragrance oil, which many people find gives a fuller result and may need fewer sprays to make itself felt. Parfum and extrait concentrations are stronger again, so some people find they need fewer sprays.
This is worth factoring in when choosing a measure. If you tend to use fewer sprays with a stronger concentration, a 2ml sample may go further, but this is personal.
What actually affects how far it stretches
A few honest variables worth knowing:
Skin type plays a part. Many people find fragrance seems to last longer on well-moisturised skin than on dry skin, so you may find yourself reaching for another spray sooner if your skin is dry.
Application habits matter too. Spraying directly onto pulse points (wrists, neck, the inside of elbows) means less of the fragrance is wasted than spraying into the air and walking through it.
And personal preference plays its part. Some people are happy with a scent that sits close to the skin; others prefer something that projects more and will use it more heavily as a result.
Choosing a size that makes sense
If you are trying a fragrance for the first time and want to know whether it suits you, 2ml is a good place to start: several proper wears, across different days and conditions, which is exactly what you need to judge it fairly (worth reading alongside our note on how to try a fragrance properly). If you already know you like it and want more time with it, 5ml or 10ml gives you considerably more room, without committing to a full bottle before you are certain. Our guide to choosing your measure goes through the three sizes, and you can browse everything in the full fragrance collection.