Why the Paper Strip Is Almost Useless
The blotter strip tells you one thing: the top notes, the first burst of alcohol and aromatic compounds that evaporate within minutes. It tells you nothing about how a fragrance behaves on warm skin, how it shifts through its heart notes, or what it smells like after two hours when only the base is left. Most buyers make their decision at the strip stage, which is why so many perfume bottles end up barely touched at the back of a shelf.
