FAQ

Authenticity

Is everything you sell authentic?

Yes. There are two different processes behind that, and I'd rather tell you which is which than blur them together.

Bottles I hold: I check each one myself against five signs before it gets listed. Anything that fails doesn't go up.

Bottles that ship from my supplier: I don't handle those individually. What I do instead is vet the supplier — place a personal order, run that bottle through the same five checks, and only list from suppliers that pass. When a product page says "sourced from a vetted supplier," that's exactly what it means.

If you ever want to know which category a specific bottle falls into, ask me. I'll tell you.

What are the five signs you check?

1. Batch code — the code printed on the box should match the one on the bottle. Mismatches are the fastest tell.
2. Seal — factory shrink wrap sits tight and even, with clean folds. Loose or wrinkled wrap is a warning.
3. Print quality — sharp text, correct fonts, no smudging or misalignment on the box.
4. Glass and cap weight — counterfeits cut cost here first. Real bottles feel heavier than you expect and the cap closes with a definite stop.
5. Price sanity — if something is priced far below every legitimate seller, there's a reason, and it's never a good one.

Why are your prices lower than a department store?

Because a department store is paying for the counter, the staff, and the mall. I'm not. The fragrance market also has a large legitimate discount channel — authorized distributors, overstock, and discontinued packaging — which is where most online fragrance pricing comes from.

That said, price sanity cuts both ways. If a price looks impossible, be suspicious of it, including here. I'd rather you ask than assume.

Products

Are these full bottles?

Yes. Every listing is a full, factory-sealed bottle in its original box unless the listing specifically says tester. Sizes are in every product title.

What's a tester?

A tester is the same fragrance as the retail bottle — same juice, same concentration, same batch. The difference is packaging: plain box, sometimes no cap. Brands send them to shops so staff can spray them, which is the only reason they cost less.

What does the ladder mean?

It's how the shop is organised, from where most people start to where they end up.

• Start Here — roughly $25–45. Affordable bottles with real character. Where to begin if you're building a collection.
• Level Up — roughly $75–100. Niche houses and stronger designer picks, for when you want something less common.
• The Top Rung — $110 and up. Designer and niche grails, for when you already know what you want.

You don't have to climb it in order. It's a map, not a rule.

Shipping

Do you ship internationally?

No — United States only.

That isn't a preference. Alcohol-based fragrance is classified as a Class 3 flammable liquid, which restricts it to USPS Ground Advantage. No air service, and no international shipping.

How long does delivery take?

USPS Ground Advantage typically runs 2–5 business days once a parcel is moving, depending on how far it's travelling. Items shipped directly from my supplier need a processing day or two before that clock starts.

How is fragrance packaged?

Sealed in secondary packaging with absorbent material, and declared as hazardous materials at the time the label is created — all of which USPS requires for fragrance. Glass gets wrapped properly. If something arrives damaged, tell me and we'll sort it out.

Orders

What's your return policy?

The full policy lives on the Shipping & Returns page. The short version: if something arrives damaged, or isn't what the listing described, contact me and I'll make it right.

Can I return a fragrance because I don't like how it smells?

Opened fragrance generally can't be resold, so this is worth being upfront about — check the Shipping & Returns page for specifics before ordering.

This is also why every product page carries a full note breakdown instead of marketing copy. Reading the notes and knowing whether you like gourmands or woods will steer you better than any ad ever will.

How do I get in touch?

Through the Contact page, or on Instagram at @thefragranceladder. Questions about a specific bottle are welcome — including the awkward ones about sourcing.