Thread: Sniffing And Sampling Etiquette?

Self-explanatory.

I'm new to straight-razor shaving -- I haven't even bought anything yet -- and I'm pretty shameless about smelling bath soap and shampoo at the supermarket, but was wondering whether there are any suggestions or caveats about burying one's nose in a $20 cannister of shaving cream.

Also, does anyone know a shop or storefront that is liberal with samples? What's the best way to go about getting a nice handful of stuff when one buys nothing or relatively little?

i hadn't thought of this.. is there an etiquette to this? i personally am the kinda guy that walks into a rite aid to buy an ice cream cone and goes ahead and slaps in some extra brylcreem just cause.. i guess i just spent too long being poor to really break any habits..

some places will include some samples of other products when you buy something.....but thats a really good question. personally i dont see it wrong to open a jar and see how it smells. granted im not going to open every diffrent jar on the shelf either if i see something i may like ill open it and give it a smell. i dont think anyone could blame you for that i dont want to throw 20$ at something i dont know that i will like or not. it would be nice if the mfgs made more samples for store owners to pass out. that way you could see how it performed and smell at the same time.

If there are not samples to try, I just ask the staff for samples. Usually they are pretty good and some will even give you little testers to take away and try..!

Hello, DerekW:

A genteel way of experiencing the fragrance is to open the lid and, with your free hand, fan the fragrance toward your nose. I learned this from wife and two daughters and it works.

Regards,
Obie

Originally Posted by Obie

Hello, DerekW:

A genteel way of experiencing the fragrance is to open the lid and, with your free hand, fan the fragrance toward your nose. I learned this from wife and two daughters and it works.

Regards,
Obie

That's the old chem-lab trick Obie so you don't get too strong of an inhale of some noxious gas.

Most stores or at least better ones do have test bottles you can sniff and apply to your hearts content. If they don't you have to be careful since many items made for sale have seals on them.