Okay, so I’ve been wanting to switch up my perfume game for a while now. You know how it is, you buy a big bottle, and then you’re either stuck with it for ages or you get bored. Plus, I’ve been doing a bit more weekend travel, and lugging around a giant glass bottle is just asking for trouble, right?
My Mission: Miniature Scents
So, I figured, mini perfumes! Perfect solution. I can try a bunch, they’re great for my travel bag, and they don’t break the bank quite as much. My first thought was Ulta Beauty. It’s usually my go-to for makeup and stuff, so I assumed they’d have a decent selection of mini fragrances.
I headed over there one afternoon, no specific plan, just a general idea of what I was looking for. I walked in, did my usual lap around the store, kind of mentally preparing myself for the fragrance section. Sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming with all those different scents hitting you at once.
Finding the Tiny Treasures
Eventually, I made my way to the perfume aisles. They usually have the minis in a couple of different spots. Sometimes they’re near the checkout, those impulse-buy stands, and sometimes they’re mixed in with the full-size bottles, or they have their own little dedicated shelf. This time, it was a bit of a mix. I spotted a tower near the registers, which was mostly gift sets, but some had minis.
Then I found the main fragrance wall. I had to really look, you know? Scan the shelves low and high. They weren’t always super obvious. Some brands are great and have a clear little section for their travel sizes, others you really have to hunt for. I spent a good amount of time just peering at labels, trying to see which ones offered a smaller version.
- I picked up a few that looked promising.
- I tried to find testers for everything, but that’s not always the case with minis, which is a bit of a pain. You’re kind of buying blind sometimes.
- I also noticed the selection can be a bit hit or miss. Sometimes they have a ton, other times it feels picked over.
I was specifically looking for something a bit fresh, maybe a floral, but not too overpowering. I sprayed a few on those little paper strips, waved them around, trying to let them settle. One sales associate asked if I needed help, which was nice. I told her what I was up to, and she pointed me towards a couple of brands that usually have good travel-size options.
The Haul and The Aftermath
After much deliberation, and a bit of back-and-forth, I finally settled on two. One was a scent I’d smelled on a friend and liked, so that felt like a safe bet. The other was a bit more of a gamble, something new to me, but the description sounded nice and it was a brand I trusted.
I paid for my little finds and headed home, feeling pretty good about my purchases. Since then, I’ve been using them quite a bit. The familiar one is now a staple in my work bag – just a quick spritz to freshen up. The new one? It’s actually become a favorite for weekends! It’s lighter than I usually go for, but really lovely.
My takeaway from this little adventure?
Well, Ulta definitely has mini perfumes, but you might need a little patience to find exactly what you want. It’s not always this perfectly curated wonderland of tiny bottles. Sometimes you gotta dig. But it’s worth it if you’re like me and love having options without committing to a huge bottle. Plus, they really are super handy for travel or just throwing in your purse. I’ll definitely be doing another mini perfume hunt again soon.
