Made on Request, a New Mexico-based company, has introduced a perfume sample holder in clear and black acrylic with brass and stainless steel hardware:
Developed because my friends got into perfume and they had no way of organizing their testers. One solution was a block of wood with holes drilled into it which was just plain uncool so we went off of that and developed these.
It holds 12 standard-sized vials and retails for $28.
A very nice tool but… holds only 12? I'm afraid that won't get me far.
It might be nice to hold things you're currently trying, but yes, I need the perfumista version that holds 2000 and reorganizes them automatically into alphabetical order on demand.
Llol! So true!
Literally LOL Robin. Yes we would need the supersize version!
Now we're talking Robin!
Yay for invention. I think this design might be of particular preference to men. Wouldn't it look cool on a desk? Great conversation-starter. For a little less investment, glass floral frogs can be gotten from ebay. That's what I use for the yet-to-test samples.
I can supersize it just not automate it:)
up to 16.5″ x 26.75″ or custom sized to fit in a drawer. It is small but made just to sit on a counter and hold a couple favorites.
The critique is great – thank you
I'm thinking Super Sized sounds good but I could never afford such a thing. However, the “wood with holes drilled into it” has my creative juices flowing. Also, thanks for the glass floral frog tip, QuarryJoy.
I don't really care for this. My samples would still be subjected to light. I guess it could be placed inside a box or something. For now I'll just stick to my cheap ammo storage boxes.
Yes, it would! And hey, don't you still use your caned tray?
Joy also “caned” a tray to hold samples — and I've a picture of it on NST somewhere but can't find it at the moment.
Yeah, I remember that photo you posted of her great tray and I had thought of trying something with pre-woven cane that you can buy, but I wasn't sure if the holes were big enough (it comes in different sizes) and I really didn't want to order product online just to test it out.
Wow I just looked at those ammo boxes online – pretty cool! I'll have to see if there is any place in SF to actually buy anything gun-related and check them out (I can't tell which caliber of ammo would fit my vials best to buy online).
Yes, but that's for “catalogued” samples (she snorts as she pushes up taped glasses on her nose–such a nerd!). New arrivals have to go through sampling indoctrination process.
After lurking on this great blog for a while, I finally take the plunge to ask — what about ammo storage boxes? do you have a web link for what you're using? thanks!
You can find them at any sporting goods store and a bunch of places online, just do a google search. They're still not a perfect storage solution, but I'm happy with them until I find something better.
Well, I am going to have to do something soon because right now I have them sorted in those little organza bags The Perfumed Court sends and I have somehow mislaid the one with my L'Artisan samples! Argh.
My trouble is, I often get samples that aren't the standard 1ml vial diameter. I have manufacturer's samples of various diameters, small decant atomizers. I liked someone's idea of the foam rectangles that come with electronic equipment to cushion the components; you can press your samples into them however you like, and presto! Cheap, easy.
For my growing collection — hundreds and hundreds of samples — I use cute translucent pencil cases nestled into tackle-box-sized boxes, three cases to a box, alphabetically-grouped, and assorted additional boxes with my faves: my all-Serge box, my all-vintage/modern classic French Houses box (Caron, Guerlain, Patou) etcetra. It's STILL a bitch!!!
I'm very happy with my sample storage solution. It's not as pretty as this, but it holds much more (80 vials, I think). It's a microcentrifuge rack (1.5 ml / 2 ml) bought on eb** for less than $10, including shipping and handling.
I'm confused about the ammo box reference. My husband has ammo boxes (for their intended purpose) and they are just big empty boxes. I don't know how they'd help organize vials?
Tama, I have the most elaborate sample storage system you can imagine, and I STILL lose things.
that's a great idea — I've been using votive candle holders by various groupings, because they're pretty. But, now they're just irritating!
Currently I use bead sorting boxes for $1.99 at Michaels. They are just the right height, at least for my standard 1 ml samples. The vials stand up straight if the spaces are filled up. And if there is still room, I stuff tissue or something to keep the vials upright. They are clear plastic, so I cover with a thick cloth to keep the light out. By sorting by 'house' it is a tad easier to find the sample I am looking for at the moment.
Happy ending – I found the bag on the floor. I was planning on wearing Fleurs d'Oranger since I had used a neroli/citrus lotion but instead did a larger-than-usual dose of Maroc Pour Elle, which was nice with the citrus.
The storage system will evolve….
The other thing that would work on the same premise as the foam is florist's foam. This is used in the bottom of flower arrangements to hold the flowers in place. You would just jab the sample, whatever the size, into the foam. The foam could be cut to size to fit boxes and drawers.
Congrats!
Hope someone above will chime in, I've no idea.
Here's an example http://www.amazon.com/MTM-Round-9MM-380-Blue-Pistol/dp/B000PW56YS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1223654454&sr=8-1 I'm going to have to look into your microcentrifuge rack. That sounds odd. ; )
I mentioned the ammo-style boxes. They're actually very cute translucent white plastic cases with clear pink or aqua handles, about eleven inches by 6 inches by five inches high, I bought for $2 apiece at this amazing Japanese packaging/dollar store in here in Vancouver, and three pencil cases that match the colour of the handles fit inside. So I've got six “ammo” boxes, 18 pencil cases, and everything's alphabeticized: the first large ammo box has A to G, for example, with the three inner pencil cases containing A-C, D-F and G. Some are even more specific: I have one pencil case for just Montale, for example. Then, my decants of 5mls and up are in their own separate ammo boxes, standing up nicely, with labels on top of their caps for easy reference. Sounds totally anal to anyone but those of us who have hundreds of samples and need to find that little 1ml vial of Joy extrait FAST. Hope that wasn't too confusing!
P.S. I keep the boxes in a cool, dark cupboard in the hall of my apartment. All my full bottles are in the fridge, in cute coloured plastic baskets sorted by type: my “bedroom” scents (wink), my office-y things, my super-popular niche bottles that I'm constantly yanking out for decant- and sample-making. Again, it sounds insanely over-organzied, but it saves a lot of time and a LOT of frustration. Unfortunately, I have no room for anything else in my little pied-a-terre in uptown Vancouver!