Decanting a 200 ml bottle into an atomiser: step by step

Every FAAN bottle is 200 ml, which is wonderful value at home and awkward in a bag. A small atomiser fixes that. Our guide to travelling with perfume explains why you may need one. This guide shows how to fill it.

What you need

• A clean, empty atomiser, 5 to 10 ml. Glass or metal is best. Some plastics react with alcohol.
• A small funnel, or a syringe or pipette without a needle.
• Kitchen paper and a label.
• A clean, flat surface away from flames and good finishes. Perfume is mostly alcohol and is flammable.

Test the atomiser pump with a few sprays of water first. A pump that leaks is better discovered before the perfume is inside.

Funnel or syringe method

First, look at how the sprayer is fitted on your big bottle. Some screw off. Others are crimped under a metal collar and are not meant to come off. Do not force it, because you can crack the neck.

If the sprayer screws off: unscrew it, set it upright on paper, and either pour a little through the funnel into the atomiser, or draw the perfume with the syringe and squeeze it slowly into the atomiser. Pour small amounts and stop at about nine tenths, so the pump has room.

If the sprayer is crimped on: place the funnel in the atomiser opening and spray the big bottle into it, a spray at a time. At about 0.1 ml a spray, a 10 ml atomiser takes roughly 100 sprays, so this method is slow but clean and safe. These are rough figures.

Avoiding air and spills

Every time you open a bottle, a little air gets in. Work in one go: have everything ready, fill, close. Do not shake. Wipe the neck and threads before you close either bottle. Wash your hands, because skin oils and scents change the next scent you touch. If you spill, wipe at once, because alcohol can mark varnish and plastics.

Labelling and storing the decant

Write the name and the date on the label. A clear, unlabelled atomiser is a mystery in six months. Store it like the big bottle: cool, dark and with the cap on. A bag or a pocket is warm, so take the atomiser out when you get home. Our guide to wearing and storing a 200 ml perfume has the details.

Good candidates for a travel decant are Amjad Coral, light and easy in any climate, and Qasida Al-Badr, calm and dry for the office.

When not to decant

• Before you are sure you are keeping the bottle. The withdrawal right ends once the seal is broken after delivery, as set out on the shipping and returns page. If you are unsure about a scent, test it first on paper, as covered in buying perfume online without smelling it.
• When the atomiser is not clean. A drop of the old scent will change the new one.
• When you do not need to. At home, use the big bottle.

FAQ

Does decanting change the scent?

Not noticeably if you do it quickly and store the atomiser in the dark. Air and heat are the enemies.

How big an atomiser should I buy?

5 ml for a weekend or a week, 10 ml for a month.

What if I do not have a bottle yet?

If the one you want shows as sold out, ask to be notified on the product page. See all FAAN perfumes.

Related reading

• Travelling with perfume: atomisers and airport limits
• How to wear and store a 200 ml perfume
• Buying perfume online without smelling it