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Here you will find answers to frequently asked questions. If you cannot find the answer to your specific question, feel free to contact us or to fill out the contact form. 

Contact us

Contact details

+32 (0)2 767 88 74
smell stories Rue des Teinturiers 15
1000 Brussels
Belgium

Frequently asked questions

Ordering
Why is the price at the checkout different than the price stated in the webshop?


All prices listed in our webshop include (Belgian) VAT. From 1 July 2021 new VAT rules apply in the EU for e-commerce. Webshops shipping products to private persons from other EU countries must apply the VAT of the country to which the goods are sent, if the total of their online sales on an annual basis is more than €10,000. This is the case for us.

Therefore, if you are located in an EU country other than Belgium and you order a product from us, we will automatically apply the VAT rate of your country at the checkout, and this may differ from the (Belgian) VAT rate of 21% mentioned in our webshop. 

 

How do I order samples?


You can order a 2ml sample of each perfume (if in stock). This allows you to test a perfume before ordering a full bottle. To order a sample, go to the product page of the perfume you are interested in, select the 2 ml size and add it to your shopping basket.

If you order 5 different samples, we will package them in a nice discovery box and you will also receive a voucher of 10% on your next order (of minimum €50 and excluding discovery boxes and samples).

Why do I have to pay for samples?


The products we offer are from small-scale, independent brands. They are produced in small batches, which means that little or no perfume is available for samples, unlike other, larger commercial brands. To give you the chance to test a perfume before ordering a bottle, we make 2 ml samples ourselves. We charge a small fee to cover the cost of the perfume, the atomizer and the packaging. 

 

Why are some samples more expensive than others?


For most samples you pay €6 for a 2 ml size. For extrait de parfums and certain brands that come in smaller bottles we ask €10, because these perfumes are more expensive and the number of samples we can provide is very limited. We also take into account the price that a brand itself charges for samples. 

 

How do I update my shopping cart?


If you want to delete an item from your shopping cart or adapt the quantity:

  • Click on the shopping cart icon on the top right of our website. 
  • Select "view shopping cart".
  • Adapt the quantity if you want to keep the item in your shopping cart by changing the number of units and click on "update shopping cart".
  • Click on the grey cross icon next to an item if you want to remove it from your shopping cart. 

 

Will I receive complimentary samples when ordering a bottle of perfume?


When you buy a bottle of perfume (of minimum 30 ml) in our webshop, we add one or more samples of other perfumes to your order. You can indicate your preferences in the comments field on the checkout page. We only have a limited number of samples available of each perfume. If your preference is not in stock, we will provide an alternative.

The number of samples you will receive is in proportion to the value of your order. We offer samples that represent around 10% of extra value. For example, with a purchase of a €100 perfume bottle, you will receive 2 samples of €6 or 1 sample of €10. 

We do not add complimentary samples to orders of discounted products.

Shipping
To which countries do you ship?


We ship to all EU countries, with the exception of the overseas territories*.

Perfume is a dangerous product because it contains alcohol which makes shipping outside the EU complex. Moreover, when buying from outside the EU, you will have to pay import duties, excise duties and handling fees on top of the selling price and VAT. We prefer to save you such unpleasant surprises. 

*Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Reunion, Saint-Martin, Mayotte, Azores, Madeira, Canary Islands

 

When will my order be shipped and delivered?


We prepare your order in our shop ourselves with care and love during our opening days (i.e. Tuesday to Saturday). Shipping is done within two working days of placing your order. 

As soon as your parcel is prepared for dispatch, we will notify you and you will also receive an e-mail from the courier with your Track&Trace code. This makes it easy to track the delivery of your parcel.

Depending on the country you live in, it usually takes between 1 and 8 working days to deliver your order.

For Belgium and the Netherlands, expect around 2 to 3 working days, for Germany and Luxembourg 4 working days, for the other European countries between 5 and 8 working days.

The reason it may take a bit longer for you to receive your parcel is that perfumes fall under the category of "dangerous" products (due to flammable) which requires adapted transport.

 

Do I have to pay shipping costs?

 

Any shipping costs are automatically calculated at the checkout, and depend on the country of delivery and the amount of your purchase. Here is an overview:

Country

Shipping cost

Free shipping from

Austria €12,00 €150
Belgium €5,50 €100
Bulgaria €15,75 €200
Croatia €14,25 €150
Cyprus €21,75 €250
Czech Republic €13,00 €150
Denmark €10,75 €150
Estonia €16,75 €200
Finland €20,25 €200
France €9,50 €100
Germany €8,00 €100
Greece €17,00 €200
Hungary €14,25 €150
Ireland €12,25 €150
Italy €13,75 €150
Latvia €17,50 €200
Lithuania €16,75 €200
Luxembourg €8,00 €100
Malta €21,75 €250
Netherlands €6,5 €100
Poland €11,25 €150
Portugal €15,25 €200
Romania €15,00 €200
Slovakia €14,25 €150
Slovenia €13,00 €150
Spain €14,00 €150
Sweden €13,75 €150

 

 

Can I return a product if I am not satisfied with it?


We hope you are pleased with the products you received from us, but if you are not satisfied with your purchase, if we sent you the wrong product, or if the product arrived damaged, we will offer you a refund or exchange. You can return unopened, unused products (excluding samples, gift vouchers and discovery boxes) in their original condition and packaging within 14 days of receipt. Once you have opened the packaging of a product, we cannot take it back for hygiene reasons.

To avoid the chance of making a wrong purchase, we include a small sample with each bottle of perfume (of minimum 30 ml) so you can test the perfume first.

Consult our returns policy for more information on exchanges and returns.

Gift vouchers and discount codes
How do I apply my gift voucher or discount code?


On each Smell Stories discount coupon or gift voucher you will find a unique barcode.

Enter the full numerical code in the ‘Discount Code’ box on the Shopping Cart page, and click ‘apply’. The discount will then be applied immediately.

You can also enter a Discount Code on the Check-out page. Click on ‘Add Discount Code’, enter your unique numerical code and click Apply.

A Smell Stories 10% gift voucher is valid for 1 year and can be used once for a purchase from €50, excluding discovery boxes and samples.

A personalised Smell Stories gift voucher is valid for 1 year. The validity date is indicated on the voucher. You can use your voucher for any purchase worth at least the amount of the voucher.

Do you have a different kind of discount code? Follow the same steps: enter your code in the ‘Discount code’ box and click ‘apply’ to activate the code.

 

Can I use more than one voucher per purchase?


You can only enter one discount code per order. If you have more than one voucher, and thus multiple unique bar codes, we advice to place different orders and use a discount code per order. 

The 10% voucher included with a discovery box can be used for an order from €50, excluding discovery boxes and samples.

Personalised gift vouchers can be used for an order of at least the total value of the voucher.

 

How long is my gift voucher valid?


The Smell Stories 10% gift vouchers are valid for 1 year from the date of purchase. You can use the voucher both in our physical store and online. If your code is no longer valid and you think it still falls within the validity period, please contact us so we can check it.

Personalised gift vouchers are valid for 1 year. The validity date is stated on the voucher. You can use a gift voucher both in our physical shop and online.

Influencers & Content creators
Do you collaborate with influencers or content creators?


If you consider yourself an influencer or content creator and would like to collaborate with us, feel free contact us. If we believe your profile and reach matches our image, we will provide you with our influencer policy. 

We never give away free bottles of perfume though, so if that's your expectation, you can save yourself the trouble. 

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