Two of the most popular options — fragrance blotters and spray-and-reveal scent cards — serve very different purposes, even though customers often confuse them.

If you’re a perfume brand, retailer, candle maker or car-fragrance company, understanding the difference helps you choose the right tool for your scent experience.

Let’s break it down simply.

What Are Fragrance Blotters?

Fragrance blotters (also called scent strips or perfume tester strips) are the classic, absorbent paper strips used to test:

• Perfume oils
• Eau de parfum
• Eau de toilette
• Candle fragrances
• Diffuser blends

They’re designed to absorb and release scent gradually, giving a true representation of top, middle and base notes.

Why brands love them:

• Clean, accurate scent testing
• Perfect for in-store sampling
• Ideal for perfumers developing new blends
• Low-cost and highly customisable
• Great for events, launches, and discovery sets

Blotters are the “industry standard” — simple, effective, and essential.

What Are Spray-and-Reveal Scent Cards?

Spray-and-reveal cards are a more modern, interactive sampling tool. They’re printed with a special coating that reveals artwork, colour, or messaging only when fragrance is sprayed onto the card.

Think of them as a little moment of magic — a sensory reveal.

Why brands love them:

• High-impact marketing
• Perfect for launches and promotions
• Creates a memorable customer experience
• Encourages customers to spray the fragrance
• Adds a premium, playful touch

These cards are less about technical scent evaluation and more about engagement and brand storytelling.

Blotters vs Spray-and-Reveal: Which Should You Choose?

Choose Fragrance Blotters if you want:

• Accurate scent testing
• Professional evaluation
• Cost-effective sampling
• High volumes
• Custom shapes or branding
• Something suitable for perfumers, retailers, and candle makers

Choose Spray-and-Reveal Cards if you want:

• A marketing moment
• A visual reveal
• A premium, interactive experience
• Something memorable for events or launches
• A card that encourages customers to spray the fragrance

Many brands actually use both — blotters for testing, reveal cards for marketing.

Customisation Options for Both

Whether you choose blotters or reveal cards, you can customise:

• Shape
• Length
• Colour
• Branding
• Foil or embossing
• Specialist absorbent card (for blotters)
• Reveal coatings (for spray-and-reveal cards)

This makes them perfect for luxury brands that want every detail to feel intentional.

Not Sure Which One You Need?

If you’re unsure which sampling tool fits your brand, we’re always happy to help. We supply both fragrance blotters and spray-and-reveal scent cards in fully customisable options — ideal for perfume houses, retailers, candle makers and promotional campaigns.

You can explore our scent sampling products on the Print & Packaging Solutions website or get in touch for guidance.