Dramming Events

Dramming is a technique used to transfer fragrance from a large container to a smaller one, often done during promotional events or special fragrance launches. While some websites may refer to this process as "decanting," dramming has its own distinct meaning within the perfume industry, typically referring to the act of filling sample vials or smaller bottles for customers. This practice allows fragrance enthusiasts to take home a sample of a particular scent, sometimes in connection with store promotions or limited-time events. Essentially, dramming makes it possible for customers to experience a fragrance without purchasing a full-sized bottle.

When stores host "dramming events," they are essentially inviting customers to witness this process firsthand. These events usually feature large bottles of fragrance on display, and store staff will pour the perfume into smaller sample vials or miniatures. This gives customers an opportunity to test the scent at home before making a larger purchase. Dramming events are also associated with exclusive fragrance launches, where a brand may offer limited-edition scents or unique packaging available only during the event.

A dramming machine is a specialized piece of equipment used in this process, often found at these promotional events. The machine usually contains a one-liter canister or glass bottle filled with the perfume. The large container is cleverly hidden inside the machine, with a small spigot in the front allowing the perfume to be dispensed into smaller vials or sample bottles. These vials are typically given away as part of the promotional event. Dramming machines also serve an important function in refilling "refillable" bottles, such as those offered by Thierry Mugler’s “The Source”. This large-scale dramming unit allows customers to refill bottles of popular perfumes like Angel, Alien, and Womanity, supporting sustainable packaging efforts. This is an excellent example of how brands are moving toward more environmentally friendly practices by allowing customers to refill their original bottles rather than buying new ones.

The bottles used for dramming are usually made of aluminum (often referred to as estagnons), as seen with Yves Saint Laurent products. These aluminum containers are often simple in design and are primarily intended for use by the brand’s staff. These dramming bottles are not typically sold to the public, and their labels are straightforward, usually devoid of the intricate branding seen on retail packaging. In some cases, these bottles may be crafted from brown glass, a material frequently used by Guerlain and Chanel for their high-end fragrance lines. These bottles, designed to hold large quantities of fragrance, are both functional and discreet in appearance, serving the dual purpose of holding and distributing perfume in a professional setting.

In certain cases, some brands forgo the use of a dramming bottle altogether, choosing instead to store the perfume in a large factice bottle. Factices, typically oversized perfume bottles used for display or promotional purposes, are often employed for this process. For example, Guerlain's Samsara and Shalimar bottles have been used in this way. The factice bottles, usually large and visually striking, are meant to hold large quantities of fragrance for refilling smaller bottles during special promotions or in-store events. This approach allows for a unique way of presenting the perfume while also enabling brands to maintain a sense of exclusivity and luxury around their offerings.

Diam International:

Diam International was honored on March 22, 2005 in Las Vegas with 12 of the merchandising industry's most prestigious Outstanding Merchandising Awards, more awards than any other company in the permanent and semi-permanent categories. Diam's Cartier Dramming unit won a gold in recognition for its innovation. Until now, all perfume dramming units required pressing the bottle manually to apply the perfume onto skin or blotters. Perfume dosage was arbitrarily, with no exact dosage. As a result, counters were covered in fragrance and the entire retail environment was polluted with contradicting formulas.

This unit is the first of its kind, providing a measured dose on a personalized blotter in a self-contained housing, without polluting the retail environment. As a battery operated unit, it enjoys a very long life cycle and is reusable. The design allows for self-service, using the giant factice to attract consumers and enabling them to control the test on their own personalized swatch without aggressive beauty consultant and without the risk of overspraying on hands. All materials are fragrance free and bottles are easy to replace. Branding, color-coding and the use of upscale materials is consistent with the brand imagery.

Caution:

It is interesting to note that on ebay, dramming bottles and machines are NOT permitted to be sold, however, this does not mean that one cannot find them occasionally, as I just purchased a one litre aluminum dramming canister myself.

Their policies are shown below:

Perfume testers and dramming bottles (which are bottles from which small quantities can be taken for supply to consumers as free samples), typically marked with the words 'demonstration' or 'not for sale', may not be listed on eBay. Also, you need to make sure that the essential and legally required information - such as, among others, the identity of the manufacturer or the person responsible for marketing the product, the composition of the product (content and list of ingredients), the use of the product (function and particular precautions to be observed in use) and preservation of the product (date of minimum durability) - is not missing from any permissible cosmetic or perfume product. Smell-alike perfumes may not be listed on eBay when they are compared to a well-known brand or scent. You may not list a perfume in a bottle other than the original bottle (decanters).

Make sure your listing follows these guidelines. If it doesn't, it may be removed and you may be subject to a range of other actions, including restrictions of your buying and selling privileges and suspension of your account.

What are the guidelines?

Allowed:

• New, in-box full-sized cosmetics
• Factice bottles (dummy merchandise bottles)
• Collector items (empty bottles)

Restricted:

Perfumes in their original bottles including miniatures and samples can be listed as long as you make sure that the essential and legally required information (see Policy overview) is not missing and that the box is not missing if the bottle came in a special box

Homemade cosmetics can be listed, as long as you make sure they comply with country regulations

Smell-alike perfumes can be listed, as long as there is no reference to a brand in the item title, attributes or description and the item is not listed in a category for branded items. Also, you are not allowed to circumvent this rule by misspelling brand names or otherwise trying to refer or allude to a brand.

Not allowed:

Items that are not allowed include, but are not limited to:

• Testers
• Dramming bottles
• Decanters
• Used cosmetics
• Replica perfumes or cosmetics