A BUSINESS based on the try before you buy experience was forced to innovate when the Covid pandemic hit. Until the crisis struck, York-based Maximise was a leading supplier of Tester Blotter strips to manufacturers and retailers in the scent, fragrance and flavour industries. With clients in 56 countries, millions of its highly-absorbent pieces of card were being used, mainly for allowing customers to sample perfumes in high-street stores and airport Duty Free shops. Covid-19, lockdowns and the working from home trend had a huge impact on scent and fragrance commerce and, in turn, on Maximise. While other industries benefitted from the growing online retail landscape, there was no easy way of giving customers the try before you buy experience that is fundamental to such a subjective product like fragrance.