Whilst performance and ease of use are up there for me, if I don't like the scent then I won't enjoy it. As much as I like P&B I sold Spitfire as I didn't like the scent. On the other hand if I like the scent I'll tend to finish the soap but if performance isn't what I like then I won't replace it.
^^This^^. There's a distinction to be made between lack of scent and disliked scent, obviously. (I have only sampled Spitfire, but liked it btw.)
I think of it in terms of an accumulated total based on performance, 'tactile quality' of the lather[*], scent, scent strength, possibly ease of lathering. As long as performance satisfies a minimum criterion, the sum total decides if it's a keeper. It's not like I keep a spreadsheet in which I enter scores and calculate, though.
Full score on performance but a scent I
dislike, sample won't lead to full product purchase or full product will have to go.
No scent or a weak one, it would likely have to be a new number one on performance for a sample to lead to full product, but it's always nice to have one or two weaker or unscented ones at hand.
Sub-par performance and full score on scent, sample might or might not lead to purchase, but full product stays (Lassco Topanga Fougere a case in point).
[*] Saponificio Varesino illustrates this well. Performance is top notch, but it just doesn't give me that yoghurty consistency that I prefer. It is so slick, however, and the Tundra Artica is such a lovely scent, that it's in the rotation. As of now it's also the only oud in my den, and goes well with a couple of oud fragrances.
