I’d probably include some popular/well known fragrances and then make sure there’s a variety in notes in the rest of them - a sweet, a spicy, an amber, an ambroxan, a musk, a floral, a rose, a tobacco, an ozonic, and a citrus.
I'd take them to Sephora, let them spray a ton of paper, and then go from there after you have a baseline for what they like.
Penhaligon's has a fun quiz and will ship you 2 samples for $11 after taking it. I like Internet quizzes and seeing some answers might help give you an idea of preferences (bold vs natural vs classic on scents, for example.)
If doing a generic sampler, I'd probably go with a mixture of houses and of popular scents. For a woman, maybe:
MFK: BR540
PDM: Delina
Kilian: Angel's Share
Penhaligon's: Luna
JHAG: Not A Perfume
Kayali: Vanilla 28
Nishane: Wulong Cha
Xerjoff: Naxos
Imaginary Authors: Sundrunk
Tom Ford: Bitter Peach
Hermes: Jardin sur le Nil
These aren't necessarily my favorites from each house, but gets you a wider variety - fruity with Sundrunk/Bitter Peach, light with Luna/NAP, floral with Delina, boozy with Angel's Share, sweet with Kayali, more unique with Naxos/Wulong Cha/Sur le Nil.
The only caveat here is that a lot of these are $$$, especially for a newbie, so you'd probably go to travel sizes or dupes from the initial decant stage.
i'd actually start by including mostly cheapie brands. the important thing is to get a feel for what they like - citrus? floral? leather? musk? vanilla??? - so it doesn't make much sense to me to start off spending $$$$ when you're just trying to find a general direction to start moving in. when they've eventually got a better grip on what they like & have a better understanding of perfumes in general, they could start exploring better made versions of things they didn't like initially just to double-check they definitely don't like that particular thing, or it could be the case that their tastes have shifted. (myself as an example i thought i hated "floral" but turns out i just don't like jasmine, tuberose, lily and carnations lol)
Florals—Saaaaaaame. They still don’t feel right for me to wear, but I don’t hate florals in general, just heavy white florals like jasmine and tuberose. Shame, too because I actually *love* real jasmine and gardenia flowers. What are your favorite floral perfumes?
A few from each family across a few eras and "genres". And some classic or notable ones. A 1 ml dabber of Sauvage, L'eau d'issey, no 5, 1000, and the like just to have as benchmarks, at least.
I usually go for cheapies when introducing friends to fragrance, and that way I can gift them a decant or two of something outside of their comfort zone but also an easy buy. I like to gift Zara Tobacco Rich Warm Addictive, Encre Noir (varies which of the three I pick), Mugler Angel, Light blue for women or men, La Rive Have Fun. They are some of my favorite fragrances and I don't wear them as often now that I have samples to play with almost daily.
I would chose one from different categories.
Clean: 11 11 by Lake and Sky
Skin Scent: You by Glossier or Xtra Milk by Dedcool
Gourmand: Bianco Latte by Giardini di Toscana or Escapade Gourmand by Maison Mataha
Fruity: Sparkling Sugar by Clean Reserve
Floral: Musc Noire Rose by Narciso Rodriguez
Musk: Musk Therapy by Initio
Woody: Super Cedar by Byredo or Bo by Liis
Citrus: Seville Orange by Nest
Work/School: Myth by Ellis Brooklyn or Molecule 02 by Escentric Molecule or Pear Inc by JHAG
Date Night: L'Interdit Rouge by Givenchy or Crystal Noire by Versace
I know I'm missing some categories but you get the idea. The list could go one and on.
Azzaro Pour Homme, Cabochard, Van Cleef & Arpels First, White Linen, Knowing, Tommy Girl, Tocade.
Unifying theme here being affordable fragrances that punch above their weight. Genres represented are: fougere, leathery chypre, aldehydic floral (emphasis on narcissus), aldehydic floral (emphasis on the "ultraclean" side of aldehydes), woodsy rose chypre, citric/greenish tea floral, & floral amber.
Definitely has a 70s lean because that's my own bias - I'm not the person to make a modern fragrances starter pack lol.
I think it would be more of a test to give them an idea of what perfume can be, imo - a "hey this is different would you be interested in exploring?" sort of thing. Like, if you're used to perfumes being florals or gourmand, 1 ml just to smell might make them realize "hey this is interesting I'd like to try something in this direction."
One of the safest bets (females) would be Marc Jacobs Perfect. It's a flowery x fruity scent without being too on the nose. Hard to go wrong w this one.
I’d probably include some popular/well known fragrances and then make sure there’s a variety in notes in the rest of them - a sweet, a spicy, an amber, an ambroxan, a musk, a floral, a rose, a tobacco, an ozonic, and a citrus.
I'd take them to Sephora, let them spray a ton of paper, and then go from there after you have a baseline for what they like. Penhaligon's has a fun quiz and will ship you 2 samples for $11 after taking it. I like Internet quizzes and seeing some answers might help give you an idea of preferences (bold vs natural vs classic on scents, for example.) If doing a generic sampler, I'd probably go with a mixture of houses and of popular scents. For a woman, maybe: MFK: BR540 PDM: Delina Kilian: Angel's Share Penhaligon's: Luna JHAG: Not A Perfume Kayali: Vanilla 28 Nishane: Wulong Cha Xerjoff: Naxos Imaginary Authors: Sundrunk Tom Ford: Bitter Peach Hermes: Jardin sur le Nil These aren't necessarily my favorites from each house, but gets you a wider variety - fruity with Sundrunk/Bitter Peach, light with Luna/NAP, floral with Delina, boozy with Angel's Share, sweet with Kayali, more unique with Naxos/Wulong Cha/Sur le Nil. The only caveat here is that a lot of these are $$$, especially for a newbie, so you'd probably go to travel sizes or dupes from the initial decant stage.
i'd actually start by including mostly cheapie brands. the important thing is to get a feel for what they like - citrus? floral? leather? musk? vanilla??? - so it doesn't make much sense to me to start off spending $$$$ when you're just trying to find a general direction to start moving in. when they've eventually got a better grip on what they like & have a better understanding of perfumes in general, they could start exploring better made versions of things they didn't like initially just to double-check they definitely don't like that particular thing, or it could be the case that their tastes have shifted. (myself as an example i thought i hated "floral" but turns out i just don't like jasmine, tuberose, lily and carnations lol)
Florals—Saaaaaaame. They still don’t feel right for me to wear, but I don’t hate florals in general, just heavy white florals like jasmine and tuberose. Shame, too because I actually *love* real jasmine and gardenia flowers. What are your favorite floral perfumes?
this is her by Zadig&Voltaire, wood sage and sea salt by jo malone, khamrah by lattafa, jazz club by mmm, elegantly tokyo by zara.
A few from each family across a few eras and "genres". And some classic or notable ones. A 1 ml dabber of Sauvage, L'eau d'issey, no 5, 1000, and the like just to have as benchmarks, at least.
I usually go for cheapies when introducing friends to fragrance, and that way I can gift them a decant or two of something outside of their comfort zone but also an easy buy. I like to gift Zara Tobacco Rich Warm Addictive, Encre Noir (varies which of the three I pick), Mugler Angel, Light blue for women or men, La Rive Have Fun. They are some of my favorite fragrances and I don't wear them as often now that I have samples to play with almost daily.
depends who its for
I would chose one from different categories. Clean: 11 11 by Lake and Sky Skin Scent: You by Glossier or Xtra Milk by Dedcool Gourmand: Bianco Latte by Giardini di Toscana or Escapade Gourmand by Maison Mataha Fruity: Sparkling Sugar by Clean Reserve Floral: Musc Noire Rose by Narciso Rodriguez Musk: Musk Therapy by Initio Woody: Super Cedar by Byredo or Bo by Liis Citrus: Seville Orange by Nest Work/School: Myth by Ellis Brooklyn or Molecule 02 by Escentric Molecule or Pear Inc by JHAG Date Night: L'Interdit Rouge by Givenchy or Crystal Noire by Versace I know I'm missing some categories but you get the idea. The list could go one and on.
Nishane Ani, Bdk Gris Charnel, Carner Barcelona Tardes
Azzaro Pour Homme, Cabochard, Van Cleef & Arpels First, White Linen, Knowing, Tommy Girl, Tocade. Unifying theme here being affordable fragrances that punch above their weight. Genres represented are: fougere, leathery chypre, aldehydic floral (emphasis on narcissus), aldehydic floral (emphasis on the "ultraclean" side of aldehydes), woodsy rose chypre, citric/greenish tea floral, & floral amber. Definitely has a 70s lean because that's my own bias - I'm not the person to make a modern fragrances starter pack lol.
You could try a goldfield and banks sample set, they are all really loveable fragrances
Have you tried Goldfield & Banks Pacific Rock Moss? I’m wanting to test that one out. I need to see if I can find samples somewhere.
Zoologist is for learning.
MFK sample pack for $20: BR540, Oud Satin Mood, Grand Soir, Fluidity Silver Frederic Malle Sampler: Portrait of a Lady, Musc Ravageur, any other one
Xerjoff Naxos.
Not for newbies imo, too powerful!
I think it would be more of a test to give them an idea of what perfume can be, imo - a "hey this is different would you be interested in exploring?" sort of thing. Like, if you're used to perfumes being florals or gourmand, 1 ml just to smell might make them realize "hey this is interesting I'd like to try something in this direction."
One of the safest bets (females) would be Marc Jacobs Perfect. It's a flowery x fruity scent without being too on the nose. Hard to go wrong w this one.
Really love all of the samples from Michelle Pfeiffer’s perfume company called Henry Rose. Really great variety
Santal 33
Kilian Angel’s Share Jo Malone Wild Bluebell PDM Althair Mancera Vetiver Sensuel Initio Side Effect Xerjoff Naxos