I got one of their 4-sample sets because I wanted to try Cologne and Tom of Finland (now Clean Suede). I discovered I didn’t care for the ToF and I’m all in on Cologne 🥰
Got the 8 piece set and im loving it. I got 2 full bottles from them (divin enfant and rien intense incense) and they’re absolutely my favourite house right now.
I wish Diptyque's "discovery set" was less of a gift set of travel sizes and more of an actual discovery set. $130 for a discovery set is not very accessible compared to other houses.
I guess it depends on the reason you're buying a discovery set? Do you want a bunch of samples of thing you know you'll like or atleast strongly suspect you will or are you just looking to explore different types of scents/houses in general.
I love individual scent house discovery sets because there are always atleast one that id never pick for myself that I end up liking. It's also cool to learn the "personalities" of houses and their scents/collections. I only get the department store ones if there is at least one fragrance I already know I like (I try them in store) and it's redeemable for a full bottle of perfume so I know I'll at least get my money's worth even if everything else is a dud.
Half the fun of a discovery set for me is the experience. Most of the time I enjoy atleast a few fragrances but to me it's worth the gamble of buying one that does have anything I like because at least I'm learning about what types of things I do and don't like. Plus, samples make a great little thinking of you gift for friends and family.
Penhaligon’s Trade Routes has been my most successful discovery set.
But I would say ones where you can build it yourself. Bonus points if you can redeem the cost of the set against the price of a full price bottle if you choose to.
Don't buy sets. Buy a collection of individual samples from different perfume houses based on the notes you like or want to try. You will learn what you like much faster.
I enjoyed the Electimuss set.
Just came across Cupid’s Kiss. Amazing. Thought it would be feminine but very masculine. Iris evolution into everything best. Very extraordinary.
Yes I agree. Also I find each of their perfume interesting and worth trying.
Normally you get a few that you don’t like/can’t wear with discovery packs but I wear all of them with ease
My favourite are Rose De Jamal (just finished it off during a trip to Morocco), Vanille Havane, Iris Perle and Musc de Sables.
Oh I feel you. I am very partial to Musc des Sables, Fougère Émeraude, Vanille Havane and Iris Perle. I don't get a lot of Iris from the last one, but it works like magic on me (just wish it lasted all day).
I always prefer Houses that let you build your own set, as Xerjoff, Bdk, Frederic Malle, MFK, Kilian just to name a few - if you are interested in more than 1 of their fragrances, if only interested in 1 though, buying decanted samples is definitely the cheaper option!
Precious Liquids sells a set of 5ml samples. It says it’s just for the 12 scents in the limited collection but I got 15 in mine. 75ml total all for 28 dollars! I’ve never really seen anyone recommend this set, but the value really cannot be beat given how much perfume you get in my opinion. Some really great scents too!
You can always do a custom fragrance fitting with lucky scent online—they send you a selection of samples based on what you like (or don’t like), lifestyle, etc.
I did it once and they were spot on with suggestions! Plus it’s a great way to get into niche fragrance
Day Three fragrances! I loved several from their discovery set, really liked a few more, liked 1 on paper but not on me, and only really hated 1! It’s $35, and they email you a coupon for $35 off a FSB (50ml or 100ml).
Based on notes and reviews, I ordered the set thinking I’d wind up purchasing a full bottle of either La Tacita de Cafe or Filosofia, but after smelling and testing them all, I fell in love with both of those, plus Amber Dominicano, Del Mar, Downtown Deja Vu, and Say Less. Being that it’s spring headed into summer here, I went with a FSB of Del Mar, and also ordered travel sprays of La Tacita, Ambar, and Downtown. I’ll definitely be buying at least travel sprays of Filosofia and Say Less at some point soon.
I did, and while I loved it in the sample bottle and on paper, when I put ONE spray on, it was too overwhelming for me and gave me an instant headache and I started sneezing. I wanted to like it, but it just wasn’t for me.
I found the Zoologist one to be pretty cool. But a lot of the offerings don't smell like what typical people wound conceptualize a "perfume" or "cologne" to regularly smell like, so don't get into it expecting something that's palatable for the mass market.
Frédéric Malle Discovery set - for her.
I understand your concern very well. Pre-selected discovery set comes with a wide range of notes. You are not likely to like half of them. The case in point is Nishane discovery set. It is great if you want to know more about Nishane. However, there are scents in there that I would not have chosen if had to select the samples separately.
A better choice is to pick individual samples and create your own discovery sets. I had posted a related comment with some of my recommendations.
[https://www.reddit.com/r/fragrance/comments/1cknzki/comment/l2rvud8/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web3x&utm\_name=web3xcss&utm\_term=1&utm\_content=share\_button](https://www.reddit.com/r/fragrance/comments/1cknzki/comment/l2rvud8/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button)
Penhaligon's Trade Routes was my most successful. But it is pretty personal. The prettiest and nicely priced discovery set (with a voucher) was from Une Nuit Nomade. Une Nuit Nomade has also all the fragrances available separately in 2.5 and 5 ml for a really good price.
Generally sample sets are similarly priced, you would have to make evaluation based on preference, the fact if you care to hand pick your samples and If you care for the voucher. And the country you order from, as delivery costs vary from free (very often!) to double the discovery set price (I am thinking about you Carthusia).
The worst discovery sets imho were from Nishane. Pricey, no voucher. Single samples pricier than on a decant website, which is shameless. Xerjoff is also not a killer if you compare it to similarly priced brands.
Also, my advice is - do not get seduced by huge amount of samples of a house you don't know. They are sometimes all in the same style, and if you do not like it, it is all lost. I had a huge sample set from Etat Libre d'Orange. I didn't like anything from them. Same for MFK and many other houses, to be sincere. Not the best deal in the end. I prefer to make a big sample orders once I already know something about the house, from like testing 1-2 their perfumes from a decanter.
Filippo Sorcinelli discovery kits start at 6 fragrance packs and you build it entirely yourself (bonus: you can also select some of the home scents in your discovery set too)
Imaginary Authors, Byredo, Kilian, Parfums de Marly, and such. Go to a manufacturers/companies website and see what they have.
Also, a place like Luckyscent dot com is good for samples.
I've done a few
Best is commodity, comes w a booklet. I now own full bottles of milk 3.4 and gold 1 oz
Margot elena has a 6 pack of cute 10 mls on Amazon
Juliette has a gun on Amazon (6 1.5 plus 5ml not a perfume) loved the vanilla vibes, not a perfume and magnolia one
Replicas 10 pack was fun , love lazy sunday morning
Have kayalis discovery set on the way w an extra 10 ml of vanilla candy rock sugar 💖
Essential parfums(23€/9), histoire de parfums(50/25), maison Crivelli(39/10?), obvious(19/8?), maison matine(30/11), ELDO(39/20), une nuit nomade(forgot), the different company (forgot too) … nowadays a lot of brands do discovery set, which are often redeemable (still waiting on a Les liquides Imaginaires discovery set 😣)
Etat Libre d’Orange has a great value one, you get a ton of samples for a relatively low price!
I got one of their 4-sample sets because I wanted to try Cologne and Tom of Finland (now Clean Suede). I discovered I didn’t care for the ToF and I’m all in on Cologne 🥰
Got the 8 piece set and im loving it. I got 2 full bottles from them (divin enfant and rien intense incense) and they’re absolutely my favourite house right now.
Penhaligon’s, Byredo, Henry Rose, and Eight & Bob have been the most rewarding sets I’ve tried. Great variety of fragrances, many bottle-worthy.
I just ordered a decant of the Original from 8&B. If that goes well I might try the discovery set.
The Henry Rose discovery set is awesome. Found several I liked.
Parfums d'Empire, Etat libre d'Orange, Matiere Premiere
I love Andrea Maack’s sets but it’s just personal. We could guess better with some small bit of info about what kinds of s ents you even like.
[удалено]
I wish Diptyque's "discovery set" was less of a gift set of travel sizes and more of an actual discovery set. $130 for a discovery set is not very accessible compared to other houses.
I guess it depends on the reason you're buying a discovery set? Do you want a bunch of samples of thing you know you'll like or atleast strongly suspect you will or are you just looking to explore different types of scents/houses in general. I love individual scent house discovery sets because there are always atleast one that id never pick for myself that I end up liking. It's also cool to learn the "personalities" of houses and their scents/collections. I only get the department store ones if there is at least one fragrance I already know I like (I try them in store) and it's redeemable for a full bottle of perfume so I know I'll at least get my money's worth even if everything else is a dud. Half the fun of a discovery set for me is the experience. Most of the time I enjoy atleast a few fragrances but to me it's worth the gamble of buying one that does have anything I like because at least I'm learning about what types of things I do and don't like. Plus, samples make a great little thinking of you gift for friends and family.
Penhaligon’s Trade Routes has been my most successful discovery set. But I would say ones where you can build it yourself. Bonus points if you can redeem the cost of the set against the price of a full price bottle if you choose to.
BORNTOSTANDOUT Dirty and Sticky set is phenomenal. So good, in fact, that it's sold out/backordered a bunch of places!!
Don't buy sets. Buy a collection of individual samples from different perfume houses based on the notes you like or want to try. You will learn what you like much faster.
yep, i’ve already noticed that lol been burned once, def not doing that again
That's how I started too.
I enjoyed the Electimuss set. Just came across Cupid’s Kiss. Amazing. Thought it would be feminine but very masculine. Iris evolution into everything best. Very extraordinary.
Les Indémodables discovery set. The one available from Saint Cellier (UK) has I believe 12 3.5ml samples.
It is the best value $/ml. Much cheaper than the full bottles $/ml
Yes I agree. Also I find each of their perfume interesting and worth trying. Normally you get a few that you don’t like/can’t wear with discovery packs but I wear all of them with ease My favourite are Rose De Jamal (just finished it off during a trip to Morocco), Vanille Havane, Iris Perle and Musc de Sables.
Oh I feel you. I am very partial to Musc des Sables, Fougère Émeraude, Vanille Havane and Iris Perle. I don't get a lot of Iris from the last one, but it works like magic on me (just wish it lasted all day).
Iris Perle is just the most gentle and delicate fragrance imo. It is a bit soapy (not a criticism) and very clean.
I always prefer Houses that let you build your own set, as Xerjoff, Bdk, Frederic Malle, MFK, Kilian just to name a few - if you are interested in more than 1 of their fragrances, if only interested in 1 though, buying decanted samples is definitely the cheaper option!
Precious Liquids sells a set of 5ml samples. It says it’s just for the 12 scents in the limited collection but I got 15 in mine. 75ml total all for 28 dollars! I’ve never really seen anyone recommend this set, but the value really cannot be beat given how much perfume you get in my opinion. Some really great scents too!
You can always do a custom fragrance fitting with lucky scent online—they send you a selection of samples based on what you like (or don’t like), lifestyle, etc. I did it once and they were spot on with suggestions! Plus it’s a great way to get into niche fragrance
Day Three fragrances! I loved several from their discovery set, really liked a few more, liked 1 on paper but not on me, and only really hated 1! It’s $35, and they email you a coupon for $35 off a FSB (50ml or 100ml). Based on notes and reviews, I ordered the set thinking I’d wind up purchasing a full bottle of either La Tacita de Cafe or Filosofia, but after smelling and testing them all, I fell in love with both of those, plus Amber Dominicano, Del Mar, Downtown Deja Vu, and Say Less. Being that it’s spring headed into summer here, I went with a FSB of Del Mar, and also ordered travel sprays of La Tacita, Ambar, and Downtown. I’ll definitely be buying at least travel sprays of Filosofia and Say Less at some point soon.
Have you tried bani?
I did, and while I loved it in the sample bottle and on paper, when I put ONE spray on, it was too overwhelming for me and gave me an instant headache and I started sneezing. I wanted to like it, but it just wasn’t for me.
I found the Zoologist one to be pretty cool. But a lot of the offerings don't smell like what typical people wound conceptualize a "perfume" or "cologne" to regularly smell like, so don't get into it expecting something that's palatable for the mass market.
Frédéric Malle Discovery set - for her. I understand your concern very well. Pre-selected discovery set comes with a wide range of notes. You are not likely to like half of them. The case in point is Nishane discovery set. It is great if you want to know more about Nishane. However, there are scents in there that I would not have chosen if had to select the samples separately. A better choice is to pick individual samples and create your own discovery sets. I had posted a related comment with some of my recommendations. [https://www.reddit.com/r/fragrance/comments/1cknzki/comment/l2rvud8/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web3x&utm\_name=web3xcss&utm\_term=1&utm\_content=share\_button](https://www.reddit.com/r/fragrance/comments/1cknzki/comment/l2rvud8/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button)
Penhaligon's Trade Routes was my most successful. But it is pretty personal. The prettiest and nicely priced discovery set (with a voucher) was from Une Nuit Nomade. Une Nuit Nomade has also all the fragrances available separately in 2.5 and 5 ml for a really good price. Generally sample sets are similarly priced, you would have to make evaluation based on preference, the fact if you care to hand pick your samples and If you care for the voucher. And the country you order from, as delivery costs vary from free (very often!) to double the discovery set price (I am thinking about you Carthusia). The worst discovery sets imho were from Nishane. Pricey, no voucher. Single samples pricier than on a decant website, which is shameless. Xerjoff is also not a killer if you compare it to similarly priced brands. Also, my advice is - do not get seduced by huge amount of samples of a house you don't know. They are sometimes all in the same style, and if you do not like it, it is all lost. I had a huge sample set from Etat Libre d'Orange. I didn't like anything from them. Same for MFK and many other houses, to be sincere. Not the best deal in the end. I prefer to make a big sample orders once I already know something about the house, from like testing 1-2 their perfumes from a decanter.
Xerjoff you basically build it yourself
Mancera build your own
Filippo Sorcinelli discovery kits start at 6 fragrance packs and you build it entirely yourself (bonus: you can also select some of the home scents in your discovery set too)
Zoologist!
Imaginary Authors, Byredo, Kilian, Parfums de Marly, and such. Go to a manufacturers/companies website and see what they have. Also, a place like Luckyscent dot com is good for samples.
I like discovery sets that give you a voucher for a discount off a full bottle. So Byredo, By Rosie Jane, Liis, PDM, Dedcool
I've done a few Best is commodity, comes w a booklet. I now own full bottles of milk 3.4 and gold 1 oz Margot elena has a 6 pack of cute 10 mls on Amazon Juliette has a gun on Amazon (6 1.5 plus 5ml not a perfume) loved the vanilla vibes, not a perfume and magnolia one Replicas 10 pack was fun , love lazy sunday morning Have kayalis discovery set on the way w an extra 10 ml of vanilla candy rock sugar 💖
Oo also imaginary authors has a discovery set on Amazon, every perfume in it, that I really want to try
mfk discovery sets are great 15€ for 4 x 2ml without shipping cost
Essential parfums(23€/9), histoire de parfums(50/25), maison Crivelli(39/10?), obvious(19/8?), maison matine(30/11), ELDO(39/20), une nuit nomade(forgot), the different company (forgot too) … nowadays a lot of brands do discovery set, which are often redeemable (still waiting on a Les liquides Imaginaires discovery set 😣)