15 Perfume Discovery Sets to Find Your Signature Scent
If there’s one thing that has made our journey to finding our signature scent easier, it’s a perfume discovery set which allow you to sample a collection of fragrances at once. These become increasingly helpful to cut through the vast fragrance marketplace to narrow down which brands and scent profiles are for you. And because they often arrive in decorative packaging, they’d make excellent gifts during the holiday season, too.
A good place to start would be with universally flattering scents that never go out of style, like Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s Baccarat Rouge 540 or Le Labo’s Santal 33, which are both featured in the brand’s respective perfume discovery set. Or, maybe you’d prefer inventive fragrances by brands like Dries Van Noten, Juliette Has a Gun, or Kilian, which are known to craft some of the most compelling, esoteric scents.
Either way, you can’t go wrong with whatever you choose. As most of these sets are composed of at least three fragrances, you’re sure to find one you love. Below, Vogue’s edit of the best discovery sets to consider.
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Fragrance Discovery Set
Admit it: You’ve been convinced to try Baccarat Rouge 540—the buzzy scent that’s even earned Rihanna’s stamp of approval. While its woody, floral aroma has been dubbed universally flattering, you may want to sample other iterations like Oud Satin Mood or Aqua Celestia Cologne which are concocted to promote the wearer’s freedom of expression.
Le Labo Fragrance Discovery Set
You simply can’t go wrong with Le Labo, the fragrance brand founded in New York City in 2006. Known for its simplified approach to fragrance and boutique shopping experiences, the brand has generated a sort of cult following. Santal 33 and Another 13 have become two of their most recognizable scents—both of which are included in this perfume collection.
Parfums De Marly Feminine Fragrance Discovery Set
Parfums De Marly looks to pair the best of modern and classic charm with respect to French savoir-faire. So it’s no surprise that a few of its fragrances have become vanity favorites. You’ve likely had a penchant for Delina’s rose and lychee notes or Safand’s fruit-forward appeal. For something that smells undeniably feminine, this should be your go-to.
Juliette Has a Gun Magnolia 8-Piece Discovery Set
Crafted in France, Roman Ricci’s Juliette Has a Gun puts a spin on the Shakespearean heroine known for using her perfume as a weapon of seduction. Each of its fragrances is designed to make a statement rooted in style and originality. One of which—titled Not a Perfume—is based on the single note, Cetalox, for a take on traditional warm, spicy scents. Try it, along with seven other fragrances, in this set.
Jo Malone London 5-Piece Cologne Discovery Set
Jo Malone London has become a household name in the fragrance space for its assortment of perfumes, bath and body picks, and home scents. Even if you haven’t considered the brand for your signature scent, it’s fair to assume you’ve bought or been gifted something from them before. Its most-loved scents, like Wood Sage & Sea Salt and English Pear & Freesia, offer a British take on perfumery.
Frédéric Malle Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle The Essential Collection for Women
If you’ve been eagerly waiting to sample Frédéric Malle’s Portrait of a Lady parfum, now’s your chance, as it’s featured in this discovery collection. Alongside the aforementioned scent, which delivers a bold depiction of a rose, there are five other fragrance vials crafted to push a creative approach to luxury perfumery.
Dior Fragrance Discovery Set – Limited Edition
Since the debut of Miss Dior in 1947, the French house has introduced a number of perfumes that can best be described as classics. Today, Dior’s in-house perfumer Francois Demachy continues the legacy with nature-inspired ingredients at the heart of his formulations. We’ve grown to count the Vanilla Diorama as one of our favorite vanilla-forward scents—a perfume featured in this limited edition set.
Cartier Perfumes Les Collections de Parfum
Perfumer Mathilde Laurent’s Les Collections de Parfum reflects the elegant luxury and timeless design that the French house stands for. Open the opulent red box to find six perfumes like the bright L’Heure Diaphane or the sensual L’Heure Mystérieuse.
Maison Margiela ‘Replica’ Mini Coffret Set
Give your Maison Margiela perfume collection a refresh by picking up this mini coffret set, composed of fragrances known to expertly transport someone to a specific time period. While By the Fireplace and Jazz Club have garnered particular acclaim, this set features three other rich, energizing scents.
Kilian The Woody Cellars Discovery Set
Through his eponymous label, Kilian Hennessy aimed to create daring, yet contemporary takes on classic fragrances. In this discovery set are four woody, spicy options to explore alongside a decorative atomizer to take your favorite scents on the go.
Dries Van Noten Quai Malaquais 5-Piece Eau De Parfum Set
Named after the label’s womenswear boutique at Quai Malaquais, this Dries Van Noten set embodies Parisienne craftsmanship and passion. There are five artfully designed vials perfect for gifting or a collection of intense fragrances like rosemary and patchouli-scented Voodoo Chile or the cypress and pink pepper-aroma Rock the Myrrh.
Tom Ford Private Blend Fragrance Collection
Whether it’s a perfume for her or cologne for him, Tom Ford truly has something for everyone. In this assortment, there are commendable picks from Oud Wood, Soleil Neige, and Bitter Peach that will make excellent additions to any fragrance collection.
Creed Men’s Holiday Set
When Creed’s Aventus debuted in 2010, it was love at first spritz—prompting the label to create a female counterpart for her. In this British perfumer’s set, you’ll meet two other scents worthy of adding to your vanity. There is Green Irish Tweed which boasts fresh notes of lemon, violet leaves, and ambergris, beside Silver Mountain Water that invigorates through rich notes of bergamot, mandarin, and green tea.
Acqua Di Parma Recruitment 10-Piece Discovery Set
Acqua Di Parma expertly brings a piece of Italy stateside through its fragrance lineup. Here, you’ll find ten fragrance vials across three collections—Colonias, Blue Mediterraneo, and Signatures of the Sun—to bask in through the holiday season and beyond.
Sephora Favorites Perfume Sampler Set
The beauty of Sephora’s discovery set is that it includes not only 13 trial-sized fragrances, but a scent certificate to claim a full-size of your favorite featured perfume at no extra charge. Inside, you’ll find picks by Chloé, Valentino, Yves Saint Laurent, and more.