10 Perfume Discovery Sets Even the Pickiest Fragrance Snob Will Adore (2025)

The last perfume someone gifted me was an off-putting floral-fruit blend that ended up smelling like an old lady once it dried down. That terrible present has since been relegated to the back of my perfume stand and taught me a very important lesson. I know now that the best way to gift a fragrance is by letting recipients choose for themself, and there’s no better way to do that than with the best perfume discovery sets.

The purpose of the thoughtful gift is in its name—discovery. Perfume discovery sets often arrive with multiple tiny vials of perfume, highlighting a brand’s most popular bestsellers, with a bevy of note blends to experiment with. This method of fragrance gifting takes the guesswork out of spending hours at a department store trying to sniff your way to becoming the best gift-giver or scanning the notes section on a perfume’s page in a bold attempt to blind-buy. With a perfume discovery set, the giftee can spritz and spend time with a fragrance before making the ultimate decision to commit to the full-sized version. Plus, having a hand in introducing someone to a new brand or fragrance family is always a rewarding experience.

Our picks for the best perfume discovery sets of 2024

To help you find the best perfume discovery sets for everyone on your list, we scoured the internet and customer feedback and polled ELLE editors to compile a list of the absolute best-smelling perfume discovery sets even the pickiest person will appreciate.

The Viral Perfumes

Phlur Fragrance Discover Set in Beauty

10 Perfume Discovery Sets Even the Pickiest Fragrance Snob Will Adore (7)

Scrolling through the perfume side of TikTok guarantees a few stops at videos praising Phlur’s olfactory offerings. Whether your introduction to the brand was through Father Figure or Missing Person, or whether you’re a millennial or Gen-Z, there isn’t a scent in this set that won’t intrigue you. Not Your Baby elevates all the childish notes you detest in other baby-scented formulas to something more sophisticated, feminine, and bright; Solar Power is a sexy twist on what you’d expect sun-kissed skin to smell like.

Includes: Missing Person; Ameline; Not Your Baby; Lost Cause; Apricot Privee; Phloria; Somebody Wood; Tangerine Boy

Size: 8 vials, 0.067 fl oz/each

Revolve rating: 5/5 stars

A Revolve reviewer says: “I’m totally in love with these clean perfumes! They’re free from toxic and carcinogen ingredients. Highly recommend!”

Best Mood-Boosting Perfumes

Brown Girl Jane Discovery Set

10 Perfume Discovery Sets Even the Pickiest Fragrance Snob Will Adore (8)

At the heart of each Brown Girl Jane fragrance is the emotion it hopes to inspire in every wearer—think of them as your daily supplement in olfactory form. With this discovery set, a host of emotions are waiting to be unearthed, from Dawn’s energetic, booze-soaked vanilla aroma to Casablanca’s romantic warmth.

Includes: Casablanca; Bahia; Lamu; Dawn, Dusk, Dare

Size: 6 vials, 0.67 fl oz/each

Sephora rating:

A Sephora reviewer says: “I purchased the discovery set! When I tell you I’m in love with 5 out of 6 scent! Casablanca and Dare is my favorite! I purchased Casablanca on the BGJ website. I can’t wait to purchase Dare next!”

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Best Quiet Luxury Discovery Set

Creed 3-Piece Fragrance Discovery Set

10 Perfume Discovery Sets Even the Pickiest Fragrance Snob Will Adore (9)

Aventus is the first place people start when testing Creed fragrances, but there’s so much more to the brand than it’s cult-favorite bestseller. To immerse yourself in the brand’s bold yet delicate fragrances, you’ll need to venture to its other aromatic corners. For those who enjoy a flower’s darker side, spritz Carmina, a sexy woodsy base with black cherry sweetness. If you prefer your florals as bright and light as a spring day, Wind Flowers, a floral medley anchored by amber, will quickly become your collection’s star. Good thing Creed’s timeless and modern discovery set gives you all that and more.

Includes: Aventus for Her Eau de Parfum, Carmina Eau de Parfum, Wind Flower

Size: 3, 0.33 fl oz/each

Why we love it: “Quiet luxury fragrance fans know about Creed, the perfume house that was a favorite of Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly. For those who want to become better acquainted with this more than 200-year-old brand, they offer this discovery set which has some of their best hits. A clear standout is its most recent launch, Carmina, a gourmand scent containing notes of black cherry, the new “it” ingredient in perfume.”—Kathleen Hou, ELLE beauty director

Best for Beginners

Sephora Favorites Perfume Sampler Set

10 Perfume Discovery Sets Even the Pickiest Fragrance Snob Will Adore (10)

Anyone on the receiving end of a perfume gift knows the wave of anxiety that occurs moments before that first spritz—will it dispense a delightful aroma or something so rancid it will end up in the trash? The cheat code for perfume gift-giving is to buy this Sephora Favorites pouch. Not only does it come with a bunch of tiny samples of perfumes to experiment with, but it also has a voucher for a free full-sized version of whatever scent you adore to be redeemed online or in-store. The giftee can choose form popular brands like Gucci, Valentino, Phlur, Fenty and more.

Includes: Burberry Her Eau de Parfum; Carolina Herrera Good Girl Blush Eau de Parfum; Charlotte Tilbury More Sex Eau de Parfum; Fenty Eau de Parfum; Gucci Flora Gorgeous Magnolia Eau de Parfum; Jo Malone London English Pear & Freesia Cologne; Valentino Donna Born In Roma Eau de Parfum; Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Eau de Parfum; Yves Saint Laurent Libre Eau de Parfum; Juliette Has a Gun Not A Perfume Eau de Parfum; Kayali Vanilla Candy Rock Sugar Eau de Parfum; Kilian Paris Princess Eau de Parfum; Maison Margiela ‘Replica’ Lazy Sunday Morning Eau de Toilette; Nest New York Balinese Coconut Perfume Oil; Phlur Missing Person Eau de Parfum; Prada Paradoxe Eau de Parfum; The 7 Virtues Vanilla Woods Eau de Parfum; Tom Ford Cafe Rose Eau de Parfum

Size: 0.04 fl oz, 0.05 fl oz, 0.057 fl oz, 0.06 fl oz

Sephora rating: 3.4/5 stars

A Sephora reviewer says: “I’ve gotten a couple of these sample sets for my husband over time, and they’ve always been so much fun, so I finally decided to get one for myself. We had a great time smelling all of the scents included and ranking them from most liked to least liked. I felt like 4 of them were in the running for using the voucher on, and I liked and would wear at least half of them, so it was definitely worth the purchase in my opinion. My personal top 4 were Burberry, Gucci, Jo Malone, and YSL.”

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Best Warm Perfumes

Henry Rose Fragrance Discovery Set

10 Perfume Discovery Sets Even the Pickiest Fragrance Snob Will Adore (11)

Henry Rose specializes in genderless fragrances with clean, gentle ingredients and notes that feel invigorating and uplifting. If your beau is prone to sneaking a few spritzes of your favorite scent, here’s a sampling of the brand’s popular perfumes, like Windows Down or Queens & Monsters, that you can both enjoy fuss-free.

Includes: Char Eau de Parfum; Flora Carnivora Eau de Parfum; Jake's House Eau de Parfum; Queens & Monsters Eau de Parfum; Torn Eau de Parfum; Windows Down Eau de Parfum

Size: 0.05 oz. each

Nordstrom rating: 3.9/5 stars

A Henry Rose reviewer says: “These scents smell SO good! They last all day, and I keep getting compliments about how good I smell. I wish I found these sooner.”

Best Cold-Weather Scents

Jo Malone London Holiday Cologne Collection

10 Perfume Discovery Sets Even the Pickiest Fragrance Snob Will Adore (12)

No need to have holiday travel FOMO when Jo Malone’s festive-themed discovery perfume set can transport you to a snowy cabin (White Moss & Snowdrop Cologne), a sugary bakery (Ginger Biscuit Cologne), and everywhere in between.

Includes: Midnight Musk & Amber Cologne, White Moss & Snowdrop Cologne, Fir & Artemisia Cologne, Ginger Biscuit Cologne, Orange Bitters Cologne

Size: 5, 0.3 fl oz/each

Nordstrom rating: 4.5/5 stars

Why we love it: “Maybe you heard a rumor once that JLo’s tour rider included specific bath oils from Jo Malone. And maybe you want to know what JLo could smell like. In that case, this sampling of hits from the brand can give you an idea. I’m not JLo, but my personal favorite is their Wood Sage & Sea Salt, which reminds me of cold ocean winds and being wrapped up by the sea in a cozy sweater.”—Kathleen Hou, ELLE beauty director

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Best for Vacation

Kayali Vacation in a Bottle Mini Perfume Set

10 Perfume Discovery Sets Even the Pickiest Fragrance Snob Will Adore (13)

I’ve never been to the Maldives, but if it smells anything like Kayali’s olfactory interpretation, then sign me up. The bright packaging complements the equally colorful and alluring notes in each bottle. Marrakech in a Bottle takes cues from the city of spices’ warm palette to create a scent built around orange blossom; Maui in a Bottle is a fruity delight reminiscent of the Hawaiian country.

Includes: Marrakesh in a Bottle Orange Blossom | 24, Capri in a Bottle Lemon Sugar | 14, Maui in a Bottle Sweet Banana | 37, Maldives in a Bottle Ylang Coco | 20

Size: 4, 0.33 fl oz

Sephora rating: 3.8/5 stars

A Sephora reviewer says: “It is literally a vacation in a bottle, each scent takes you either to your favorite tropical place or to your happy memories. All very cheerful scents, sure to lift your mood. Use after applying lotion so it stays on you longer.”

Best Fresh and Fruity Perfume Set

Byredo La Selection Nomad Gift Set

10 Perfume Discovery Sets Even the Pickiest Fragrance Snob Will Adore (14)

Byredo has a legion of fans for every scent it offers, but this trio is perhaps the brand’s underrated trio. Each perfume in the set represents the versatility of the fragrance house. Bal D’Afrique is deep and fruity; Blanche is as fresh and clean as the color it’s named after, and Gypsy Water is a citrus-spicy blend.

Includes: Bal D’Afrique, Blanche, Gypsy Water

Size: 3, 0.4 fl oz/each

Nordstrom rating: 4.1/5 stars

Why we love it: “Gypsy Water and Blanche are two of my top fragrances of all time. I love Gypsy Water so much that I keep one on my desk at the office to reapply before attending events and dinners after work and one at home. Meanwhile, I’ve gone through half a bottle of Blanche this year alone—which makes sense since I always want to smell like clean laundry. I also like to layer Blanche with all of my fragrances since it sits so close to the skin and adds such a fresh vibe. Even though I already have two of the fragrances in this set, I’m tempted to pick it up myself for travel. Plus, I’ve been dying to try Bal D'Afrique since Nerisha raves about it so much.”—Carol Lee, ELLE.com associate beauty commerce writer

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Best for Day and Night

Le Labo Travel Tube Fragrance Discovery Set

10 Perfume Discovery Sets Even the Pickiest Fragrance Snob Will Adore (15)

While Santal 33 needs no introduction, Another 13 and Thé Noir are other Le Labo favorites deserving of the spotlight. Santal 33’s woody notes are a departure from Another 13, a calming yet deep bed of floral and amber notes. Thé Noir 29 is even deeper than Santal 33 and swells with black tea leaf and spices.

Includes: Another 13, Santal 33, Thé Noir 29

Size: 3, 0.33 fl oz

Nordstrom rating: 4.2/5 stars

Why we love it: “In the realm of perfume, even Le Labo sample sizes are pricey (typically, over $100 for .5 ounces). That makes this set of three Le Labo samples a pretty good deal to try iconic scents like Santal 33 and Another 13. These fragrances are well-known for a reason—they’re practically compliment magnets, and they make you smell luxe.”—Katie Berohn, ELLE beauty editor

Best Perfume Icons Set

Macy’s Fragrance Sampler Set for Her

10 Perfume Discovery Sets Even the Pickiest Fragrance Snob Will Adore (16)

You’ve likely sniffed (or were forced to sniff) one of these scents while perusing your local Macy’s. With this set, chock-full of classic icons like Lancôme La Vie est Belle or Marc Jacobs perfect, you can sample them all to see which one pairs well with your body chemistry enough to purchase a full-sized version.

Includes: Christian Siriano Ooh La Rouge Exclusif Eau de Parfum; Dolce & Gabbana Devotion Eau de Parfum, Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Eau de Toilette; Donna Karan Cashmere Mist Eau de Parfum,
Givenchy Irresistible Eau de Parfum, Jimmy Choo I Want Choo Le Parfum, Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy Eau de Parfum, Lancôme Idôle Le Parfum, Lancôme La vie est belle Eau de Parfum, MARC JACOBS Perfect Eau de Parfum, Moschino Toy 2 Pearl Eau de Parfum, Mugler ANGEL Eau de Parfum, Prada Candy Eau de Parfum, Ralph Lauren Romance Eau de Parfum, Tous LoveMe The Onyx Parfum, Valentino Voce Viva Eau de Parfum, Versace Bright Crystal Eau de Toilette, Yves Saint Laurent Libre Eau de Toilette

Size: 0.03 to 0.06 fl oz

Macy’s rating: 4.5/5 stars

A Macy’s reviewer says: “It’s an excellent way to sample perfume and figure out what you like the most. You also get so much perfume. It takes a while to finish all of them.”

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Why Trust ELLE Beauty?

10 Perfume Discovery Sets Even the Pickiest Fragrance Snob Will Adore (17)

As a leading publisher of fashion, lifestyle, and beauty content, ELLE.com is committed to highlighting the best products in various categories by personally testing the latest and most innovative products, interviewing countless experts, and vetting customer-loved items. For this piece, beauty commerce editor Nerisha Penrose consulted experts and tested a few sets to find the best perfume discovery kits on the market.

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Nerisha Penrose

Beauty Commerce Editor

Nerisha Penrose is the Beauty Commerce Editor at ELLE.com. Prior to joining the team, she was an Editorial Fellow at ELLE.com. In her current role, she helps lead coverage on makeup, skin care, hair, and fragrances. With over six years of experience in the world of beauty editorial, Nerisha enjoys delving deep into the complexities of fragrance notes, hunting for the best fixes for acne-prone skin, and advocating for daily sunscreen use. She regularly researches and tests the latest products, consults beauty professionals (including our Beauty Advisory Board) to determine the best expert-approved formulas to recommend, and conducts interviews with luminaries across the industry. Nerisha received her bachelor’s degree in Communication and Media Studies from Temple University before joining the editorial teams at Nylon and Billboard. In 2020, she co-launched our popular franchise The State of Black Beauty, an ongoing exploration of—and destination for—beauty at the intersection of Black culture.

10 Perfume Discovery Sets Even the Pickiest Fragrance Snob Will Adore (2025)
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