Gone are the days when the only way to test out a perfume was to peruse the offerings at your local department store’s fragrance counter. There’s nothing worse than buying an extremely expensive perfume online or in-store only to get home, spray it on your wrist and realize it’s just not for you. But fear not. This dilemma can be easily avoided. Now, you can experience how a perfume smells and how well it meshes with your body chemistry with just a few clicks — and for less money.
Many fragrance brands offer perfume samplers or discovery sets, which contain mini versions of their best-selling scents, and sometimes even their whole fragrance line. Typically ranging from .01 to 1.7 ounces, these samples are travel-friendly, fit perfectly inside of a handbag and, depending on the notes, are good for layering and pairing with each other to create your own unique scent.
Even the most luxurious and top dollar fragrances come in sampler sets for a quarter of the price of a full-size bottle and with additional scents to try out.
Choosing scents is personal and everyone’s preference is different, so why not give yourself options to choose from? Whether you indulge in warm and spicy Le Labo scents or lean toward the floral tones of Armani’s Sì collection, you can’t go wrong with any of these perfume sampler sets.
Le Labo travel tube fragrance discovery set
Scent Types: Clean, earthy, floral
When HuffPosters around the office were asked about their favorite fragrance kits, three different people mentioned Le Labo as a favorite.
"While Le Labo fragrances are acutely modern, each is also evocative of another era," said HuffPost shopping writer Lourdes Avila Uribe, who specifically recommended this travel tube trio. "They're incredibly transportive, unique and hypnotic scents, making it impossible to choose a favorite, and [this] is why I love the brand's discovery sets so much. I've been using them for years, to discover new fragrances, mix up my everyday signature scent and for traveling."
Of the travel tube set, she added, "This set is perfect for anyone new to the brand or someone looking to stock up with some of Le Labo's most cherished, timeless scents. Each one is distinctly different while still feeling uniform. It's a great way to wear different scents while still keeping the notes within the same fragrance family."
Maison Louis Marie bestseller fragrances eau de parfum discovery set
Scent Types: Woody, gourmand, floral
Uribe is also a fan of this discovery kit by Maison Louis Marie, which includes seven of the brand's bestsellers. "There's something about this set that reminds me of the French countryside," she said. "Each distinct scent is tied together by a timeless romance. They're feminine without being cloyingly sweet and can elevate even the most casual day at home. No.04 Bois de Balincourt is my favorite of the bunch, but I love having the others on hand for days when I need a different vibe. This set is the perfect introduction to the brand."
Bella Vita long-lasting perfume gift set for men
Scent Types: Woody, citrusy, floral
Designed for men but perfect for anyone who prefers woody and citrusy scents, this Bella Vita set comes with four 20-milliliter fragrances: Klub Man, OUD Parfum, CEO Man and G.O.A.T. Man. Notes across the scents include amber, lavender, musk, lemon, orange and more.
Malin+Goetz fragrance discovery kit
Scent Types: Gourmand, earthy, woody
This Malin+Goetz discovery set was another one that got named multiple times among HuffPost employees when sharing their favorite sampler sets. Containing six fragrances with more simple concepts and titles (bergamot, cannabis, dark rum, leather, strawberry and vetiver), this set lets you try out a range of fresher and darker scents to find your favorite.
Jo Malone London cologne intense discovery collection
Scent Types: Woody, floral, gourmand
A recommendation from HuffPost editorial director Kristen Aiken, this discovery set by Jo Malone London offers five scents that you can wear alone or as a scent pairing. The scents are pretty varied, ranging from a fresher, woodier Wood Sage and Sea Salt to the lighter, floral English Pear and Freesia.
Sephora Favorites Box of Treats mini perfume sampler set with redeemable voucher
Scent Types: Gourmand, vanilla, marshmallow
What's better than a fragrancy discovery kit? One that comes with a voucher for a free extra perfume, of course. This Sephora Favorites sampler set includes iconic scents by Maison Margiela, Nest New York and others, providing eight 0.4-fluid ounce tubes. And once you choose your favorite, you can redeem your voucher to get it in a free travel size online or in-store.
DedCool Build Ur Own sample pack
Scent Types: Customizable
If you'd rather pick your own scents for a discovery kit instead of having them curated for you, you might like this DedCool sampler pack that comes with your choice of six scents, out of the 12 offered. If the indecision is weighing on you, DedCool also has four suggested sets to pick from on the same product page. Best of all, your purchase comes with 20% off your first full-size fragrance, once you decide your favorite.
Maison Margiela 'Replica' memory box sampler set
Scent Types: Fresh, musky, unisex
HuffPost shopping writer Tessa Flores personally owns and approves of this Maison Margiela set, which offers 10 different eau de toilettes from their beloved Replica line. Scents are named after nostalgic feelings or memories like Lazy Sunday Morning, Beach Walk, Autumn Vibes, When The Rain Stops, Bubble Bath and more.
Maison Margiela Replica mini coffret set
Scent Types: Woody, floral, warm
You can take a relaxing vacation without having to leave your home with these full-bodied scents, though you'll probably want everyone to experience how invigorating they smell. This set from Maison Margiela includes five scents: Beach Walk, Jazz Club, Lazy Sunday Morning, By the Fireplace and Bubble Bath.
Phlur fragrance discovery set
Scent Types: Fruity, floral
Flores is also fan of Phlur's fragrances, particularly Missing Person, which is included in this set of eight .06-ounce perfume samples. That's in addition to scents like Mood Ring, Vanilla Skin, Rose Whip and more, which offer different notes of florals and fruity scents.
Quince eau de parfum discovery set
Scent Types: Floral, layered, woody
Quince offers affordable alternatives to so many high-end luxury items, and fragrances are no exception — this set of eight is one of the more affordable we found, and will put you out just $20. Scents include Bois de Santal (which has drawn comparisons in the reviews to Le Labo's Santal 33), Jasmin Nuit, Oud Rouge, Néroli Soleil and more.
Scentbird Girls' Night Out trio
Scent Types: Floral, citrus, gourmand
You might know Scentbird for their fragrance subscription model, but you can also buy one-off sampler kits like this trio if you don't see yourself trying out new scents every single month. This set contains three high-end luxury fragrances: Versace's Bright Crystal Absolu, Confessions of a Rebel's Get a Room and Order Champagne, and Dolce & Gabbana's Light Blue. Each spray is stored in Scentbird's metallic fragrance cases.
Maison Francis Kurkdjian discovery set for her
Scent Types: Fruity, floral, fresh, woody
If Baccarat Rouge 540 has been on your radar (or someone else's), consider this a sign to add it to your cart today. Or if you'd rather test it out before going full throttle on a regular-sized bottle, opt for this discovery set from Maison Francis Kurkdjian. It includes Baccarat Rouge 540 and seven other scents you may fall for, too.