Whether it’s your first or 50th time spritzing on a fragrance, professionals say the sensorial experience is always unique. “Discovery isn’t just sampling. It’s a small daily practice of intention,” fragrance expert Jeff Miller tells Bazaar. “A discovery set is permission to be curious. It lets you explore multiple scents across different days, moods, and settings before committing to full size.” Many perfume discovery sets also make it simple to layer a few of your current favorites and create your own unique blend. “Think of layering like writing a short story: begin with a clear opening, then add depth,” continues Miller. “Start simple to deep (perhaps transition from citrus or tea to woody or musk) with one to two light sprays each on pulse point, then let them meet.”
From Dior and Maison Francis Kurkdjian to Phlur and Maison Margiela Replica, a number of cult-favorite brands offer thoughtful collections to help perfume aficionados or newcomers explore some of their most popular scents. Whether you’re shopping for yourself or narrowing down a thoughtful beauty gift for a friend or family member, the following options make choosing the best perfume discovery sets a no-brainer.
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Every product on this page was chosen by a Harper’s BAZAAR editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.
If you haven’t tried the viral Baccarat Rouge 540 perfume, this under $100 set from Maison Francis Kurkdjian might become your new favorite. If you have, now’s your chance to also spritz on seven of the brand’s other best-sellers—from Bazaar-loved APOM to the floral À la rose eau de parfum and more—which are all equally as intoxicating.
What’s included:
- Aqua Media Cologne Forte eau de parfum: Bergamot, verbena, sweet fennel, hedione-woody musk accord
- Amyris Femme eau de parfum: Pear, sweet pea, amyris, lemon blossom, iris
- Petit Matin eau de parfum: Litsea Cubeba, musks, hawthorne, orange blossom, lavender
- À la rose eau de parfum: Damascena rose, centifolia, honey, pear, lychee
- APOM eau de parfum: Orange blossom, lavender, cedar, amber, vanilla
- Fluidity Gold eau de parfum: Musks, ambery woods, vanilla
- Baccarat Rouge 540 eau de parfum: Hedion, ambroxan, saffron
- Grand Soir eau de parfum: Cinnamon tree, vanilla amber accord, ciste labdanum, lavender
Size: 8 x 0.07 fl oz.
What our editors are saying: “It’s hard to go wrong with just about any of Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s scents. This travel-friendly curation of some of its best-sellers makes it simple to take a deeper dive into the brand before making an investment in a full bottle of fragrance.” —Tiffany Dodson Davis, beauty commerce editor
Customer review: “I love that I can try all the fragrances without buying each one individually. It’s great to pack for trips because of the variety.” —Anonymous
If you can’t decide which of Dior’s La Collection Privée scents is your favorite, you won’t have to, thanks to this set of eight mini fragrances from the brand. From the floral Sakura to the woody Bois d’Argent, a little goes a long way with these luxurious eau de parfums.
What’s included:
- Gris Dior eau de parfum: Mysterious woody rose chypre notes
- Oud Ispahan eau de parfum: Enveloping oud wood and rose notes
- Ambre Nuit eau de parfum: Velvety rose and amber notes
- Bois d’Argent eau de parfum: Sensual woody accords with iris and frankincense notes
- Oud Rosewood eau de parfum: Precious woody notes of oud, cedar, and guaiac
- Jasmin des Anges eau de parfum: Floral, apricot, and honey notes
- Lucky eau de parfum: Fresh and floral lily-of-the-valley notes
- Sakura eau de parfum: Blooming cherry blossoms and almond notes
Size: 8 x 0.34 fl oz.
Customer review: “I’m so glad I purchased this set! All the fragrances are amazing, and I love that the bottles are smaller and can take with me when out and about. I highly recommend this set. If you’re on the fence, just buy it!” —Valerie
Byredo makes some of the most intoxicating and beloved fragrances worth shopping, and this set contains five of its cult-favorites. We recommend spritzing on Blanche, Rose of No Man’s, or Gypsy Water for everyday wear, and Mojave Ghost or Bal d’Afrique for a fun night out.
What’s included:
- Rose of No Man’s Land eau de parfum: Rosa damascena, pink pepper, and Turkish rose petals. Raspberry blossom, Turkish rose absolute, amber, papyrus
- Bal d’Afrique eau de parfum: Bergamot, African marigold, bucchu, violet, cyclamen, vetiver and Moroccan cedarwood
- Blanche eau de parfum: White rose, pink pepper, aldehyde, violet, neroli, peony, blonde woods, sandalwood, musk
- Mojave Ghost eau de parfum: Ambrette, Jamaican nesberry, violet, sandalwood, magnolia, chantilly musk, crisp amber, cedarwood
- Gypsy Water eau de parfum: Bergamot, lemon, pepper, juniper berries
Size: 5 x 8 mL
Each of Glossier’s buzzy fragrances is created as a scent enhancer: You, only better. This four-piece set not only includes its original fragrance but also features a few variations on the theme that lean more floral, woody, animalic, and spicy.
What’s included:
- Glossier You eau de parfum: Pink pepper, iris, ambrox, ambrette
- Glossier You Fleur eau de parfum: Mineral salt accord, osmanthus, ylang ylang, apricot skin, cashmeran, ambrox
- Glossier You Doux eau de parfum: Sweet violet, palo santo, frankincense, myrrh, ambrox
- Glossier You Rêve eau de parfum: Buttercream, plum butter, toasted almond, iris, sandalwood, ambrox
What our editors are saying: “Glossier’s mini fragrance wardrobe makes the perfect stocking stuffer for your You-obsessed friend or family member this holiday season, and addition to any scent collection in general.” —TDD
Size: 4 x 0.5 fl oz./ 1.5 mL
Maison Margiela Replica bottles the essence of a specific memory, place, and mood for truly immersive fragrances. This mini coffret set captures five individual scents in tiny apothecary-style jars to expertly suit any life experience—including date night.
What’s included:
- Beach Walk eau de toilette: Bergamot, coconut, white musk
- Jazz Club eau de toilette: Pink pepper, tobacco leaf, vanilla
- Lazy Sunday Morning eau de toilette: Lily of the valley, iris, white musk
- By the Fireplace eau de toilette: Chestnuts, vanilla, clove oil
- On a Date eau de toilette: Black currant, Isparta rose, patchouli
What our editors are saying: “This woody fragrance smells true to its name in that it has the warm, hazy scents of mezcal cocktails and smoking cigars. I originally bought it for my boyfriend, who loves jazz clubs so much, I thought he might like to smell like one, too. I recently started to wear it as well because it feels a little bit more unexpected on a girl, which, in my opinion, makes it even more sultry.” —Tara Gonzalez, contributing fashion editor
Size: 5 x 0.2 fl oz./ 7 mL
Customer review: “Each scent feels like a little story in a bottle so unique, comforting, and beautifully blended.” —Bazita
Discovery sets are often relegated to gender, which is one of the features that make Henry Rose’s discovery set so special. The brand’s range of earth-friendly floral, musky, and fresh notes smells great on just about everyone, especially the person searching for a more ambiguous scent.
What’s included:
- Dave eau de parfum: Tangerine neroli, pink pepper, lavandin, orange flower, almond blossom, vanilla bean, chantilly, cocoa shell, tonka bean
- Flora Carnivora eau de parfum: Freesia, muguet, rose, violet, jasmine, sandalwood, musk, patchouli, vanilla bean, praline
- Queens + Monsters eau de parfum: Violet leaf, neroli, petitgrain, freesia, jasmine, vanilla, coco musk, sandalwood
- Windows Down eau de parfum: Neroli, grapefruit, bergamot, Earl Grey tea accord, orange flower, jasmine, moss, guaiacwood, musk
- Torn eau de parfum: Freesia, muguet, rose, violet, jasmine
- Jake’s House eau de parfum: Fresh marine, neroli, peony, jasmine, ambroxan, musk
Size: 6 x 1.5 mL
Customer review: “Was curious about Henry Rose, but I like to try fragrances at home and wear them for a while before I commit. The sampler is a great way to experiment with multiple scents and get a feel for what I like. And my husband loves trying them out, too!” —HT.
Just imagine how stylish this 10-piece set of perfumes will look on your countertop, or unboxed by your favorite fragrance fan. Its design aims to be reminiscent of the audience in attendance at a Balenciaga show, which is just one reason why it’s a must-have for fashion lovers in the know.
What’s included:
- No Comment eau de parfum: The power of silence. An amplified aromatic.
- Getaria eau de parfum: The birthplace of M. Balenciaga. A neo marine.
- Twenty Four Seven eau de parfum: An oasis of tranquility. An oversized amber.
- To Be Confirmed eau de parfum: The allure of the unfinished. A minimal floral.
- Muscara eau de parfum: A bold kohl-lined stare. A lacquered musk.
- Le Dix eau de parfum: A reconstruction of the House’s first perfume. A forgotten floral.
- 100% eau de parfum: Unapologetically maximal. A magnified floral.
- Extra eau de parfum: A vibrant phoenix. Immortal spices.
- Cristóbal eau de parfum: A tribute to the most treasured name of the
- House eau de parfum: A precious oud.
- Incense Perfumum eau de parfum: A message through smoke. A chrome incense.
What our editors are saying: “Here’s what’s cool about the Balenciaga perfume collection: All 10 fragrances are housed in replicas of the sculptural glass bottle from 1947, serving as an olfactive bridge between the past and the present. Nine of the scents are new and, frankly, incredibly chic, with the 10th being the powdery and clean Le Dix—more of an adaptation than a resurrection of the original scent.” —Jenna Rosenstein, beauty director
Size: 10 x 0.33 fl oz.
Step into the viral world of Phlur with this four-piece set featuring the brand’s most beloved scents. Each of the brand’s buzziest fragrances, from the barely-there Missing Person to the Bazaar-loved Rose Whip, features an intoxicating combination of notes that will likely stand out from the rest of your collection.
What’s included:
- Missing Person eau de parfum: Fig, cassis, sandalwood, orris root, vanilla Madagascar, musk, patchouli
- Father Figure eau de parfum: Rose, black currant, honeyed osmanthus, amber, cashmere wood, musk
- Vanilla Skin eau de parfum: Pink pepper, sugar, cashmere, vanilla, sandalwood
- Rose Whip eau de parfum: White musk, jasmine, orange blossom, sandalwood, blonde wood
Size: 4 x 7 mL
Customer review: “This is the cutest set ever!!! Love that they’re sprays and not droppers like most minis! Also, such a good variation of scents. To my mini collection, they go.” —Kittygurllly
This small but mighty discovery set from Le Labo is the perfect addition to any carry-on, and won’t take up too much space in your bag. A little of any of its four featured fragrances—including the timeless Santal 33—goes a long way.
What’s included:
- Mini Another 13 eau de parfum: Notes of ambrox, musk, woody amber, jasmine petals, moss, and ambrette seed
- Mini Santal 33 eau de parfum: Woody ingredients and ambrox
- Thé Matcha 26 eau de parfum: Citrus, fig, and woods
- Thé Noir 29 eau de parfum: Noble tea leaf
Size: 4 x 0.17 fl oz.
Customer review: “So long story short, I’ve been dying to smell Le Labo! At first, I thought Santal 33 was the scent I wanted to choose for my first purchase. However, once I sampled Santal 33 and Another 13…Another 13 was that girl!” —nancyh
Dries Van Noten Beauty’s Collection Modepaleis set is for the perfume curious looking to explore a wider range of fragrance families. The expansive collection contains mini floral and woody options, like the rose and vetiver-noted Rosa Carnivora and myrrh and smoked wood-scented Rock the Myrrh, plus earthy and fruit-forward picks, like its Santal Greenery and Jardin de l’Orangerie eau de parfums.
What’s included:
- Jardin de l’Orangerie eau de parfum: Orange blossom and santal
- Neon Garden eau de parfum: Mint and iris
- Rosa Carnivora eau de parfum: Rose and vetiver
- Raving Rose eau de parfum: Pepper and rose
- Cannabis Patchouli eau de parfum: Cannabis and patchouli
- Santal Greenery eau de parfum: Fig and santal
- Voodoo Chile eau de parfum: Rosemary and patchouli
- Rock the Myrrh eau de parfum: Myrrh and smoked wood
- Fleur du Mal eau de parfum: Osmanthus and suede
- Soie Malaquais eau de parfum: Chestnut and silk
Size: 10 x 0.07 fl oz.
Anyone who loves gourmand and fruit-forward scents can appreciate the variety in Brown Girl Jane’s discovery set. From the viral marshmallow, amber, sandalwood-noted Casablanca to the Cuban cherry, lychee, peony, rose-scented Dare eau de parfum, these multi-faceted fragrances work for any season.
What’s included:
- Bahia eau de parfum: Peach, water lotus, tuberose, jasmine, gardenia, vanilla bean, musk
- Casablanca eau de parfum: Marshmallow, cardamom, incense, amber, sandalwood
- Lamu eau de parfum: Italian lemon, bergamot, sage, plumeria, coconut water, gardenia, musk, sandalwood
- Dawn eau de parfum: Raspberry blossom, bourbon vanilla, water lily, vanilla Madagascar, amber resin
- Dusk eau de parfum: Toasted almond, milk, sandalwood, vanilla orchids
- Dare eau de parfum: Cuban cherry, lychee, peony, rose, and sakura, Italian leather, amber woods
Size: 6 x 0.67 fl oz.
Customer review: “Usually when I get discovery sets, I only like 1, 2, maybe 3 of them. I kid you not, I loved every one of these scents and will be getting larger sizes! I also had several compliments from coworkers and complete strangers passing by!” —KrBr80
Parfums de Marly composes some of the most unique, decadent, and long-wearing scents on this list. And while this set includes two versions of its popular Delina fragrance, eau de parfum and exclusif eau de parfum, it also features two other hits from the brand that can quickly take you on a sensorial journey.
What’s included:
- Oriana eau de parfum: Mandarin, Italian bergamot, orange blossom flower, blackcurrant, marshmallow, chantilly cream, ambrette, musk
- Delina eau de parfum: Damascena rose, lily of the valley, peony, lychee, rhubarb, bergamot, nutmeg, vanilla, white musk, cashmeran, cedarwood, incense
- Delina Exclusif eau de parfum: Rose damascena, incense, vetiver, vanilla, musk, evernyl
- Valaya eau de parfum: Bergamot, mandarin, white peach, white flowers, musk, ambrofix
Size: 4 x 0.33 fl oz.
Customer review: “Nice-sized bottles. You only need to use a little spritz. Love the scents. I am liking them all, especially the original and the extrait. Good buy to help you figure out which one, if you choose to purchase a full-size.” —D.O.
Kayali’s Discovery mini set is ideal for the gourmand lover in your circle who refuses to settle on a signature fragrance. While each of the brand’s eau de parfum smells great on its own, the eight-piece set allows for easy customization for a range of unique blends.
What’s included:
- Vanilla | 28 eau de parfum: vanilla orchid, sweet tonka, brown sugar
- Vanilla Candy Rock Sugar | 42 eau de parfum: Candied pear, bubble gum, rock sugar.
- Yum Pistachio Gelato | 33 eau de parfum: Pistachio gelato, Italian bergamot, cotton candy.
- Eden Juicy Apple | 01 eau de parfum: Juicy red apple, wild berries, and sensual musk.
- Eden Sparkling Lychee | 39 eau de parfum: Black currant, sparkling lychee, candied violet.
- Yum Boujee Marshmallow | 81 eau de parfum: Strawberry, pink marshmallow, and whipped vanilla.
- Fleur Majesty Rose Royale | 31 eau de parfum: Juicy pear, rose royale, violet wood
- Utopia Vanilla Coco | 21 eau de parfum: Coconut, jasmine, vanilla bourbon
Size: 8 x 0.05 fl oz.
Customer review: “I am pretty new to fragrance, and I’ve been eyeing a lot of the Kayali perfumes because they seem very beginner-friendly. This set had most of the ones I really wanted to try besides wedding silk santal. I have learned that most perfumes are better when you let them sit and develop for a while after the first spritz, and I have found that to be very true with these.” —jillypal
Here’s a fragrance discovery set created with floral perfume fans in mind. Creed’s five-piece sample set contains mini vials of the brand’s top-rated Aventus For Her and Carmina eau de parfums, along with favorites like Wind Flowers, Spring Flower, and Queen of Silk.
What’s included:
- Aventus For Her eau de parfum: Green apple, bergamot, pink pepper, Lemon, Rose, lilac, ylang-ylang, blackcurrant, pineapple, peach, sandalwood, cedarwood, patchouli, musk, ambroxan
- Wind Flowers eau de parfum: Jasmine, orange blossom, peach, jasmine sambac, tuberose absolute, rose de mai, iris, orange blossom, musk, sandalwood, praline
- Spring Flower eau de parfum: Bergamot, grapefruit, green notes, lemon, apricot, jasmine, peach, white flowers, ambroxan, cedarwood, musk
- Carmina eau de parfum: Black cherry, saffron, pink pepper, rose de mai, violet, cashmere wood, peony, frankincense, myrrh, amber, musk
- Queen of Silk eau de parfum: Osmanthus, magnolia, saffron, tuberose, passion fruit, agarwood, javanese patchouli, vanilla Madagascar, incense, myrrh, ambroxan, Chinese cedarwood, musk
Size: 5 x 1.7mL
Consider using a perfume discovery set like this one from Eauso Vert to personalize your existing fragrance wardrobe. “You may find that certain profiles within a discovery set layer well together—and some may even be designed to do so—but that’s not true across all brands,” explains cofounder and CEO at Eauso Vert, Tanya G. Gonzalez. “You might also discover that your discovery set layers beautifully with something already in your collection, creating something unique and personal to you.” Eauso Vert’s discovery offering of fresh, earthy, and floral perfumes work for almost any fragrance lover and scent preference.
What’s included:
- Purple Noon eau de parfum: Fresh ginger, bergamot, coconut water, musk
- Boozy Patchouli eau de parfum: Lemon cedrat, pink pepper, upcycled rose, patchouli
- Vanilla Embers eau de parfum: Aquaflora, cardamom, upcycled turmeric root, vanilla bean
- Joga eau de parfum: Cardamom, petitgrain, green mate, turmeric leaf, vetiver
- Sintra eau de parfum: French mimosa, orris, sensual musk
Size: 5 x 2 mL
Meet the Experts
- Jeff Miller is a psychology expert and co-founder of fragrance brand Free Yourself.
- Tanya G. Gonzalez is the cofounder and CEO of Eauso Vert.
More of Our Fragrance Favorites
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For more than 150 years, Harper’s Bazaar has been the preeminent fashion and beauty resource for women at every age. We cover what’s new and what’s next in beauty by working with the world’s leading authorities in dermatology, plastic surgery, cosmetics, skincare, haircare, and fragrance. Every story we publish has been thoroughly researched and vetted by our team of beauty editors and industry experts.
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