The beauty of the best scent discovery kits is that they offer something for everyone, allowing you to experiment scents without needing to invest in a full-size bottle or commit to a new signature scent. Plus, they offer unmatched accessibility to the world of fragrance: Stocked with a range of miniatures, these sets are little treasure troves that allow you to spritz, sample, and step into a whole other vibe, if only for a few weeks. They also give you the opportunity to discover whether you’re really a fan of playful cherry perfumes, or if you’d prefer a low-key skin scent. And sure, free samples do exist—but they usually come in teeny-tiny vials that inevitably end up under your dresser, whereas these have the luxurious packaging to match a fine fragrance.
Our Top Scent Discovery Kits
- Best Overall: Ellis Brooklyn Mini Chapters Perfume Coffret Set, $59
- Best for Her: Parfums de Marly Feminine Fragrance Discovery Collection, $230
- Best for Him: Maison Francis Kurkdjian Mini Fragrance Wardrobe for Him, $60
- Best for Layering: D.S. & Durga Murder Mystery Layering Set, $275
- Best Fragrance Oils: Maison Louis Marie Perfume Oil Discovery Set, $55
- Best for Gifting: Maison Margiela Replica Memory Box Sampler Set, $39
- Best for Travel: Kayali Vacation in a Bottle Mini Perfume Set, $100
- Best Genderless: Henry Rose Eau de Parfum Discovery Sampler Set, $28
- Best Body Mists: Phlur Edible Skin Trio, $75
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why is a scent discovery kit helpful?
- How should you use a scent discovery kit?
- Meet the experts
- How we test and review products
- Our staff and testers
Of course, there’s always the possibility that you’ll discover a new favorite fragrance that’s so irresistible, that you’ll want to make it your signature scent. And when that revelatory whiff arrives, you can upgrade to a bigger bottle without fear of buyer’s remorse. All told, it’s a win-win. Ahead, shop the scent discovery kits that Allure editors have used to expand their fragrance wardrobes, mix and match for customized scents, and even find the one new scent they can’t live without.
Best Overall: Ellis Brooklyn Mini Chapters Perfume Coffret Set
Why we love it: An Allure editor favorite, Ellis Brooklyn’s sample set is stocked with miniature bottles that look like glass candy on a vanity. There’s a beachy blue bottle of Salt, which smells like gardenia floating over ocean waves, and a chartreuse bottle of Sun Fruit, the fruity floral that wraps fresh fig and pear in a cozy vanilla cocoon. Myth, inspired by clean sheets and sun-warmed skin is in a diamond-like clear bottle, while the fourth scent—the sweet and creamy Vanilla Milk—serves bourbon vanilla, cacao shell, and milk accord for olfactory dessert.
Tester feedback: There’s nothing cuter than this set, which contributing editor Deanna Pai keeps on display. “While Florist is my favorite Ellis Brooklyn fragrance, this allowed me to test out others, like Myth, and the newer Vanilla Milk—which is polarizing but to me, a perfect gourmand,” she says.
Number of scents: 4 | Size of scents: 0.25 fl oz
Best for Her: Parfums de Marly Feminine Fragrance Discovery Collection
Why we love it: With an unabashedly feminine, cottage-core aesthetic, Parfums de Marly’s pink, tasseled bottles are eye candy for any perfume collection—the question is, which scent should you invest in? The Feminine Fragrance Discovery Collection will help you sniff your way to a verdict, and—in the meantime—spend days on end smelling like a pink daydream. The kit includes rose-colored bottles of Oriana, Delin, and Delina Exclusif. While Oriana is a fruity-floral scent with notes of mandarin, orange blossom, and Chantilly cream, Delina is a vanilla-laced bouquet of roses, peony, and lily of the valley. Delina Exclusif adds incense and vetiver to the mix for a nighttime feel. The kit also includes a miniature bottle of Valaya, which is a soft, musky skin scent with notes of sweet white peach, white flowers, and amber.
Tester feedback: 2024 Allure Best of Beauty Award winner Delina is the standout from this mix. “Parfums de Marly Delina is decidedly, indubitably, unapologetically floral with its notes of damascena rose, lily of the valley, and peony,” says former associate manager of special projects Talia Gutierrez. “But that doesn’t mean this dream garden hasn't made a little room for some tangy sweetness. That balance is delivered by lychee, rhubarb, bergamot, and when you least expect it, vanilla and musk.”
Number of scents: 4 | Size of scents: 0.33 oz
Best for Him: Maison Francis Kurkdjian Mini Fragrance Wardrobe for Him
Why we love it: The eight mini fragrances in this kit offer an elegant touch of the French fragrance house’s most masculine offerings. Mind you, masculinity is not a single-note concept in this collection: The scents are dominated by notes that evoke everything from a rose garden in the South of France to a cocktail lounge where the gin fizzes flow. For example, L’homme À La Rose is a grapefruit-laced homage to the Damascena rose, while Gentle Fluidity Silver is infused with juniper berries that give off a nightcap vibe. The set also includes miniature bottles of Baccarat Rouge 540, Aqua Media Cologne Forte, Amyris Homme, APOM, and Grand Soir.
Tester feedback: Looking for a standout scent to share with your partner? "I know it's a winning fragrance when I see the bottle has migrated to my husband's (he's an honorary Allure tester) side of our dresser," said former senior beauty editor Paige Stables of the 2023 Best of Beauty winner for best citrus scent, Aqua Media Cologne Forte.
Number of scents: 8 | Size of scents: .06 fl oz
Best for Layering: D.S. & Durga Murder Mystery Layering Set
Why we love it: Like a gorgeous-smelling game of Clue, DS & Durga’s Murder Mystery helps you layer scents to concoct a customized blend that’s, well, killer. The set comes with six perfumes, and five are named after rather suspicious characters (as the game goes, one of these characters stole the heart of a perfume.) Professor Rose is delicate and fresh, melding sandalwood and rose petals, while Dr. Newman Hay, one of my favorite scents for fall, captures the smell of country air and freshly mown hay. The set also holds Pat Von Chouli—which, as you may have guessed, is dominated by patchouli—the incense-and-amber-laced Prince Amber, and the mossy and fruity Madam Currant. All the scents are designed to layer with I Don’t Know What, an Allure editor favorite that enhances any scent.
Tester feedback: We hate to play favorites, but we might have one in this set. “D.S. & Durga’s I Don't Know What Eau de Parfum is made for layering, but its delightful combination of airy, musky notes is perfect for daily wear on its own,” says Allure commerce writer Jennifer Hussein. “Its blend of fruity bergamot, creamy bergamot, and a woody duo of sandalwood and cedar is so entrancing, we can’t help but call it our top pick for a date-ready scent.”
Number of scents: 6 | Size of scents: 10 ml
Best Fragrance Oils: Maison Louis Marie Perfume Oil Discovery Set
Why we love it: Maison Louis Marie, a clean and classic Los Angeles brand, infuses its oils with natural ingredients that evoke dreamy settings. In the Maison Louis Marie Perfume Oil Discovery Set, five roll-on scents offer travel via pulse points: The No. 4 Bois de Balincourt uses notes of sandalwood, cedarwood, and nutmeg to whisk the wearer away to a fairytale forest, while No. 13 Nouvelle Vague is a whiff of Capri, laced with citrus, coconut, fig, and flowers. The kit also includes a sample of No. 09 Vallee de Farney, a woody, mineral whiff of a wild forest. Antidris is a spicy, fruit scent with notes of black pepper and cassis while the final scent, while the final scent, No. 14 Icila, is a warm floral fragrance with notes of ruby grapefruit, mandarin leaf, and vanilla flowers.
Editor’s tip: "A fragrance oil may have more base notes and fewer top notes than an eau de parfum," Givaudan perfumer Christine Hassan previously told Allure. "This makes fragrance oils less diffusive and smell more powerful."
Number of scents: 5 | Size of scents: 0.10 oz
Best for Gifting: Maison Margiela Replica Memory Box Sampler Set
Why we love it: Maison Margiela’s Replica scents bottle vivid settings that go beyond a typical beach or snowy slope. In the generously stocked Maison Margiela Replica Memory Box Sampler Set, 10 miniature scents capture a Lazy Sunday Morning, a Jazz Club, a nook By The Fireplace, or a Beach Walk—if you fancy something soapier, there’s Bubble Bath, while Under the Lemon Trees offers a sparkling burst of citrus. There are scents to match other moods beyond that, whether it’s the leaf-and-acorn-laced Autumn Vibes, the floral and romantic On a Date, or the fresh and aquatic Sailing Day. Finally, the earthy and uplifting When the Rain Stops uses aquatic accord, rose, pink pepper, and patchouli to capture the essence of rain-splattered nature under a rainbow-filled sky. Want to buy a perfume for someone, but don’t quite know their fragrance vibe? This makes a great gift set.
Tester feedback: The unisex By The Fireplace is a crowd-pleaser, even in Allure editors’ homes. “[My boyfriend] and I thrive in the fall because we're both homebodies who love creating a cozy, warm space to feel at peace,” says social media manager Bianca Richards. “Part of that process is discovering new scents that evoke those same cozy feelings when we're looking to create a home away from home. The Maison Margiela Replica By the Fireplace fragrance does just that, especially when we plan a weekend upstate for a much-needed break from the city.”
Number of scents: 10 | Size of scents: 0.6 oz
Best for Travel: Kayali Vacation in a Bottle Mini Perfume Set
Why we love it: Kayali’s best-sellers are made to be layered, and Kayali Vacation in a Bottle Mini Perfume Set contains four perfumes that can be mixed and matched to transportive effect. The tropics-colored collection includes four eau de toilettes, including Marrakesh in a Bottle Orange Blossom 24, Capri in a Bottle Lemon Sugar 14, Maui in a Bottle Sweet Banana 37, and Maldives in a Bottle Ylang Coco 20. And whichever destination you dream of, you can tote the kit along: at 10 ml a pop, the bottles are TSA-approved and ready for liftoff.
Editor’s tip: The number after each fragrance’s name indicates how many tries it took to concoct the perfect formulation.
Number of scents: 4 | Size of scents: 10 ml
Best Gender Neutral: Henry Rose Eau de Parfum Discovery Sampler Set
Why we love it: Six genderless scents form a palm-sized fragrance wardrobe in Henry Rose’s versatile Eau de Parfum Discovery Sampler Set. The layer-able scents range from Char, a smoky mix of tona bean, patchouli, and vetiver to the spicy, vanilla Torn and Flora Carnivora, which is spiked with jasmine and orange blossom. Queens and Monsters is a woody, ambery gourmand, while Windows Down is a bright mix of citrus and bergamot. Then, there’s Jake’s House, a best-seller that puts an oceanic spin on citrus, mixing fresh marine with neroli, peony, jasmine, ambroxan, and musk. The scents are also free of parabens and phthalates, as well as cruelty-free.
Editor’s tip: If you want to know what editors smell like, you’ll find your answer in this box. Queens and Monsters, Flora Carnivora, and Windows Down have all won Allure Best of Beauty Awards, and we have it on good authority that someone on staff spritzes at least one of them every day.
Number of scents: 6 | Size of scents: 0.05 oz
Best Body Mists: Phlur Edible Skin Trio
Why we love it: Phlur’s gourmand hair and body mists are so sweet that it’s hard to pick a favorite. Luckily, the Phlur Edible Skin Trio will let you sample a spritz of Vanilla Skin, Caramel Skin, and Coconut Skin before deciding which olfactory treat to stick with. The scents can be layered or worn on their own, and each one—as you might assume—smells good enough to eat.
Tester feedback: A 2024 Best of Beauty Award winner, Vanilla Skin has a fan in associate beauty editor Annie Blay. "It's sweet and light, giving gourmand warmth while maintaining a natural musk that doesn’t make it too sugary," she says.
Number of scents: 3 | Size of scents: 3 oz
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is a scent discovery kit helpful?
Fine fragrance “is all about discovery, exploration, and experimentation,” says Linda G. Levy, president of The Fragrance Foundation. “A scent discovery kit is a great guided journey through a brand’s scent story, with the wearer discovering notes and personal preferences along the way.” She adds that sampling aromas before committing to a full bottle is a smart way to stave off buyer’s remorse—plus, a scent discovery kit instantly adds several more options to a fragrance wardrobe.
How should you use a scent discovery kit?
Though it’s tempting to mix and match all the scents in a set, Levy suggests sampling each fragrance alone to start, to get a solid taste (or rather, sniff) of it. “Try one in the daytime, applied right after your morning shower on one wrist,” she says. “In the evening try another one on the other wrist.” It’s the perfect way to make the most of the collection.
Meet the Experts
- Linda G. Levy, president of The Fragrance Foundation in New York City
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that's included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
For our list of the best scent discovery kits, we considered each product's performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from a fragrance expert. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we've solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it's never been tested on curls? We're proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
These scents have passed the sniff test:
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- 24 Best Perfumes for Women, According to Allure Editors
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