Perfume Discovery Sets

[HolidayHattie]

Yet another "I'm looking for my new signature scent" thread, I'm afraid. I love perfumes but I struggle to distinguish different notes and can't describe them. A lot of the perfume threads on here are like a foreign language to me.

If anyone can help / recommend something, Flower by Kenzo has been my everyday scent for years, but I feel I've outgrown it and would like something a bit more sophisticated. I liked Encens Lumière by Kenzo when I tried a tester but, when I got it home, it doesn't seem as nice, but I find it hard to say why. I also have Givenchy Ange ou Demon Le Secret as a summer scent, (nice enough but don't love it,) and Ministry of Oud: Greatest for winter. Love, love, love this latter one but it's too heavy for year round wear. Recently got Vinegia 21 by Merchant of Venice and I do like this.

When i was younger i liked Rive Gauche, Sun Moon Stars, Chloe. Hated L'Eau d'Issey - it smells really astringent and unpleasant on my skin.

I live rurally so dont have access to stores with good ranges so I thought I would try some Discovery Sets. I've seen Floral Street recommended on here. What a disappointment! Only liked two of the 12 and not enoughto buy them. The rest smelled cheap and very unsophisticated and faded extremely quickly. They must have promoters posting on Mumsnet because I can't believe anyone impartial would ever recommend them.

I've just got a Saltworks set and it's too early to be sure but they seem much better.

Can anyone recommend either something I might like, or other discovery sets to try, e.g. Jo Malone perhaps? I'm happy to pay top dollar for the right scent but don't want to commit without trying.

Eden perfumes do dupes and you can order a sample sets of 5 for £39. If you search for the scents you normally like or a particular note it'll recommend you some options.

I’ve used Perfume Society and found some gorgeous fragrances (a few of which turned out to be hideously expensive!) through their discovery sets.

https://perfumesociety.org/product-category/discovery-boxes/

I was given a Byredo set and love them all!

Thanks for the suggestion. I struggle to know what particular notes I like so I wouldn't know which to order.

Thank you. I will definitely check these out. I don't really want something hideously expensive but I would pay for the perfect fragrance.

If you type in Kenzo or any other perfume it will give you suggestions.

Check Fragrantica for perfume suggestions. It's a perfume review site where people submit reviews. If you put in the perfume you already use and like, you'll find other perfumes that people also liked. It's worth taking some time to think about what scents you like. My next perfume will be rhubarb based do I'm looking for perfumes with that note.

The world is your oyster as regards perfume samples. Online shopping has opened up a world of possibilities. Jo Malone is notorious for not lasting on skin. Most of the perfumes are eau de toilette, one of the weakest strengths.

Zara to good dupes of expensive perfumes.

Good to know. I'm sure I've read that Byredo aren't very long-lasting and fade quickly. Have you found that?

Byredo are pretty good. I got a Phlur set recently and it's very hard to smell the scents, although I do like subtle. Also there's an issue with their spray mechanism.

I've also had some M&S ones and they are pretty decent but Maison Martin Margiela were my favourite.

I have looked at Fragrantica but based on that, I thought I would like some specific ones of the Floral Street set, but I don't.

Thanks for the Jo Malone warning. I didn't know that.

Forgot to mention that I have got Zara Ebony Wood and quite like that.

Thanks. Never heard of Phlur.

Where do you get MMM? I like the sound of By The Fireplace- is that theirs?

It is! Try Space NK or Look Fantastic.

Why not have a look at Bloom Perfumery:

https://bloomperfume.co.uk/

They offer various sample subscriptions or you can buy individual samples. And there’s masses of advice and information on the site too - including a questionnaire that will help you identify perfumes you might like. They don’t do ‘dupes’ as far as I’m aware - but they have a fairly wide range of prices.

I'd like to try a Penhaligons set.
discovery | Penhaligon's

If you want to try different brands, there are a few different fragrance beauty boxes available from Cult Beauty, Space NK, Look Fantastic at the moment: beautyadventcalendar.net

The maison francis kurkdjian discovery set is really good. There's a small one of 2mls, but if you can afford it, swerve that and go for the one with 8x 11mls. £205 but you get a decent amount of top quality juice for that.

https://www.selfridges.com/GB/en/product/maison-francis-kurkdjian-discovery-collection-for-her-eau-de-parfum-set-8-x-11ml_R04451208/

Not the poster the question was directed to but I find most byredo fade quickly. Lovely scents but not made to last unfortunately

I got the Saltworks discovery set last week and I’m so disappointed in it. From the descriptions, I really thought that I’d love at least three of them, and they’re all utterly horrible, except for one which is bearable - but I’m looking for something significantly nicer than ‘bearable’.

Wish I hadn’t fallen for the social media hype.

That's really interesting because that's how I feel about the Floral Street set. I've only tried two of the Saltworks so far. I like one and the other isn't right for me, but I like it blended with the first. Scent is so individual, isn't it?

Well, having now tried more of the Saltworks set, it seems that the first two I tried were the best (for me) and most of the others are just meh. Inoffensive and innocuous, but that's not what I'm looking for. I still have a few more to go then I'll be trying some of the things recommended by PPs.

On byredo FYI there are a few that last ages- they are the more typically woody/oud ones which you might like.

Agree with some on the CB sample sets - they look like excellent value for money.

MMM does a sample set which I’ve given as a well received present. On my list is Diptyque and Serge Lutyens for no particular reason.

tkmaxx often get randoms in - quite nice to test but sometimes end of line.

Saltworks have at least 2 Discovery sets to try.

I have Byredo Young Rose. The staying power is really poor, as is the scent throw. I wouldn't rebuy. It also doesn't smell like rose, but that's another matter entirely.

I love Delina and Delina Exclusif from Parfums de Marly. Delina is yummy fruity and Exclusif is similar more powdery and evening leaning (but I wear it to work). I've smelt most of their perfumes, but Delina is the only one I'd pay that price for. They do sell sample sets and I think you get extra samples with your order.

I like a lot of what you like and I think you may like By the Fireplace. However, for me it's quite a wintry scent as it is warm and clove-y. Have you tried any Diptique?