Sephora has a few perfume samplers and if you are looking for a new fragrance, these are no-brainers! Curious as to how they work? Read on!
This review is for the Sephora Favorites Perfume Sampler Set!
FYI – this is still available for purchase!
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
About this Fragrance Collection
The Box: Sephora Favorites Perfume Sampler Set
The Cost: $65.00 ($111 value)
The Products: 13 perfume samples and a certificate to redeem a full-size perfume of your choice!
Shipping: Free!
Good to Know: The scent certificate can only be redeemed in-store at Sephora (not a Sephora inside JCPenney)
Sephora Favorites Perfume Sampler Set
Instead of a booklet, this collection comes with a beautifully designed heavy sheet with all the perfumes inside and some info behind the scents.
Here is what the Scent Certificate looks like. Be sure to hang onto this since it is what you will redeem your perfume with!
Atelier Cologne Clementine California Cologne Absolue, 0.07 fl oz - Certificate redeems for a 1 fl oz bottle worth $80.00
Vibe: A backyard in California with citrus trees. A table set underneath with fresh flowers and gin heavy cocktails.
This perfume opens with a burst of oranges and sweeter clementines. There is also a very, very strong juniper note that feels a little odd with the bright sunny citrus, but I enjoyed it. These elements overwhelm the base of woods for the first 30 minutes of application, then die down to something more mellow. I feel like citrus heavy perfumes can feel a little bright and sunny, and this one does too, but it is utterly complicated in a totally different way.
Burberry My Burberry Blush Eau de Parfum, 0.06 fl oz - Certificate redeems for a 1 fl oz bottle worth $74.00
Vibe: Girly girl who is very classic and put together, but doesn't take herself too seriously. She is sweet and expensive.
This scent is a little too sweet for me, but anything fruity is an uphill battle. I think the biggest miss for me here is the tart green apple opening. It is certainly fresh and very springy, especially when paired with the roses petals and juicy red fruit notes, but this was just too much for me. I did love it more when it died down and became more powdery and fresh (about 45 minutes later), but I think this is just not for me.
Chloé Eau de Parfum, 0.04 fl oz - Certificate redeems for a 1 fl oz bottle worth $79.00
Vibe: Free-spirited and elegant, but totally fun. Perfectly paired with a thrifted lace top and your favorite boyfriend jeans, and a vintage designer silk scarf.
This scent is actually just so lovely. The main note here is a fresh and utterly genuine rose, but like, a pink one, not a red one. There is also a burst of powder and clean soap that feels so fresh, like opening a window when it finally gets warm enough in the spring. I also feel like there is some sweet lily of the valley in here too. This is unlike anything I thought I would gravitate towards, but I adore it.
Clean Reserve Solar Bloom Eau de Parfum, 0.05 fl oz - Certificate redeems for a 3.4 fl oz bottle worth $98.00
I also received this scent in my recent review of the Sephora Scent the Look kit. It was actually the winner of that box and I redeemed it for a 3.4 fl oz bottle!
Vibe: Hot girl summer. Warm sunshine and woods with white flowers and a hint of tropical citrus and coconut. Smells like sun on skin.
Against all odds, I really like this scent. It opens up with sharp citrus that is quickly mellowed by a creamy - and very natural - coconut. There are loads of white flowers in the middle (my nose caught freesia and wee bit of jasmine). I think what makes this scent work for me is the base of woodiness and vetiver, along with some patchouli. On paper, the coconut notes should make this a non-starter for me, but somehow they work with the rest of the ingredients to come together and honestly smell like warm, clean summer skin. I could see this reading as super tropical to many, but my beach-related memories lean much more towards my former home in New England, and I think this perfume somehow touches on those summers too.
Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Eau de Toilette, 0.05 fl oz - Certificate redeems for a 1.6 fl oz bottle worth $82.00
Vibe: Summers spent on the coast. (Dad probably owns a boat.) Luggage packed with a different swimsuit for every day of the week and fresh, spiked lemonade.
This is a classic summertime scent for good reason: it is incredibly fresh, happy, and light. This scent has been a favorite of many since its launch in 2001 and I feel like it is such an easy scent to wear. This is not a mysterious scent. The notes of lemon peel, apples, musk, and woods are easy to love, but delightfully free and uncomplicated, just like summer vacations should be.
Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau de Toilette, 0.04 oz - Certificate redeems for a 1.7 fl fl oz bottle worth $86.00
Vibe: Sleeping in until 11 on a Sunday then tossing your hair into a messy bun for lunch in town. Your favorite oversized cardigan over an easy but chic sundress.
This is another scent that has been around for a little while but that I associate such happy feelings with. I owned a bottle of this right after the 2007 launch and wore it all the time during that spring and into summer. It was/is such an effortless scent that everyone could enjoy. When I think of the main notes I notice on this one, it is easy to see certain similarities to the scents I love so much now, mainly anything with violet leaf, iris, or a powdery lilac feeling note. Daisy mixes those notes with a soft (and not too sweet) strawberry and some citrus, but the DNA of this one feels familiar and very welcome.
Nest Black Tulip Eau de Parfum, 0.04 oz - Certificate redeems for a 1.7 fl oz bottle worth $74.00
Vibe: A little sexy but not too much. A formal event in a garden setting where the red wine is free-flowing. Almost black-tie.
This scent is ALMOST there for me. The big players here are patchouli (love), pepper, violet, and plum. The plum is where I get a little lost. I would have liked that sweet note to be a little less overpowering, especially on the dry down. I know I repeat myself, but fruit can be touchy for me, and I wish the other notes (which are some of my favorites!) had played a bigger role in this composition. Still, I do like this one, and would probably wear it, if only for that dreamy powdery violet!
Prada Candy Eau de Parfum, 0.05 oz - Certificate redeems for a 1 fl oz bottle worth $76.00
Vibe: Responsible during the week, party on the weekend. Confetti, caramel, and bass.
This is the sort of perfume that you keep catching little whiffs of and wondering "what is that?!" in a really good way. It doesn't feel like it lasts long on the skin to my nose, but my husband kept asking me what I was wearing. He is historically a sucker for a warm caramel scent, and this is at the heart of Prada Candy, with some added delights such as musk, powder, and vanilla. I would totally wear this one regularly.
Tocca Gia Eau de Parfum, 0.05 fl oz - Certificate redeems for a 1.7 fl oz bottle worth $76.00
Vibe: Classic, heady, and feminine. A room filled with red roses and marble floors. A perfume spritzed on a letter to your long-distance lover.
I really wanted to love this perfume because Tocca makes two of my favorites, Cleopatra and Florence. I am still a little confused about this one. The notes are all there to make it a winner: rose petals, citrus, pink pepper, woods, vanilla... but I am just not connecting with this one at all and I have no idea why.
Tom Ford Black Orchid Eau de Parfum, 0.05 fl oz - Certificate redeems for a 1 fl oz bottle worth $90.00
Vibe: A sexy black velvet dress that fits just right. Cake and wine for dinner. Falling into bed at 3 am with your makeup still on, but, like, it's fine.
This perfume smells as confident and sexy as I wish I felt more often. It is stunning! I am going to also say that I find this very unisex. Anyone could wear this and feel incredible. The opening is of chocolate, but lacking sweetness. The middle is an insane blend of caramel and flowers, doused in cream. All of these different notes are supported by a base of incense, patchouli, and woods. These elements merge together into one of the more longer-lasting perfumes I have tried from this sampler and one I totally adore.
Tory Burch Signature Eau de Parfum, 0.05 fl oz - Certificate redeems for a 1 fl oz bottle worth $76.00
Vibe: A little preppy, but sparkling. Optimism, sunshine.
This reminded me of Clinique Happy at first. They share very similar bright citrus notes and an overall feeling of optimism. It also reminds me of the time in my life when I owned Happy and felt very carefree. Maybe too carefree for my life now, actually? This composition does have more floral and soapy notes than Happy ever did, so it does feel a little more elevated and complex, but is still a scent that anyone could enjoy.
Versace Bright Crystal Eau de Toilette, 0.03 fl oz - Certificate redeems for a 1 fl oz bottle worth $60.00
Vibe: A very 'pink' energy. A little city-smart, but more fun than anything else. Carefree, young. A burst of pink petals and fresh water.
This is one of those scents that smells very floral but mostly aquatic. I find these sorts of things very hard to place or get a read on. Despite this being a scent that is just not for me, I don't dislike it by any means. There is likely too much sweet fruit in here for me, though the citrus aspect does help. I think this is the sort of scent I would enjoy on someone else, but I would feel very unlike myself wearing it.
Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Eau de Parfum, 0.04 fl oz - Certificate redeems for a 1 fl oz bottle worth $74.00
Vibe: Sexy chic, the CEO. She wears leather into the office and it totally works for her. Confident, self-assured, bold.
I have a friend who wears this, and she is such a badass. Every time I smell this on her it just makes sense! You can usually find her running her own very successful small business, in a crisp white shirt and some sort of edgy black pant and bootie combo. There is something powerful about this mix of vanilla, coffee (her drug of choice), wood, and patchouli. Knowing her so well, I felt a little like an imposter wearing this, but gosh I love the subtle hidden notes of almond, pears, and flowers that appear over time on my skin.
So what perfume did I choose?
Any ideas?
1 of 4
Tom Ford Black Orchid Eau de Parfum, 0.05 fl oz - Retail Value $90.00
While my collection surely could have benefited from something totally different like the Chloé scent I also loved, Black Orchid was way too intoxicating to pass up. I also find it super aspirational for me because it makes me feel more confident and a little sexy when I wear it and the long-lasting scent was another winning factor for me.
The redemption process couldn't be easier. Simply take your card into your local Sephora (it has to be an actual Sephora store!) pick out your perfume, take it to the counter and swap it. Voila! You walk out with your new scent in your cute black-and-white striped bag.
The Verdict: This set of 13 perfumes was a little overwhelming to review, but I still had a blast. I just am obsessed with perfume! The variety of scents in here is staggering too, so if you are looking to try on a little bit of everything, you can't go wrong. The redemption values in this box vary from $60-$98, so with a price tag of $65, this is a much better value if you fall in love with one of the more expensive scents, though if you happen to love the perfume with the lesser value, you still aren't too far off from the bottle price and you probably have some new favorite scents to add to your wishlist after you redeem your bottle.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you order today? Yes, as of publication, this set is still available!
Value Breakdown: This kit costs $65 with free shipping. I redeemed the card for a perfume worth $90 which means I saved $25 by buying this kit. I will take $25 off a bottle of perfume any day!
Want more Sephora goodness? Check out all of our PLAY! by Sephora reviews plus our best beauty boxes of 2020!
What do you think of the Sephora Favorites Perfume Sampler Set?
Are you currently shopping for your new signature scent? What are your top picks? My nose needs to know!
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