Everyone knows Sephora is a beauty store where you can find almost anything and everything related to makeup, skincare, body care, hair care, and self-care, but did you know they also frequently release curated limited edition sets? They recently released a curated perfume set that comes with seven deluxe perfume samples and a voucher to redeem for a full-size bottle in your favorite scent. The Sephora Favorites: Deluxe Perfume Sampler Set is available for $75 and promises a value of $130.
FYI – this kit is still available for purchase (while stock lasts)!
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. Check out our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we review boxes.
First Impressions
1 of 5
This set comes packaged in a light pink box adorned with florals and clear windows to allow you to see the small and adorable bottles of perfume. When you open the box you'll find the perfumes safely packed in plastic, along with a scent booklet that gives more information about each fragrance in the kit and the scent voucher you use (both online or in-person) to redeem for your full-size favorite.
The Breakdown – What’s Inside This Limited Edition Box From Sephora
Chloé Chloé Naturelle Eau de Parfum, 5 mL - Estimated Value $13.17
Certificate redeems for the 1 oz Eau de Parfum Spray that retails for $79
Even though the listed scent notes between the perfumes by Chloé and Clean Reserve are pretty different, I found both of them to be similar once they were sprayed onto my skin. Chloé Naturelle is comprised of ingredients made from 100% natural origins, and the fragrance is a blend of organic rose, Moroccan neroli, citrus, mimosa, and blackcurrant. It's a very clean-smelling fragrance in a woody base thanks to the cedar essence, and overall it smells incredibly fresh. If I was the type to apply perfume before climbing into a bed made with clean sheets, this is the perfume I would reach for. Whereas Clean Reserve smells more like what my skin naturally is, Chloé Naturelle is more what I want my clean skin to smell like, if that makes any sense at all. Either way, I enjoyed it, and love the clean lines of the glass bottle packaging.
Clean Reserve Reserve – Skin Eau de Parfum, 3 mL - Estimated Value $2.94
Certificate redeems for the 3.4 oz Eau de Parfum Spray that retails for $98
I tend to like the Clean Reserve fragrances, and I appreciate that when they're featured in these perfume sampler sets the size you get to redeem for is a large bottle. This perfume is aptly named- it smells very skin-like thanks to the blend of Madagascar vanilla and soft musk, and it's enhanced by the soft woodiness from the copaiba oil and the kiss of sweetness from the salted praline notes. The overall effect is warm and slightly sweet, but not very noticeable- it's a sheer scent that's great if you're not looking for your fragrance to turn heads or if you're wanting to layer fragrances. The large full-size bottle would lend itself very well to being layered with the other perfumes in my collection, so I've been giving it some serious thought on if I want to redeem my scent voucher for this fragrance.
Gucci Flora Gorgeous Gardenia Eau de Parfum, 5 mL - Estimated Value $13.67
Certificate redeems for the 1 oz Eau de Parfum Spray that retails for $82
I wasn't the craziest fan of Gucci Bloom, but I was really hoping I would enjoy this perfume because the bottle is just so pretty. Flora Gorgeous Gardenia is a fruity floral perfume blended with jasmine absolute, pear blossom, and brown sugar. My nose definitely mistook the brown sugar for the vanilla, and at first sniff this wasn't an aggressively floral perfume. Once it settled into my skin the floral notes opened up into a really lovely fragrance with a hint of sweetness, but not so much it crosses over into gourmand territory. I didn't realize it until I sat down to write this review, but Miley Cyrus was actually the inspiration for this perfume. When discussing this perfume, Alessandro Michele, the creative director for Gucci, said "who says that someone with a rock ’n’ roll attitude can’t live in a world of flowers and embody the Flora universe?"
NEST New York Golden Nectar Eau de Parfum, 5 mL - Estimated Value $11.70
Certificate redeems for the 1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray that retails for $78
This is a brand new launch from NEST New York, so I applaud Sephora for including Golden Nectar in their sampler set. This is a warm floral fragrance with notes of golden orchid, amber, and musk, and I can really pick up on the warm notes but this doesn't smell woodsy or gourmand. There is vanilla in this that makes this smell a bit comforting, but not so much that it's a sweet perfume- it's well blended with the musk, amber, and florals. This is a very well-done perfume, but it didn't feel very "me."
Versace Dylan Turquoise Eau de Toilette, 5 mL - Estimated Value $8.40
Certificate redeems for the 1.7 oz Eau de Toilette Spray that retails for $84
If I didn't already own this perfume, this probably would have been the fragrance I redeemed my scent voucher for. It's a fresh floral scent made of zesty mandarin and lemon paired with hints of wood and musk, and it has notes of blackcurrant, guava, jasmine, and freesia. I find it to be a refreshing take on a floral perfume that still smells really elegant, and I love the blue and gold packaging of the bottle.
Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Eau de Parfum, 3 mL - Estimated Value $7.80
Certificate redeems for the 1 oz Eau de Parfum Spray that retails for $78
This is a highly recommended perfume. A lot of the people I interact with on Instagram said this was a ~sexy~ perfume, and I believe that's definitely the vibe that YSL was going for, but honestly, I don't get it. Allegedly this has scent notes of black coffee, vanilla, and white flowers, but I don't really pick up any coffee notes- both me and my boyfriend agreed that this was a floral-forward fragrance (the exact words he used were "sweet flowers"). This definitely has a spice to it, but I don't know if that translates to sexy. After a while, the floral notes fade away to pleasant vanilla, but overall this wasn't the perfume for me.
Bonus: Atelier Cologne Bohemian Orange Blossom, 4 mL
I don't think the folks at Sephora who curated this set knew that Atelier Cologne would pull out of US retailers, which is why this mini vial is listed as a bonus rather than as a perfume you can redeem your scent voucher for (I can't find Atelier Cologne for sale in any US retailer now, let alone this new launch). I won't say no to extra perfume, but I loved the refreshing citrus notes of this perfume, so if it were possible to obtain the full size of this through my scent certificate, it would be a strong contender.
Value – Was This Box Worth It?
The Cost: $75
Cost Breakdown: This kit costs $75 + free shipping, and I received $57.68 worth of perfume samples (not including the Atelier Cologne sample) and a voucher to redeem for a bottle of full-size perfume of my choice that ranges in price from $78-$98. No matter what, you save at least $3 off the perfume you choose, and that doesn't include the value of the mini perfume samples this set comes with.
Sephora promised a value of $130 for this set, and by my math, the lowest possible value for this set is $135.68, and the highest is $155.68. If you grab this set during the Spring VIB sale, you'll save even more!
Keep track of your subscriptions by adding this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
Key Takeaways
It's no secret that I am a fan of Sephora Favorite Sets, but that doesn't mean I give Sephora a free pass to slap their name on a box of random perfumes and call it a successful curation. Luckily, I actually think Sephora did a really nice job with this set. I would be happy if Black Opium never appeared in a Sephora Favorites set again, but five of the remaining six perfumes were new to me fragrances I had never smelled (it was only a fluke I already owned Dylan Turquoise- that was a surprise gift from a friend), and the NEST New York perfume was a new release (so is the Atelier Cologne, but I don't know if bonus perfumes count). These sets are a great way to get a new perfume at a discount, and you get an even better deal if you buy these sets when Sephora has their twice a year VIB sale going that allows Beauty Insiders to save 10, 15, or even 20% (for more on their Beauty Insider program, check out this piece I wrote here). There is no denying that mini perfume bottles are a lot cuter than just sample vials, so it sparked a lot of joy for me to be able to add them to my vanity. I'm still torn on if I want to redeem my certificate for the Chloé, Clean Reserve, or Gucci fragrance- I think I like the Chloe fragrance more than the Gucci one, but looking at the Gucci packaging just makes my heart happy. Which one would you choose?
Other Things You Should Know
Can you still get this box if you order today? Yes, this set is still available for purchase while stocks last!
Can the voucher be redeemed online? Yes! Sephora recently changed its voucher program to allow for in-store or online redemption. You can't redeem this at a Sephora inside JCPenney store, Kohl’s store, or Sephora Canada store, so the ability to redeem online is a great option for people who don't have a local Sephora but still want to take advantage of it (and when you do you get to add your two free samples to your order, even if you're not buying anything else).
Is it hard to redeem the voucher? No, but sometimes you have to enter the code a few times when there are letters that could be mistaken for numbers and vice versa. Your voucher has two barcodes at the bottom- you want to use the "certificate promo barcode" number and enter it in the space to enter coupons. Also, if you're not sure if a character is an uppercase 'i" or lowercase "L" or the number 1, in my experience it's usually the number 1.
Is shipping free? Shipping is free on all orders over $50 and costs $6.50 for orders under $50 (though since the pandemic started you can usually find a free shipping coupon for smaller orders that will stack with other coupon codes)
What do you think of the Sephora Favorites: Deluxe Perfume Sampler Set? What bottle of perfume would you like to add to your vanity? Which bottle has the prettiest full-size packaging?
Please do not enter your email address in the Name field or in the comment content. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *. Remember to post with kindness and respect. Comments with offensive language, cruelness to others, etc will not be approved. See our full comment policy here.