The Best Cologne Discovery Kits for Your Fragrance-Obsessed Loved Ones

It’s a slept-on gift idea in my view, but one of the most thoughtful and unique: cologne discovery kits. See, personal fragrance is pretty, well, personal—blind-buying a full bottle of cologne for someone is risky at best, awful at worst, and (usually) based on your taste, not theirs. A well-curated discovery set with miniature bottles or vials, however, lets your giftee explore a fragrance house they may not know, mix and match, test and wear, and eventually decide which bottle should become their next signature scent.

Plus, these sets come with chic presentation and packaging and give your recipient a lineup of scents to rotate through for different vibes well into the new year. To simplify things, we rounded up our favorite sets across Editor’s Picks, Designer & Classic, Niche Luxury, and Indie Faves. Consider this your shortcut to the good stuff. It’s thoughtful, it’s fun, and it shows them an olfactory world they might never have stepped into otherwise.

GQ’s Cologne Discovery Kits Hit List

The Cool Kids’ Pick

D.S. & DURGA The Singles Set

Read More

The Swedish Swerve

Byredo Discovery set Nomade

Read More

The Sultry Selection

Aesop Fragrance Anthology Volume I

Read More

The Classic NYC Arsenal

Le Labo DISCOVERY SET classic collection

Read More

The Niche Set

Parfums de Marly Masculine Fragrance Discovery Collection

Read More

Editor’s Picks

D.S. & DURGA

The Singles Set

Being a music and fragrance fanatic, it tracks that I really dig this D.S. & Durga discovery set. Their “Singles Set” is cleverly designed like a vinyl 45 box set you’d snag at a record store, only here it’s packed with some of the house’s most beloved fumes. It’s not the whole catalog, of course, but the playlist has zero skips: the heady Amber Kiso, the herbaceous Cowboy Grass, cult favorites I Don’t Know What and Debaser, and the rich floral Durga. Presented in custom red and metallic-silver foil for the holidays, it’s an instant hit worthy of repeat plays.

Perfumehead

The Icons Collection

If your gift recipient leans into the niche side of scent, Perfumehead’s luxe Icons Collection is as far from mass-produced fumes as it gets. Whether their taste skews amber, floral, or gourmand, there’s something here for anyone who appreciates a unique, artful fragrance—like the spicy, ambery stunner Cosmic Cowboy or the woodsy, nostalgia-soaked Canadian Tuxedo. The slip box is hip, the lettering is graphically striking, and each scent lives in its own cinematic world, making this an eclectic, immersive sampler of distinct aromas.

Horace

Fragrance Discovery Set

At this point, buzzy French grooming house Horace is just as well known for its fragrances as its skin and body care, with every launch landing on best-of lists. Most recently, Vintage Vanilla caught noses with its patina’d, liquor-laced twist, but the house has so many bangers—from the fresh Vetiver Primavera to the heady Oud Rose—that any of the four in this discovery set is will find fanfare. The bottles are already substantial for a sampler, but the real win is that when they eventually commit to a full size of their favorite, it’ll still ring in under $100.

Creed

Men’s Fragrance Gift Set

The inimitable Parisian house Creed is a foolproof gift, with its meticulously crafted scents that have served as a gateway into luxury fragrance for so many. The five-piece gift set (almost the price of a single Creed bottle) gives you substantial mini spritzers of the never-out-of-style Aventus, the lighter Aventus Cologne, the warm aromatic Millésime Impérial, plus fresh icons Silver Mountain Water and Green Irish Tweed, all tucked into a festive green-and-gold box. If you want a more accessible version, the Inspiration Set offers smaller vials (with Vetiver swapped in). Both are stellar—it just depends on whether you want a mini pack or a more “gifty” discovery set. No wrong answers here.

Amouage is easily one of my favorite luxury fragrance houses, with a roster of classics that fragrance heads debate, analyze, and obsess over endlessly. Their scents are famously intricate and investment-worthy, which is why this discovery set is such a win: It lets them experience some of the most layered, intoxicating compositions before splurging on a full bottle. You get icons like Reflection, a floral musk that’s become a new special-occasion standard, and Purpose, one of the most beloved warm woodsy colognes ever. Fair warning: Whichever they fall for will be an aroma you end up admiring, too.

The Maker

Discovery Set Bundle

It’s no secret how much I adore the fragrance line from the chic hotel–meets–fragrance studio The Maker, and my affinity for the palo santo–frankincense–leather magic of Stag is forever. It’s one of the best winter scents, full stop. Pair that with the amber warmth of Fire and the citrus brightness of Libertine, and you’ve already got a well-rounded trio. But this set goes deeper, offering sample bottles of all seven fragrances in the lineup, including the newer tropical Revel and the vanilla-gourmand Dream.

Heritage Brands & Designer Fragrances

Tom Ford

Private Blend Mini Eau de Parfum Discovery Set

If your gift recipient somehow still hasn’t experienced the woodsy, velvety masterpiece that is Oud Wood, or the spicy, warm, tobacco-sweetness of Tobacco Vanille, that should change. These are stone-cold classics that helped make oud and tobacco palatable to the masses, full stop. Tom Ford deserves a spot in any solid rotation, and this Private Blend sampler (with more meticulous ingredients and intricately constructed pyramids) is the perfect primer into the world of TF, featuring five of the house’s most iconic compositions.

Jo Malone London

Cologne Collection

Besides the festive diamond-patterned box, it’s what’s inside that really counts: five mini colognes that all share Jo Malone London’s famously fresh DNA and signature two-note naming style. This is a perfect pick for the fresh, light-cologne fan in your life, and the inclusion of Wood Sage & Sea Salt (my all-time sea-faring fave) and Blackberry & Bay (sweet, herbaceous) alone makes it under-the-tree worthy. Pro tip: these are subtle colognes, so feel free to mix and layer them to create your own aromatic vibe.

Penhaligons

GENTLEMEN’S FRAG COLLECTION

Penhaligon’s blends eccentric British style, craftsmanship, and a touch of luxury whimsy in everything they create (just admire those unique, animal-headed bottle toppers). The presentation of this miniature Frag Collection from the scented stalwart alone sells it: gorgeous mini flacons with rope detailing that make for a flaunt-worthy intro to the house or a welcome refresher. Inside, you get five renowned scents, including the warm-spicy masterpiece Halfeti, the citrus-aromatic classic Blenheim Bouquet, and the crisp, liquor-laced Juniper Sling.

Loewe

Masculine Sample Box

Loewe has so many aromatic bangers, and this sampler box makes it easy to explore some key known scents from the renowned Spanish luxury house. Loewe 001 Man EDP is fresh and musky with woody tones; Solo leans warm and citrusy herbal; Esencia EDP brings a green woodiness; and 7 Cobalt has a spicy, smoky edge. A few even come in multiple concentrations so they can test-drive the intensity. Bonus: If you buy a full-size bottle after the sampler, you’ll get 10% off your new signature Loewe scent.

Acqua di Parma

Selection 10-Piece Fragrance Discovery Set

Acqua di Parma’s Colonia is an OG cologne—a classic scent from 1916 that remains a reference for the aromatic-fresh category. This 10-piece set includes the original Colonia plus nine other citrus-forward stunners, from the mandarin-bright Arancia di Capri to a crisp interpretation of oud, all with that signature ADP old-world charm and iconic yellow packaging. Consider it an olfactory ticket to the Mediterranean, with heritage to boot.

Niche Luxury Fragrances

Maison Francis Kurkdjian

Fragrance Wardrobe Discovery Collection for Him

Maison Francis Kurkdjian has so many icons under its belt that narrowing down a signature scent from this luxury Parisian stalwart can be trying. Here, you get very handsome mini sprays of eight heavy hitters—including Grand Soir (which we just crowned Best Amber), one of the best aquatics ever, Aqua Universalis, and the hip, socialite-standard Baccarat Rouge 540. If they don’t already have MFK in their arsenal, this set is guaranteed to change that.

Frederic Malle

ESSENTIAL COLLECTION FOR MEN

Frédéric Malle has so many era-defining fragrances that it’s easy to lose track, but this discovery set will happily jog your memory. It includes one of the best vetivers ever (Vetiver Extraordinaire), one of the greatest warm-spicy musks (Musc Ravageur), and one of the sharpest citrus-green aromatics out there (Cologne Bigarade), plus two other top-shelf picks. The only omission, IMO, is Monsieur (easily the gold-standard patchouli), but patchouli isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. This “luxury essentials” edit in 7ml minis, however, absolutely is.

Les Eaux Primordiales

Les Eaux Primordiales Discovery Set

Les Eaux Primordiales is a very insider-y French house with an elevated, apothecary-meets-atelier vibe. All design is produced in-house, and its scents fall into three distinct sub-lines: Superclassique, the foundation; Supercritique, for floral artistry; and Superfluide, the bold, experimental arm. This mini sampler is a greatest-hits introduction to the ambers, florals, and spices across those pillars, with a presentation that’s as gorgeous as you’d expect from such a design-savvy house. And the magnetic clasp is an especially thoughtful touch.

Memo Paris

Journey book with 7 samples

Memo Paris’s whole M.O. is rooted in travel and geographic inspiration. The house loves leather so much that they’ve built an entire line around the accord, each tied to a different country—and this sample pack hits three of the greats: the sweet fougère Irish Leather, the spicy-floral African Leather, and the citrus–rose–suede French Leather. Rounding out the collection are three more house classics, all tucked into a hard-cover box with a map-and-journal feel. It’s a very gift-worthy pick for the scholarly, wanderlust-driven fragrance fan in your life.

Parfums de Marly

Masculine Fragrance Discovery Collection

Parfums de Marly radiates sophistication with layered, refined aromas ranging from fresh fougères to gourmand ouds. I love not only the scent selection in this collection but also the color-coding and the celestial graphic on the box. It includes my all-time favorite oud-woods masterpiece, Haltane; the bright citrus Perseus; the gourmand-vanilla Althaïr; the fougère-fresh Castley; and the amber-floral Layton. The presentation is display-worthy, but if you’re looking for something more accessible, the house also offers a more miniature tester vial set.

Elevated Indie Brands

Aesop

Fragrance Anthology Volume I

Aesop’s fragrances are every bit as elevated as their grooming line, all carrying that distinct botanical undercurrent. The Fragrance Anthology set (great name, excellent packaging) spans some of their classics across the woody-to-fresh spectrum, from the heady incense of Marrakech Intense to the spicy citrus-aromatic Tacit to the verdant crispness of Hwyl. They’re all so universally appealing that anything they don’t love, you can easily “borrow” for yourself.

Le Labo

DISCOVERY SET classic collection

In Le Labo’s Classic Collection, each mini bottle features the brand’s iconic label and typeface, is a bit larger than your typical sample spritzer, and brings all the hits. Yes, Santal 33 is in the mix, but so are Noir 29 (smoky-tea masterpiece), Thé Matcha (the hipster-fresh standard), and Another 13 (a musky-ambery compliment magnet). There’s also a mega large version that includes pretty much every scent they make—perfect for the Le Labo diehard or anyone who loves smelling smells. But for most folks, the Discovery Set is the sweet spot.

The only pick on this list that isn’t a traditional discovery set, Arquiste just dropped their mini “Chiquitos” 30ml versions—and they’re so darn giftable and discovery-coded that they deserve a shout-out. You can choose from several of the house’s renowned fragrances, each with a friendlier price tag and easier portability. I dig the cashmere-amber warmth of Misfit, the incense-and-leather elegance of Naban, and the musky headiness of Peau, but the fun is grabbing two or three and letting your recipient decide which one they fall for.

Byredo

Discovery set Nomade

The house that helped usher in the modern niche movement is always a home-run gift, and with so many stellar aromas in its artisanal canon, choosing just one depends on season, taste, and vibe. Packaged in a stocking-stuffer-friendly size, this mini coffret offers six of their iconic scents—including two of my favorites, the lemony-incense Gypsy Water and the woody-aromatic Bal d’Afrique—all carrying that unmistakable skin-scent vibe is so uniquely Byredo.

Aedes de Venustas

Discovery Set

NYC perfumery Aedes de Venustas’ in-house line is for the fragrance connoisseurs. The set comes in their handsome green packaging and includes testers of all 13 of their signatures, spanning luminous florals to smoky resins, for a whole lot of discovery. Encens Japonais is one of the best incense fragrances ever, while Copal Azur is an ambery aquatic that’s leagues more inspired than most. Mix, match, and test away into a finer olfactory universe that’ll feel theirs (or yours) uniquely.

What to Look for in the Best Fragrance Discovery Sets

First, think about what kind of fragrance wearer they are and where their tastes naturally lean. Are they more niche, indie, classic, luxe? Every house above has a personality, and where someone might vibe with old-world luxury, another may prefer something more artisanal. While a discovery lets you explore the range of fragrance families a house offers, most also have a signature undercurrent—citrus for Acqua di Parma, incense for Trudon, earthiness for Le Labo, etc.—so having a sense of what the recipient gravitates toward can help you narrow it down.

From there, consider format. Some sets skew “stocking stuffer” with tiny testers; others have more substantial vials or mini bottles that’ll last longer. Decide whether you want a chic sleeve or a more elevated coffret (a decorative box of minis). Bonus: Some brands offer a discount on a full bottle after you buy the sampler. Either way, ’tis the season for gifting, and any set above is a stellar pick that’ll have them (or you) smelling fantastic while discovering theirs (or your) next signature scent.