How to Choose a Perfume Discovery Set

Perfume discovery sets vary quite a bit in what they actually offer. Some are genuine sampling tools. Others are marketing exercises with 0.5ml vials and no path to a full bottle. Here is what to look at when choosing one.

Sample size

This is the most important factor. You need enough product to wear a fragrance at least three to five times before you can make an honest judgement. A single application tells you how a scent opens, but not how it develops across the day or how it behaves on your skin in different conditions.

Look for samples of at least 1.5ml to 2ml. Anything smaller is closer to a tester strip than a wearable sample.

Fragrance concentration

Check whether the samples match the concentration of the full bottle. Some brands sample their Eau de Toilette when the full product is an Eau de Parfum, which can give a misleading impression of longevity and projection.

NAP fragrances are sold as Perfume, not Eau de Parfum. The oil concentration is higher, which means stronger projection and longer wear. The samples in the NAP Discovery Set are the same concentration as the full bottles.

Redemption value

The best discovery sets let you put the cost toward a full bottle. If there is no redemption offer, you are essentially paying twice to own a scent. Look for a straightforward credit system, ideally one where the full discovery set price comes off the full bottle with no conditions.

Range covered

A discovery set that only covers part of a brand's range limits your decision. Ideally, the set covers everything currently available so you can make a genuine comparison.

The NAP Discovery Set

The NAP Discovery Set includes all three current fragrances, Pepper Noir 31, Lovers Aoud 47, and Smoke Show 59, in 2ml samples. The full £30 is credited toward any 50ml or 100ml bottle. No codes, no conditions. You spend £30, find your scent, and that £30 comes off the full bottle.