Phlur Discovery Set – Sampler Review

I’m finally getting around to reviewing the super buzzy house of Phlur today! There’s been a lot of hype about this house on social media so I’ve been wanting to check it out for quite some time. I’ll be reviewing all of the fragrances from the Phlur Discovery Set. Most of the perfumes in this set are quite spring-appropriate so now seems like a great time to talk about this house.

Phlur originally launched in 2015 and focused on being a transparent, clean brand that shared its ingredient lists. It was acquired by new owner Ben Bennett and his company, The Center, in January 2021. The company also invests in other beauty-focused companies, such as MAKE Beauty, Naturium, and Saltair. Phlur is now marketed as a young, modern, sustainable fragrance house that showcases influencer Chriselle Lim as the face of the company.

Discovery Set

Newer versions of the discovery set (linked below) also contain a sample of the citrusy Tangerine Boy. The larger deluxe set available at Phlur (also linked below) contains 2 more fragrances on top of that: Sandara (featuring peppery violets) and Hanami (featuring woodsy fig). Some fragrances are also available in body wash, body lotion and/or hand cream and I’ve linked to those when available.

Find it here:

Phlur Discovery Set – 8 fragrances (at Anthropologie)

Phlur Discovery Set – 8 fragrances (at Phlur’s Amazon store)

Phlur Deluxe Discovery Set – 10 fragrances (at Phlur)

Améline

• Top Notes: Italian bergamot
• Middle Notes: rose, pink pepper
• Base Notes: patchouli, sandalwood
• Other Note Perceived: ambroxan

I really enjoy this pleasant rosy fragrance. It opens with LOTS of pink pepper (which I love) and a decent amount of rose. I also sense a bit of an ambery/clean musky/ambroxany vibe, though none of those are listed notes. There’s a lightly powdery touch as it dries down a bit. I get a woodsy impression but it’s not specifically sandalwood to me. I believe that the patchouli is there but it is not screaming ‘earthy patch’ to me, it just gives the fragrance some depth. It’s really all about the rose and pink pepper for the most part and if you enjoy fragrances that focus on that combo, this should be a great match for you.

Projection starts light but picks up steam as it dries down to become lightly moderate. I get a good 4-5 hours wear before feeling inclined to reapply. I compared and contrasted it with a few other similar fragrances and I think if you like those fragrances, you will most likely enjoy Améline as well. I first compared it with Chloé EDP and Chloé was more ‘soapy’ in feel with the magnolia really standing out for me. Améline was, of course, more peppery and seemed slightly fresher, almost like there could be some light aldehydes in the background. Chloé has much more projection out of the two and is longer-lasting. Améline is the sweeter fragrance of the two but it’s not super sweet or anything, it’s just that Chloé has zero sweetness. They are definitely different enough that it would be worth owning both if you like this genre of pretty, modern rose fragrances.

I also compared Améline to three other fragrances that I love: Floral Street Wonderland Peony, Bastide Rose Olivier, and Tocca Gia. Wonderland Peony is much sweeter, as to be expected (it has a cotton candy note) but there are some light similarities, including the prominent pink pepper note. Rose Olivier is definitely in a similar family with Améline but it’s much more rosy and I don’t get the pepper or really any deeper base notes. Gia is definitely more about the sweet citrus, as I expected, but surprisingly, might be the most similar of the bunch to Améline. They’re not outright dupes of each other or anything but they do share the pink pepper, rose, and sandalwood notes. Améline is muskier than Gia but it’s a ‘your skin but better’ type of clean musk impression. Again, I’m really getting that skin scent/slightly salty ambroxan vibe with Améline. Out of all of these, Wonderland Peony definitely projects the most, the rest are lighter skin scents.

In conclusion, Améline is an enjoyable modern rose fragrance and I think it’s a must-try for anyone who enjoys the rose/pink pepper combo.

Find it here:

Améline 9.5ml travel-spray (at Phlur’s Amazon store)

Améline 50ml (at Phlur’s Amazon store)

Améline hand cream 2.1oz (at Phlur)

Apricot Privée

• Top Notes: apricot, plum, cardamom
• Middle Notes: jasmine absolute, peony
• Base Notes: agarwood (oud), tonka beans, sandalwood, labdanum

I had heard this was a strong oud-apricot combo and I can confirm that apricot and oud are exactly what you get here, with the apricot as the definitive star of the show. The oud and other combined notes give it a leathery vibe. It’s a bit like osmanthus on steroids, lol As it dries down, it gets a little sweeter. Interestingly, it’s a bit sweeter and more jam-like when I sniff my arm close-up but I get stronger oudy vibes from arm’s length. I have seen this fragrance described as ‘juicy’ and I can agree with that.

I would call this a ‘guy-friendly’ fruity scent but it’s definitely unisex. Oud just gives most all fragrances a masculine lean, in my opinion. I would caution to start off easy on the sprays with this one, the projection is STRONG and it’s a long-lasting fragrance. I have heard this is a quite good alternative to Tom Ford’s Bitter Peach so if you’re looking for a more affordable option in the woodsy stone fruit genre, this should be a good one to try. And apricot lovers that are ok with oud should definitely try this!

Find it here:

Apricot Privée 9.5ml travel-spray (at Anthropologie)

Apricot Privée 9.5ml travel-spray (at Phlur’s Amazon store)

Apricot Privée 50ml (at Anthropologie)

Apricot Privée 50ml (at Phlur’s Amazon store)

Apricot Privée body lotion 16oz (at Phlur)

Apricot Privée body wash 16oz (at Phlur)

Lost Cause

• Top Notes: Italian bergamot, cassis leaves, crisp apple, rhubarb
• Middle Notes: fresh freesia, jasmine, dewy muguet (lily of the valley)
• Base Notes: maté absolute, orris concrete, vanilla orchid, ‘modern ambergris molecules’

Lost Cause gives me lotiony citrus vibes at first spray. It’s overall very clean, very fresh. Definitely quite green and there’s a hint of tartness from the rhubarb. Quite herbal/aromatic, too. It basically smells like an herb garden, or perhaps a bit like a florists’ shop. There’s a peppery-lemon impression, similar to edible nasturtiums on a salad. It’s also a touch salty, perhaps from the ambergris.

This non-sweet fragrance is on the lighter side and very safe for the office and close quarters. I get about 5 hours wear before wanting to reapply. This is a pretty unique fragrance and, for me, wasn’t really all that similar to anything else I have seen it compared to. Some think it is similar to Byredo Gypsy Water and other fragrances like it, including Tocca Colette and By/ Rosie Jane Lake but it really wasn’t like any of those to me. Though definitely unisex, it actually reminded me a touch of the classic Liz Claiborne for Men, which my husband used to wear. It has very similar woodsy/citrus/aromatic vibes. I think this will be a great choice if you’re looking for a non-sweet, green, citrusy herbal scent that reminds you of a fresh herb garden on a spring morning.

Find it here:

Lost Cause 9.5ml travel-spray (at Anthropologie)

Lost Cause 9.5ml travel-spray (at Phlur’s Amazon store)

Lost Cause 50ml (at Anthropologie)

Lost Cause 50ml (at Phlur’s Amazon store)

Lost Cause hand cream 2.1oz (at Phlur)

Lost Cause body lotion 16oz (at Phlur)

Lost Cause body wash 16oz (at Phlur)

Missing Person

• Top Notes: skin musk, bergamot nectar, sheer jasmine
• Middle Notes: fresh cyclamen, neroli blossom, orange flower (orange blossom)
• Base Notes: sandalwood Australia oil, blonde wood, white musk

I feel that this fragrance has been especially hyped so I was quite looking forward to trying it. It is touted as being in a similar family with Juliette Has a Gun’s popular best seller, Not a Perfume, and other minimalistic fragrances such as Escentric Molecules Molecule 01. I immediately get a clean, woodsy impression. There’s definitely a clean, musky vibe and a very light hint of citrus. It reminds me a lot of freshly-carved wood or pencil shavings. It’s pleasant and easy to wear, if not terribly exciting or groundbreaking.

This unisex (with an ever-so-slightly masculine lean) fragrance starts out with zero projection but picks up a little steam as it dries down and I get a nice, gentle, woodsy scent bubble around me. It lasts pretty well on my skin, I get over 5 hours wear. This is more in a family with woodsy fragrances such as Paper and Book by Commodity vs. Not a Perfume, in my opinion. I think if you enjoy the clean, woodsy vibes of Book, Paper, Le Labo Santal 33 and Diptyque Tam Dao, this will be right in your wheelhouse.

Find it here:

Missing Person 9.5ml travel-spray (at Anthropologie)

Missing Person 9.5ml travel-spray (at Phlur’s Amazon store)

Missing Person 50ml (at Anthropologie)

Missing Person 50ml (at Phlur’s Amazon store)

Missing Person hand cream 2.1oz (at Phlur)

Missing Person body lotion 19oz (at Anthropologie)

Missing Person body wash 20.4oz (at Anthropologie)

Missing Person body wash 20.4oz (at Phlur’s Amazon store)

Not Your Baby

• Top Notes: cardamom, bergamot
• Middle Notes: mimosa, violet
• Base Notes: vanilla milk, sandalwood, tonka beans

The first impression I get is of violets and that is immediately followed by the lactonic vanilla milk note. I also get lots of tonka. It smells prettier to me from arm’s length, I get lots of sweet violets. But up close, I get the milkiness and a slight muskiness that reminds me of ambrette seeds/musk mallow. It’s a bit dusty from the mimosa and violet. I wish the lactonic/vaguely savory milky vibe wasn’t here, I’m not the biggest fan of milk as a note and it kind of ruins an otherwise gorgeous scent for me, personally. I will say there is something cozy and comforting here, sort of like oatmeal with a tiny bit of spice sprinkled on the top. I get kind of a powdered milk-like vibe the longer it dries down.

Projection is lightly moderate, I get an occasional whiff here and there as I’m typing. This fragrance wasn’t quite as long-lasting for me as the others, I felt like it needed to be refreshed after about 3 hours. If you like sweet, musky, and powdery fragrances such as the Prada Candy flanker Sugar Pop and are ok with the lactonic note, this could really work for you. I would also recommend this fragrance to folks who enjoy sweet, lactonic fragrances such as Zadig & Voltaire This is Her! or Commodity Milk.

Find it here:

Not Your Baby 9.5ml travel-spray (at Anthropologie)

Not Your Baby 9.5ml travel-spray (at Phlur’s Amazon store)

Not Your Baby 50ml (at Anthropologie)

Not Your Baby 50ml (at Phlur’s Amazon store)

Not Your Baby body lotion 16oz (at Phlur)

Not Your Baby body wash 16oz (at Phlur)

Phloria

• Top Notes: bergamot, lemon, wet greens, cyclamen
• Middle Notes: ylang essential oil, golden gardenia, jasmine sambac absolute, tuberose
• Base Notes: vanilla, skin musk, sandalwood, ambrox, cedarwood
• Other Notes Perceived: coconut, solar notes

This fragrance features a really beautiful, sweet, tropical, beachy gardenia. This is really pretty and definitely safe for a gardenia lover, especially one who also enjoys beachy fragrances. I love the sweet solar note used here, it smells so warm and cozy. Though coconut is not a listed note, I am definitely getting coconutty vibes here. I also enjoy the ylang ylang and vanilla in this fragrance. It definitely smells like a tropical paradise getaway!

Projection is on the quieter side, probably lightly moderate at best. It does last well for me, I get about 5-6 hours before wanting to reapply. I tested and compared this next to a multitude of beachy scents, as I love this particular genre. In my opinion, it is most similar to Maison Margiela Replica Beach Walk. Phloria is ever so slightly sweeter and has a warmer solar vibe and Beach Walk is a touch sharper but they are absolutely in the same family. As they dry down, Phloria becomes saltier and I don’t really find Beach Walk to have that salty note. I think the main things these two have in common is the ylang note and the coconutty impression. I will say, the scent bubble around me smells AMAZING when wearing these two and I think they would layer very well with each other.

I also compared Phloria with several other beachy/tropical/white floral fragrances that I have seen it compared to and here are the results/my impressions:

• Juliette Has a Gun Vanilla Vibes is probably the next most similar after Beach Walk. It has more vanilla (naturally) and a more woodsy impression than Phloria.
• Tom Ford Soleil Blanc has a very strong alcohol vibe at first sniff. As it dries down, it becomes a bit more similar to Phloria but has much less oomph. Both are very pretty and sweetly tropical and definitely in a similar family. Unfortunately, I notice the (all too common) dismal performance of the expensive Tom Ford fragrance. It was quite faded after only 40 minutes! Save your money, folks, and opt for Phloria instead of Soleil Blanc, it’s a wonderful and more affordable alternative.
• NEST Sunkissed Hibiscus is in a similar tropical family but not super close to Phloria. As to be expected, the focus is on the hibiscus vs. the gardenia in Phloria and it is also quite a bit sweeter. Both are lovely, though.
• NEST Madagascar Vanilla perfume oil is MUCH sweeter and more musky and not really super similar other than the fact that it’s got the beachy, tropical, slightly coconutty vibes. I think this is the sweetest of the bunch so far. It’s also quite long-lasting.
• Mugler Alien Goddess is a sweet, almondy vanilla with a touch of coconut. It’s in a pretty similar family with NEST Madagascar Vanilla and rivals it for being the sweetest of the bunch! I would say Alien Goddess is somewhere in between Phloria and Madagascar Vanilla.
• Estée Lauder’s über popular Bronze Goddess Eau Fraîche Skinscent is a huge favorite of mine and definitely has a similar vibe to Phloria. I think I like Bronze Goddess just a tad more, it just has something a little extra to it. It feels a little more finished, rounded, professional. I think it’s also a touch sweeter, more ambery, and more coconutty. Bronze Goddess seems extra solar, almost ‘golden.’ It’s sooooo addictive & good! I just can’t stop smelling my arm when I wear it. But both are very nice and I definitely think if you like one, you’ll like the other.
• Diptyque Do Son is surprisingly more similar than I expected, at least in the opening. Not as solar and sweet (which I DID expect) but they do share white floral notes in common. The two fragrances definitely get less similar as they both dry down, though. Do Son really goes almost all white floral for me. The beachy accord is there but more in the background and it’s not warm, coconutty, or solar at all, it’s more fresh like a sea breeze. Do Son also fades away earlier than I would like.
• Bobbi Brown Beach is not very similar. It really does smell like the classic Coppertone sunscreen, lol It’s very non-sweet and there’s zero coconut or ylang. It’s very citrus-heavy, with a slightly tart mandarin in the starring role.
• Pinrose Sun Saint opens with the similar sweet beachy vibes of the other fragrances discussed here. LOTS of coconut but it’s more cool/citrusy and less warm/solar/ambery as it has a prominent lime note. As Sun Saint dries down, the sandalwood note takes over and it really heads into a different direction from Phloria.

Read more reviews of my favorite beachy coconutty fragrances here!

Find it here:

Phloria 9.5ml travel-spray (at Anthropologie)

Phloria 9.5ml travel-spray (at Phlur’s Amazon store)

Phloria 50ml (at Anthropologie)

Phloria 50ml (at Phlur’s Amazon store)

Phloria body lotion 16oz (at Phlur)

Phloria body wash 16oz (at Phlur)

Somebody Wood

• Top Notes: bergamot, lemon
• Middle Notes: jasmine, saffron, cyclamen
• Base Notes: sandalwood, vanilla, musk, amber, moss, cedarwood

This pleasant, creamy sandalwood-focused fragrance is also chock full of amber and vanilla. The sandalwood here is sweet and the amber is lightly spicy. The other notes are more in the background and not strong players for me. Some find the saffron a bit leathery but it’s a very light impression for me, I have to search for it and wouldn’t necessarily think ‘leathery’ without someone suggesting it to me. This is very cozy and absolutely perfect for autumn.

Somebody Wood is very likable and easy to wear. The sweet vanilla leans it slightly feminine to me but certainly anyone could wear it. Projection is pretty light, I usually get whiffs of it only when my arm is closer to my face. This fragrance does fade a little quicker than I would like, I want to reapply after about 3 hours. This is another fragrance that I did some fun comparisons with, below are the results.

• I instantly thought of Maison Margiela Replica Autumn Vibes when I first tried Somebody Wood. Autumn Vibes has a more earthy opening, you really get its signature ‘dry leaves’ feel and I don’t really get that with Somebody Wood. Both share a really nice ambery sandalwood, though, and become more similar in feel as they dry down.
• Somebody Wood also reminded me of 7 Virtues Santal Vanille. Santal Vanille is a bit fresher and cooler in feel, Somebody Wood is warmer and almost ‘buttery’ next to it. Somebody Wood is also slightly smokier than Santal Vanille, though I would not say it is a super smoky fragrance.
• Skylar Gilded Woods (sadly, a discontinued and harder to find fragrance) also seemed that it could be in a similar family. It’s a sweeter fragrance, almost as sweet as Somebody Wood but I think Somebody Wood is the sweetest of all of these.
• I also saw Somebody Wood compared to Ellis Brooklyn Après. Après is pretty different, though. It focuses on a woodsy, snowy forest impression, as you would expect from its name. It even feels cold on my wrist! It’s the least sweet of all of these that I have compared and has an all-around much more menthol/cool feeling. As Après dries down, it has a few more things going on and isn’t all just icy woods, though that vibe definitely has the starring role. But its really beautiful, clean vanilla note starts to shine and I just love it. I think it’s probably the one that projects the most out of all of the ones I tested, though none of them are ‘screamers.’ They all smell great, though, and I would recommend all of them and also say that all but Après are fairly similar in feel to Somebody Wood.

Find it here:

Somebody Wood 9.5ml travel-spray (at Anthropologie)

Somebody Wood 50ml (at Anthropologie)

Somebody Wood body lotion 19oz (at Anthropologie)

Somebody Wood body lotion 19oz (at Phlur’s Amazon store)

Somebody Wood body wash 20.4oz (at Anthropologie)

So, those are my impressions of Phlur’s Discovery Set. I’d love to hear if you’ve tried anything from this house yet. Or perhaps you’ve yet to try anything but now have an interest in checking them out after reading this? Also, let me know if you were a fan of their previous fragrances and how you feel about this new line. I’d love to read your thoughts in the comments section below!

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