[unpaid/sample/affiliate/ad] OH MY! This Dries Van Noten Sampler Set is worth every single one of the £42 pounds – the juice is so powerful that you only need a tiny dot so I think each one will last a good long time unless you are truly sloshing.

It’s very much a step up in the whole sampler arena – I’ve only had this a couple of days and I’m slowly going through each one and when I’ve tested, I pop the sampler upright so I know it’s been smelled. I’ve got the option to size up on one fragrance so that I can give that a full review and it was the first one I tried – Jardin L’Orangerie which took my breath away. I’ll wait before I say more til I have the actual bottle and can spend more time with it, but trust me, it is utterly beautiful.

I really don’t know the Dries Van Noten fragrances at all but my first impression is that this set is an exciting way to experience them. Raving Rose (4th along) starts as a lychee rose cocktail before turning into a powdery, fizzing rose with a little drop of sharpness (the pepper) at the back. Yum. I really didn’t think I would take to Rock The Myrrh (3rd from the end) and I’m not sure I’d ever pick it for myself, but wow – that is a fragrance talking point. It smells woody, smoky with smooth vanilla and just altogether exotic and mysterious.

The fragrances included in the Dries Van Noten Sampler Set are Jardin De L’Orangerie, Neon Garden, Rose Carnivora, Raving Rose, Cannabis Patchouli, Santal Greenery, Voodoo Chile, Rock The Myrrh, Fleur De Santal and Soie Malaquis. I love the way the stopper has evolved from a hard to remove plug with a long bit to this rounded, easy to remove version – it’s a small detail that makes everything seem more sophisticated and detailed.

I know it’s pricy for samples, but I’m thinking perhaps I’ll go through it with some girlfriends over a glass of wine in the garden and they can each take the one or ones that they like best (hands off my Jardin De L’Orangerie though 😉 because they’re all so unexpected and completely delicious. It will be fun. If you have a fragrance loving friend, you could maybe split the cost and take half each after going through every single one – have some ground coffee to hand to refresh your nose though. Other than Neon Garden which my nose just didn’t pick up on this time around, they seem to all be at shock level in potency!

I’ve just given my very first impressions of four of the fragrances that have had time to settle on my skin, but the last fragrance I’m talking about in this box of perfume tricks is one that I applied only half an hour ago – Soie Malaquias which is green with chestnut and then something gourmande – it’s bringing out the same feeling as when I see a sugared almond; that moment of anticipation that brings a mouthwatering nutty impression before you get it into your mouth. I wonder if you will find the same. I haven’t gone through all of the individual notes because these are not simple perfumes – it’s more what they sparked in me at the time. I’m really looking forward to going through the rest of them but wanted to get this out before the weekend. The Dries Van Noten Sampler Set is £42 HERE. I really think it’s the most thrilling collection of fragrances and an absolute treat.