ScentXplore Box 2023
I stumbled upon ScentXplore by pure luck, through @oliviaolfactory 's excitement about the event. After checking out the website, I discovered the ScentXplore discovery kit that could be purchased alongside a ticket to the virtual event. At 80$CAN, I figured I'd get my hands on a nice box of niche fragrances I would otherwise never get to smell and get to attend a virtual event that would help me understand perfumes even more, so I though to myself, why not? After a small delay, I finally got my ScentXplore box and my, oh my, am I pleasantly surprised and, to be honest, in shock. 2 perfume magazines (one from Nez Culture and the other from Le Parfum Magazine) and 39 samples (one being a travel size) make up this box. For someone who's starting out in niche perfumes, who has limited access to niche brands (seems not a lot of niche brands want to ship to Canada) and who wants to start exploring the niche side of things, this box was perfect for me. Longtime amateurs and experts might find this box boring as there aren't many 2023 releases in there, but to me, it was an amazing gift before Christmas.
Before I continue, you can see the total content of the box here, where I made a list using the new feature, Top Picks, that has recently been released on Parfumo. If I decide to attend the event next year, I'll be able to add the 2024 box in this list.
There are a few fragrances I'm eager to try out first. Here are those I've spotted:
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La Tacita de Café
- 
No. 57
- 
Blooming Amber
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Chocolate Makes Me Happy
- 
London
- 
Sunday Brunch
Here are the fragrances I have a feeling will surprise me:
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Dark Orchid
- 
Desir Infini
- 
Rosario
- 
Annacamento
- 
Otello
- 
Peregrina
Tobacco, oud and leather seem to be notes that come back quite often in this box and in niche perfumes in general. I've only recently started liking tobacco (during cold weather) as for the two other notes I've had ambiguous feelings about them. I've had the chance to smell oud during a Ruby Brown perfume workshop (you can read all about my experience here) and I smelled leather through a few fragrances I've had the chance to sample such as 
Vanilla Royale Sugared Patchouli | 64. Now that I've grown tired of designer perfumes, I'm curious to see if my nose has evolved into accepting those notes, may they be the star of a perfume or an accompanying accord.
Anyways, I'm quite excited to attend the ScentXplore virtual event that will be held on Friday, December 1st through Saturday, December 2nd. Stay tuned: I'll be writing articles about this event for those who are curious about it and for those who didn't get their hands on a ticket (be it virtual or in-person). I hope you enjoyed discovering this box with me. If you have tried a perfume in this box, don't forget to leave a comment about it, I'm curious to know what y'all think about the fragrances or the box in general. Thanks for reading my article and I'll see you in the next one. Don't forget to like, comment and subscribe!
Telekinec
That said, I was underwhelmed by my box as I feel like the box speaks to a completely different audience than intended, more-so being aimed at a casual crowd in terms of the contents being offered. I exchanged several DMs with others who got a box, and the main letdowns appear to be (1) negative sentiment around the lack of 2023 releases from brands included and (2) the Arquiste 10ml being the same one from last year. IIRC, somebody said they forwarded this feedback to ScentXplore and told them to be grateful for the 4x2 Amouage (lol).
I learned about ScentXplore through @oliviaolfactory who is an influencer followed by many people who are on the more casual side. So I'd say it's maybe 50/50 in terms of casual vs hardcore people knowing about this box and the event. I'm not sure everyone has smelled Mancera or Montale (for my part I don't have easy access to them), so I'm not sure everybody has already gotten those. I do get your disapointment about wanting newer releases. I got the email that said they had problems with their suppliers. Maybe they had to downgrade the boxes' content because of that? Dunno.
It might be aimed at people starting out, but if you think about it, the people advertising it don't exactly have a lot of casual followers. I got mine via Max Forti, he makes content for hardcore hobbyists & snobs imo. If you ever go in the IG comment section of influencers, you almost never see non-influencers commenting in there. It's always other hobbyists. So if we are assuming that a majority (safe assumption imo) of people have smelled the obvious stuff like Instant Crush, why are we even sending those samples? I would've loved a Montale "Infinity" or a Mancera "Cosmic Pepper", anything even mildly new.
I'm sad you weren't happy with yout box. Maybe it's more aimed at people who are starting out in niche perfumes like I'm doing. I do have to admit I was expecting a lot more 2023 releases. Maybe next year's boxes will be better with the feedback they'll have received.
Thank for the example on how to use the new "Top picks" feature.
Of this box I only tested Cédrat Boisé, which left me underwhelmed but which my girlfriend liked. My sample is not out, so I'll give it another try someday.
I hope you 'll enjoy your samples (and virtual event)! Which one was the travel size?
Also thank you for your kind words :)