What Does Rihanna Smell Like?
In just a few short years, Rihanna has transformed from talented singer into an all-around business mogul. From her Fenty Beauty and Fenty Skin lines to her Savage X Fenty lingerie empire to an all-new fragrance, Rihanna has constantly impressed fans and critics alike at every turn.
Rihanna has always been known for her scent
Besides her breathtaking beauty, Rihanna has been known for her something else by those who come into close contact with her: her scent.
Several celebrities have commented on Rihanna’s olfactory aura over the years. Lil Nas X told Q4 Music that “Rihanna” was his favorite smell, saying frankly, “She smells like heaven.” Big Bang Theory star Jim Parsons echoed the sentiment in a 2015 interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, sayings Rihanna smells like “heaven” in person. “I’ve been doing press for like the past four days with Rihanna and Steve [Martin], but Rihanna smells so good,” he said. “I am not kidding. She has a scent.”
Back in 2013, Jennifer Lawrence reflected on meeting Rihanna in a BBC interview: “She was so, so beautiful and she had like really, really soft skin and smelled really good.”
In 2015, Ryan Seacrest tweeted about how he smells all the celebrities on the red carpet and, of all the stars he sniffed at the Grammys, Rihanna was “the best smelling” one. Nick Jonas, meanwhile, once admitted to The Sun that he “flirted with Rihanna once” but it didn’t work out. “She smells amazing, that is one thing I can tell you,” he said. “Everyone says it but I have actually smelled her now and it’s amazing.”
In 2018, musician Olly Alexander said Rihanna smelled “like dreams and wishes coming true” in an interview with Beats 1. After Cardi B posed with the Barbadian singer at the 2019 BET Awards, the Bronx-bred rapper was overwhelmed and excitedly said, “She smells good!”
What perfume does Rihanna wear?
Rihanna herself has not confirmed which fragrance she wears. But her friend, who goes by @stylishgent on Instagram, posted a video in 2016 saying the singer was wearing perfume from the brand By Kilian. The scent is called Love, Don’t be Shy, and contains notes of neroli, orange blossom, and marshmallow to create a mix of sweet and floral smells. According to the brand’s website, an 8.5-ounce carafe of the fragrance retails for $870, though a smaller 1.7-ounce refillable spray bottle of it goes for $295.
Rihanna didn’t want her signature scent to be out in the public eye. “That’s some secret bulls—!” she said in the video. “I don’t even tell anyone what I wear.”
The Kilian brand, meanwhile, expressed their appreciation in an Instagram post.
Rihanna launched Fenty Parfum so fans can smell like her
In 2021, Rihanna finally decided to capitalize on another thing she’s known for: her smell. She launched Fenty Parfum, a unique gender-neutral fragrance that retails for a cool $120.
“Magnolia and musk unite with tangerine, blueberry and hints of Bulgarian rose absolute, geranium and patchouli, to create a unique blend that expresses itself uniquely on each wearer for a one-of-a-kind scent that is all heart and pure soul,” the website described the scent. With a combination of sweet and musky scents, the scent was created and inspired by Rihanna’s “essence.”
“This isn’t about a fantasy — I wanted to experience truth. Fenty Eau de Parfum is for remembering what’s real. I made a fragrance for myself and am now sharing it with you,” Rihanna said of the product.
“What began as a garden walk in the global center of perfume became an unapologetic expression of my full and true essence. The experience begins as soon as you lay eyes on the bottle. This reminds me of everywhere I’ve been and represents all that I am.”
