Rihanna's Favorite Perfume Is A Citrusy Gourmand Scent As Iconic As Her
From the very first moments of her debut, Rihanna brought a star power that hypnotized audiences. And by this point, we'd argue that she's far surpassed the benchmark of pop idol to become an all-out icon. From Rihanna's stunning style transformation to the epic success of her cosmetics brand, Fenty Beauty, she's carved out an untouchable reputation that practically screams boss babe. But that's not the only reputation she's earned. Rihanna has also become infamous for a slightly more random quality: smelling really, really good.
Celebrities from Cardi B, Jennifer Lawrence, and Nick Jonas to Lil Nas X and Ryan Seacrest represent just a few of the known names who have commented on RiRi's heavenly scent. Per Insider, fellow musician Olly Alexander even likened it to "dreams and wishes coming true."
With all these star-studded reports, it's only natural to wonder what fragrance Rihanna is using to enthrall all around her. One might presume that Rihanna's favorite scent would be her own Fenty Eau de Parfum, and that's almost certainly in her fragrance rotation. However, according to Harper's Bazaar, the captivating fragrance in question comes from celebrity-favorite perfumer Kilian — the same luxury brand that makes Beyonce's beloved fragrance, Angels' Share.
More specifically, Rihanna reportedly favors Kilian's fragrance Love, Don't Be Shy, a wildly popular gourmand perfume. So, if you want to follow in her heavenly-smelling footsteps, here's what to know about the scent.
What does Love, Don't Be Shy smell like?
Generally, perfumes are categorized as warm, woody, oriental, or fresh. But Kilian uses its own evocative, non-traditional terms for its wide range of scents, grouping them into The Liquors, The Fresh, The Narcotics, The Cellars, and The Smokes. Among these, Love, Don't Be Shy is classified among their Narcotics line, invoking a sense of hazy, luxurious intoxication.
Built on a foundation of sensual amber, Love, Don't Be Shy features the floral, citrusy scents of orange blossom and neroli, the intense sweetness of marshmallow and honeysuckle, and a velvety, barely-there touch of rose. Taken together, this blend creates a sugary, mouthwatering gourmand fragrance, like that of an elegant dessert.
Boasting such a tempting blend, it's no surprise that Love, Don't Be Shy has earned a legion of die-hard fans in addition to Rihanna. As one Kilian reviewer rapturously writes of the scent, "Have you seen those movies where a beautiful woman walks into the room and time slows down? ... That is this scent. What does this nectar of the gods smell like? If you walked into a luxurious garden filled with gardenia flowers and fell asleep watching the clouds float by, you would wake up smelling like Love, Don't Be Shy. ... If you want a fresh, clean, genuine floral that is airy, soft, [and] sensual, then give this a try. Love, Don't Be Shy epitomizes femininity. She is a summer dress and a big-brimmed hat on a breezy spring day."
The best Kilian dupes
The true scent of any perfume relies on body chemistry — which means that Love, Don't Be Shy may not work for everyone as hypnotically as it seems to work for RiRi. If you're left searching for a similar alternative, the fragrance enthusiasts at Fragrantica vote the Oriana Eau de Parfum by Parfums de Marly as their dupe of choice. There's just one caveat: Oriana sells at Neiman Marcus for $190 per 30-milliliter bottle, meaning that it costs more per ounce than Love, Don't Be Shy.
This is obviously an issue for many shoppers, who seek dupes for their affordability. After all, if there's one downside to a love of luxury perfumes, it's the luxury price tags that go with them. And Kilian's offerings are certainly pricey enough already — a 50-milliliter bottle of Love, Don't Be Shy retails at the Kilian site for $290, which is a hefty investment for most budgets.
To give your wallet a break, other fragrances like Floral Marshmallow by Dossier play with the same scent profiles while offering potentially lower pricing. Directly inspired by Love, Don't Be Shy, this fragrance blends flowery and sugary notes, many of which will look familiar — neroli, orange blossom, honeysuckle, amber, and, of course, marshmallow. Floral Marshmallow also cites ingredients like lush jasmine, sweet vanilla, and refreshing bergamot for a well-rounded fragrance. Best of all, it retails for only $39, and Dossier members get additional discounts, making this an imminently affordable alternative to the Kilian perfume.