What Perfume Does Rihanna Wear?

What Perfume Does Rihanna Wear? The perfumes Rihanna wears, from her rumored favorite, By Kilian’s Love, Don’t Be Shy, to her own Fenty Eau de Parfum and Dior J’adore. Rihanna is known to use Kilian Love Don’t Be Shy, but she also uses different perfumes from her own collection. Sometimes Rihanna uses Rihanna Nude, Rihanna Ri Ri, or Rihanna Rebelle, and also the lovely Tom Ford Lost Cherry or the attractive Armani Si.

After Rihanna’s impressive Super Bowl show in 2023, many more people searched for her brand Fenty Beauty. People quickly started buying the exact red lipstick she used (The MVP, if you want to know) and the powder she put on during the show (Invisimatte powder). But a question people have been asking about Rihanna for years isn’t about makeup, but about perfume: What perfume does Rihanna use? What does Rihanna really smell like?

In 2021, Rihanna let people have the chance to smell just like her. Her first perfume from her Fenty brand, Fenty Eau de Parfum, sold out very fast when it first came out and then again and again. The perfume, which has attractive scents of magnolia, musk, tangerine, and Bulgarian rose, is now available to buy again. It’s also now available in a small travel bottle for only $39, which is great if you want to try it before buying the full size, and also as a solid perfume.

You can find out everything about Fenty&039;s perfume here. Rihanna was also recently revealed as the new face of Dior’s famous perfume J’adore. “It was a bit scary” to take on the J’adore role, Rihanna told Bazaar only. “But I was happy to represent such an old and well-known brand, something that meant a lot to me.”

Rihanna’s connection with Dior began ten years ago when she was in an ad campaign as a representative of the brand. Now, she&039;s the face of one of the most famous perfume lines in the world. “I first learned about J’adore Dior from my mom. My mom worked at a store that sold perfume. She would bring home the sample bottles when they were almost empty and they had to get a new sample bottle ready,” she says. “J’adore was always one of those. And that’s how I started to love J’adore.”

Rihanna Perfume Kilian: Love Don’t Be Shy

Kilian Love, Don’t Be Shy is widely regarded as Rihanna’s favorite perfume. This luxurious gourmand fragrance has been her secret weapon for years, creating the unforgettable scent that has celebrities and fans alike swooning.

Released in 2007, this sophisticated perfume was created by master perfumer Calice Becker as part of a collection about falling in love. The inspiration? A classic Parisian candy called Guimauves—essentially an elevated marshmallow made with confectionary sugar and orange flower water.

What Makes Love, Don’t Be Shy So Special?

The fragrance opens with bright citrus notes from neroli and orange blossom, creating an immediate sense of joy and freshness. The heart reveals delicate florals including rose, peony, and honeysuckle that add an airy, romantic quality. But the real star is the base—a dreamy blend of marshmallow, vanilla, and amber that creates an addictively sweet yet sophisticated dry down.

This isn’t your typical sugary scent. The marshmallow accord provides a creamy, comforting sweetness that’s balanced by the floral elements and grounded by warm amber. It’s this complexity that makes the fragrance so captivating—it keeps revealing new facets as it develops on the skin.

Celebrity Testimonials: Why Everyone Raves About Rihanna’s Scent

The evidence for Rihanna’s signature scent goes far beyond speculation. Multiple celebrities have publicly praised how amazing she smells, with many describing her scent as “heavenly.”

Ryan Seacrest famously tweeted about Rihanna being the “best smelling celebrity,” while Jennifer Lawrence recalled meeting Rihanna during her Hunger Games press tour, noting that “she smelled really good” and had “really, really soft skin.”

Cardi B was caught on camera at the BET Awards exclaiming “she smell good!” after hugging Rihanna. Lil Nas X, when asked about his favorite smell, simply replied “Rihanna.” Even beauty influencer NikkieTutorials described hugging Rihanna at a Fenty event as smelling “like heaven.”

Rihanna Own Fragrance Empire

While Kilian Love, Don’t Be Shy remains her personal favorite, Rihanna has built an impressive fragrance portfolio under her own name. Her perfume journey began in 2010 with a collection of 11 fragrances created with Parlux.

Reb’l Fleur: Her First Signature Creation

Reb’l Fleur, launched in 2011, was Rihanna’s debut fragrance and remains one of her most popular creations. This fruity floral scent features top notes of red berries, plum, and peach, with a heart of tuberose, hibiscus, and coconut. The base combines vanilla, amber, and musk for a warm, sensual finish.

Other Notable Rihanna Fragrances

• Nude by Rihanna: A sensual white floral with woody and musky undertones
• Ri Ri: A flirty blend of passionfruit, rum, and mandarin with jasmine and honeysuckle
• Rebelle: A dark, sophisticated fragrance featuring strawberry, ginger, coffee, and amber

The Game-Changer: Fenty Eau de Parfume

In 2021, Rihanna launched Fenty Eau de Parfum, marking her first fragrance under the Fenty brand. This was significant—it sold out within hours of launch and continued to fly off shelves with each restock.

Fenty Eau de Parfum is described as “Rihanna in a bottle.” The warm, musky floral features notes of magnolia, tangerine, Bulgarian rose, and musk. What makes it unique is its composition entirely of middle or “heart” notes, creating a bold, long-lasting fragrance that maintains its intensity throughout wear.

The perfume represents everything Rihanna embodies confident, sophisticated, and unapologetically bold. It’s now available in full-size bottles for $140 and convenient travel sizes for $39.

Rihanna and Dior: A Fragrant Partnership

Rihanna’s relationship with fragrance extends beyond her own creations. She recently became the face of Dior’s iconic J’adore, taking over from previous ambassadors in a move that surprised the beauty world.

Her connection to J’adore runs deep Rihanna revealed that her mother used to work at a duty-free store and would bring home tester bottles of J’adore when they needed to be replaced. “That’s where my love for J’adore started,” she shared in an exclusive interview.

The Science Behind Rihanna Signature Scent

Why does Love, Don’t Be Shy work so perfectly on Rihanna? According to perfume experts, it’s all about body chemistry. The fragrance seems to complement her natural skin chemistry exceptionally well, which is why it smells so divine on her.

Perfumer Nicole Mancini explains: “We are all made up of different body chemistries, so the same perfume smells differently on everybody. A person’s diet, skin type, and skin pH impact the way a perfume wears.”

The sweetness factor also plays a crucial role in the fragrance’s irresistible appeal. When combined with Rihanna’s body chemistry, the gourmand elements create an almost edible quality that draws people in.

How to Smell Like Rihanna

Kilian Love, Don’t Be Shy

If you want to smell exactly like Rihanna, this is your best bet. Available at luxury retailers like Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, and the Kilian website for around $295-$385.

The Rihanna-Approved Alternative – Fenty Eau de Parfum

Created by Rihanna herself, this gives you her personal interpretation of the perfect scent. More accessible at $39 for travel size or $140 for full size.

Budget-Friendly Alternatives

• Prada Paradoxe: Features similar white florals with neroli and white musk
• Jimmy Choo I Want Choo Forever: Offers comparable sweetness with rose and cherry notes
• Mancera Velvet Vanilla: Often cited as a Love, Don’t Be Shy dupe with similar gourmand qualities

The Cultural Impact of Rihanna Signature Scent

Rihanna’s perfume choices have influenced fragrance trends significantly. The popularity of gourmand scents perfumes that smell good enough to eat has exploded partly due to her influence. Sweet, marshmallow-based fragrances have become increasingly sought after, with many brands creating their own versions to capitalize on this trend.

Her approach to fragrance also reflects her overall brand philosophy: confidence without compromise. Just as she’s never been afraid to push boundaries in music and fashion, her perfume choices are bold, memorable, and unapologetically feminine.

Rihanna Favorite Perfume Revealed

The scent that has become synonymous with Rihanna is Kilian’s Love, Don’t Be Shy. For years, this was the worst-kept secret in Hollywood. The rumor mill went into overdrive back in 2016 when a friend of Rihanna’s, @StylishGent, let it slip in a video that she was wearing the fragrance. Rihanna’s annoyed reaction in the background was all the confirmation fans needed.

Since then, countless anecdotes have surfaced, cementing Love, Don’t Be Shy as Rihanna’s signature scent. From makeup artists to fans who’ve had a chance encounter, the consensus is the same. This sweet, gourmand fragrance is the secret behind her unforgettable aura.

The Fenty Fragrance Revolution

While Love, Don’t Be Shy is her rumored personal favorite, Rihanna gave fans the chance to smell like her directly when she launched her own fragrance under her Fenty brand.

In 2021, Fenty Eau de Parfum was released and sold out within hours, again and again. Rihanna designed the scent with herself in mind, aiming to create something that embodies her essence. It’s a warm, floral fragrance that breaks traditional perfume rules.

Fenty Eau de Parfum is composed entirely of middle or “heart” notes, which makes for a bold and long-lasting scent that interacts uniquely with each person’s body chemistry. The key notes include:

• Magnolia
• Musk
• Tangerine
• Bulgarian Rose

This unique composition creates a scent that is both intimate and memorable. It’s a spicy, sweet floral that feels both raw and refined. For fans looking for a Rihanna-approved scent, Fenty Eau de Parfum is a direct line to her personal taste.

More recently, Rihanna was also announced as the new face of Dior’s iconic J’adore perfume. In an interview with Harper’s Bazaar, she shared that her love for the classic fragrance started with her mother, who used to bring home testers from her job at a duty-free store. This connection adds another layer to her long and storied relationship with the world of fragrance.

Rihanna Earlier Fragrance Collections

Long before Fenty, Rihanna had a successful partnership with the fragrance house Parlux. Between 2010 and 2018, she released a collection of 11 different perfumes. These fragrances were incredibly popular and offered fans an affordable way to connect with her style. While she was rumored to be wearing Love, Don’t Be Shy even then, these perfumes were a reflection of her evolving public image.

Here are some of the most notable fragrances from her Parlux collections:

Rihanna Reb’l Fleur

Released in 2010, Reb’l Fleur was her debut fragrance and remains one of her most popular. It’s a bold and fruity chypre, a fragrance category known for its warm, dry, and woody base notes. This scent was designed to capture her dual identity—the good girl from Barbados and the rebellious rockstar.

• Top Notes: Red berries, plum, peach
• Heart Notes: Tuberose, hibiscus, coconut
• Base Notes: Vanilla, patchouli, amber, musk

Reb’l Fleur is a rich, confident scent that makes a statement. Its heavy sillage (the scent trail left behind) means it gets noticed. It’s a sophisticated yet fun fragrance that has stood the test of time.

Rihanna Rebelle Perfume

Following the success of Reb’l Fleur, Rihanna Rebelle was launched in 2012. This fragrance took a different direction, leaning into a gourmand profile that felt more daring and intimate. It’s often described as a warm and spicy scent, perfect for evening wear.

• Top Notes: Strawberry, ginger, plum
• Heart Notes: Cacao, orchid, heliotrope
• Base Notes: Coffee, patchouli, amber

The notes of cacao and coffee give Rebelle a dark, delicious, and almost addictive quality. It’s a fragrance that feels very much aligned with her Unapologetic album era—confident, intricate, and a little bit edgy.

Other Popular Scents from the Collection

• Rihanna Nude (2012): A fruity, white floral scent with woody and musky base notes. It’s lighter and more intimate than her other fragrances, making it perfect for warmer weather or more casual occasions.
• Rihanna RiRi (2015): A flirty, sweet fragrance with notes of passionfruit, rum, and mandarin orange. It’s a playful and stylish scent ideal for a date night.

Other Perfumes in Rihanna’s Rotation

While Kilian’s Love, Don’t Be Shy is her most famous go-to, someone with such a deep appreciation for fragrance likely has a whole collection. Based on her style and scent profile preferences, here are a few other fragrances she has been linked to or would likely enjoy:

• Tom Ford Lost Cherry: This is a captivating and juicy scent with notes of black cherry, cherry liqueur, and bitter almond. It has the same kind of bold, sweet, and sophisticated profile that Rihanna favors.
• Giorgio Armani Sì: An elegant and sexy fragrance that blends freesia, sweet nectar, and May rose with a base of patchouli and vanilla. It’s a modern classic that aligns perfectly with Rihanna’s sophisticated style.

Frequently Asked Questions

What perfume does Rihanna wear that smells like heaven?

Rihanna wears Kilian Love, Don’t Be Shy, which celebrities consistently describe as smelling “like heaven.” This gourmand fragrance features marshmallow, orange blossom, and amber notes.

Does Rihanna wear her own perfumes?

Yes, Rihanna regularly wears fragrances from her own line, particularly Reb’l Fleur and the newer Fenty Eau de Parfum. However, Kilian Love, Don’t Be Shy remains her most frequently worn signature scent.

How much does Rihanna’s favorite perfume cost?

Kilian Love, Don’t Be Shy typically retails for $295-$385 for a 50ml bottle. Rihanna’s own Fenty Eau de Parfum is more accessible at $140 for 50ml or $39 for a travel size.

Are there cheaper alternatives to Rihanna’s signature perfume?

Yes, several fragrances offer similar gourmand profiles: Mancera Velvet Vanilla, Prada Paradoxe, and Jimmy Choo I Want Choo Forever all provide comparable sweet, floral experiences at lower price points.