In the wake of Rihanna's groundbreaking 2023 Super Bowl halftime performance, searches for her brand Fenty Beauty spiked dramatically. Fans went into a frenzy buying her exact red lipstick shade (The MVP, if you're wondering) and the pressed powder she blotted on between hits (Invisimatte powder). But one question that has been following Rihanna for years isn't about makeup or skincare, but rather fragrance: What perfume does Rihanna wear? What does Rihanna actually smell like?
In 2021, Rihanna gave fans the chance to smell just like her. Her first scent under her Fenty brand, Fenty Eau de Parfum, sold out within hours of launch—and then again and again. The perfume, with sensual notes of magnolia, musk, tangerine, and Bulgarian rose, is back in stock for good. It's also now available in an affordable travel-sized bottle for only $39, ideal if you want to trial it before committing, as well as in a solid perfume. You can get all the details on Fenty's fragrance here.
Rihanna was also recently announced as the face of Dior's iconic scent J'adore. “It was very intimidating” to take on the J'adore mantle, Rihanna tells Bazaar exclusively. “But I was excited to represent such a historic brand, something that was special to me.”
Rihanna's relationship with Dior started a decade ago when she appeared in a fashion campaign as a brand ambassador. Now, she's the face of one of the most storied fragrance franchises in the world. "My first introduction to J’adore Dior was my mom. My mom used to sell perfume at a duty-free store. She would come home with the testers when they were down to the end and they have to put out a new tester," she says. "J’adore was one of those ones that were always there. And that’s where my love for J’adore started.”
Fenty Beauty Fenty Eau De Parfum Travel Spray
Fenty Beauty Fenty Eau de Parfum
Dior J’adore Eau de Parfum
Years before she had her own Fenty fragrance, multiple celebrities went on the record to confess that Rihanna smells like heaven. Twitter user @thickannawhore compiled a (now deleted) hilarious thread of videos and screengrabs showing celebrities gushing about Rihanna's scent.
In the first clip, Lil Nas X is asked to describe his favorite smell, and he replies Rihanna. The second clip shows Cardi B meeting Rihanna at the BET Awards. Smiling from ear-to-ear, Cardi B screams out "she smell good!" about—who else?—Rihanna. The third clip is from a video by Youtube sensation Nikkie Tutorials. Describing hugging Rihanna at a Fenty Beauty event, Nikkie says that "she smells like heaven."
Then there's this piece of evidence from Ryan Seacrest:
Jennifer Lawrence recalled meeting Rihanna during her Hunger Games press tour: "She was so, so beautiful and had really, really soft skin and like, smelled really good."
In an old clip from the Graham Norton show, Rihanna shares a couch with Nigella Lawson. Lawson told Rihanna that she smells good, then had Norton sniff her to confirm.
The one question the old Twitter thread didn't answer, however, is what precisely the Fenty designer smelled like at the time.
Rihanna previously had a collection of 11 perfumes with fragrance house Parlux, the first of which was released in 2010. But it was widely rumored that she didn't wear her own fragrance at the time. As first reported by Stylecaster, Rihanna's friend @StylishGent filmed a video with the singer back in 2016 in which he spills that she's wearing By Kilian Love, Don't Be Shy, a $295 perfume. Rihanna is seen in the background of the video looking totally annoyed that he's telling the world her signature scent.
By Kilian's Love, Don't Be Shy was released in 2007. It's a sweet gourmand with unmistakable notes of marshmallow, vanilla, and caramel. The top and mid notes are citrusy and white florals, but the base notes are sugary gourmands—so by the time people are smelling Rihanna in a hug, she probably smells like the world's greatest dessert. We now fully understand the commotion.
