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Ariana Grande has a whole line of fragrances now, but the first of the series was Ari. While it isn’t the absolute best of them, in my opinion, it still ranks pretty highly. Meanwhile, Cloud has become one of the uber-popular perfumes from the pop star, and now exceeds the original release in terms of sales. But, which one is actually better? In this post, I break it down.
Tale of the Tape: Cloud vs. Ari by Ariana Grande
Cloud
Notes include: pear, lavender, bergamot, praline, whipped cream, vanilla orchid, coconut, musk, wood
Click here to try: Ariana Grande Cloud Eau de Parfum Spray, clear, 3.4 oz
Read my review: Cloud
Ari
Notes include: marshmallow, pear, orchid, grapefruit, raspberry, musk, rose, lily of the valley
Click here to try: Ariana Grande Ari Eau de Parfum Spray for Women, 3.4 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)
Read my review: Ari by Ariana Grande
Opening
Cloud opens up with a blend of notes lead by pear, that is both sweet and bright. The lavender note makes itself known early on, but has sort of a rough finish to it. Cloud itself has a light, fluffy, and sort of airy style to it.
Later on, more of the praline, musk, and whipped cream will emerge in support of the main stars of this perfume.
The opening act of Ari is mostly about the fruit notes, which are sweet, and compelling. The marshmallow note at the base, is always present, but becomes much more noticeable later on. For now, it is playing a support role for the raspberry and grapefruit.
Raspberry is the strongest aroma to my nose at first, then, grapefruit. To me, the pear will get a little bit stronger and have its moments in the light. Though, it’s not all that powerful on my skin.
Then, after 15 minutes the vanilla orchid and marshmallow play a greater role. The fruits will move into supporting those two.
Between the two, it’s actually pretty close. Personally, I prefer the opening of Ari to that of Cloud. The raspberry and grapefruit are a nice mix of fruity and sweet, without the lavender of Cloud. Though, it’s not a huge win.
Edge: Ari
Projection
Neither sillage is too heavy and they aren’t projection monsters. Interestingly, they both have that airy or fluffy marshmallow-like softness in terms of sillage. It’s a very close comparison.
Though, I think Cloud has an ever so slight edge over Ari. Cloud Intense is stronger than Ari and that’s somewhat more powerful than the original.
Is it a huge distinction? No. It might not even be completely noticeable, but Cloud takes it.
Edge: Cloud
Longevity
So, neither of this fragrances are super long lasting, nor are they complete disappointments. Just don’t expect all day wear without reapplying.
With Ari, I consistently got around 5 hours during testing. Pretty middle of the road, but useful.
Cloud, on the other hand, goes for about six. It isn’t above and beyond better than Ari, but it does have a distinct edge.
Edge: Cloud
Versatility
Seasonally, Ari probably has a better use case. Outside of the hottest days of the year, it’s fine. With Cloud, it’s best served to be worn autumn through the spring.
Neither of these is a formal fragrance, but can be used in a wide variety of circumstances.
I think that the distinction for Cloud is that it is a bit more mature. Ari is closer to a teenager or early 20s type of perfume. Cloud isn’t super mature, but the age range extends further. That gives it the edge here for me.
Edge: Cloud
Overall Scent
Cloud is a nice perfume that has gotten a lot of attention. Most of that seems to be less because of its own unique aroma and more of its association as a Baccarat Rouge like fragrance.
The early stages of this fragrance are my least favorite. The lavender needs time to settle. Though, once it has the airy sweetness of coconut, praline, and whipped cream is great. I like the fluffiness and how it gives you whiffs of it throughout the day.
It’s also a bit better than Ari with its intangibles. You get more power, longevity, and maturity. It’s got a wider use case than its competitor.
However, I think Ari smells better. Yes, you do have to probably be in the younger demographic to wear it, but that’s most of Ariana’s fragrance audience anyway.
The marshmallow and orchid in the dry down is great. I like the fruitier opening better and the overlap between these scents, doesn’t give cloud much room to take this win.
It’s super close, but just going off of smell, I’d go with Ari.
Winner: Ari
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Best Men’s Colognes started back in 2013, as a way to share my learning experiences with the different fragrances that I’ve owned, as I dove head first into the hobby. Since then, that new hobby grew into a consistent passion, helping millions of readers along the way. I have personally written reviews for well over 800 perfumes and colognes for both men and women. This is along with writing hundreds of other in-depth fragrance guides.