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Cloud and Sweet Like Candy are two of the most popular perfumes from Ariana Grande’s line of scents. Cloud, I think, often gets way more attention. Not to mention, it spawned it’s own flankers Intense and Cloud Pink.
Though, if we’re going beyond the popularity, which of these two perfumes actually smells better? Which lasts longer? On this page, I am going to compare these Ariana fragrances, bring attention to their differences, and pick which one I think is better.
Tale of the Tape: Cloud vs. Sweet Like Candy
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

Sweet Like Candy
Notes include:
Click here to try: Sweet Like Candy
Opening
Cloud begins with its brightness and sweetness front and center. The lead off is highlighted by the pear note with bergamot and the lavender also coming through early. The lavender never feels all that heavy to me throughout the wear.
I get a bit of the citrus, which adds a bit more sparkle to that pear juiciness. The lavender here, has a certain roughness which takes some of the softer and fluffier qualities of this fragrance away. Still, it does retain that softer style.
With Sweet, it’s also got a pear that is put alongside it’s berry notes. The black currant has some tart aspects here too. The fruitiness is there in the opening act, but it lives up to its sweet name, beyond just fruits.
Warm with whipped cream, vanilla, and marshmallow. Obviously, plenty of overlap with Cloud. The floral notes are a separation, even if they’re not super powerful. Frangipani and jasmine are noticeable.
Which is better? Between the two, I enjoy Sweet Like Candy. The fruitiness to lead things off is better to my nose. Plus, I like the transition it makes, and it smells a bit better versus Cloud, despite their similarities.
Edge: Sweet Like Candy
Projection
I don’t really notice a difference here. At least in terms of how far they project. The sillage of Cloud is a bit lighter, but both of these are essentially moderate with their projection.
Good for an hour or so, before moving into their lighter phases. Either way, both are solid, but no particular advantage here.
Edge: Push
Longevity
Cloud has never been an amazing performer, but it’s serviceable. In my experience, it will go 5-6 hours, on skin. About six hours is what you should expect from this Ariana fragrance.
With Sweet Like Candy, it seems to last in the 7-7.5 hour range, each time that I tested it out. Maybe some people can get a bit more out of the perfume, but I didn’t.
It’s not a massive difference between them, but Sweet has a somewhat stronger performance when compared to Cloud.
Edge: Sweet Like Candy
Versatility
I don’t see too much distinction here, if any.
Seasonally, both are really nice autumn through springtime. Neither is particularly a summer wear, but there might be times in which you could apply Cloud or Sweet Like Candy during that time of year. Neither of these are all that heavy.
Can be worn casually or out at night. Neither is super formal, probably not an office scent for most folks. They pretty much occupy the same space. No real winner here.
Edge: Push
Overall Scent
Overall, which of these fragrances do I like more?
Cloud is a fine perfume. It’s never been my favorite. I’ve always thought it gets more attention because of its associations with being an alternative to BR 540.
I like it. There are parts in the dry down, where I think Cloud really shines as a scent. It becomes more distinct and a pleasure to wear. Coconut and praline, when those are front and center, tends to be my favorite stretch with this fragrance.
Though, with that said, I still like Cloud 2.0 and Pink slightly more as variations.
I still think that Sweet Like Candy is the best smelling Ariana Grande perfume. There are some others, which are close. But, this one takes the common themes from a lot of her scents and then just did a fantastic job at getting all of the elements correct.
It’s sweet without being completely cloying. Sweet gives you a playful and girly aroma, without being too juvenile, and works well in the colder weather. Not too heavy or loud and it has a good mix of sweetness, creaminess, and warmth.
For me, this is a pretty easy decision. Both are worth trying, but Sweet Like Candy just stands out more.
Winner: Sweet Like Candy
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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.

