Best Perfumes for Women

10 Fragrances Similar to Angels’ Share

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Angels’ Share has become one of the most sought after fragrances out there and. It is also, one of my personal favorite fragrances, that I wear quite often when the temperatures begin to dip. To me, it’s great across the board. But, it can also be very expensive.

So, in this post, I want to present some alternatives which either smell close to the Kilian scent for cheaper or have a similar style for those who aren’t looking for an exact rendition. I will come back and update this list from time to time to add any further scents that can fit the bill.

Favorite Perfumes Like Angels’ Share by Kilian

The Popular Alternate

Angelic Elixir– Angelic Elixir is the Kilian-inspired fragrance from The Dua Brand. The company always produces pretty darn close alternatives of their target perfumes and this Angels’ Share one, is one of their closer matches.

It is an extrait de parfum, so, sillage and staying power aren’t a problem. As of now, it runs $60 per bottle, but they usually have promo codes to further sweeten the deal.

Is it a close sort of aroma? Pretty much. There might be a detail or two, that is slightly off, but for the better price point…it’s not a big deal. 

Another Perfume Option

Brooklyn Fragrance Lover by Alexandria– This is another inspired by take on Angels’ Share, this time by Alexandria. Now, I haven’t actually smelled this one, but wanted to include it on the list as another potential match.

The notes are all the same and the reviews of super positive about ‘Brooklyn Fragrance Lover’, so, it’s probably a pretty safe bet for a very similar smelling perfume at a more reasonable price. 

Angel Sharing a Lot of Similarities

Kismet Angel– This is another option for those who are looking for something that’s very close to what Angels’ Share smells like. I mean, just look at the bottle (and name) to tell what they were going for with Kismet Angel.

As a cheapie, this one provides a ton of value. For about $30 per bottle (as of updating), this gives you a scent that is extremely similar to the Kilian fragrance.

The performance overall seems to be a notch below and it is less sweet than our target perfume. But, really nothing much to complain about versus how much it costs. It doesn’t smell like a cheap knock off even if the price tag suggests it.

Angelic Inspiration

Heavens Speak by Oakcha– The more time since the release of the Kilian, the more ‘inspired by’ perfumes of its formula come out. Heavens Speak is the Oakcha interpretation of the boozy Angels’ Share.

I’m putting this on the list, as another choice for people to try out. I’ll come back and update if and when I test the scent out. But, it’s probably pretty close to Angels’ Share, as it appears to have many positive reviews.

Cinnamon Spice, Honey Sweet

Parfums de Marly Oajan EDP Spray, 4.2 oz.– Oajan isn’t an inspired scent, is more of a masculine fragrance, but has a very sweet and cinnamon based scent that matches up well with the boozy cinnamon sweetness of Angels’ Share.

Though, you get a blast of that spice early on to a greater degree than in the Kilian.

Tonka bean, osmanthus, and honey are a part of the sweeter aspects of this scent. That osmanthus does bring the same sort of sweet/fruity aroma as the opening act of Flowerbomb. Yet, the cinnamon and benzoin gives it more of a manly feel.

Oajan doesn’t have that booziness of the Kilian’s cognac note, which does take on an apple-like smell to my nose. The osmanthus, later honey, and big blast of cinnamon strikes close to it somewhat early on.

Tobacco, isn’t an official note here, but Oajan absolutely seems like it has some in the dry down. Maybe it’s my own personal associations of this fragrance with 1 Million Prive for Men.

Overlap and a similar style. There are plenty of women who absolutely dig wearing this perfume and so it is an acceptable trade with Angels’ Share. Oajan Review

An Inexpensive Similarity

Khamrah by Lattafa– Khamrah is a solid rendition of something that smells similar to Angels’ Share, but not quite the same. It has a sweeter aroma overall and strikes a pretty close to the Kilian scent, in the early innings of wear.

But, it stays with that sweetness, features dates as a fruity note, plenty of bergamot citrus, and some kind of boozy aroma as well.

But, the booziness doesn’t quite feel like cognac and it really doesn’t have that oak barrel finish that comes with the transition to the dry down with Angels’ Share.

However, overall this is very nice for the price point. Not an absolute match, some things are definitely different, but the experience is enjoyable.

Rum Gourmand

Dolcelisir L’Erbolario– I’m not sure if this one is even still made, but I’ve linked to the website, and I have seen bottles for sale pretty recently. Nonetheless, Dolcelisir is a perfume with a very similar style to Angels’ Share, but predates our target fragrance.

This one goes with rum and sugar cane in lieu of cognac. Cocoa and caramel instead of praline. With none of the woodiness, that you get with the Kilian.

What you do get is a blend of dried fruits, woven into a sweet gourmand fragrance with a similar use of vanilla and cinnamon to something like Angels’ Share or even the aforementioned Oajan. 

Sweet, but nothing screeching and a greater tonka bean and vanilla influence, later in the wear.

Desert Sands

Sand Desert at Sunset by Zara– So, Zara has gotten in on this style with their own perfume release, that has a lot in common with Angels’ Share. While not nearly being exact. 

Mainly, you’re not getting the cognac note, which is probably the backbone of the Angels’ Share experience. Sand Desert is still sweet and spice, sharing the cinnamon note, as its main similarity. 

This one has a touch of chocolate and a hefty dose of tonka bean. Sweet, somewhat powdery, and a brighter citrus top. If you want something that is almost the same as Angels’ Share, go with one of the earlier picks.

If you want a lighter perfume for cheap, in a related style, this is a good pickup.

Vanilla Amber & Tobacco

Ambre D’Alexandrie by Boucheron– Instead of boozy, we’re going more with an resinous amber and tobacco, led by Ambre D’Alexandrie’s narguile accord.

Within that ‘narguile’ blend, there has to be some dry fruit along with the tobacco note itself, because this has that same sort of fruity sweetness as Angels’ Share.

Yet, this Boucheron scent is the most different from Angels’ Share out of the other options on the list. This is one for those who don’t want the same aroma, but something with a similar flair. 

The dry down is more of a resinous amber, vanilla heavy, and tobacco floating around gently. But, the opening to middle act is where we get a bold use of cinnamon spice, the fruitiness, and close comparisons to our perfume.

Fired Up

Emir Fire Your Desire– This is another one from a Middle Eastern brand, which tries to mimic the aroma of Angels’ Share. That, it accomplishes quite well. Though, you may need to wait a few weeks or months for it to macerate (like many others).

But, what it lack is the performance aspect of Angels’ Share. Others on the list, tend to match up with the longevity of the Kilian formula. This one, kind of misses the mark. It’s not completely weak or anything, it’s just not going to hit that 8-9 hour mark.

Fire Your Desire isn’t super expensive, but I think that the aforementioned perfumes earlier on the list, present a better value and often better performance.

Ariana Grande Cloud vs R.E.M. Comparison

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Ariana Grande has been coming out with plenty of very popular fragrances under her label. Cloud is the one that has gotten the most attention in the past few years and so will always get compared with others from the line. R.E.M. is one such perfume.

Mainly, because of the blend of sweet notes and lavender, which gives it a similar starting point to Cloud. But, which one is actually better? Lasts longer?

Tale of the Tape: Cloud vs R.E.M.

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

R.E.M.

Notes include: lavender, fig, caramel, quince, musk, tonka bean, sandalwood, zefir

Click here to try: R.E.M Ariana Grande edp 100ml

Read my full review: REM by Ariana

Opening

Cloud kicks off with its brightness and sweetness on full display. The lead off is highlighted by the pear note with bergamot and the lavender peaking through early. The lavender never feels all that heavy to me.

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…not entirely, though.

R.E.M. also starts off with a sweetness. But, the lavender note is much more prominent from the start and the fragrance feels more substantial. Caramel, quince, and zefir give it the light gourmand touch, without being overwhelmingly sugary, and it’s actually a bit salty. Caramel is the lead.

Also, the musk from the base comes up early on and you pick up that.

Which is better? I think I prefer the start of Cloud over R.E.M. It’s not a huge difference, but the fruity notes up top really sell it for me.

Edge: Cloud

Projection

Cloud does hit a moderate range with its sillage, but for most of the wear, it is light and airy (yes, cloud-like) with how it projects. Honestly, not bad, and doesn’t feel like a complete skin scent. Just something that is lighter and not a monster.

R.E.M. is more substantial. It has a thicker aroma, better projection, and the sillage is just greater than it is with Cloud. Still, it isn’t a super heavy fragrance or one that will take over a room, with normal sprays.

In the range of moderate, probably upper end of the spectrum. Solid, but not beastly.

Edge: REM

Longevity

All the times that I have tested Cloud out, I get about six hours of wear from it. Not really any more than that and five at worst. So, 5-6 hours is about what it’s capable of and what it will probably provide.

Is R.E.M. longer lasting? For me, yes. Though, neither of these are super long lasting, just decent.

It’ll hit the 7-7.5 hour range, at its max. It doesn’t blow Cloud out in this category, but does seem to have a distinct edge.

Edge: REM

Versatility

Seasonally, Cloud is best in the autumn and winter months, but it can easily venture into the springtime. More of a casual daytime wear. Not very formal, but clean and pretty. It’s actually not a total teenager sort of fragrance. Yes, the sweetness is there, but it does have some depth of character.

R.E.M. is also an autumn through springtime wear. It can go either day or night, as well. But, I think that Cloud lightness is better in the warmer temperatures of spring. R.E.M. is a thicker sort of scent, which plays better in the cold.

R.E.M.’s use of lavender can have more of a masculine vibe. To me, it still comes off as a feminine scent, but that may be something to consider for a portion of those deciding between these two.

Cloud is a tad more versatile and takes this category.

Edge: Cloud

Overall Scent

I like Cloud well enough. Though, I’ve never been too crazy about it versus what many others seem to think of it. There are definite aspects of it that I enjoy. I don’t think it’s the nicest Ariana Grande fragrance.

The opening is nice and catching whiffs of the fluffy and sweet dry down does hold some appeal.

The performance is just okay, but the overall scent is above average to me. I just don’t like it as much as R.E.M.

Cloud is certainly the more popular perfume out of the two, I don’t think it is the better fragrance, however.

Cloud Intense and Cloud Pink are slightly better to me, than the original. Although, neither is drastically different enough to supplant my pick of R.E.M. in a head to head comparison.

R.E.M. is a lavender based perfume, more so than Cloud, so keep that in mind. I like it as it dries down, you still get the salty/sweet caramel, lavender, and a musky base. Sweet with coldness to the gourmand aroma, sort of an iced coffee effect (not necessarily the smell itself).

The performance is better and I think as a whole, R.E.M. takes this match up. It’s not way ahead of Cloud, but it is more mature and has a greater depth to it.

But, if you want a lighter and fluffier sweetness, Cloud might be the better one for you.

Winner: REM

8 Best Narciso Rodriguez Perfumes for Her

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Narciso Rodriguez has been an immensely successful Cuban-American designer, who has had a very big breakout in terms of popularity over the past 5-10 years especially. His design house features lots of fragrances for both men and women that have a more classic feel than many other scents on the market.

The brand is well known for its use of musk, as a note, in seemingly all of its releases. For this post, I want to present eight of his top options for ladies. Giving you enough options, to find the best one for you.

Favorite Narciso Rodriguez Perfumes

narciso edp review

Best Selling Narciso Scent

Narciso Rodriguez Women’s Eau de Parfum Spray, 3 Fluid Ounce– A musky floral that is clean, warm, and fresh. Honey, orange blossom, and vanilla join the musk note to create an aroma that is smooth but not overpowering.

It actually does have a very similar aroma to Lovely by SJP, with that same type of musk laden floral. I think this one is the better of the two, as I like the blend here more so.

Narciso Rodriquez for Women starts off with a fairly sweet blend of osmanthus and the orange flower, with that honeyed sort of finish.

Then, you get a smooth drier finish, of a musky floral fragrance. This one has become insanely popular, over the years, and you can detect its presence a lot when you go out on the town.

Between this and the EDT, is pretty similar. I do notice that this has more patchouli than the EDT version.  Some other differences, but this is slightly better to my nose.

There is also a newer release, Narciso Rodriguez for Her Forever. That version seems spicier than either the EDT or EDP version. Plus, a bit of a different floral aroma. Creamier, at times, with more of a musky punch. Better than EDT; though, I’m not sure if it surpasses EDP. It’s a close call.

Low Key Clean

NARCISO RODRIGUEZ Pure Musc for Woman Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.3 Fluid Ounce– I’m going to put Pure Musc on the list, as I haven’t seen the Absolu version of this anywhere (the notes listed sound better though, with ylang-ylang on top).

This one is a very simple and straightforward fragrance. It’s a super clean and fantastic musk note, that’s not too heavy, paired with the impression of floral notes and some woody undertones from the cashmere.

Pure Musc has a nice subtle energy to it. Cozy and upbeat, with a touch of a powdery finish. Low key perfume, but attractive for what it is.

Soft, Greenish Floral

Narciso Rodriguez L’eau for Her Eau de Toilette Spray, 3.4 Ounce– A softer floral perfume with notes of peony, rose, lily of the valley, and jasmine. The musk isn’t as dominant as it is in the selection above, and is better suited, for those who enjoy subtlety in a fragrance.

L’eau has a watery green aroma, like a stem and floral mix, with rose and peony coming through at times during the wear. This is a great and fresh wear for spring and the early summer months.

L’Eau for Her is clean and understated addition to the lineup. Yes, the musk is toned down in this one, but you’re going to have to be a fan of lily of the valley to truly appreciate it. Peony and rose, both have their moments to shine, but mainly stay on as secondary players.

Best Winter Perfume

Narciso Rouge Eau de Parfum- Rouge, of course, has that signature Narciso Rodriguez musk note. However, it is the powdery and gorgeous iris note, which steals the show early on.

You’ll notice that this one, has a similar profile to Essence, that’s listed below. The main difference is this one, is slightly heavier, and more geared towards a colder climate. Vanilla and tonka bean, give it a lighter sweetness, but it really distinguishes itself with the woody base.

Musk, iris, and rose sitting on top of a blend of cedar and sandalwood notes. It’s that usual musky floral, with a powdery, and fresh woodsy finish to it. Nice performance and a great smelling scent.

Top New Release

Musc Noir Rose– Musc Noir Rose is a newer entry from Narciso for 2022. But, to me, it’s already among the best that the designer has put out.

Might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but you get a sweeter, fruitier, musky clean, and creamy/powdery blend. Yes, vanilla creaminess and suede smoothness.

It opens up with bergamot citrus and some light pink peppercorn. The vanilla will be present from early on and this is when the perfume will be at its sweetest (not overwhelmingly so). The tuberose note is great and pairs well with that signature musk, in the second act.

Not to worry, it’s not a super thick or heavy perfume, and actually should shine fairly well in the spring or even summer months. The latter stages are more of a smooth soapy sort of rose aroma and less of that initial sweetness.

Earthy Amber Scent

Narciso Rodriguez Amber Musc For Her Eau De Parfum For Women 100 ML– Amber Musc lets this designer, take things in another direction from the rest of the list. Musk and patchouli sitting in a sea of amber resin. This is an oriental take on that musk note and it’s a great one.

Amber Musc is warm with a blend of earthiness, a bit of sweetness, and an Oriental composition. It does feature a oud note, which actually blends quite well here, and doesn’t come across as overpowering. It has vanilla, orange flower, and a honey aroma like Narciso EDP does.

Nonetheless, Amber Musc stands out among the line of fragrances, we have on offer. It’s not as musky, as the name would lead you to think, but it does go heavy on the amber (which I love). So, liking that amber, is going to be a precondition for really enjoying this perfume.

Best Summer Fragrance

Essence Narciso Rodriguez By Narciso Rodriguez For Women Eau De Parfum Spray 1.7 Oz– Essence is a great option for wear during the warmer months of the year. It is highlighted by musk and iris notes which give it a very feminine and energetic air about it.

So, yes, it is going to have that powdery floral aroma but it works oh so well here. Also, you get a light rose within the mix, for even more floral goodness. It is like a more simplified version of Rouge. You get a higher dose of the iris and rose blend, as well as, more musk.

This actually helps Essence to stay light and have a greater ability to work in the spring or summertime. It’s actually quite refreshing, not super powdery but more of a mix between that, and a creamy cleanser.

Pink Rose with Some Spice

Fleur Musc– A bouquet of pink flowers to match the pink bottle and even the pink peppercorn note, that it contains. Fresh, musky, with a hint of spice from that pepper. Fleur Musc features a heart of peony and pink rose. The rose is the stronger of the two.

It is somewhat similar to L’eau listed earlier on the list. Nonetheless, it still manages to stand out on its own and deliver a well-balanced wear, with a powdery/musky finish. The pepper spice, fades out pretty early, and the peony also takes on less of a role.

Initially, it is quite balanced with the pink rose. Not super powerful, but features a good sillage, and it doesn’t quit after just a few hours of wear.

5 Best Smelling Katy Perry Perfumes

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Katy Perry has been putting out hits, in the music arena for over a decade now. So, like many other celebrities and pop singers, she moved into other branding opportunities. Most notably, the world of perfumes, with which she has enjoyed a lot of success. Some stars, never get beyond a few releases, but Katy has stacked up plenty of them.

In this post, I am going to give my opinion, on what the five best smelling fragrances that she has released up to this point in time. Update: No new scents have been released since 2018, so it may be done completely. I’ll continue to update as needed.

Favorite Fragrances by Katy Perry

Fruity Floral for Summer

Katy Perry Mad Love Eau de Parfum Spray for Women, 3.4 Ounce– This one didn’t seem to generate quite the same level of popularity, as the other fragrances on the list. But, it is still quite a nice gem.

It is a sweet and fruity perfume, with a coconut/strawberry blend sitting on top of a creamy undertone. It actually shares some overlap with the earlier Ariana Grande perfumes such as, Sweet Like Candy. Though, I like that one more than Mad Love (this is a lower price, however)

Then, there is a light and crisp apple. Hints of floral notes, emerge during the dry down, but this is mostly a fruity affair.

Good warm weather fragrance, for the price, with solid performance.

Youthful Styled Perfume

Katy Perry Meow Eau De Parfum Spray for Women, 3.4 Ounce– Meow opens up with pear and tangerine citrus, which is quickly joined by a wonderful vanilla. This one is definitely a youthful and sweet sort of fragrance, so, don’t expect something refined and ‘grown up’.

However, in its innocent sweetness, Meow is still utterly enjoyable. It’s light and pleasant, with a bit of musk, but an overall sweet and creamy profile. This is probably the best bet, for the younger set from Katy Perry.

The vanilla is the strongest note here. I enjoy the sparkling pear note up top and that lovely citrus touch. What’s also good, is that I can pick up on the individual floral notes at different times in the wear.

So, it’s not just a generic floral aroma. Honeysuckle, jasmine, and gardenia actually show up and are distinct. Meow Full Review

Sweet Gourmand

Katy Perry Killer Queen Eau de Parfum Spray for Women, 3.4 Ounce– You get a sweet gourmet top, with praline and fruits, mostly its berries. However, there is a light citrus aroma at the start, from bergamot.

While this is another sweet scent, Killer Queen, adds in a solid bit of patchouli to rough things up a bit. It’s still sweet and girly, but the patchouli note and some jasmine, gives it more maturity than something like Meow.

But, the floral notes are lighter in this one. While that one is more bright, creamy, and sweet. This is dark and fruity sweet.

Killer Queen does bear some resemblance to Flowerbomb, while not being fully the same. You get a very similar style, some of the same aromas, just at a much lower price.

Most Popular Katy Perry Perfume

Kate Perry Purr Eau De Parfum Spray for Women, 3.4 Ounce– Purr is still the most popular of this line of perfumes, after almost ten years, or so. It opens up with apple and peach, with some floral notes and coconut, also peaking through.

Apple really pops out after the initial spray and takes that early lead. But, peach will be the stronger note, once that apple quickly wears off.

As it dries down, it becomes a bit more floral, but still retains a tropical coconut vibe with some vanilla creaminess.

Purr also contains a really interesting bamboo note, which pairs with gardenia. Ultimately, it’s about the peach, coconut, bamboo, and gardenia. Less of the bamboo versus the other notes. Clean and light scent. My Review of Purr

Underrated Perry Fragrance

Katy Perry Royal Revolution Eue de Parfum Spray for Women, 3.4 Ounce– Royal Revolution feature pomegranate and blackthorn, which looks like a blueberry, but has a more tart aroma and taste.

Those two notes combine, to give this a candy-like fruitiness, but the dry down features more patchouli and creaminess. Fresh and fruity up top, with a general woody/floral/sweet finish.

There is just enough freshness and a slight spice to not let Royal Revolution get bogged down. It’s actually a fairly light sillage for this style of perfume. Pretty close to RiRi by Rihanna, in terms of style, just not the exact same scent.

With vanilla orchid and freesia, this one has enough unique notes, to set it apart from the rest of the scents on this list. Juicy, warm, and then floral and woody.

So, that’s the list of my five choices of the best perfumes, from the Katy Perry line. I’ll come back as needed, to add or subtract from this list, as I see fit. For now, this will get you started, with your exposure to this brand.

13 Best Smelling Ariana Grande Perfumes

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Like seemingly every celebrity and/or pop stars, there came a time when Ariana would come out with her own scent. Now, more than enough have been released, to create a best Ariana Grande perfume list.

These fragrances are generally aimed at the younger set, and made quite affordable in order to move plenty of units.

To that end, they absolutely have and these have become some of the most popular perfumes out today. But, they are for sure not just limited to teenagers wearing these fragrances.

In this post, I wanted to do a top six list of what has been put out on the market through this point in time. Then, I ranked the other ones just because. Which Ariana Grande perfume smells the best? Read below for my take, after having tested them.

Listing my Favorite Ariana Perfumes

Top Overall Perfume

Sweet Like Candy by Ariana Grande– It’s a close call as to what is the best Ariana Grande  perfume, as tastes are subject. For me, Sweet Like Candy puts itself in the top spot.

It obviously has a certain sweetness, that Ari also shares, yet this one is lighter and more airy.

Vanilla, blackberry, whipped cream, and of course, marshmallow pull together to form a warm and youthful candy-like aroma. Sweet Like Candy comes in an adorable little pink bottle, kicks off with its berry and pear blend, much like the next entry.

However, this one begins to shift more to a creamy, sweet, and familiar aroma. Lots of whipped cream with a vanilla touch and a great marshmallow addition. Very soft, girly, and sits beautifully in the colder weather.

As I wrote in the introduction, these perfumes can have a lot in common with one another. As far as her sweet, girly gourmands go, I think Sweet Like Candy does it better on balance versus the others.

What’s good about Sweet Like Candy?
  • Sweet, but not cloying and heavy
  • Nice performance
  • Creamy soft with marshmallow

The Originator 

Ari by Ariana Grande– A sugary sweet perfume with a blast of raspberry and marshmallow among other notes. It’s kind of an either/or situation between this one and Sweet Like Candy, but this one is still nice with the addition of pear and floral notes during the dry down period.

Update: I think Cloud has taken the best-seller title now from this, with its similarities to Baccarat Rouge 540. Ari is still a very good scent to get a hold of, even if that’s the case.

Ari starts off with the raspberry being the strongest. It is quite fruity in the beginning, with further grapefruit and pear additions, to the mix. It’s really got a vibe, like a Juicy Couture perfume. Very fruity top, with a sweet gourmand touch.

Completely safe and possibly a tad more mature than Sweet Like Candy.

Then, after a bit of time passes, that’s when you get more floral influences. Vanilla orchid comes through a lot, a touch of musk, and that fluffy marshmallow. Ultimately, it’s orchid, marshmallow, raspberry, and pear. Quite nice, well worth a try for the price. My Full Review of Ari

What’s good about Ari?
  • Juicy raspberry start
  • Great floral touches, especially orchid

Another One to Try

Moonlight by Ariana Grande Eau De Parfum – Yet another marshmallow fragrance, but Moonlight takes things in a bit of a different direction. It’s creamy with a plum note that is tart and blends well with the peony floral. Overall, a very interesting fragrance.

This is one does have that tart and slightly more sour fruit opening, versus the other fragrances, on this list. Plum and black currant will do that. No worries though, as Moonlight, isn’t a bomb of a perfume. It is the type that you can wear, almost anywhere without issue.

As it dries down, the peony and marshmallow combine to surround the light fruity notes, and make for a very attractive combination. It has a bit of a creamy/powdery finish.

Not super unique, but the peony and plum do separate it enough, and make it worthwhile at a certain price.

Thank U, Next 2.0 also shares similarities with this one now, as well. Moonlight’s become sort of a blend of 3 or 4 of the perfumes of this line.

What’s good with Moonlight?
  • Similar marshmallow base, with a different twist
  • Plum and black currant are great
  • Easy to wear

Top Thank U, Next

Thank U, Next– Yes, this is a newer scent from Ariana. However, I think that Thank U, Next is already among her best perfumes. It still retains the sweetness, put forth by the other options, but moves away from the usual fluffy marshmallow.

This gives you notes of pear, raspberry, coconut, and macarons. It is a bolder option, with more sillage than probably any of the others. A sugary macaron, meets the refreshing qualities of crisp pear and coconut water.

Updated note: Thank U, Next 2.0 came out. Here’s my comparison post versus the original. 2.0 starts off better, but it really fell off quickly.

The rose note, while not super powerful is for sure there throughout the entire wear. It and the musk, help to offset some of the gourmand qualities. I really liked Thank U, Next as it doesn’t have any real weaknesses on my skin.

I should say, some people report it having a so-called, ‘pickle juice’ aroma on their skin. I got none of that and I think I’m in the majority, who doesn’t experience it. But, something to consider with Thank U, Next.

While it starts out bold, it does become much more moderate, and the overall longevity isn’t amazing. Very cute and delicious sort of perfume. Coconut, raspberry, with a sugary baked goods finish. Sweet with a creamy heart. Here’s my full review

What’s good about Thank U, Next?
  • Different from the others on the list
  • Sweet and warm gourmand aroma
  • Stronger projection than the other Ariana Grande scents

best ariana grande perfume

A Better Cloud

R.E.M. by Ariana Grande–  R.E.M. makes the cut versus Cloud, which it share similarities to, but this is a better pick. R.E.M. is a sweet fragrance, but doesn’t have the ‘girly’ kind of aroma when compared to the others.

What is does have is a nice salty caramel, lavender, and fig. Fig is a completely underutilized note, and while not dominant here, it does add something great to the mix.

I think that this one has a bit more depth and feels more mature than the others. The lavender really becomes heavier later on in the wear.

It develops from a sweeter scent, much like Cloud, into a scent with woody under tones, a good dose of lavender, and with a creamy tonka bean coming through.

The sillage and longevity with R.E.M. isn’t amazing, but certainly not terrible either. That’s the one thing the Ariana Grande perfumes could all use, better performance. At least more staying power, if not, actual projecting ability.

Personally, I can get seven hours on skin, with R.E.M. I would expect most people should get at least 5.

But, it is more substantial with a ‘thicker’ feeling than you get with the more airy Cloud. Comes close to unisex and strikes a bit similar to Rochas Man…but still leans feminine and doesn’t have the stronger coffee smell. REM Review

What’s good about R.E.M.?
  • More depth
  • Great lavender note
  • Solid performance, but not heavy

Delightful Pear Release

God is a Woman by Ariana Grande– If you’re a fan of Cloud, Cloud Intense is also another new release that is better and you could go with that instead of R.E.M.

However, the best newer release from Ariana is…God is a Woman ahead of Cloud Intense and Thank U, Next 2.0.

I don’t really get the disappointing reviews from some folks. Yes, this is a lighter scent, but the performance gives me around 7 hours. Maybe its the name? Rather ugly bottle design?

The smell itself? This one features that nice pear note from Thank U, Next blended with a musky ambrette note and fresh cedar wood. The pear is the star here, but there is a light powdery aroma from orris and a brief rose appearance.

Juicy and sweet pear with vanilla, ambrette, and that cedar. It’s light, fresh, and has a sort of semi-aquatic feeling. Pretty simple, but effective, and a certainly a best Ariana Grande perfume. Read my full review

What’s good about God is a Woman?
  • The pear
  • Freshness
  • Rather unique compared to the others

Ranking the Other Ariana Perfumes

7. Cloud Pink

Cloud Pink is the latest flanker from the Cloud series, released in 2023. It’s not so much better than the other two, but for me, it is the best of them currently.

The main difference here is going to be in the opening through the middle act. Also, the lavender note isn’t in this one either.

It starts off with dragon fruit, pink pineapple, and coconut water. This gives the Pink formula a sweeter, fruitier, and somewhat tropical feeling in the opening. Not massive amounts of fruits, but substantial and sets it apart from the other two Cloud perfumes.

No worries though, this is still warm and fluffy, and doesn’t behave as a summer version of Cloud. The dry down is quite a bit like the others, just a different weighting in the notes. Performance is about the same as Cloud. Cloud Pink Review

8. Mod Vanilla

This is one of the two new Mod fragrance releases from Ariana. It does share a lot of similarities with the Clouds, but I prefer this slightly more.

It opens up without one note completely dominant and it has a nice balance. Freesia, musk, and some plum early on in the wear. As it develops, you’ll get more of the vanilla and praline notes.

Along with that, iris and cocoa butter. Not overly powdery, but Mod Vanilla has a gourmand sweetness and creaminess to it. The performance is actually very good. I got 8+ hours on my skin during testing and a bolder sillage than Cloud. Mod Vanilla Review

mod vanilla review

9. Cloud 2.0

The Intense version of Ariana Grande’s Cloud. 2.0 is a slightly better version, with better sillage and longevity.

The pear note is weakened in 2.0, but the lavender smells smoother and plays well off of the amped up ambroxan note. Also, it smells creamier versus the fluffiness of the original. Cloud 2.0 gives more play to the whipped cream, vanilla, and praline notes.

About 7-7.5 hours of wear on the skin, with a pretty noticeable sillage. Cloud 2.0 Full Review

10. Cloud

Cloud is one that got fairly overrated, in my opinion. Don’t get me wrong, I like it a fair bit. But, it’s role as a potential BR 540 clone, definitely boosted its profile.

The opening has the bergamot, lavender, and pear start to it. Sparkling, this is when it is most similar to R.E.M. But, that lavender note isn’t nearly as prominent.

The highlight for me, is when you get into the creamier part of the perfume (still less so than 2.0). It’s whipped cream, coconut, and that sweet edible aroma from the praline. At this point, it does start to resemble a cloud, with how light and fluffy it feels.

It does smell fairly nice, but nothing spectacular. The performance is decent. For the right price, and if this is your style, Cloud can be a nice pickup. My Full Review

11. Thank U, Next 2.0

Thank U, Next 2.0 almost replaced the original on this list, with its delicious pomegranate and apple juice laden opening. But, the second half isn’t as good, and the performance topped out at 5 hours for me…which is like 2 or 3 fewer than the original.

It’s very juicy and has a great vibrant energy to the aroma. Then, it settles into a generic floral with the usual Ariana marshmallow note, and some musk. That ending is just a marshmallow musk.

It’s strange how this one, just completely fell apart and lost much of its charm. The opening is pretty awesome, but it’s pretty ho-hum, afterwards. I had high hopes for it, but it’s just okay. For a big discount, it might still be worthwhile. Thank U, Next 2.0 Review

12. Mod Blush

Mod Blush isn’t completely bad or anything. The opening is a tropical fruity aroma, that is sort of like other celebrity fragrances (which are cheaper in price). Then, it turns into something that is like an impression of other perfumes from Ariana Grande.

But, it’s not as good as any of them. Some have compared Mod Blush to Sweet Like Candy or Ari, which is true to some extent, as they have similar vibes. Yet, those are both superior in smell and performance to this.

The aroma itself is fine, but the performance was mediocre for something at this price point. So, Mod Blush almost takes the bottom spot on the list. Mod Blush Full Review

13. Frankie

For me, the weakest is Frankie. Which, is harder to find nowadays, so it’s pretty irrelevant. It was okay, I suppose, it’s difficult to recall what smelled like exactly. It had pink pepper, sugar, some fruity notes up top. Just never came together all that well.

Not something really worth pursuing, nor even coming close to being the best Ariana Grande perfume release.