Thank U, Next 2.0 by Ariana Grande

Thank U, Next was another successful perfume release from Ariana Grande. As such, the limited edition 2.0 version was brought out in 2021, just like the update to the ever-popular Cloud. Some had a negative experience wearing the original, but I found Thank U, Next to be one of the pop star’s best. How does 2.0 stack up? How long does it last? Is it worth a buy?

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What does Thank U, Next 2.0 Smell Like?

Notes include: pomegranate, strawberry, apple, marshmallow, musk, sandalwood, orchid, jasmine

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My Full Review

I really enjoy how 2.0 opens up after the initial spray. It’s very juicy, energetic, and bold. I love pomegranate as a note and it gets plenty of play here early on. It, along with apple juice, and strawberry give this a very fruity profile at the start.

Underneath that, I definitely pick up on the near ubiquitous note of marshmallow from the Ariana Grande line.

The fruity notes do begin to fall away, pretty early on. The strawberry especially. Apple juicy and pomegranate hang on, but will no longer play such a substantial role.

Yes, the early stages of this are a lot like Eden Juicy Apple from Kayali. This Ariana perfume is better than that one, however. I like the mix of notes more so here and the floral marshmallow second act.

One thing that I get with 2.0 versus the original, is a greater amount of jasmine. Marshmallow, jasmine, and some orchid is what the core of this perfume is about. The musk will start to play a larger role as we move further into the wear.

At some point, the floral notes become indistinguishable to me. It’s a general sweetness, floral impressions, marshmallow, and musk. A bit powdery and a touch of wood. Not all that much development here.

In fact, it all sort of comes undone, ending with a vague marshmallow muskiness.

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Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, this is kind of an odd duck. It starts off strong, even more so than the original Thank U. But, it quickly loses steam and continues falling all the way into skin scent territory after 2-3 hours.

Initially, I thought it was going to be an absolute beast, because it does project itself very well after applying. I can spray 2.0 on clothes and pick it up from across the room…for a little while.

The longevity isn’t great. A weaker sillage wouldn’t be the end of the world, if it stuck around for a full workday. It doesn’t. With Thank U, Next 2.0 I get about 5 hours. That’s a pretty far step back from the original, which could hit 8 hours.

That’s one of the worst performers from the Ariana line (I’ve tested them all). The others usually will hit 6-7 hours, at least, and this one just doesn’t seem very capable.

Seasonally, this one is good for the warmer weather. The fruitiness, juiciness, and general sweetness will lend itself well to spring and summer.

This is one of Ariana’s perfumes that will probably have more appeal to the younger set. For a younger girl, this could probably be a signature type of scent. For a woman, this will be something you’d want to wear casually.

Not a complete ‘teeny bopper’ perfume, but that fruity sweetness leans that way.

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Overall Impressions of Thank U, Next 2.0

Overall, do I like this scent? I do, but that also carries a disclaimer. The opening is fantastic and among the best that Ariana’s list of perfumes has produced. The latter part is fine (not nearly as good as the start) and pretty similar to others.

I get a Moonlight vibe after the initial wave wears off. More so that, than the original Thank U. But, that might be a good thing in certain cases. If you’re one of those who gets the ‘pickle juice’ smell with Thank U, Next, this one might be able to replace it. Even though, they are fairly different fragrances.

It’s just the performance here, that really holds it back.

It’s like watching a movie that starts off amazing (for this sort of hyper sweet tart scent) and then just starts to fall apart. Testing this multiple times, I get the 5 hours of wear routinely, and the last few hours are just a skin scent. It’s pretty bad when compared with the original Thank U, Next.

This had the potential to be a really great scent. As it is, it’s above average. It can be tough for people to track down, but at a decent price point, it can still be worthwhile to pick up. I wouldn’t pay anymore than retail to secure a bottle and would actively want a discount.

The smell itself is worth the entry fee, but whether or not the performance is, I leave up to you.