It’s no secret Rihanna loves perfume. Known to layer her scents – sometimes wearing as many as five at once – Rihanna is routinely called the best smelling woman in showbiz. Celebrities such as Cardi B, Jennifer Lawrence and Nick Jonas have all publicly declared how wonderful her aroma is. Even Lil Nas X, when recently asked what his favorite smell is, simply replied: “Rihanna.”
Fortunately for us, the Barbadian singer, businesswoman and all-round icon have released, in partnership with fragrance house Parlux, no less than 11 Eau De Parfums of her own. Since launching her first fragrance Reb’l Fleur in 2011, she’s collaborated with some of the best noses in the business, releasing a slew of daring, stylish and timeless perfumes. Here are our favorites:
11 Perfumes by Rihanna:
1 Reb’l Fleur
The original and quite possibly the best, Reb’l Fleur, launched in 2011 with the tagline: “Bad feels so good .”A Fruity Chypre created by Caroline Sabas and Marypierre Julien of Givaudan, Reb’l Fleur’s top notes of peach, plum and red berries dance over mids of coconut, tuberose, hibiscus and violet; before easing into a bed of vanilla, patchouli, musk and amber. Named after her Barbadian grandmother’s nickname for her – Rebel Flower – and presented in a striking bottle inspired by the heel of a stiletto, Reb’l Fleur is, like anything Rihanna does, deliciously sexy and sophisticated.
2 Rebelle
Following in the stiletto steps of Reb’l Fleur is 2012’s Rebelle. Even more decadent than its predecessor, Rebelle’s heart notes of cacao, orchid and heliotrope are woven between top notes of strawberry, ginger and plum and base notes of musk, coffee, patchouli and amber. A Fruity-Floral with bold Gourmand chords, the scent was again designed by Marypierre Julien and Caroline Sabas. Encased in the same stiletto-style bottle, this time with a red and gold color scheme, this Rihanna perfume is a classy and gutsy second offering. The fastest-selling celebrity perfume ever in the UK, Rebelle sold a record four million bottles by the end of its release year.
3 Rogue
Ahhh…Rogue. Rihanna’s fourth perfume may have made its debut in a more traditional rectangular bottle, but it hadn’t lost any of its predecessors’ dazzle. Breaking with the stiletto-inspired casing of her first three fragrances, this Rihanna perfume was designed to reflect her own personality and style evolution. By 2013, Rihanna was well on her way to becoming the icon that she now is, and Rogue encapsulates that. It’s an Amber Floral with oriental base notes of patchouli, vanilla, musk, woods and amber. With heart notes of suede, plum, rose, jasmine and breezy tops of lemon blossom and cyclamen, Rogue lives up to its catchphrase of “Push Boundaries. Be Bold. Go Rogue”.
4 Nude
Rihanna’s third fragrance, released in 2012, is a Floral Fruity. Opening with tropical notes of guava, pear and mandarin, Nude is balanced by floral mid notes of gardenia, orange blossom and jasmine sambac. At the same time, a rich base of vanilla orchid, sandalwood and musk holds the scent. Cased in a stunning white version of her signature stiletto bottle, Nude is overtly feminine and flirty. It’s the perfect scent to team with a strappy summer dress. Or, as Rihanna herself advised: “Wear it with nothing else.”
5 RiRi
Designed by renowned nose Steve DeMercado, who’s developed fragrances in conjunction with celebrities such as Billie Eilish, Nicole Richie and Jessica Simpson, 2015’s RiRi is another Floral Fruity. Cased in a glamorous pink bottle, this Rihanna perfume packs a distinctly tropical, albeit ladylike, punch. A sweet, heady cocktail of passionfruit, rum, mandarin and cassis emerges, followed by gentler mid notes of honeysuckle, pink freesia, jasmine and orange blossom, rounded out by vanilla, musk, siam benzoin and Indonesian sandalwood. Flirty, fun and original.
6 Rogue Love
Rogue Love is more than just an updated version of Rogue: it’s an olfactory world of its own. Sharing some of the original Rogue’s base notes – vanilla, amber and wood – Rogue Love swaps patchouli for caramel, gently nudging it into the category of Floral Fruity Gourmand. Evoking the feeling of falling in love, this Rihanna perfume has top notes of peach, red berries and mandarin that segue into full-blooming honeysuckle, orchid, jasmine sambac and delicious coconut. It’s a sensual take on the original Rogue and one of Rihanna’s best perfumes.
7 Reb’l Fleur Love Always
Rihanna’s 10th perfume, launched in 2018, contains the same accords as the original. Re-dosed and intensified, it’s still a Chypre Fruity, with top notes of plum, red berries and peach; mid notes of coconut, tuberose, hibiscus and violet; and base notes of vanilla, patchouli, amber and musk. Oozing confidence, power and sensuality, it’s an olfactory reflection of the rise and rise of Rihanna’s star – from Pop Princess to legitimate rival to Beyonce’s reign as Queen.
8 Crush
Housed in a peach-colored version of the RiRi bottle, 2016’s Crush is an Amber Floral – also described as a “Floriental” – designed by nose Natasha Cote. First to arrive are bergamot, mandarin and pink pepper, followed by Crush’s heart notes of ylang-ylang, red berries, and pink rose. Last to leave the party are musk, cedar and patchouli. Ladylike yet bold, Crush is a confident scent for women who unapologetically break the rules.
9 KISS
Following on in theme from RiRi and Crush is 2017’s Kiss. Presented in a pretty baby blue bottle, this Rihanna perfume is an unabashedly Floral fragrance. Blooming with the scent of white flowers, Kiss opens with rich plum, freesia and neroli. Its boldly feminine heart notes of gardenia, peony and orange blossom are balanced superbly by a base of cashmere wood, vanilla, ambergris, musk and cedar. Kiss is simultaneously elegant and playful – just like Rihanna.
10 Rogue Man
Rogue Man is Rihanna’s first men’s fragrance. Launched not long after Rogue for women, these Rihanna perfumes are two sides of the same coin. Rogue Man is an Amber Woody created by Frank Voelkl with heart notes of cedar, jasmine, vanilla orchid and labdanum; balanced by tops of bergamot, clementine, black pepper and rosemary and a base of sandalwood, patchouli, amber, musk and tonka bean. Rogue Man is a fiercely sensual and enigmatic scent.
11 777 Nude
777 Nude by Rihanna Diamonds is a limited-edition perfume launched to commemorate her 2012 tour of seven concerts, in seven countries, in seven days. Only 777 bottles were released, each inscribed with a unique number and signed by Queen RiRi herself. The composition is identical to the original Nude, with top notes of guava, pear and mandarin; and mids of gardenia, orange blossom and jasmine sambac held by a base of vanilla orchid, sandalwood and musk. 777 Nude is a must-have for Rihanna superfans and fragrance collectors.
