I Tried Rihanna's Signature Scent And Yes, It Smells Just As Heavenly As You'd Expect
Francesca is the Beauty Editor at Adore Beauty. With a background in glossy mags and bylines in publications like Marie Claire, ELLE and BODY+SOUL, Francesca has turned her love of beauty into a career. Whether she's decoding buzzy ingredients or road testing lip glosses (so. many. glosses.), her approach to beauty is equal parts glamour and highly-considered.
What do Beyoncé, Rihanna and I all have in common?
On paper, very little - but in fragrance? Well, I guess you could say we're #twinning. Turns out the three of us (yes, I'm grouping us as a trio) are all devotees of luxury fragrance house Kilian Paris.
The heritage brand has long been touted as one of the most elusive and celebrated names in luxury perfumery. Their "shtick" is high-octane glamour meets olfactory intrigue.
Oh, and the brand was founded by Kilian Hennessy (heir to the historic cognac dynasty) so you know every bottle is seeped in French savoir-faire.
Beyoncé is reportedly a devotee of Angels’ Share, the brand’s intoxicating bestseller inspired by the Hennessy cognac cellars. It is a heady, liquid gold blend of amber, smoked vanilla and a dash of spice that feels like a velvet-lined night out.
Then there is Rihanna, the undisputed best smelling celebrity in Hollywood (a claim backed by everyone from Jennifer Lawrence to Lil Nas X). Her signature scent? The iconic Love, Don’t Be Shy perfume. It's a plush floral gourmand that layers juicy honeysuckle with Moroccan rose and a sophisticated marshmallow accord. Heaven!
With the brand landing at Adore Beauty this month, I decided it was time to put the celebrity hype to the test. From the boozy warmth of the cognac-inspired bottles to the addictive sweetness of the narcotics line, here is my verdict on the Kilian Paris bestsellers.
But Quickly, What Is Killian Paris?
As mentioned earlier (it's my favourite fun-fact!), the brand was founded by Kilian Hennessy. He launched the brand in 2007 with a mission to return perfumery to its pedestal of ultimate luxury.
Leaning into the heritage of his family’s 'Hennessy' cognac dynasty, Kilian’s creations are less like typical scents and more like liquid trophies. They're housed in ornate, refillable bottles designed to be kept (and treasured) for a lifetime. The scents themselves ooze the glitzy spirit of 1920s Parisian nightlife and reflect a modern opulence.
Kilian Paris regularly work with master perfumers like Calice Becker and Benoist Lapouza (the nose behind their cult Angels' Share) to ensure each spritz delivers complexity, depth and evocative that lingers.
What Is Rihanna's Signature Perfume? Kilian Paris Love, Don't Be Shy.
Notes:
- Top: Neroli
- Heart: Rose, Honeysuckle
- Base notes: Marshmallow, Cistus Labdanum
Well, I was sold at 'Rihanna'.
IYKYK, almost every celebrity under the sun has praised the singer and beauty mogul's scent. Musician Olly Alexander once said she smelt "like dreams and wishes coming true."
So what exactly does the A-lister and 'dreams and wishes coming true' smell like?
Love, Don't Be Shy opens with a Neroli top note that is (in my opinion) pure seduction. First wafts are crisp and lightly floral while also beholding a lush, syrupy warmth. It reads as rich and expensive-smelling.
I don’t typically gravitate towards rose and marshmallow notes (I usually find the former too powdery and the latter a little "fussy") but this enveloped on the skin beautifully.
The heart of Moroccan rose and juicy honeysuckle creates this creamy, sun-drenched aroma that's sweet without being too sugary or juvenile.
A deep, resinous base of cistus labdanum adds a hit of amber-like heat that's velvety and quite sensual in nature.
Also, can we please talk about the lasting power? I'm usually a serial spritzer (and tend to top up every 3-4 hours) but this lasted and lingered all day long. I really enjoyed how it settled into the skin as the hours went by, with that velvety marshmallow accord becoming more prominent. It remained potent but softened beautifully.
While I won't surmise that I too smelt like 'dreams and wishes coming true' (that would be weird), I do think this was one of the most beautiful, layered and sophisticated scents I've ever worn. It made me feel sexy, feminine and utterly confident.
Kilian Paris Angels' Share Review.
Notes:
- Top: Cognac essence
- Heart: Oak, cinnamon
- Base: Tonka bean, sandalwood
If Love, Don’t Be Shy is pure romance, Angels’ Share is a late-night rendezvous in a elusive speakeasy.
As the reported go-to for Beyoncé, my expectations were sky high and one spritz of this "liquid gold" completely confirmed the hype.
It opens with an intoxicating splash of cognac oil and oak absolute, smelling exactly like a top-shelf spirit.
The heart boasts a spicy, gourmand blend of cinnamon and tonka bean that reads as warm and toasty. I love how the praline and sandalwood notes develop; it’s a rich, brown-sugar sweetness balanced by a sharp, boozy edge.
The dry down is where the namesake "angels' share" - the portion of liquor that evaporates during aging - really comes to life. A creamy trail of vanilla that lingers on knitwear for days (I'm not exaggerating!).
Heady, mysterious and effortlessly cool. If you want to smell like the most confident person in the room, this is the bottle to reach for.
While I'm personally sticking to Love, Don't Be Shy - I'd love to buy this unisex scent for a special someone.
Kilian Paris Rolling In Love Review.
Notes:
- Top: Almond Milk, Ambrette Seeds
- Heart: Iris, Freesia
- Base: Musk, Tonka Bean, Tuberose
Popularised as a quintessential wedding-day scent, Rolling In Love is beloved for it's skin-hugging nature.
Unlike its more boozy or sugary siblings in the Kilian lineup, this 'white scent' captures the quiet, "all-consuming glow of new romance through a minimalist yet powerful composition" says Kilian Paris. It leads with creamy almond milk and ambrette seeds, creating an immediate sensation of soft, velvety warmth.
As the fragrance evolves, a sophisticated heart of powdery iris and fresh freesia emerges lending a clean, floral lens. Alluring base notes of musk and tonka bean meld with soft tuberose to produce that coveted smooth, second-skin finish.
It is a fragrance designed to linger close to the body, making it the perfect choice for those who prefer a sophisticated and effortless aroma.
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