Is Fenty's Eau De Parfum Worth It?
Rihanna — singer, businesswoman, and national hero of Barbados — has long had a reputation for smelling great, per Harper's Bazaar. Rihanna's affinity for fragrances began when she was younger, because her mother worked in the "beauty and fragrance industry."
So when the singer delved into entrepreneurship with the Fenty Beauty brand with great success, it was only a matter of time before we got a Fenty fragrance, per Vogue. However, this isn't Rihanna's first foray into the world of fragrances, as she has released perfumes before to great reception (via Viora London).
For Fenty's Eau de Parfum, Rihanna worked with LVMH's Jacques Cavallier Belletrud, the brand's in-house master perfumer. The master perfumer was quite elated about the collab, stating that working with Rihanna was "the best adventure" of his career, per Page Six.
Due to it being attached to the Fenty brand, it didn't need a large amount of publicity to make it a highly anticipated fragrance, as fans were interested from the moment Rihanna dropped a teaser for the fragrance, per The Source. The perfume was designed to be gender neutral, both in its packaging and scent, with an amber colored bottle that was designed to fit in Rihanna's palm.
To get or not to get Fenty's Eau de Parfum?
Fenty's Eau de Parfum was released August 10, 2021, per Page Six, and it quickly sold out to no one's surprise. However, by December 6, it was already restocked, according to Hypebae.
The fragrance has largely received good reviews, with customers praising the perfume's essence. One review said that the fragrance was a mix of scents that technically shouldn't go well together, but blended perfectly to create a full-bodied scent that was more suited for any season cooler than summer, per Elle. But not everyone has been as effusive in praise of the product, with some expressing a bit of disappointment at how Rihanna chose to do what they referred to as a "safe" release. Reviewers with such opinions felt that a more daring release was more in tune with Rihanna's persona, per Essence.
Another reviewer described the fragrance as unconventional and completely genderless, recommending it in glowing terms, per Editorialist. Elite Daily gave it a 4 out of 5, praising the mix of floral and musky scents in the fragrance, stating that they blended together without becoming overpowering or cloying.
With a price tag of $120, it is understandable that some would balk at the purchase. However, on the back of these great reviews, you may want to cop one of Fenty's Eau de Parfum before it sells out — particularly if you wouldn't mind smelling like superstar Rihanna.