It wasn’t that long ago that almost every blooming, hot celeb in Hollywood decided they were fierce enough to create their own clothing lines. Yet, for better or worse, we seem to have moved on from Heidi Montag’s skimpy cut-offs and Victoria Beckham’s chic denim. The new must-have for every gorgeous star on the red carpet? Her very own fragrance.
Much like celebrity clothing collections, a star-inspired fragrance can be a hit or miss. We’ve come to love and even rely on traditional, big brand perfume names, but what makes these new scents interesting is that celebrities adamantly want them to reflect their individual characters. Some star perfumes have been flying off shelves, often because of its creator, like Heat by Beyoncé, which earned $21 million in sales when it was released in 2010, according Forbes.
This year, we’ve seen a lot of jasmine and sweet, fruity smells among the celebrity-inspired scents, a trend we think is perfect for summer. We went out and tested some of these hot shot perfumes to see if they lived up to their hype.
True to her name, this fragrance ($30 for 1.7 oz) is nothing but fit for a queen. Although it may not be suitable for everyone, the elegant Miss Latifah has created something that works for women in her age group who want to feel classy and sophisticated. It has most frequently been compared to Chanel No. 5 with its spicy, musky odor laden with dark purple plum, cinnamon, and bergamot. We’d recommend saving this one for the winter; its woodsy smell screams snowy-cabin-in-forest and doesn’t seem hot weather appropriate.
Jessica Simpson hasn’t always been the brightest crayon in the box, but when it comes to looking and smelling beautiful, this pop princess is brilliant. We’re ashamed to say we were reluctant to even try this fragrance ($49 for 1.7 oz), but a simple whiff changed our minds immediately. It’s very gentle and feminine, and we couldn’t help but feel like princesses after one spritz! Fancy Love is relatively new on the market and is the perfect concoction of champagne, rose, jasmine, pear, and lotus. This scent smelled a little bit like a fruity bellini and had a classy, subtle allure.
This is Jennifer Aniston’s debut fragrance ($39 for 1 oz) that was first released in the U.K. under the name Lolavie. Since its February release in the U.S., the scent has undergone an official name change and has been selling very well, exclusively at Sephora. We’re happy to say that this perfume is refreshing and perfect for summer weather. It’s a soft, fun, jasmine-infused smell that reminds us of summers on the beach. Just what you’d imagine Rachel Green to wear!
Reb’l Fleur is Rihanna’s first fragrance ($49 for 1.7 oz) and, based on its name, is meant to represent both the rebellious and more feminine side of the pop artist. We applaud RiRi for trying, but we have to say we’re not crazy about this particular scent. It is very sweet, filled with fruits like peaches, plums and red berries, but reminds us a bit too much of cotton candy. We’d recommend this perfume to a younger crowd, teenagers perhaps, who are still experimenting with their ideal scent.
Gold, which is allegedly named so because everything Kim K. touches turns to gold, is the reality star’s second fragrance ($65 for 3.4 oz), released just in time for summer. Kim must have gone back to the drawing board after the release of her first fragrance, because not only does this one smell better, it’s selling better too. It’s a strong but fresh aroma, with lots of jasmine and floral undertones. It may just be Kim, but this product felt sexy the moment we sprayed it on and would be perfect for a summer night out with the girls.
