Bad Gal Scents: What Perfume Does Rihanna Wear?

In 2016 a fan asked Rihanna what she was wearing. She said By Kilian. The bottle sold out within days. People have been trying to figure out what perfume does Rihanna wears ever since. Mostly because anyone who gets near her says she smells unreal. One scent or a few? A bit of both. Three names keep coming up. We checked each one, same as we did with Kate Middleton’s favorite perfumes.

Her Signature Scent By Kilian Love, Don’t Be Shy

Women

Perfumer

Calice Becker

Fragrance Family

Sweet gourmand floral

Notes

Top: neroli, orange blossom

Middle: jasmine, rose, honeysuckle

Base: marshmallow, vanilla, musk

This is the one people mean when they say she smells like heaven. It’s a sugar bomb. Orange blossom and neroli up top, marshmallow and vanilla underneath, fills a room, lasts about eight hours. Bit much for some, and $275 is a lot to spend on a rumour that still rests on one 2016 video, so try before you buy (sits near a lot of other vanilla perfumes if sweet is your thing).

The One She Made Herself Fenty Eau de Parfum

Unisex

Perfumer

Jacques Cavallier-Belletrud

Fragrance Family

Warm floral

Notes

Top: tangerine, blueberry

Middle: Bulgarian rose, magnolia, geranium

Base: patchouli, musk

This is the closest thing to actual Rihanna, because she made it. Built it in Grasse with Jacques Cavallier-Belletrud. She’s called it vibrant and spicy, and yeah, that’s it: magnolia first, then Bulgarian rose, a bit of patchouli and musk, a hit of tangerine. People are split on it. The rose goes sharp on some skin. But it runs warm, carries well, and lasts most of the day.

The Golden Classic Dior J’adore Eau de Parfum

Women

Perfumer

Calice Becker

Fragrance Family

Floral

Notes

Top: ylang-ylang

Middle: Damascus rose, jasmine

Base: musk, woods

This one surprises people. The scent Rihanna fronts now was reportedly her mum’s favourite, long before Dior made her the face in 2024 (she took over from Charlize Theron, who had it for twenty years). Here’s the part I like: Calice Becker made both J’adore and that Kilian she’s known for. Same nose, oldest favourite and newest deal. It’s the soft one of the three, ylang-ylang, Damascus rose and jasmine, close to the skin for an afternoon, one of the prettier best Dior perfumes around. Just know it’s everywhere, it’s been reworked over the years, and being the face of a perfume isn’t the same as wearing it.