Celebrity fragrances aren’t always to everyone’s tastes, but I’m so impressed with this new launch – it smells so luxurious, says our beauty editor Laura Mulley
If you fancy yourself as a bit of a fragrance connoisseur, you might initially turn your nose up at celebrity perfumes; for a long time I was the same. However, this new A-lister’s launch has seriously made me reconsider.
Selena Gomez’s beauty brand Rare Beauty – the make-up from which I’m already a big fan of – has just launched its first ever perfume, Rare Eau De Parfum, priced at £71 for a 50ml bottle. Not expecting to particularly love it, it has become a new firm favourite for a number of reasons – here’s why…
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Firstly, the bottle. Not only do I think that it looks great – luxe and unobtrusive in muted pink and nude colours, looking like a posh pot of face cream – it has also been so thoughtfully designed. Rare Beauty worked with certified hand therapists to create an inclusive bottle that’s easy for as any people as possible to use, including those with motor disabilities.
This includes a short, squat shape that doesn’t topple over, a big, wide atomiser that can even be pushed with the palm of your hand, and a twist lock-unlock mechanism that does away with fiddly little lids. Even as someone without any motor challenges, it’s incredible easy and satisfying to spray – and a lot of mist is dispersed with each pump, too.
Of course, what’s probably most important is how it smells, and I was thrilled to find that it comes up trumps here too. Its exact notes are listed as:
- Top: Caramel, Pistachio, Pink Pepper
- Mid: Vanilla, Ginger, Cocoa Beans
- Dry: Sandalwood, Tonka Beans, Skin Musks
Given Selena’s fanbase, it’s no surprise that this is a gourmand fragrance – I find that most celeb scents are, and gourmands are very popular nowadays – but it’s a very elegant one. Rather than sickly sweet and young, this is instead more warm, comforting and cosseting with a hint of powdery-ness, a real cosy cashmere jumper of a fragrance.
It’s really easy to wear and doesn’t smell cloying, and in fact it provoked a compliment of ‘you smell nice’ from my boyfriend, something that rarely happens.
If I had one complaint, it’s that it doesn’t last the longest on my skin; I find that I do need to re-spritz a few times throughout the day. However, as it really does bring me a lot of joy every time I do press down, I keep it on my desk and am more than happy to reapply throughout the day.
If you’re looking for a gourmand that’s likely to last longer on the skin, something like D.S. & DURGA Deep Dark Vanilla, £155, or Kayali Vanilla 28 Eau de Parfum, £73, might fit the bill. And at the other end of the strength spectrum is the light and breezy PHLUR Vanilla Skin Body Mist, from £25.