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We blind-tested celebrity perfumes — these ones actually smell the best
We had our testers smell celebrity fragrances without knowing the names — these are the scents that impressed.
It’s no secret that celebrity perfumes are taking over the fragrance industry — and it’s easy to see why. These stars look incredible on the red carpet, so it’s only natural to assume their fragrances are just as captivating.
But would you still wear the fragrance without a famous name attached? Or could there be a truly beautiful scent you’d overlook simply because you’re not a fan of the star behind it? We set out to find the answer by conducting a blind sniff test of celebrity perfumes.
Here on the GH beauty desk, we gathered a selection of celebrity fragrances, sprayed them onto numbered blotters and invited the team to take a sniff (tough job, we know!). Alongside the blind test, we also asked the team to share the celebrity fragrances they already love and regularly wear. Below, we’ve rounded up the scents that truly stood out as the very best celebrity perfumes.
Over 20 years after its debut, the princess of pop's fragrance is still holding court. The classic celebrity fragrance Fantasy by Britney Spears was well loved in our sniff test.
'Sweet' and 'fresh' were the most common descriptors of this fragrance, with our testers identifying notes of citrus, fresh fruits, and candy.
It has moderate projection and lasting power. One tester said, 'this is a fresh, beachy scent that I would wear in the spring or summer.'
Features at a Glance
| Category | Fresh fruity |
|---|---|
| Notes | Kiwi, lychee, quince, white chocolate, cupcake, orchid, jasmine, musk, orris root, woodsy notes |
| Size | 100ml |
Kylie Jenner Cosmic Intense
Kylie Jenner's Cosmic Intense, a bold addition to Kylie's Cosmic fragrance line which also includes Cosmic 2.0, left our testers intrigued and wanting more. Many people couldn't put their finger on the notes, but described the fragrance as 'citrusy, but with some darkness' and 'more complex than just vanilla.'
This smooth, feminine fragrance is composed of notes of blood orange, amber, benzoin, and vanilla. We found it had strong projection and lasting power.
Features at a Glance
| Category | Citrus amber |
|---|---|
| Notes | Star jasmine, blood orange, golden amber accord, benzoin, vanilla, musk accord |
| Size | 100ml |
Billie Eilish Eilish
The bottle is certainly stunning, but what do people think of the fragrance inside? Eilish by Billie Eilish struck our sniff testers as 'sweet but also spicy' with notes of 'burnt sugar and vanilla.'
While most people agreed the scent is an 'ultra-sweet' vanilla, they also picked up on some notes not found in your typical gourmand, namely nice earthy notes, nuanced fruitiness and a herbal scent. This fragrance stays close to the skin with moderate lasting power.
Features at a Glance
| Category | Amber gourmand |
|---|---|
| Notes | Red berries, mandarin, sugared petals, vanilla bourbon, soft spices accord, cocoa, musk, woods, tonka |
| Size | 100ml |
Paris Hilton Fragrances ICONIC
Paris Hilton Fragrances ICONIC
Having a Paris Hilton fragrance on your vanity might feel like a throwback to the 2000s — but in 2025, Paris released a new scent called Iconic.
Our testers said this fragrance is very bright and fresh. They picked up on fruity floral and citrusy notes, adding that they would wear this as a spring fragrance. Iconic has moderate projection and longevity, and with notes of pear blossom, raspberry, peach nectar, peony, and lily of the valley, it's a hit for fans of clean fruity-florals.
Features at a Glance
| Category | Fruity floral |
|---|---|
| Notes | Pear blossom, raspberry, peach nectar, peony, lily of the valley, magnolia, sandalwood, amber, musk |
| Size | 100ml |
Subversive Scents by The Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers
When you think of The Rolling Stones, perfume probably isn't the first thing to come to mind — yet here we are. Our Senior Beauty Writer Florence says it's an underrated gem.
'The name might be a little divisive — but when I tried this genderless scent last year it fast became my most-worn fragrance. The range is just as rebellious as you'd anticipate from the bandmate brains behind the 'Subversive Sents' brand. This one's named after their controversial Southern Blues album (released in 1971), and it truly smells like I'm sipping whiskey in a saloon in the '70s. Can you blame me for wearing it every day?'
Features at a Glance
| Category | Amber woody |
|---|---|
| Notes | Whiskey, vanilla orchid, olibanum, bourbon vanilla, musk, sandalwood, patchouli |
| Size | 100ml |
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Rare
After taking the beauty world by storm with Rare Beauty — and its rightfully iconic liquid blushes — Selena Gomez has now entered the fragrance space.
If you think gourmand scents are too sweet, think again. Notes of delicious caramel and pistachio are balanced by a kick of ginger and grounded with earthy sandalwood.
Rare Beauty also offers unique fragrance layering balms, allowing you to customise the scent — whether you want to add a hint of amber or extra woodiness. GH beauty assistant Zara switches between the vanilla balm, and the peony balm.
Features at a Glance
| Category | Warm gourmand |
|---|---|
| Notes | Caramel, pistachio, pink pepper, vanilla, ginger, cocoa beans, sandalwood, tonka beans, skin musks |
| Size | 50ml |
Ariana Grande's Cloud became a quick cult favourite in the celebrity fragrance sphere. Beauty Intern Jenna names it as one of her favourite scents. 'It has an airy sweetness where soft florals melt into a creamy gourmand finish that feels both uplifting and addictive.'
GH Beauty Assistant Zara also notes that fans of Baccarat Rouge 540 will likely enjoy this fragrance too — although slightly more gourmand, Cloud is hard to beat for the price.
Features at a Glance
| Category | Gourmand |
|---|---|
| Notes | Lavender, pear, bergamot, coconut, praline and vanilla orchid, cashmere |
| Size | 100ml |
Michael Bublé By Invitation Peony Noir
Our beauty director Lynne developed a bit of a crush on this rich, smooth floral perfume when she interviewed its creator, and shared the love with friends via blind tests of his scent. 'They loved it and were really surprised when I told them who it was by!'
So yes it's true, Michael Bublé really does have more than just smooth vocals in his repertoire.
Floral notes sit at the heart of the fragrance, with rose and orange blossom taking centre stage. These are balanced by an unexpected top note of black coffee and a creamy base. Better yet, it'll set you back less than £13.
Features at a Glance
| Category | Floral |
|---|---|
| Notes | Black Coffee, bergamot, rose, iris, orange blossom, sandalwood, vanilla, cedarwood, patchouli. |
| Size | 100ml |
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