Look, I test a lot of fragrances on a daily basis. Let’s just chalk that up to my job description. Because of this, I find I’m tasked with selecting standout options often and ranking a brand’s best offerings—an assignment I don’t take lightly, because scent can be a powerful and personal thing. This time around, the brand in question happens to be Kilian Paris, founded by perfume icon Kilian Hennessey. The brand embodies elegance, luxury, and mystery so well that (as I’m sure you all know) it attracted the nose of resident It girl Rihanna.
I decided it was time to give a few of these magical fragrances a spin for a week. After all, how else will you know if you truly love a particular scent unless you test drive it for a bit? If you’re curious about which of the brand’s perfumes should earn a spot on your vanity, keep scrolling below for my thoughts.
Key notes: cardamom, mocha coffee, vanilla. This warm and delicious scent lingers on the skin in such a pleasant way. It has a rich, mysterious aroma to it that is guaranteed to turn heads. The coffee note is subtle but adds a vibrancy to the fragrance that’s totally unique and, dare I say, intoxicating.
Key notes: coffee, red apple, lemon essence, lavender essence, spearmint essence, orange flower absolute, milk mousse accord, Sri Lankan sandalwood essence, Virginia cedarwood essence
Key notes: almond milk, iris, musk. I absolutely adore this floral fragrance and can confidently say it’s my all-time favorite Kilian scent. It packs a bit of heat, giving it an exclusive edge over other floral perfumes. I found myself reaching for it consistently throughout the week and beyond, to be quite honest. It suits any occasion and earns a place in my signature scent rotation (a much smaller and more exclusive list, thank you).
Key notes: Iris root, white musk, Casablanca lily
Key notes: orange blossom, osmanthus, tuberose. I can see why this one is a fan favorite, it has this crisp and unexplainable exuberance to it. I definitely enjoyed it, but it wasn’t my favorite of the bunch.
Key notes: orange blossom, vanilla absolute, luscious marshmallow. I’ll admit I was extremely eager to try the infamous Love, Don’t Be Shy, aka Rihanna’s signature fragrance. Upon opening the bottle and giving it a sniff, I honestly wasn’t sure how I would feel about it. I’m not usually one for candy-like scents, but this one absolutely blew me away once I doused my wrists with it. It blends the toasty smell of marshmallow with floral elements like orange blossom so perfectly that it creates just the right amount of sweetness. I definitely see what all the hype is about and will be sporting it as often as I can, to be frank. It’s just a hair under Rolling in Love for me if I had to rank the two.
Key notes: cucumber, juniper berries, rose. With notes of cucumber and juniper berry, this Kilian offering smells incredibly refreshing to the senses and imparts images of a lush castle garden (IMO). It’s anything but your ordinary rose perfume.
Key notes: ginger, green tea, marshmallow. Princess is another sweet sniff that’s great for anyone who loves the smell of fluffy marshmallow. Adding green tea to the mix gives it such an interesting and delicious edge, too.
Key notes: Italian bergamot, green pepper, green tea accord, cardamom, beeswax, tonka bean
Key notes: bergamot, rose, tonka bean. This fragrance has a lot of contrast to it in the best way possible. It champions rose at the heart of the scent but also contains electrifying notes of vanilla and tonka bean.
Key notes: tuberose, jasmine, tonka bean
Key notes: grapefruit, mango, roasted tonka beans. Moonlight in Heaven exudes the aroma of a tropical vacation in a bottle. Notes of mango, jasmine, and coconut milk burst forward with vigor and blend effortlessly with the delicate scent of vetiver. It truly feels and smells like an exotic, unexplored paradise.
Key notes: bergamot, lemon, mandarin, bell pepper, lime, grapefruit, cardamom, muguet, ginger, black pepper, spearmint, cedar, amber woods, musk, sandalwood
Key notes: bergamot, honey, patchouli. Gold Knight feels enigmatic yet sweetly delicious. The notes of patchouli and honey just work so well with the slightly spicy air of bergamot.
Key notes: black orchid, black truffle, patchouli
Key notes: white peach, iris butter, tonka bean. The name alone was enough for me to fall in love with this timeless perfume. I personally can never get enough of the smell of white peach, so putting it in a fragrance is the perfect way to capture my attention. Flower of Immortality is both fruity and floral but never overpowering. It’s delicate and soft enough to simply be heavily inviting.
Key notes: Tangerine essence, rose absolute, blackcurrant absolute
