Katy Perry
A unique visual signature based on accords, character, and seasonality
The wild berries and plum arrive with brash, almost jammy insistence, supported by that bergamot's citric snap. Within the first minute, you're caught between genuine fruit character and the slightly synthetic sheen that prevents this from feeling entirely naturalistic—it's deliberately candy-like, a fragrance that understands its own artifice.
As the fruity top settles, the frangipani emerges with creamy, almond-paste sweetness whilst jasmine sambac adds honeyed depth and subtle spice. The praline base amplifies this gourmand turn, creating a warm, slightly powdery middle phase that sits more comfortably on skin—less shouty, more seductive, though still unmistakably sweet.
Cashmeran and patchouli take centre stage, offering a dusty, slightly smoky foundation that's the fragrance's most restrained moment. The sweetness persists but becomes softer, more contemplative, with the synthetic base notes providing an almost skin-scent clarity rather than projection—though longevity appears limited here.
Killer Queen announces itself as a candy-coloured contradiction: a fragrance that wants desperately to be sophisticated yet can't help luxuriating in its own sweetness. The wild berries and plum top notes arrive with genuine fruit juice immediacy—this isn't the floral-filtered fruit of designer fragrances, but rather the jammy, almost fermented character of actual stone fruit left in summer sun. Bergamot cuts through with citric brightness, preventing the opening from cloying, though you sense immediately that this is a fragrance built on indulgence rather than restraint.
What makes Killer Queen genuinely interesting is the frangipani-jasmine sambac heart. Rather than creating the expected white floral sweetness, these notes interact with the praline base in an almost confectionery manner—the frangipani's creamy, slightly rubbery character mingles with warm almond tonalities, whilst the Jasmine Sambac adds a honeyed, almost boozy richness. It's reminiscent of almond paste filled with jasmine-scented boiled sweets. The cashmeran and patchouli lurking beneath add a powdery, slightly smoky grounding that prevents this from becoming pure gourmand nonsense, though the synthetic accord percentage (52%) does lend an artificial lustre that suggests this is a fragrance fully aware of its pop-culture roots.
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Rihanna
3.4/5 (230)