Selena Gomez's Rare Perfume Restored My Faith In Celebrity Fragrances

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selena gomez rare perfume review
Rare Beauty/JC Olivera/Stringer/Getty Images

Selena Gomez is an actress, philanthropist, beauty mogul and now, fragrance genius. Seven weeks ago, the Only Murders in the Building star released her first fragrance, Rare, and it's been on my mind to review ever since. The scent has been all over my feed for having my favorite notes (like vanilla and caramel), and it stands apart for its unique bottle (but I'll get to that in a bit). If you're just as curious to see if this latest perfume ($30) is worth the splurge, here's my honest review—and spoiler alert, it needs to be in your fall collection, stat.

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What Is Rare Eau de Parfum?

The perfume is in the warm and spicy fragrance family, featuring notes of caramel, vanilla and sandalwood. When it comes to the inspiration behind the fragrance, Gomez writes, "My days are never the same, so I wanted a fragrance that evolves for the moment. Something that could take me from a quiet morning at home to a big night out—and always feels just right." She collaborated with French perfumer, Jérôme Epinette, who has worked with brands like Byredo, Atelier Cologne and Victoria Secret, to name a few.

My Review of Rare Perfume

Rare Beauty

The Bottle Itself

Before I jump right into the scent, we have to appreciate the bottle. Gomez made it her mission to create a bottle and pump that works for everyone, especially those with dexterity issues. She partnered with hand therapists and engineers to make it easier to hold and spritz the fragrance without any difficulty or pain.

It's a small detail that makes a big impact. It also features a lock that ensures that no liquid is going to spill out, and the pump is just so seamless and comfortable to push down. You're hit with an even, generous amount of product and it just makes applying perfume so much easier. Other brands need to take note.

Beyond that, it's aesthetically pleasing to boot, with its golden cap and luxe-looking pink-tinted base.

The Warm & Spicy Scent

Now, the scent itself deserve praise, too. It's warm, sexy and so cozy that I just want to wrap myself in the softest cashmere sweater. When I first apply it on my skin, I'm hit with the sweet caramel, and surprisingly, a hint of pistachio and pink pepper that's not at all overpowering. After a while, it settles into a rich vanilla and continues to keep the warm/spicy blend (thanks to the ginger) alive for the rest of the day. Even without an extra layer of lotion or oil, it lasts all day and dries down to sandalwood and musk. If it was one of her songs, it would surely be "Good For You" or "Cowboy." Overall, it's a fragrance that is smooth and soft on the skin—but would absolutely raise tons of compliments.

First, RiRi and Billie, now Gomez. I swear celebrity-owned perfumes are back.

Fast Facts

  • Key Notes: vanilla, caramel, sandalwood
  • Fragrance Family: warm, spicy
  • Sizes: 0.34, 1.69 oz

about face matte fluid eye paint review chelsea candelario

Beauty and Cultures Editor

  • Writes trend stories, product reviews and how-tos across beauty, cultures, fashion and entertainment
  • Six years of experience as a Beauty Editor
  • Studied journalism with a minor in creative writing at SUNY New Paltz

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