R.E.M. by Ariana Grande

The scent kills me, it’s powdery and rich. The only flaw is that I test it directly on my skin to see how long it lasts, and it fades in a maximum of two hours, what a shame because I absolutely love it and the bottle is gorgeous.

Of Ariana’s lavender perfumes (Cloud and this one), I’m sticking with this one. Here, the lavender combines perfectly with the meringue and the top notes that make your mouth water. It’s a perfume that relaxes me and lowers my guard after a heavy day or if I’m having a bad day. It feels ethereal, angelic, very soft and warm, like leaning back on purple blankets and lighting a vanilla candle with lavender flowers outside. I’d use this to sleep because it gives baby vibes but with a bit more.

I have mixed feelings about this perfume. It’s the only lavender one (very popular lately) that I truly like. The salt note prevents it from being too sweet and makes it more suitable for spring or summer. But, it’s not all perfect. The longevity (on me) is absurd. If anything, 30 minutes, and then it becomes so subtle that I can’t even notice it myself. It drives me crazy because I love the scent, but the longevity and projection disappoint me, although that’s normal with Ariana perfumes.

Without a doubt, the best perfume by Ari. Unique, with a perfect contrast between sweet and salty; it also feels fresh without losing intensity. I love it.

I don’t care about the other notes if in the dry down the only thing I perceive is sandalwood. As soon as this perfume dries, it turns into yet another sweet masculine sandalwood that gives headaches and dizziness. That said, I’m obsessed with the bottle.

Nothing lasts longer or projects more than R.E.M. It’s a scent that makes heads turn and people ask what I’m wearing. It’s been my favorite for a long time; I love lavender, but this doesn’t smell like cleaner—it’s sweet, and the salt gives it the final spark, like adding salt to a cookie: it adds shine to the sweetness without you tasting the salt. I’ve already gone through two bottles and miss it; I can’t wait to buy it again. I love wearing it every day but making a statement.

I first tested it in-store on blotter paper and hated it; I smelled a very strong cleaner vibe, probably due to the lavender and salt. I recommend testing it on skin before buying. But my sister loved it, so when I bought it for her, I tested it on myself, and honestly, I loved it. If the lavender feels strong at first, it quickly becomes super powdery and soft, sweet but not cloying. It’s a more mature scent than the rest of Ariana’s line, definitely for someone who wants to smell sweet but not like a cupcake.

What an exquisite fragrance. From its opening to its dry down, it’s spectacular. I smell more of the powdery lavender note and that clean, crisp tonka bean sweetness—nothing cloying. In its opening, the first thing is a salty, sweet quince that stands out clearly, and the salt note lingers. Of all Ariana’s perfumes, this is my second favorite. I like that it’s not loud or cloying; it could easily be unisex, though it leans more feminine. Its sillage is moderate and drops after two hours, but you can still smell it on those around you, perfect for indoor spaces. It’s timeless and easy to wear, though I prefer it for spring-summer, highlighting its dry down.

I tried it in-store expecting, while not a mind-blowing unique aroma, at least a pleasant and pretty one. However, I encountered very light vanilla and lots of Fabuloso. In Mexico, Fabuloso is a common cleaner with a potent synthetic lavender scent, and well, this detergent smelled like R.E.M. I’m not sure if I’ll use it; I don’t hate it, but I wouldn’t want to smell like Fabuloso for hours. That said, the bottle is beautiful; maybe I’ll get the 30 ml version later, which is so cute and I only have it as decoration.

I feel it smells like talcum powder in a sweaty armpit, I can feel it.

I tested this perfume in a store and couldn’t stop smelling my arm. The opening feels very unisex, but after a few seconds, it becomes very pretty and sweet on my skin—not sweet like those girl or teen perfumes. It’s a very elegant sweet scent for women over 25; it reminds me a bit of Katy Perry’s Meow but with a more mature and fresh touch. I layered it with Wood Sage & Sea Salt by Jo Malone, and the notes complement each other perfectly, becoming more intense. Very suitable for daily wear.

Smells like men’s gel, like Ego (from Mexico), lots of lavender and salt with a sweet touch. It’s not my favorite but it tastes good, great for hot days.

Alcoholic opening! Within seconds it becomes lovely, fresh, clean, and sweet! But after half an hour, when dry, it smells like cheap drugstore men’s perfume, like Axe or Rexona deodorant but softer. Horrible. It’s semi-oleous and lasted about 4 hours. The bottle is a masterpiece ♥️

My signature scent, my number 1 from Ariana and from my collection. This fragrance starts with fig, quince, and zephyr, very sweet and fruity. After 10 minutes, the magic happens: the lavender joins the fruity-sweet, attacking with tonka bean and sandalwood. An aroma that’s hard to describe due to its charm. Like Thank U Next, it’s not for everyone, but REM isn’t gourmand and has more complexity. Amazing performance: on skin it lasts about 12 hours (sometimes more) and on clothes 3 days or more; high projection for the first 4 hours, then moderate until it softens. On me, it’s a compliment machine, the most complimented of Ariana’s and my entire collection. 10/10, it’s my scent 🫧🤍✨

I love the lavender scent, so I like it. On my skin, it’s talcum lavender with lots of caramel. I feel like it’s a fusion between two perfumes I love: Kenzo Amour and my favorite, Libre by YSL.