I've Been Wearing This Surprising Celeb Fragrance for a Week, and the Compliments Have Been Pouring In
"Sorry to bother you, but what perfume are you wearing?"
Millennials will remember the golden age of celebrity fragrances in the early-to-mid-2000s. Back then, it seemed like every it-girl or guy had a signature scent they sold to the masses. J.Lo launched Glow in 2002. In 2004, Britney Spears launched Curious, and Paris Hilton launched her first, eponymous elixir. In the mid-aughts, celebs like Taylor Swift (Wonderstruck), Beyonce (Heat), Justin Bieber (Someday), and One Direction (Our Moment) joined in on the trend with their own fragrances.
Somewhere along the way, though, celeb fragrance began to die out. Arguably, it was when A-listers decided to launch entire beauty brands, but that's a topic for another day. Blame it on my nostalgic nature, but I miss celebrity fragrances. Some say they're kitschy; I say they're fun, collectible, and sometimes, surprising compliment-earners.
That's the case with Khloé Kardashian's newest fragrance, XO Blue, which launched earlier this month. The reality TV star, businesswoman, and pop-culture icon already had two other fragrances on the market, but this was her first seasonal offering. Formulated to smell like "sun on your skin, warm ocean air," and "crystal-clear waters," it's a summery and sophisticated scent that led me back into the celebrity fragrance world for the first time in over a decade. And after wearing it for a week, I can attest to its compliment-earning potential.
Fragrance notes: Bergamot essence, lychee, ambrette, solar amber, magnolia petals, frangipani petals, woody coconut, cedarwood essence
XO Blue is a solar scent. This is a category of perfumes that evokes the warmth of the sun. It achieves this through a sophisticated combination of warm, tropical, and smooth notes—think amber, frangipani flower, and coconut.
While I'd definitely categorize it as a vacation scent, it's not overly simplistic, citrusy, or sunscreen-like. It's actually incredibly sophisticated and almost a little bit spicy (I think that has everything to do with the notes of bergamot, ambrette, magnolia, and cedarwood). Apparently, I'm not the only one who thinks so. I've been wearing it for a week, and I've already had three people compliment me and/or ask what perfume I was wearing.
The first was my sister, who exclaimed, "What is that? You smell amazing," when I walked past her. The second was a friend who said, "You smell really good." The third was a total stranger who stopped me in a local coffee shop. "Sorry to bother you, but what perfume are you wearing?" That, dear reader, is when you know you've stumbled upon something really, really good. After all, strangers don't just stop you in public for any old perfume.
XO Blue has officially joined my lineup of summer scents. Right now, it's sitting on my vanity next to my other favorite fragrances, including Phlur's Island Swim ($39), The 7 Virtues Coconut Sun ($94), and Jo Malone's Beach Blossom ($170).
Shop Khloé Kardashian's Other Signature Fragrances
Fragrance notes: Crystallized rose petals, lavender, sage blossom, orange blossom water, praline, juicy peach, moss, tonka bean, soft wood, musks
Kardashian's first perfume, and the one she says is her signature scent, is fittingly titled XO Khloé. It's a floral-woody fragrance with notes of crystallized rose petals, lavender, sage blossom, tonka bean, soft wood, and sultry musks. Together, these notes are meant to exude confidence, power, and strength.
In an exclusive interview with Who What Wear, Kardashian previously said that creating a fragrance was something she always wanted to do. "It took about two years, and it just so happened that when I turned 40, it was also the launch of XO Khloé. It was kismet. It really was meant to be for me. I was so scared, and I was so intimidated, but I had to do it for me."
XO Khloé is also available in a travel-size perfume.
Fragrance notes: Lavender, magnolia, star jasmine, orange blossom petals, palo santo, skin sensual woods, solar musks, vanilla
Almost Always is her second fragrance. It was inspired by the power of presence over perfection. "You are not defined by the one time you couldn't. You are shaped by the many times you did. Almost always is enough." It's an amber-woody scent that, to me, has a fruity lean to it. Notes include lavender, magnolia, orange blossom, palo santo, and vanilla.
Almost Always is also available in a travel-size perfume.
