My Friends and I Agree That If Barbie Had a Signature Scent, It Would Be This Clean, Juicy Perfume

Margot Robbie as Barbie.

(Image credit: @betina_goldstein)

It's not every day that one of my favorite skincare brands releases a perfume. Sure, it's a bit unconventional, but the minute I caught a whiff of U Beauty's Proem Eau de Parfum ($198), I knew I had something special on my hands that's equally as good as the brand's cult-loved skincare selection. It's U Beauty's very first venture into the fragrance category, and the scent has a little something for everyone. It's sweet, floral, and even a tad spicy. Because of its totally unique, multifaceted, and undeniably charming note profile, my friends and I agreed on a night out that it would only suit one iconic character—our beloved Barbie.

Okay, this may have been because we rewatched the Margot Robbie film recently together and it was top of mind, but if we were to make a Barbie mood board, this fragrance would sit on it (along with every iconic outfit Robbie wore in the film, of course). For every detail about this clean, juicy scent, keep scrolling. My review is below.

Key notes: centifolia rose, Chinese peony, Chinese magnolia, night-blooming jasmine, lychee, rhubarb, vetiver, pistachio, pink peppercorn

What initially drew me in with Proem was the overall juicy and sweet qualities it had to it. It smells like a fresh, ripe fruit with a hint of something tangier. It's definitely the perfect spring and summer scent with notes of rose, peony, lychee, rhubarb, and jasmine. Honestly, it reminds me of one of my other all-time favorite scents, Delina Eau de Parfum ($235) from Parfums de Marly. They both share similar notes and give off something seriously lush. Every single person who smelled Proem on me asked what I was wearing. Of course, my friends and I got to chatting about it because we always share our best fragrances (no gatekeeping here), and we just couldn't get enough of how pretty and long-lasting the smell was.

Like I mentioned above, this turned into a debate on who would wear it, and since our recent Barbie movie night, we decided the titular character would be just as obsessed. It's got a sparkle to it that just screams "pink gingham dress and pearls," but it could also be worn with a hot-pink cowgirl look—it's that versatile. Sure, there are gourmand elements to it, but it's so layered with the woodier, spicier notes of vetiver and pink peppercorn. It's super elegant and doesn't lean too sweet, which makes it perfect for anyone who loves to be a bit of a chameleon. Without looking at the notes, you wouldn't be able to pin down what's in it, and I love that about it.

Upon first spritz, you'd actually think it leans more earthy and woody, but on the dry-down, you start to get the notes of lychee, jasmine, and peony—a beautiful combo that really lasts on the skin. It also has a really clean, juicy kick to it that leaves a lasting impression. While this scent has a lot going on at once, it's also never too much or overpowering.

It isn't easy to be a master creator in both the skincare and fragrance categories, but U Beauty has managed to do it. The brand's skincare never lets me down with its super-effective and uniquely engineered formulas. This fragrance feels like the perfect next step. It's managed to earn a spot in my top-five rotation, and for me, it's about to be the summer of Barbie all over again.

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Associate Beauty Editor

Shawna Hudson is a beauty, wellness, lifestyle, and travel writer with over 10 years of experience. She graduated from California State University, Fullerton, with a degree in journalism and has written for other publications such as Bustle, The Zoe Report, Byrdie, Elite Daily, and more. She is currently a beauty writer at Who What Wear and hopes to continue feeding her (completely out-of-control) beauty obsession as long as she can. Stay up to date on her latest finds on Instagram @shawnasimonee.