I'm a self-confessed perfume snob. My bar for what makes the 'best perfumes' is set exceptionally high. I want to see impressive longevity, I want to see luxe-looking bottles, I want a scent that is unique enough to pique interest but soft enough to not induce a headache, and most of all, I want a fragrance that makes me feel like the most special person in the room whenever I'm wearing it on my neck. It is for this reason entirely that celebrity perfumes don't usually appeal to me—particularly the one that Boots has recently revealed to be its fastest selling (and therefore most popular) perfume of 2024 so far, Cosmic by Kylie Jenner.
You see, it's not that I enjoy poo-pooing celebrity fragrances, it's just that their very nature is destined to not tick my boxes. Celebrity scents are designed to be adored by the masses, whereas I lean towards standout, niche perfumes. They also, most notably, are typically marketed towards a young fanbase—and it is this that gives them properties I don't typically consider very luxurious. They are, more often than not, sweet scents, garnished with warm vanilla and the more cloying of the floral notes. And, shallowly, I don't tend to enjoy the way the bottles look on my shelf—colourful and somewhat juvenile. Nothing about celebrity fragrances has ever appealed to me. But Cosmic Kylie Jenner Eau de Parfum has, truthfully, surprised me.
