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Teen idol smackdown: Justin Bieber Girlfriend vs. Selena Gomez Eau de Parfum, and a quick poll

Posted by Robin on 1 November 2012 51 Comments

Justin Bieber Girlfriend advertSelena Gomez Eau de Parfum advert

Every year, I smell a smaller percentage of the new celebrity fragrances — really, every year I smell a smaller percentage of all new fragrances; who can keep up? But I've fallen particularly far behind on the celebrity front. So today, a competition between two 2012 fragrances geared even younger than the already young average for the celebrity market: Justin Bieber's sophomore effort, Girlfriend, and the debut fragrance from his real-life girlfriend, Selena Gomez.1

Freshly applied: Girlfriend starts off with sweet berry-ish fruit, loud enough but not as loud as it could be, with a fair sized dollop of vanilla already in evidence. While it isn't overwhelming and it's far from the worst-of-the-worst in terms of fruit 'n candy bombs, it's fuller (and a bit darker) than I would have expected for something geared this young. Perhaps this is why Bieber has described Girlfriend as "more mature" than Someday? Is his fan base growing up, or is he going after the moms? Selena Gomez, on the other wrist, is clearly after a younger crowd. It leads with screechy high-pitched raspberry with sour, almost-plastic undertones. Anyone who thinks that all these tween-oriented fragrances are basically the same would do well to smell Selena Gomez next to, well, almost anything. If we're just talking about the top notes, I'd prefer nearly any celebrity fragrance on earth, and that includes Paris Hilton Heiress.

After 5 minutes: Girlfriend has already calmed quite a bit; it smells like a variation on a sweet blackberry vanilla musk. And Selena Gomez has improved — it's a bit less screechy, a bit more chocolate-y.

After 30 minutes: Girlfriend is now more of a standard blended fruity floral, with a somewhat darker amber-musk base than the usual. It's not all that interesting, but it's not bad either. Selena Gomez smells like a blend of Tootsie Roll and sour pineapple candy plus a dash of grape soda. It has also gone sort of flat and close to the skin, which is perhaps just as well.

After an hour: Girlfriend is about what it was at 30 minutes: sweet nondescript floral notes plus vanilla musk. Selena Gomez is more of a true fruity gourmand. In the last half hour, it has become a tad creamier and a tad less fruity, and while I still don't like it, it's a huge improvement over the top notes.

After two hours: In terms of pure longevity, Girlfriend wins out over Selena Gomez, although I should mention here that I am trying both fragrances from non-spray sample vials, so your mileage may vary. Girlfriend still smells reasonably vibrant, and a bit drier and woodier than before. Selena Gomez is now faint and completely flat, but smelled up close, essentially still mimics food products I don't want to eat much less smell on my skin (ok, I do like Tootsie Rolls). 

Conclusions: Nobody would expect masterpieces from this category, but if you have to spend your money on one or the other, my vote is with the Biebs. Girlfriend is obviously not the best money can buy, nor even the best fragrance to be had for its price, but it's wearable enough and I can see it appealing to a wider range of ages and tastes than you might expect from his fan base. And at least some portion of the proceeds will go to Pencils of Promise.

Selena Gomez Eau de Parfum is less to my taste, and it smells younger and less sophisticated than Girlfriend (and if memory serves, younger and less sophisticated than Someday). It also smells cheaper. Even if you wanted raspberry and Tootsie Roll and sour pineapple candy and grape soda, it seems to me that you could do a far better job of it than they have here.

Of course, that is not how it works — most people will want the fragrance made by the celebrity they adore, and notably, both fragrances have glowing reviews online.

The quick poll: what's your favorite celebrity fragrance for 2012 so far? Mine is Madonna Truth or Dare, but I'll add that I don't think it's been a stellar year (or even a fun year) for celebrity fragrance.

Justin Bieber Girlfriend features notes of mandarin, blackberry, freesia, star jasmine, vanilla orchid and musk. It is available in 10, 30, 50 and 100 ml Eau de Parfum; there is also a "Swept Away Hair Mist" and "Touchable Lotion".

Selena Gomez Eau de Parfum features orange, pineapple, peach, raspberry, freesia, Cosmone musk, dewberry, amber, vanilla, chocolate and coconut. It is sold in 50 and 100 ml Eau de Parfum.

1. When I reviewed Lady Gaga Fame, I noted that I had been unwilling to put Selena Gomez's fragrance on skin. Never say never!

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Carrington Perfumes Forever Krystle ~ fragrance review
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Filed Under: perfume talk, poll
Tagged With: celebrity perfumes, charity, justin bieber, selena gomez

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51 Comments

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  1. Tama says:
    1 November 2012 at 1:42 pm

    I actually like the Girlfriend bottle in a weird 60s retro kind of way. Maybe I’ll give it a sniff, too.

    I recently discovered that my local Sears is a Mecca of drugstore/celeb fragrances, with testers, even. It was fun to actually smell some stuff I only see wrapped up.

    My fave celebuscent this year (even though it came out last year, just not here) is Dita Von Teese. It was muled to me from Germany. I find it rather seductive. I still haven/t smelled Madonna’s, bad me, but people keep comparing it to Fracas, which I don’t like.

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    • Robin says:
      1 November 2012 at 2:01 pm

      And I have not yet seen nor smelled DvT — want to though!

      I do like Fracas, therefore for me, Madonna’s version is ok but unnecessary. We’ll see what she does w/ the flanker, but sounds like that might go off in another direction altogether.

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  2. Ari says:
    1 November 2012 at 1:57 pm

    LOL! You handled this race to the bottom with grace and humor, Robin. 😉 I’m going to cheat a little with regard to best celebrity perfume and say L’Artisan Seville a l’Aube! Surely Denyse is a celebrity to us!

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    • Robin says:
      1 November 2012 at 2:03 pm

      HA, that is perhaps a big cheat? But yes, it beats out the world celebrity perfume output for 2012 🙂

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  3. Lucy says:
    1 November 2012 at 2:14 pm

    A favorite? I had to use the “celebrity perfumes” tag search just to see a list because I couldn’t remember any. It turns out the only two I’ve tried are Madonna’s and Lady GaGa’s….so I guess Madonna wins. I liked it enough, but already have too many white florals in my collection. It would have had to knock my socks off to be full bottle worthy.

    I wonder if I should seek out more celebrity fragrances or come to terms with my perfume snobbery?

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    • Robin says:
      1 November 2012 at 2:22 pm

      I vote come to terms with your perfume snobbery — it saves time. There just aren’t that many great reasonably-priced fragrances geared towards young people, IMHO — celebrity or not celebrity. So ignoring the whole thing makes life easier.

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    • Merlin says:
      1 November 2012 at 2:27 pm

      I think I’v taken the latter course! I tried the Madonna one and admired it for actually having a presence, but since I don’t like tuberose I wasn’t going to go so far as to buy it. I didn’t have the heart to try Lady Gaga but a SA insisted on showing me the soap and I had to admit that it was very nice. Since I don’t buy soaps for that price, however, thats as far as it went…

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      • Robin says:
        1 November 2012 at 3:43 pm

        The black soap looks fun, I do think.

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        • Merlin says:
          1 November 2012 at 5:03 pm

          And smelled nice too: I cant remember how it smelled, but not like semen, and not like blood – lol.

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  4. Dilana says:
    1 November 2012 at 2:25 pm

    I really hate the name, hate the sexual politics which it implies, but am rather fond of the “juice” of Billionare Boyfriend.

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    • Thalia says:
      1 November 2012 at 2:39 pm

      I was totally appalled by the name and bottle for Billionaire Boyfriend for just those reasons, but the commercials are so funny that they redemeemed it for me. They make the whole thing seem like a thumb in the eye to tacky gold-digging, rather than a celebration of it.

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    • Robin says:
      1 November 2012 at 3:41 pm

      I thought Boyfriend was well done, but haven’t yet tried Billionaire Boyfriend.

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  5. sinnerman says:
    1 November 2012 at 2:49 pm

    I’m with u Robin ! I thought ToD was great , I use it as a room spray as I love the smell of Tuberose in my apartment ! Yum

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    • Robin says:
      1 November 2012 at 7:36 pm

      Enjoy it — I’m going to be really surprised if it stays on the market!

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  6. maggiecat says:
    1 November 2012 at 3:12 pm

    I can’t say I have a favorite celebrity fragrance for 2012, mostly because I haven’t tried any. I would if one appealed to me in terms of its notes, but so far…nada. And my antipathy toward tuberose makes the Madonna entry a non-starter – sadly because I’ve heard from multiple sources that it’s pretty well-done..

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    • Robin says:
      1 November 2012 at 7:41 pm

      It’s kind of a shame that it seems destined to fizzle out. But I do like tuberose and I didn’t buy it either.

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  7. daisyabow says:
    1 November 2012 at 3:58 pm

    I have to agree with the above: Kate Walsh Boyfriend is the best that I have smelled.

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    • Robin says:
      1 November 2012 at 7:36 pm

      It wasn’t 2012 though 🙂

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  8. Joe says:
    1 November 2012 at 6:13 pm

    I think the only celeb scent I actually tried this year was Truth or Dare (at a duty-free shop). I’d be willing to wear it if I had to, but I don’t need to own it. That’s my two cents! Ha!

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    • Joe says:
      1 November 2012 at 6:14 pm

      I should add that I’ve been surprised over the past couple months to hear how many people have been disappointed in Gaga’s “Fame.” There were high expectations there. I’m in no hurry to ever test it.

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      • Robin says:
        1 November 2012 at 7:38 pm

        Joe, I was surprised too…lots of people were very sure she would do something edgy. Ain’t what happens when you sign your name over to Coty!

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      • pyramus says:
        1 November 2012 at 11:08 pm

        Lady Gaga Fame isn’t a high-water mark in modern perfumery, god knows, but it isn’t an atrocity: it’s wearable and there are many, many worse things on the market. As far as I can remember it’s the only celebuscent I’ve smelled all year–like Robin, I just avoid the category these days.

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        • Robin says:
          2 November 2012 at 7:12 am

          Oh, I would agree w/ that — I thought it was dull but hardly an atrocity.

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  9. mutzi says:
    1 November 2012 at 6:52 pm

    Can I say Kinski? I received a sample in early 2012, but I think it was released in 2011. If not, I will also go with Truth or Dare.

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    • Joe says:
      1 November 2012 at 7:32 pm

      Oh, yeah… Kinski is really good!

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    • Robin says:
      1 November 2012 at 7:37 pm

      That was a good one! but hardly fair for it to compete with Justin Bieber Girlfriend 😉

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    • nozknoz says:
      1 November 2012 at 10:32 pm

      I was hoping that CBIHP 2nd Cumming was 2012, but no – 2011.

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  10. annemarie says:
    1 November 2012 at 7:13 pm

    I had hoped to try Truth or Dare but I’ve not seen it so it must not have been released in Australia. I have tried Gaga’s Fame but forgotten it already. And I had not even noticed the release of Girlfriend. Not doing too well am I? However, that video ad you posted the other day for the Bruce Willis perfume gave me such a great laugh when I especially needed it that I now have a soft spot for the perfume, even tho’ I have not sniffed it. If I see it I will definitely give it a go.

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    • Robin says:
      1 November 2012 at 7:42 pm

      Is the Bruce Willis line sold in Australia? For some reason I thought it was just in Germany.

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      • annemarie says:
        1 November 2012 at 9:02 pm

        You are right, I’m sure. I have not seen it so far. Ah well, we have plenty of Kylie Minogues to keep us amused.

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        • Robin says:
          1 November 2012 at 10:48 pm

          🙂

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    • Katrina says:
      1 November 2012 at 11:00 pm

      Girlfriend is only just out in Australia. I saw it in Myer this week for the first time.

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      • annemarie says:
        2 November 2012 at 4:17 am

        Oh yay, and I will be passing through Myer tomorrow …

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  11. jonr951 says:
    1 November 2012 at 9:37 pm

    Yeah, tried the Selena one again today at Macys and it’s plasticy fruit punch. Haha! As for celebrity scents this yr, I liked Midnight Heat and Nicole Richie’s the most. I did not adore Gaga’s, Taylor’s, or Nicki’s one bit. Oh gosh, I hate to admit that I liked Paris’ Dazzle! I’m terrible!

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    • Robin says:
      1 November 2012 at 10:49 pm

      I have the last Nicole Richie & Jessica Simpson on hand, but that may be all I manage this year! Which will mean I missed Dazzle, Nicki Minaj and Midnight Heat, among others. Bad on me.

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  12. Marjorie Rose says:
    1 November 2012 at 9:52 pm

    Wow. That list of notes alone on the Gomez scent makes my teeth hurt! As for the poll, I have completely given in to assuming I will dislike celebrity scents, and therefore haven’t sniffed any. I hardly even read about them, because how many ways can we say “terrible” or “tolerably boring?” (Sounds like this was an example of one of each.)

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    • Robin says:
      1 November 2012 at 10:50 pm

      I sympathize. There are occasional winners, but they’re rare.

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  13. nozknoz says:
    1 November 2012 at 10:50 pm

    I’m counting handsome Killian Hennessy as a celeb and expecting to like one of the Calice Beckers in his new In the Garden of Good and Evil series! 😉

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    • Robin says:
      1 November 2012 at 10:50 pm

      Ha, another cheat!

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    • mutzi says:
      1 November 2012 at 11:18 pm

      I think Good Girl Gone Bad and Forbidden Games are both worthy. Hey, can we count Kilian as a celeb?

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  14. Katrina says:
    1 November 2012 at 10:59 pm

    I’ve tried Girlfriend and do like it but don’t think it smells that different from Someday but I prefer the Girlfriend bottle. My favourite celebrity perfume for the year is Lady Gaga Fame and I also like Nicole Richie although its very light.

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    • Robin says:
      2 November 2012 at 7:13 am

      The Girlfriend bottle is really awkward, and don’t love the SG bottle either. Going to try NR this weekend.

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  15. breathesgelatin says:
    1 November 2012 at 11:43 pm

    Kate Walsh’s Billionaire Boyfriend is great, my fave celeb fragrance of 2012.

    Honorable mention goes to Dita von Teese, whose fragrance I also like very much.

    Somewhere in the middle were Madonna’s Truth or Dare and Nicole Richie’s.perfume.

    The bottom of the barrel would be Selena Gomez. One of the worse perfumes I’ve ever smelled in a Macy’s. Also found Jessica Simpson’s Vintage Rose particularly disappointing as I liked some of her earlier fragrances. Ditto Lady Gaga – I hoped for more from her. Oh, and Nicki Minaj’s was pretty horrible, too.

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    • Robin says:
      2 November 2012 at 7:13 am

      I thought the SG smelled particularly awful on paper, which is puzzling since for most dept store scents, that’s where they shine.

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      • breathesgelatin says:
        2 November 2012 at 1:39 pm

        It was shockingly bad, really. Really subpar for the standards of a Macy’s celeb fragrance, which is saying something.

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    • mals86 says:
      2 November 2012 at 11:07 am

      Pink Friday was truly hideous. Vintage Bloom wasn’t THAT awful, sort of a peony-rose-laundry thing if I remember correctly, but I think I might have smelled it within a few minutes of the Minaj, so maybe that influenced my opinion.

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      • breathesgelatin says:
        2 November 2012 at 1:41 pm

        No, Vintage Bloom (why did I type Vintage Rose?? my comment was FULL of typos!) wasn’t horrible. I just kinda like J. Simps’s original Fancy and Fancy Nights, so I foolishly expected more than the peony-rose-laundry it was. When compared to Nicki Minaj Pink Friday, Vintage Bloom starts to look like something of a masterpiece.

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  16. mals86 says:
    2 November 2012 at 11:05 am

    The Dita von Teese is *really* nice, for an inexpensive-smelling floral bouquet. It reminds me of some of the floral scents you used to be able to buy at the drugstore – things like Max Factor Le Jardin, which I’m fairly sure my mother owned at one point, and Coty’s L’Effleur. They smelled floral and attractive and well-mannered, and not very expensive, and I thought Dita’s fragrance was very much in that vein. Not the best quality raw materials, maybe, but really nice, and completely UN-screechy.

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    • mals86 says:
      2 November 2012 at 11:05 am

      Not sure it’s actually hit the US yet, though – I sampled from StC.

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    • Robin says:
      2 November 2012 at 11:24 am

      Thanks, good to know. Hope it will get here eventually.

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    • breathesgelatin says:
      2 November 2012 at 1:41 pm

      I like how you put it here and I agree.

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