Frankie by Ariana Grande is the second fragrance of the line made by the famous Disney star. This fragrance belongs to a Floral Fruity Gourmand. Unlike all other fragrances in Ariana’s collection, Frankie is made for both women and men. It was launched in 2016 as part of limited edition series.
Although this Eau de Perfume differs from all other fragrances in Ariana’s collection, it has been discontinued. Nowadays, it can only be found on rare occasions and during special sales from big department stores.
| Perfume Name | Frankie |
| Brand | Ariana Grande |
| Year Released | 2016 |
| Concentration | Eau de parfum |
| Scent Family | Floral, Fruity |
| Gender | Unisex |
I was very interested in the concept of unisex perfume from Ariana’s collection and wanted to try it as soon as I learned about it. Luckily I had one sample of Frankie in my apartment that I got a while back as part of the gift when I purchased another Ariana fragrance.
Inspired by Personal Values
Frankie by Ariana Grande is a personal homage to her family or, more importantly, to Frank James Michael Grande Marchione. Frank is Ariana’s older brother, and the fragrance was created as a collaboration between them.
Frank is also a part of the entertainment industry, like Ariana. He is an American dancer, actor, singer, producer, and YouTube blogger.
Ariana explained that this fragrance was created to express their connection and close relationship. It is also a way to bring the two of them closer and share their collection with the audience.
It is designed to represent a combination of their energies, characters, and personalities. These famous siblings describe their creation as a vibrant, dynamic, and sugared blend!
Another personal significance of this fragrance for Ariana is the non-gender-specific concept behind it. This fragrance was created as unisex since its creators believed that perfumes should not be assigned to gender. Ariana tends always to promote diversity. Therefore, she elaborates that Frankie is a scent worn by those who do not want to be defined by just one thing.
What Does Frenkie by Ariana Grande Smell Like?
Frankie by Ariana Grande uses similar tones as the majority of her fragrances. The top notes are based on floral scents of apricot and pear with a dash of pink pepper. Middle flower notes tone down these intense and sweet notes. These notes are Wild orchids, contrasting with cedar as a second element. This creamy and warm combination is a pleasant and great addition to a traditional base made of sandalwood, crystal sugar, and musk.
| Top Notes | Apricot, Pink Pepper, Pear |
| Middle Notes | Cedar, Wild Orchid |
| Base Notes | Sugar, Sandalwood, Musk |
The less impactful and overwhelming top notes and universal scents in Frankie are the results of the desire to create the unisex perfume. Yet, the creators wanted to make this fragrance recognizable and similar to Ariana’s collection.
My Experience
I was intrigued by the concept of a sweet, fruity unisex fragrance. This is how Frankie was advertised, and I didn’t know what to expect. In the past, all the unisex scents I tried were more toned down than compared to what I experienced in Ariana’s fragrances.
On the first try, I liked the opening Frenki had. The smell was sweet yet seductive, which is typical for fruity fragrances. But as the fragrance sets in, I liked the pink pepper twist that made it unique and not so harsh in sweetness. This made it appear unisex right at the beginning, which I think is important.
In its structure, Frankie is quite similar to Ari, but I would argue it lacks a bit of innovation. Almost every sweet fragrance is based on either apricot or pear. The only difference is that it’s weaker, and woody accord dominates more than Ari.
As time passes, and the more the fragrance sits on my skin, I notice the scents of flower components. Wild orchids impacted the top notes’ intensity and made Frenki a more creamy scent. This note also reminds me of Ari by Ariana Grande, but its middle notes are more complex.
As mentioned, a great twist is a pepper that indeed makes this fragrance unisex or adds a more soft masculine note. Finding a moderately sweet scent for men can be quite difficult. In this regard, Frankie did a good job. The only thing that ruins it over time is that it can become too woody if you use a lot of it.
Sillage & Projection
The sillage of this Ariana fragrance is moderate, while the projection is good. Immediately after being put on, it is very intense, but as it sits on the skin, it changes notes to woody. After two hours, this sillage fades away, and it becomes unnoticeable.
Longevity & Versatility
As I mentioned, this fragrance by Ariana is not very long-lasting. This is disappointing since I expected better longevity than this collection’s first fragrance.
On the opposite note, I would argue that Frankie is a very good fragrance for all seasons. Especially during evening hours, which is when I choose to use it. I liked how it matches the night walk vibe without being too dark.
Closing Thoughts
Overall, I feel Frankie is a good upgrade for Ari by Ariana Grande. The innovation is the unisex tone and the perfect addition of pink pepper. I liked that it toned down the powerful sweet scent and dominant fruity vibes.
Also, it is a good step forward to expand the audience of Ariana’s fragrances by focusing on a darker note. In this way, the collection will include versatility, and it will become more popular.
Even though the idea was good, Frankie had a lot of big issues with the longevity and sillage, which ruined the overall experience. Therefore I am not surprised that Frankie is discontinued.