Ariana Grande’s third addition to her world-famous collection is the fruity floral scent for a woman called Sweet Like Candy. The line started in 2015 with the debut of Ari fragrance, while Sweet Like Candy fragrance came out in 2016.
Like all previous fragrances from Ariana’s collection, Sweet Like Candy became one of the best-selling fragrances during Christmas of the same year.
| Perfume Name | Sweet Like Candy |
| Brand | Ariana Grande |
| Year Released | 2016 |
| Concentration | Eau de parfum |
| Scent Family | Floral, Fruity |
| Gender | Women |
This fragrance comes as the Eau de perfume and is very much advertised as one of the best in Ariana’s collection. Due to its immense popularity and good reviews, I have decided to get a sample. I wanted to check out what is so different with Sweet Like Candy compared to other fragrances of the same collection.
What Does Sweet Like Candy by Ariana Grande Smell Like?
Sweet Like Candy by Ariana Grande’s collection is based on the traditional combination which includes a mix of flower and fruity scents. The main notes are based on impactful notes of blackberry, pear, and bergamot.
These are nicely combined with the middle notes that are added to reduce the sweetness of the top notes. These include whipped cream, marshmallows, black currant, frangipani, jasmine, and honeysuckle. Lastly, the formula is completed with Vanilla and Cashmere Wood, making the top notes more distinctive.
| Top Notes | Blackberry, Pear, Bergamot |
| Middle Notes | Whipped cream, Marshmallow, Black Currant, Frangipani, Jasmine, Honeysuckle |
| Base Notes | Vanilla, Cashmere Wood |
The composition of notes used in Sweet Like Candy is more complex than in Ariana’s brand’s other fragrances. This is especially noticeable in the selection of middle notes.
Ariana Vibe
Ariana’s collection is usually overseen because it is considered another famous person’s side project. What is different about her case is that she actually took part in creating each fragrance together with some of the most famous perfumers.
Ariana’s collection has this distinctive sweetness and fruity base in all of the scents. These can be interpreted as the signature elements of Ariana Grande’s fragrances, as they have been used in her debut Ari and have reappeared in all other creations ever since.
Ariana elaborated on numerous occasions that she takes fragrances as her personal project. Therefore all of the elements she enjoys in a scent appear in her creations. In this way, Ariana feels like she has been creating stronger relationships with her fans while presenting them with the best products.
My Experience
Sweet Like Candy is pretty much a self-explanatory fragrance. The composition of the notes is based on traditional Ariana elements. It gives off a sweet and very teenage aroma that is achieved with blackberry combined with marshmallows and vanilla.
Speaking of blackberry, it is very much expected that Ariana combines these notes with a pear which is the base for any typical sweet fragrance. Therefore it was not surprising that this fragrance reminded me of Ari. Both had similar top notes combined with marshmallow undertones. This made me feel a bit disappointed since I expected a bit more innovation.
Still, I believe Sweet Like Candy’s notes improve significantly as time passes. This is because I felt like the smell of berries slowly loose acidic notes, and thanks to vanilla, it shifts to a more creamy vibe. I would say that whipped cream also contributed to the mentioned creamy and fresh feeling that the fragrance has. Thanks to this combination, its aroma reminded me of the oceans and spending time on the beach.
A great additional touch was a hint of black currant and frangipani, which make an impact once the blackberry domination fades a bit. I liked that the marshmallow scent was constant, which made Sweet Like Candy girly and indeed gave the candy aroma to this fragrance.
I am generally not a fan of sweet perfumes, but Sweet Like Candy is moderate in that manner. A great combination of middle notes did a good job, so the fragrance is not so overwhelming and heavy. This is another point where Sweet Like Candy can be compared with Ari. They have a similar intensity of sweet aromas on paper, but I would argue that Sweet Like Candy is a bit lighter.
Sillage & Projection
As is typical for every Ariana perfume, especially those that are dominantly sweet, the sillage of Sweet Like Candy is moderate. I was expecting a bit of improvement since this is already the third fragrance created by Ariana. On the other hand, the projection was quite good; I dare to say even the best in the collection.
Longetivity & Versitility
This is a traditional teenage fragrance that is very much based on the fans Ariana has. It is moderately lasting. Therefore it requires a good amount of perfume in order to be present for more than 5 hours.
Considering the combination of scents, this is definitely an everyday scent. It can be easily used during any activity, especially in warmer parts of the year.
Conclusion
Overall, Sweet Like Candy didn’t bring anything new to the formula. Even so, it is one of the most balanced Ariana fragrance. It features many middle notes that innovative dominant tones or a better ratio of elements can improve.
However, I was delighted by the versatility and somewhat moderate sweetness, which is why I don’t regret spending money on the sample.
On the other hand, I will not buy the fragrance itself since I am not impressed by the entire performance, and the scent does not seem unique to me at all.