Thank U, Next by Ariana Grande is the seventh addition to her fragrance collection. Like a few other of Ariana’s fragrances, Thank U, Next is also inspired by the music hit with the same name. It was released in 2019 in the Eau da Perfume concentration.
This Floral Fruity Gourmand fragrance is created for women, and the nose behind it is Jerome Epinett. He has already collaborated with Ariana on another fragrance from her collection, God is a Woman.
| Perfume Name | Thank U, Next |
| Brand | Ariana Grande |
| Year Released | 2019 |
| Concentration | Eau de Parfum |
| Scent Family | Floral, Fruity |
| Gender | Women |
This fragrance was something that I got as a sample in the PR box, and I have decided to give it a try since I was interested in how different this fragrance is from Ariana’s debut scent, Ari.
What Does Thank U, Next by Ariana Grande Smell Like?
Thank U, Next by Ariana Grande kept the simple formula combining fruity tones that dominate with a dash of flower and sweet tones. The top notes rely on raspberry and pear scents, while the middle notes are coconut and pink rose. Lastly, the entire formula is finalized with macarons and musk scents.
| Top Notes | Raspberry, Pear |
| Middle Notes | Coconut, Pink Rose |
| Base Notes | Macarons, Musk |
The notes used in the Thank U, Next are typical for Ariana’s collection. What is different in this one is that the creators decided to come back with the raspberry scent and try to make it innovative.
Inspiration
This new fragrance is advertised as “the fragrance for moving on and looking up.” As mentioned, the scent has the same inspiration as Ariana’s catchy song; therefore, it is inspired by self-love and the value of your previous relationships.
Ariana explained that she wanted to motivate people to acknowledge the lessons they collected from partners in the past and improve themselves. The fragrance bottle also features a similar theme since its packaging is based on broken heart motives.
My Experience
Thank U, Next is rightfully considered one of Ariana’s greatest fragrances. I am not a fan of sweet marshmallow-based fragrances, so I wouldn’t say I liked many of the fragrances in Ariana’s collection. Luckily, this one is finally distancing from this trend. Instead, it has a strong opening that slowly transitions to a more moderate scent.
What I loved about Thank U, Next is the raspberry–pear combination. It gives a touch of juiciness at the beginning before merging completely. I disregarded the comments in some reviews that this combination has some dill because I didn’t feel it.
Thank U, Next in the first few minutes, resembles Ari due to the presence of raspberry. But still, it felt innovative. Also, to my surprise, this fragrance reminded me of 2021 Miss Dior due to the soft powdery sweetness that appears after the fragrance sets on my skin. Despite this, I wouldn’t say it is a dupe, even though the structure of these two fragrances is similar.
As I used this fragrance on multiple occasions, usually during the day, I noticed that middle tones are the stars of its formula. They nicely dried down the impactful opening, especially the coconut. It does not dominate too much but adds creaminess to the overall formula.
The rose is also apparent and can have a somewhat sour scent that soon disappears. Overall these notes make the fragrance feel light and fresh. Also, this combination gives me energy and prepares me to start my day.
Lastly, I was a bit concerned about the impact of macaron notes and musk. Macarons can impact the sweetness, and musk can sometimes be overwhelming. Thankfully this is not the case with the formula in Thank U, Next.
The “Pickle “Myth
Thank U, Next has been a topic of many reviews claiming how it has a “pickle “scent which I thought was weird. Therefore I was looking forward to checking what this is all about. To immediately debunk this myth, I didn’t feel anything similar. For a moment, dill might appear if too much fragrance is applied. This is a results of combining raspberry and pear, but it vanishes immediately.
My advice would be to spray fragrance directly on the skin. In this way, you immediately avoid possible issues with aroma. This is because fragrance on a material can sometimes change the scent and appear sourer than it is.
Lastly, I never forget that my body scent can also impact the chemistry of the fragrance; therefore, I would always try a sample before buying the actual product.
Sillage & Projection
Thank U, Next has moderate sillage on the lower end of the spectrum. This is something to expect because all of Ariana’s fragrances have the same intensity, which is pretty good for their price ranges. The projection is also very moderate, making it adequate for this type of fruity floral scent.
Longevity & Versatility
This fragrance’s longevity is around 7 hours. Thank U, Next is also quite versatile, but I would say that it is perfect for the day. It fits spring or even autumn vibes. This Ariana fragrance also has versatility in the target audience since it has a more mature combination of scents.
Conclusion
Thank U, Next represents innovation in Ariana’s collection. I liked that this time creators stepped away from intense sweetness and created a not-so-overbearing scent. I also enjoyed a creamy and moderate vibe that had versatility.
Even though the formula is a bit different, the fragrance kept a girly and modern vibe that fits nicely with my personality.
Ultimately, I am happy that I first received it as part of the PR box. In this way, I had time to try it out because I feel that Thank U, Next might not seem right for everyone.