Following the success of Reb’l Fleur, Rihanna’s launched another signature scent simply called Rebelle. (Her Facebook fans picked out the name, just so you know…)

While Rebelle Fleur was a fruity floral with a splash of tropical coconut water (an homage to her Barbados roots), Rebelle is more of a spicy sweet gourmand; the kind of scent that would work well at night or in colder weather. Rihanna reckons it’s ‘feminine’ and ‘romantic’ but has also has a ‘defiant quality’. To her, it’s all about ‘taking control but still being a lady’.

Officially, the notes include plum, strawberry and ginger mingled with vanilla orchid and cocoa sitting on a base of musk, coffee, patchouli and amber.

Just reading that you might think it would be sickly sweet, but somehow it manages to sit closely on your skin and not engulf you in an overwhelming cloud.

On me, I immediately get wood and coffee liqueur followed by praline chocolate, kind of like those Belgian sea shell-shaped (try saying that three times fast) choccies. Initially, I wasn’t sure if I liked it but changed my mind after I wore it out and had several people tell me I smelled ‘divine’. This was only after they got in real close or gave me a hug, however. Like I said, unlike other more iconic gourmands, this one is much more subtle and doesn’t have a massive ‘aura’.

The only thing that’s drawn dramatically mixed reviews from my peanut gallery is the bottle; some immediately get that it’s an upside down embellished stiletto heel and others think it’s a ‘circus bugle’.

Anyway, if you like chocolately, coffee-type scents, things like Thierry Mugler’s Angel, I’m quite sure you’ll appreciate this one. It’s currently a smash hit in the UK as it’s their fastest-selling celebrity scent, outselling fragrances by celeb scent heavyweights like Britney, J Lo, Beyonce and Victoria Beckham!

Curious? It’s in store like Foschini and Clicks right now right now going for R595 for 50mls

Love, love

Leigh