ARIANA GRANDE
CLOUD EDP
2018
PERFUMER
Clement Gavarry
lavender
pear
bergamot
coconut cream
praline
vanilla orchid
woody notes
musk
Here is something I never thought I’d be saying: Cloud is not a dupe of Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540.
Sure, there’s a very similar tinge in it, but it’s different to my nose. More different than many other fragrances that have that Baccarat element in their compositions. And I can’t stand BR540; I’m very sensitive to the smell and it has ruined many a fragrance for me. That very distinct, piercing scent is just not nearly as prominent in Cloud, so I enjoy that more.
To be honest, I was really surprised when I smelled it, because I was full on expecting it to be Baccarat Rouge 540, but it is way softer, more fruity and citrussy, more gourmand, not as powdery, not as medicinal. It really differs on many levels to my nose.
The opening does feel ‘off’ as others have stated before. I think the inclusion of lavender to give it an aromatic tinge is a weird combination. Some have called it ‘men’s cologne’ and while the overall vibe isn’t, I do feel like Cloud leans less feminine than BR540, which is yet another surprise. It’s like wearing a sweet feminine leaning gourmand, but someone walks past wearing JPG Le Male.
Once those elements in the opening fade, you get that cotton candy type sweetness, but as mentioned, this is not the same as in BR540 to me. It’s much more on the vanilla side and more creamy. It’s ozonic, but lactonic at the same time.
Perhaps the biggest differentiating factor in scent versus BR540, is that I get a lot of the coconut in Cloud and this is probably why I like it more. This smells as much as your average sun tan lotion fragrance as it does to BR540.
That’s not to say that Cloud is going to be in my collection anytime soon. Despite everything I said, it’s still a cloyingly sweet vibe that’s not for me, and I find it to smell somewhat cheap. The opening isn’t great and performance isn’t in the same league as BR540. I just don’t see this as a viable alternative at all. Many people do, but after having tried Cloud finally, I kind of wonder how many of those people actually wore (not counterfeit) BR540? I don’t see it. However, if you don’t like BR540, Cloud may be something you shouldn’t avoid trying out. I was pleasantly surprised.