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Home • Beauty

Rihanna Reveals Where Her Love For Fragrance Originated

The mommy-to-be chats with ESSENCE about maternity beauty, versatility and craving a cheeseburger.
Rihanna Reveals The Touching Place Her Love For Fragrance Originated
By Blake Newby · Updated February 17, 2022

Let me start by saying that I’m rarely ever starstruck. In fact, I’m probably one of the most cool, calm and collected people you’ll ever meet when it comes to being in the presence of celebrities. However, until Friday, I’d never been face-to-face with Rihanna. Interviewing her at the Fenty Skin and Fenty Beauty event in Los Angeles, in the thick of Super Bowl weekend, my composure was certainly tested like never before — especially when the first thing she looked at me and said was, “I’ve been seeing you over here with this outfit, I love it.”

Radiating on the carpet in a purple and green sequined set (which has already gone viral, btw) I was able to chat with the Bad Gal herself about the intersection of beauty and pregnancy, how she avoids being “ashy,” and the nostalgic way she fell in love with fragrance.

Rihanna Chats Maternity Beauty
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 11: Rihanna poses for a picture as she celebrates her beauty brands fenty beauty and fenty skin at Goya Studios on February 11, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

“I’m a versatile bitch,” Rihanna tells me when asked about why the Fenty brand hasn’t relegated itself to just one aspect of beauty. “I genuinely care about skincare I genuinely care about makeup, I feel like they go hand-in-hand.” And while those two segments may have come first, a foray into fragrance was always inevitable. “My mom used to be a sales clerk for a fragrance department so I had my fair share of exposure to fragrance at a young age and I kind of understood the profile of smells and fragrances,” she shared while reflecting. “So we started small and we moved into this niche world of fragrance and created Fenty Fragrance.”

Rihanna Chats Maternity Beauty
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 11: View of Fenty product at Rihanna’s celebration of Fenty Beauty & Fenty Skin at Goya Studios on February 11, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images for Fenty Beauty & Fenty Skin)

However, it’s not the eau de parfum that she says is her forever must-have. “Gloss Bomb for sure,” she begins before changing her answer. “Or maybe it’s Buttah Drop because I can still put it on my lips.”

Article continues after video.

The star makes it abundantly clear that these days her priority is hydration, especially for her growing bump. “I can’t be ashy!” she explains rubbing her belly. “Black people especially, we’re big on skin and being moisturized — and I mean, hello I’m clearly not missing an inch!”

Rihanna Chats Maternity Beauty
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 11: (L-R) A$AP Rocky and Rihanna celebrate Fenty Beauty & Fenty Skin at Goya Studios on February 11, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images for Fenty Beauty & Fenty Skin)

Another priority these days, as told to ESSENCE, is satisfying those cravings. “I want a cheeseburger,” she tells us before entering the event.

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Someone get our sis her cheeseburger!

01
Fenty Skin Butta Drop Whipped Oil Body Cream
Rihanna Reveals The Touching Place Her Love For Fragrance Originated
Courtesy of Brand
available at Fenty Skin $42
02
Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer
Rihanna Reveals The Touching Place Her Love For Fragrance Originated
Courtesy of Brand
available at Fenty Beauty $20
TOPICS:  asap rocky fenty beauty Fenty Skin Rihanna