If you've been anywhere near the fragrance section of Ulta or Sephora in the past couple years, you've seen Cloud Pink. It's part of Ariana Grande's Cloud lineâ€"a collection that's become surprisingly respected in fragrance communities despite being celebrity perfumes with sub-$70 price tags.

Here's what nobody tells you about Cloud Pink: it's actually good. Not "good for a celebrity fragrance" or "good for the price." Just genuinely good.

After 12 years of collecting fragrances and testing hundreds of bottles from niche houses to designer powerhouses, I've developed a pretty sensitive BS detector. Celebrity fragrances usually fall into one of two categories: cheap cash grabs that smell like sugary teenage dreams, or overpriced vanity projects that try too hard to be taken seriously.

Cloud Pink is neither. It's a well-composed, surprisingly sophisticated sweet gourmand that happens to cost less than your average brunch. And that coconut note? It's the secret weapon that makes this whole thing work.

Let's cut through the celebrity fragrance stigma and talk about what Cloud Pink actually smells like, how it performs in real-world conditions, and whether it deserves a spot in your collection.

Launched in 2022, Cloud Pink is a flanker to the wildly successful original Cloudâ€"a fragrance that took the perfume world by surprise when it dropped in 2018. While Cloud became famous for smelling similar to Baccarat Rouge 540 at a fraction of the price (we'll get to that comparison later), Cloud Pink takes the formula in a sweeter, fruitier, more tropical direction.

The official classification is "floral fruity gourmand," which is fragrance-speak for "sweet, fruity, and slightly dessert-like." The note pyramid includes:

Top Notes: Ambrette, Pink Pepper
Middle Notes: Coconut, Praline, Vanilla Orchid
Base Notes: Musk, Cashmere Wood, Amber

But here's what you need to understand: note pyramids for celebrity fragrances are often marketing fiction. What matters is what you actually smell, and Cloud Pink is dominated by three things: coconut, vanilla, and praline sweetness.

The bottle continues the Cloud aesthetic with a puffy cloud-shaped design, this time in a soft pink gradient that looks better than it has any right to for a $60 fragrance. Say what you want about celebrity perfumesâ€"they understand shelf appeal.

The Opening (0-20 minutes):

Right out of the gate, Cloud Pink hits you with coconutâ€"but not the sunscreen coconut you're probably imagining. This is creamier, almost milky, with a subtle sweetness that reads more "coconut cream pie" than "tropical resort."

The ambrette and pink pepper are listed as top notes, but honestly? I barely notice them. There's maybe a slight peppery tingle in the first 30 seconds, but it's so fleeting that most people won't catch it. This opening is all about that coconut-vanilla combo.

What surprised me most is how refined this opening feels. I've smelled $200 niche fragrances with cheaper-smelling coconut notes. Cloud Pink's coconut has this smooth, natural quality that never veers into artificial territory. It's sweet without being cloying, tropical without being overtly beachy.

Within the first 10-15 minutes, you start detecting the praline sweetnessâ€"think caramelized nuts with butter and sugar. This is where Cloud Pink starts showing its gourmand credentials. It's dessert-like, but in that sophisticated French pastry way rather than "I spilled candy on myself" way.

The Heart (20 minutes - 3 hours):

As Cloud Pink settles, the vanilla orchid becomes more prominent, creating this creamy floral backbone that keeps the fragrance from being one-dimensionally sweet. The vanilla here isn't the thick, heavy Madagascar vanilla you find in some fragrancesâ€"it's lighter, almost whipped.

The coconut remains the star throughout the heart, but it starts integrating with the praline and vanilla to create this cohesive gourmand cloud (pun intended). There's also this slight powdery quality that emerges, giving the fragrance a clean, feminine edge.

Some reviewers detect strawberry or other fruits in this phase. I don't get specific fruit notes, but there's definitely a fruity sweetness that could read as berry-adjacent. It adds another layer of complexity without being identifiable as any particular fruit.

This middle phase is where Cloud Pink really shines. The interplay between coconut cream, vanilla, praline sweetness, and that subtle powdery floralness creates something that's more interesting than the sum of its parts. It's sweet, yes, but there's enough going on that it doesn't feel juvenile or simple.

The Drydown (3+ hours):

Eventually, Cloud Pink settles into a soft, musky-vanilla base with lingering coconut sweetness. The cashmere wood and amber are barely detectableâ€"more like suggestions of warmth than distinct woody or ambery notes.

This drydown is incredibly wearable. It's that "your skin but sweeter" territory that modern fragrances aim for. The projection has dropped significantly by this point, becoming more of an intimate skin scent that people will only notice when they're close to you.

The coconut never fully disappears, which is either a blessing or a curse depending on your feelings about coconut. Personally, I appreciate the consistency. There's something comforting about a fragrance that stays true to its identity from start to finish.

Let's talk numbers because performance is where celebrity fragrances often fall apart.

Longevity: 4-6 hours on skin consistently, sometimes pushing 8 hours on clothing. For an Eau de Parfum at this price point, that's actually respectable. I've worn expensive designer fragrances that don't last this long.

Projection: Moderate for the first hour (maybe 2-3 feet), then settles into arm's length projection for the next 2-3 hours before becoming a skin scent. With 4 sprays, you'll be noticeable but not overwhelming.

Sillage: Light to moderate. This isn't a room-filler or a fragrance that leaves a massive trail. It's more personalâ€"people will smell you when they're near you, which is appropriate for something this sweet.

The performance is solid for everyday wear. It'll get you through a workday or a night out without needing to reapply, though you might want to refresh if you're going straight from day to evening activities.

Is it a beast mode performer? No. But expecting 12-hour longevity and massive projection from a $60 celebrity fragrance is unrealistic. For what it is and what it costs, Cloud Pink delivers.

Here's where things get interesting because Cloud Pink is more versatile than you'd expect from something this sweet.

Best Seasons:

Spring and summer are ideal. The coconut-vanilla combination feels natural in warm weather without being too heavy. Early fall works too, especially during daytime.

Winter? It's possible, but the lightness might feel underwhelming when you want something richer and more substantial. Save your winter wearing for indoor occasions where the sweetness can shine.

Best Occasions:

• Casual daytime activities (coffee dates, shopping, brunch)
• Date nights (especially casual or fun dates, not formal dinners)
• Girls' nights out
• Beach vacations and tropical getaways
• Spring and summer weddings (as a guest)
• Any situation where you want to smell approachable and sweet

Where It Struggles:

• Professional office environments (too sweet for conservative workplaces)
• Formal business meetings
• Job interviews
• Extremely hot, humid days (can feel cloying)
• Situations requiring serious projection and presence

This is a fun, feel-good fragrance. It's not trying to be serious or command attention in boardrooms. Wear it when you want to smell likeable and approachable, not when you need to project authority or sophistication.

Short answer: Yes, if they're within a few feet of you.

Longer answer: Cloud Pink has solid compliment potential, especially from other women. There's something about that coconut-vanilla-praline combination that reads as universally pleasant to most people.

The compliments you'll get are usually variations of:

• "You smell so good, what is that?"
• "You smell like cookies/dessert!"
• "That's such a pretty scent!"

Don't expect strangers across the room to stop you (the projection isn't strong enough), but friends, coworkers who sit near you, and dates will definitely notice. The scent has that approachable, non-threatening sweetness that makes people feel comfortable commenting on it.

One thing I've noticed: Cloud Pink seems to perform particularly well with the under-35 crowd. Younger people tend to love it immediately, while older demographics are more mixed. If your goal is to smell appealing to Gen Z and younger millennials, this delivers.

This is the comparison everyone wants, so let's address it head-on.

Original Cloud:

• More sophisticated and "perfume-y"
• Lavender opening with creamy coconut
• Woody, slightly ambery base
• Often compared to Baccarat Rouge 540 (though they're not identical)
• Better performance overall
• More versatile across seasons and occasions
• Slightly more expensive ($65-75)

Cloud Pink:

• Sweeter and more gourmand
• Coconut-dominant with praline and vanilla
• Softer, more powdery base
• No expensive fragrance comparison (it's its own thing)
• Slightly weaker performance
• More specifically suited to warm weather and casual wear
• Slightly cheaper ($55-65)

Bottom line: They're different enough that owning both isn't redundant. Original Cloud is the more sophisticated choice for year-round wear. Cloud Pink is the fun, sweet option for when you want something lighter and more approachable.

If you can only have one, get original Cloud. If you already own Cloud and want something different for spring/summer, Cloud Pink is a solid addition.

Here's where Cloud Pink really shines: the price-to-quality ratio.

Retail pricing runs $55-$68 depending on where you shop and the size:

• 1 oz (30ml): $42-$48
• 1.7 oz (50ml): $55-$65
• 3.4 oz (100ml): $62-$68

Compare that to designer fragrances with similar sweet gourmand profiles:

• Prada Candy: $85-$130
• Viktor & Rolf Bonbon: $95-$140
• Lancôme La Vie Est Belle: $100-$165

Cloud Pink isn't at the same level as these fragrances in terms of complexity or performance, but it's not embarrassingly far off either. And it costs literally half as much.

The value proposition is simple: you're getting a well-composed, pleasant-smelling fragrance that performs adequately for everyday wear at a price that won't make you hesitate to wear it liberally. You can buy two or three bottles of Cloud Pink for what you'd pay for one bottle of La Vie Est Belle.

This is the beauty of celebrity fragrances when they're done right. No luxury markup, no prestige tax, just good juice at accessible prices.

You'll love Cloud Pink if:

• You enjoy sweet, gourmand fragrances
• Coconut and vanilla are your jam
• You want something for casual spring/summer wear
• Compliments from people nearby matter to you
• You're building a fragrance wardrobe on a budget
• You like the original Cloud but want something sweeter
• You prefer approachable, non-intimidating scents

Skip it if:

• You hate sweet fragrances with a passion
• Coconut notes trigger bad sunscreen memories
• You need office-appropriate scents only
• Performance is your top priority
• You want something sophisticated and "grown-up"
• You exclusively wear niche or luxury fragrances (but maybe reconsider this snobbery)

Vs. Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Crush Cheirosa 62:

The body mist that broke the internet. Both have prominent coconut and praline notes, but Cheirosa 62 is sweeter and more explicitly tropical. Cloud Pink is more refined with better longevity. If you love 62, you'll probably like Cloud Pink.

Vs. Kayali Vanilla 28:

Similar sweet gourmand territory, but Kayali leans harder into pure vanilla while Cloud Pink is more coconut-forward. Kayali is also pricier ($100+) with comparable performance. Cloud Pink offers better value.

Vs. Prada Candy:

Prada Candy is the luxury version of this vibeâ€"sweet, caramel-ish, powdery. It's more sophisticated and longer-lasting, but Cloud Pink captures a similar mood at a fraction of the price.

Vs. Ariana Grande Sweet Like Candy:

Another Ariana fragrance, but SLC is fruitier and more juvenile. Cloud Pink is the more mature, refined option between the two.

The cloud-shaped bottle is genuinely charming. The pink gradient is pretty without being tacky, and the frosted effect makes it look more expensive than it is. It's Instagram-worthy, which matters for a celebrity fragrance's target demographic.

The atomizer sprays evenly and delivers a fine mist rather than concentrated spurts. The cap fits securely and doesn't feel cheap. For $60, the packaging quality is surprisingly good.

My only complaint: the bottle is kind of bulky, so it doesn't travel well. It takes up more space in a bag than a traditional perfume bottle. But for display purposes, it's adorable.

Look, I get it. As a serious collector with 200+ bottles, there's a part of me that wants to only recommend $200+ niche fragrances that nobody's heard of. That's the fragrance snob trap.

But here's the reality: some celebrity fragrances are genuinely well-made. Ariana Grande's line, in particular, has earned respect in fragrance communities because the quality is there. They're not trying to be Creed or Roja Doveâ€"they're trying to be accessible, pleasant fragrances at prices normal people can afford.

Cloud Pink isn't going to impress fragrance snobs at a niche boutique. But it might become your go-to summer scent that makes you feel good every time you wear it. And isn't that what fragrances are supposed to do?

The best fragrance isn't the most expensive or the most exclusive. It's the one you reach for repeatedly because it makes you happy. If Cloud Pink does that for you at $60, that's a better purchase than a $300 bottle you never wear because you're "saving it."

Ariana Grande Cloud Pink is a well-executed sweet gourmand that punches above its weight class. The coconut-vanilla-praline combination is genuinely pleasant, the performance is adequate for the price, and the versatility for spring and summer wear makes it a solid addition to any fragrance rotation.

Is it groundbreaking? No. Will it change your life or make you forget about luxury perfumes? Probably not. But will it make you smell good, get compliments, and bring a little sweetness to your day without breaking the bank? Absolutely.

The key is managing expectations. This is a $60 celebrity fragrance, not a $600 masterpiece. It's meant to be enjoyable, accessible, and fun. On those terms, it succeeds completely.

If you've been curious about Cloud Pink but hesitant because of the celebrity fragrance stigma, get over it. Sample it at Ulta, and if you like what you smell, buy it. Life's too short to miss out on fragrances you'd genuinely enjoy because they don't have the "right" brand name on the bottle.

At $55-$65, Cloud Pink is low-risk, high-reward. It's the kind of purchase that might surprise you with how often you reach for itâ€"and that's exactly what a good fragrance wardrobe needs.

Want more honest fragrance reviews without the luxury markup? That's exactly why I started Aromatickto help people build great fragrance collections at prices that don't require trust funds. Whether you're into celebrity gems like Cloud Pink or designer classics at discount prices, smart collecting is about finding what you love and wearing it confidently.