There’s a line in the second verse of Rihanna’s club banger, “Pour It Up,” where she proclaims, “My fragrance on and they love my smell.” It’s the best line that mirrors the 26-year-old Bajan superstar’s current situation.
The Grammy-winning pop chanteuse just introduced her first ever men’s scent, ROGUE MAN. At first whiff, it has a bold yet enticing aroma. Its alluring sweet aura immediately segues into a strapping combination of wood, citrus fruits, herbs, legumes and black pepper notes.
Concocted by notable German perfumer Frank Voelkl, ROGUE MAN is packaged in a square glass bottle topped with an asymmetric black leather cap. The cologne’s velvet essence is the fifth fragrance released by Rihanna, currently the third best-selling Digital Singles artist in America.
She established herself as a reputable brand outside of the recording studio and onto cosmetic counters and department stores with her immaculately packaged feminine scents Reb’l Fleur, Rebelle, Nude and Rogue.
The charismatic pop singer and YouTube sensation believes the timing was right to extend her brand over to her male fans. “I’m all about the ladies, so this is one time I get to do something special for my men,” says Rihanna in an interview with E! News.
“The ladies still get to enjoy it. All my male friends have it. I tested it on them first. I also sent it home with my girls to test it out on their boyfriends.”
The global megastar known for chart-topping singles like “Umbrella,” “Stay,” “Take a Bow,” “We Found Love” and “Diamonds” just to name a few made an appearance in Atlanta to promote ROGUE MEN.
“Fragrances draw people in,” says Rihanna. “It also creates memories and makes things stick. Certain emotions are evoked through it at certain moments, and you remember it,” adds the chart-topper.
When she arrives at Macy’s in Lenox Square Mall, Rihanna, with an impeccable lean figure, steps onto the red carpet wearing chest-length straightened hair. The glowing starlet dons a black cropped halter top trimmed in white and pearls and a long black skirt trimmed in white dangling over her black open-toed stilettos.
The first 300 fans in line that purchased any of Rihanna’s fragrances got an opportunity to have their picture taken with the singer by an enlarged sensual black-and-white shot of the sex symbol hugging tatted up model Daniel Ness.
Over 3,000 hopefuls armed with flashing smartphone cameras filled Macy’s bottom level waiting for a chance to meet-and-greet with Rihanna. Referencing her fans, the chanteuse had this to say:
“They just do incredible things. They show up at crazy places at random times. They bring their family members, their friends. It’s all exciting.”
While fans anticipate the release of her eighth studio album, ROGUE MAN will surely keep Rihanna’s star rising.
This post was written by Christopher A. Daniel, pop cultural critic and music editor for The Burton Wire. He is also a contributing writer for Urban Lux Magazine and Blues & Soul Magazine. Follow Christopher @Journalistorian on Twitter.
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