Celebrity-branded scents

The line-up of celebrities with fragrance deals resembles the invitation list for the People's Choice Awards.

There are film stars, TV personalities, pop singers and socialites, all with a marketable image and, presumably, a thirsty fan base that will lap up every last drop of what these public figures bottle and sell.

The interest in celebrity-branded scents continues as consumers become more entranced with their favourite stars' lives, both in and out of the spotlight. In 2008, sales from celebrity fragrances totalled more than $170 million (Dh625 million).

But what about the "juice" (industry-speak for the actual perfume)? With so much emphasis on the marketing and consumers getting caught up in the perfectly airbrushed image of their favourite star peering out at them from the shiny packaging, we often dismiss what the stuff really smells like.

In Bloom by Reese Witherspoon

What it evokes: A porch swing on a warm afternoon, swatting away mosquitoes with a newspaper while sipping an ice cold glass of lemonade.What it smells like: The gardenia is prominent, but In Bloom manages to cut through the headiness that is typical of that flower for a more crystal and transparent result. There are top notes of Georgia peach and tea leaves, middle notes of star gardenia, magnolia and night blooming jasmine, and base notes including amber and cashmere wood.Final verdict: It's really girlie without being annoying.

Siren by Paris Hilton

What it evokes: Smelling this made us want to eat tropical gummy lifesavers while nursing a Red Bull cocktail. What it smells like: Anything light and fruity, such as DKNY Be Delicious. After a few hours, it turns into something a little deeper and less fruity, like L'Eau d'Issey by Issey Miyake.Final verdict: This is the sixth scent from the socialite and queen of licensing, who said in a news release: "I feel irresistible as a mermaid." The perfume is light, fruity and tropical, perfect for wearing while lying by a trendy hotel pool in a rhinestone-studded bikini.

Queen by Queen Latifah

What it evokes: A dusty mahogany library with gold pillars, shelves full of old books, highball glasses next to a bottle — and a 70-inch flat-screen television dropped from the ceiling.What it smells like: Spicy vanilla and cognac. If you like Angel, then Queen could be another scent for you. Top notes of tequila and mandarin are mixed with middle notes of cognac and Baie rose, and bottom notes include musk and vanilla absolute.Final verdict: Once the heavy scent sits on the skin for a few minutes, it's smooth, warm and beautiful, especially for autumn and winter.

Malibu and Malibu Nights by Pamela Anderson

What it evokes: Nothing about Malibu reminds us of an upscale beach town. It's more like the scent our best friend kept in her glove compartment in high school to mask the smell of cigarette smoke before we would sneak back into math class. What it smells like: The ambered sandalwood base note in Malibu, mixed with mandarin and honeysuckle, ends up smelling like there's some patchouli in it, but there isn't. With Malibu Nights, we smell mostly the champaca and black orchid flowers. Final verdict: Malibu Nights is a more alluring scent than Malibu. And Malibu isn't as light and "layerable" as Anderson states in the product material. But the price of her scents makes them more accessible to her fans than some other fragrances.

Fancy Love by Jessica Simpson

What it evokes: That smell from the drawer where your mum always hid the bulk of your Halloween candy and doled out a piece a day so you wouldn't get cavities or bounce off the wall. What it smells like: It wears a lot like Burberry London, but it's a bit sweeter. Top notes include peach blossom and pink Champagne, the middle is Turkish rose and plumeria, and the base contains creamy amber, musk and patchouli.Final verdict: As far as sugary scents go, this one isn't as headache-inducing as most, because of the creaminess and musk, but it's not as "romantic" as Simpson states in the media material.