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A Whipped Marshmallow Miracle Challenging Rihanna’s Rumored Scent Of Choice
By: Tiffany Johnson | Date: February 9, 2026
Photo: Tiffany Johnson / So MoTiFFated
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Tiny snow drops were falling from the sky, rapidly and ineffectively, melting as soon as they hit the ground. That pretty sight wasn’t enough to deter me from a lunch date at a new-to-me bougie restaurant, a date that had already been delayed days prior due to a massive snow storm. Maybe it was cabin fever that had me ready to roam the streets. However, if you are a regular So MoTiFFated reader, you know I was ready to show the world my greatness. Non-sticking snow was not going to stop my show. I wanted the wind and everyone in its path to catch my drift!
That drift has been a long time coming. This journey actually began back in January when I published a continuation of last year's dupe series, reaching readers on six continents, in the article 6 Scents, 5 New Muses: Decoding 2026's Bath & Body Works Designer Inspired Dupes. For that beauty investigative journalism, I spent hours in retail aisles conducting my initial analysis and doing the due diligence you’ve come to expect from this brand. Having maintained the discipline over the past year of waiting until the $18.95 products drop to $5.95, my patience practice saved my wallet again. I even caught a flash sale for an extra 20% off, so girl math, each bottle was $4.76! As I encourage you to smell good while saving money, I practice what I preach.
Photo: Tiffany Johnson / So MoTiFFated
Having secured the entire new collection, that lunch excursion was the beginning of my wear test day. I wanted to know if I'd get my usual fragrance compliments and if anyone would think it smelled like Rihanna's rumored favorite, Love, Don't Be Shy by Kilian. Luckily, the snow stopped and cleared my path for a phenomenal day smelling like love had been unleashed in full.
All things excellence, right to your inbox. Beauty essentials • Business strategy • Style curation Everything you need to nourish your confidence. Love Unleashed
Photo: Tiffany Johnson / So MoTiFFated
Love Unleashed into The Wind
Walking down the hill towards the restaurant, I didn’t think too much about my perfume catching the attention of others because the freezing wind was gusting like it was getting ready to take Toto to Oz in The Wiz. However, as we made our way to our table on the covered balcony under the ceiling heaters, the power of Love Unleashed became undeniable. Within fifteen minutes of sitting down, my friend admitted she had been trying to decode my scent since we met. Whether it hit her during our initial hug or lingered from our walk, its presence had clearly made an impression.
I shared how my Bath & Body Works Dupes for Designer Perfumes article has ranked #1 on Google for B&BW Dupes and a plethora of similar search queries for a year and counting, and how I was wearing one from its latest release. I waited for her to think of the designer match before I gave the answer. It didn’t come to mind and I was happy to share that the scent it reminded her of was Love, Don’t Be Shy by Kilian. She was flabbergasted. Sharing how it smelled so similar to the designer match that she loved, she was ready to book it to the store. That is the exact reaction you want from a dupe. It isn’t a counterfeit. Instead, it is the result of top-tier scent engineers bringing designer inspired scent matches to the shelves multiple times a year. My friend wasn't the only one intrigued. Honestly, a staffer in the restaurant seemed sweet on me that day too. It could’ve been partially because I’m so polite and kind, as I was the only one in the place pronouncing his name correctly. Whatever it was, he even spent the block to our area. He performed a deep-fake weather check before asking for my relationship status. While that interaction wasn't a 1:1 match like the fragrance, it proved one thing. This scent puts love in the air and suitors will take note everywhere. Four Hours Later . . .
Its staying power lasted on me for hours, waning some but still present. I was so deep into doing administrative updates on this site that I didn’t do a full body cream dive prior to leaving. I only applied it to my arm, forearm, and hands. I definitely should’ve hit my ankles too in the winter time, but I digress. Then, I drenched myself in the body mist on my clothes and my winter coat.
Four hours later, while shopping at the mall, I ran into some folks that I knew and we discussed fragrance. One of them being a male who purchased several Everyday Luxuries body mists for his mother. He hadn't stepped foot in B&BW in nine years, but he shopped after I shared my affinity for 4 New Bath & Body Works Dupes for Designer Perfumes and let him smell them last August. Our conversation was layered. I asked the female in the group if she liked LDBS and it was a quick no. I responded with a chuckle, "oh well, that’s what I’m wearing." To which they replied my fragrance of the day hadn’t hit them yet. Moments later as I dramatically walked back and forth for the wind gust of my fragrance to get them without being all up in my business, they began to be amazed. After sliding my coat up my forearm so they could further smell the layered effect of the body cream, they seemed even more elated. She had a total Change of Heart like the early 2000s dating game show that I used to love. Then, she began praising how it meshed with my scent chemistry. Is It A MoTiFFated Must-Have?
A win. Someone that doesn’t prefer LDBS being intrigued by Love Unleashed is incredible. Smelling a body mist layered with body cream four hours after application is an impressive feat. Sometimes body mists can get a bad rap because they are less concentrated than perfume, but that is also what keeps their price down. My philosophy is to spray it in abundance and to layer it if possible. That gives it enough strength to be with you for hours.
Kilian Love, Don’t Be Shy
Photo: Tiffany Johnson / So MoTiFFated
Honestly, with LDBS being $295, I can barely smell it hours after my application without an intentional sniff check. I flew through my first bottle for that reason, and I’ve been on my second bottle for two years because I’ve been making it stretch. Love Unleashed changed the game. During the next $5.95 sale, I plan to stock up because I’m not sure if this one will make it in the consistent rotation like Covered in Roses by B&BW.
The Muse: Kilian, Love Don’t Be Shy | The Match: Love Unleashed
Tiffany’s Take: Love Unleashed as The Match
For hundreds of dollars cheaper, this release is nearly identical to the legendary scent notoriously known as Rihanna’s alleged signature fragrance. The fluffiness of the marshmallow is there like a cloud unleashing a sugared mix of pink peppers and neroli. The latter is a clever addition and is an essential oil extracted from the orange tree; it mimics the expensive orange blossom of the original without being a direct carbon copy. After putting this through a rigorous wear test in the freezing wind, I can confirm the DNA is spot on and undetectable as a rip from the original. It is so close that people will stop you to ask if you are wearing Kilian. Whether you decide to let them in on the $18.95 secret or just say yes is entirely your business! 
Photo: Tiffany Johnson / So MoTiFFated
Tiffany’s Take: Love, Don’t be Shy as The Muse
This remains the best fragrance blind buy I have ever made! I originally secured it during the pandemic for $225.25, and even with the current retail price climbing to $295, the intoxicating trail it leaves makes it worth the investment. Upon first spray, it is a sweet, honey-drenched swirl of orange blossom that feels bold and unapologetic. It is a literal love letter to the skin. As it dries down, you become completely infatuated with the vanilla and marshmallow base. This is the kind of scent that doesn't just turn heads. It whispers of a love that is uniquely yours, providing a sophisticated depth that serves as the perfect blueprint for those to be inspired by its greatness, such as Love Unleashed. Yet and still, if you’re someone that doesn’t want to drench themselves in body mist for a scent to linger, you can’t go wrong with the Eau de Parfum (EDP). It’s an investment in your personal brand that can last you for years, which I know to be true. To aid the long-lasting scent evolution, you can purchase the Love Unleashed body cream. This great budget-bougie combination for the high-low style that folks rave about nowadays, will get you where you’re going with more boldness for your personal brand and less of a hit to your bank account. I love it when a plan comes together! Now you have your plan, so work that plan and thrive! READ MORE FROM SO MOTIFFATED:
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Does Love Unleashed give you that same marshmallow infatuation as the $295 LDBS bottle?
1 Comment
2/10/2026 03:44:15 pm
As noted in my article, this is my favorite scent of this dupe collection! So many consumers think it smells similar to Love, Don't be Shy. Whether its an exact match is a debate I've seen on social media. Let's have the debate in the comments. Leave a Reply. |
