“You smell so good” is the best beauty compliment—full stop. Nothing brightens my day quite like someone praising my signature scent and begging to know how to snag one for themselves. (The WWW beauty team agrees!) So when I personally catch a whiff of something glorious, you better believe I’m letting the wearer know.
I found myself in such a situation in Pilates (of all places). The girl on the reformer next to me sent gentle wafts of jasmine and honey my way as we lunged, planked, and curled for 50 minutes, and I was so impressed by her unique fragrance du jour that I had to say something during the stretching portion of class. “What perfume are you wearing? It smells so good,” I said, twisted in Pigeon Pose. She laughed—not the reaction I was expecting, but color me very intrigued. “Oh, it’s kind of random… Lionel Richie’s perfume.” Yep, my jaw was on the floor. Of all the celebrity-led brands she could have tossed out, I was not expecting this soulful icon to influence my fragrance game; though, his daughter is one of the most trendsetting GRWM muses of TikTok, so an eye for beauty hits clearly runs in the family.
Post-Pilates, I furiously googled “Lionel Richie perfume” and discovered Hello, the elixir he launched over five years ago. The price: $23 at Walmart. It seemed like a no-brainer, so I added it to my cart and started wearing it daily—and received plenty of “I need to know what perfume you’re wearing” comments of my own.
Hello Eau de Parfum: The Details
Lionel Richie
Hello Eau de Parfum
Key notes: Pear, pink pepper, grapefruit, lemon, jasmine, tuberose, tonka bean, honey, ambroxan, patchouli
Pros: Wallet-friendly, sensual without being too cloying, great for day-to-night wear, never becomes overpowering, has a delicate but noticeable dry-down
Cons: You may need to touch up with extra spritzes throughout the day
Customer review: “I have been looking for perfume for a year. I tried all the popular scents, and did not like any of them. This perfume last all day, and the scent is amazing!! Not surprised, since Lionel Richie designed it, and he has excellent taste. Even the bottle is beautiful! I have found a perfume for life!!!”
Hello Eau de Parfum is named after Richie’s iconic 1983 single, a track that’s arguably one of the greatest ballads of all time. You might expect the fragrance version to be just as romantic—a warm, heady floral or cozy gourmand, perhaps—but Hello is actually quite fresh, crisp, and fruity. Notes of pear, grapefruit, and lemon brighten the blend upon first spritz, pink pepper creating a vibrant zing; jasmine and tuberose then make an appearance for a creamy sweetness before the fragrance dries down to a musky base of tonka bean, honey, ambroxan, and patchouli. It’s sweet without smelling too cloying, floral and juicy without feeling too juvenile.
These bright, airy notes also make Hello the perfect gym scent (aka, a delicate fragrance you’d wear while exercising), which is probably why I noticed it shine during a workout class. But honestly, Hello is ideal for daily wear—whether you hit the gym or not.
How It Became My Favorite Scent
Admittedly, I don’t usually gravitate toward bright, fresh scents like this on a regular basis. I typically love a fragrance with a spicier punch, like, say, a smoky vanilla or amber-infused situation you can’t quite figure out. Light, airy scents—while great for the gym—don’t tend to last in my daily rotation, but like I mentioned, Hello is special. I must have a thing for tuberose since it’s present in a number of fragrances I adore (most notably Amouage’s Love Tuberose and Henry Rose’s Flora Carnivora); the white floral note has a creamy, captivating quality I legitimately can’t stop sniffing, which is likely why I’ve become enamored with Hello. Tuberose is also famously a nocturnal bloom (meaning it only releases its fragrance after dark), which makes it feel mysterious and seductive. Fitting for Hello’s namesake serenade, no?
Delicate florals tend to evaporate faster on the skin, which is why I was surprised to discover Hello’s impressive longevity. No, it doesn’t exactly last all night long (cue Richie’s upbeat, R&B hit), but it lingers more than other lighter eau de parfums I’ve tried, thanks to that sweet, musky base of tonka bean, honey, ambroxan, and patchouli. It also helps that I practically bathe in it each morning before heading out the door, and given the $23 price tag, I don’t feel too precious about spritzing with abandon.
That said, don’t think the wallet-friendly price means the juice isn’t top tier. I personally find it smells wildly expensive, that marvelous tuberose providing just enough intrigue to have people wondering (out loud), “What perfume are you wearing?” Hello isn’t a fragrance that boldly announces its arrival but inspires people to lean in and learn more—sparkling poise in a bottle, I’d say. If you want to smell fresh, clean, and tantalizing, this is the ultimate fragrance to reach for.
I can officially report that the tables have flipped since that Pilates class; shortly after adding Hello to my collection, multiple friends and coworkers have asked me what scent I’m wearing. When I quickly reply with “It’s Lionel Richie’s perfume!” I’m met with raised eyebrows and some iteration of “Sorry, what did you just say?” Understandable, I’ve been there. But trust me, this $23 elixir is the epitome of elegance and mystique—which, coming from Richie, actually makes perfect sense. After all, he’s a legendary, award-winning musician known for his smooth love songs. Of course he’d know how to create a perfume that attracts the folks around you.
Lionel Richie
Hello Eau de Parfum
More Under-$50 Perfumes From Walmart
Sol De Janeiro
Brazilian Crush Cheirosa 62 Fragrance Mist
Key notes: Pistachio, almond, heliotrope, jasmine petals, vanilla, salted caramel, sandalwood
This warm gourmand scent instantly transports you to the sunny beaches of Rio. Swoon.
Ariana Grande
Cloud by Ariana Grande
Key notes: Lavender blossom, juicy pear, bergamot, creme de coconut, indulgent praline, vanilla orchid, sensual musks, creamy blonde woods
Here’s another celebrity fragrance truly worth its salt. Trust, Cloud is a compliment magnet. It’s a cult favorite on TikTok for a reason!
Marc Jacobs
Daisy Eau de Toilette
Key notes: Violet, strawberries, pink grapefruit, jasmine, gardenia, musk, vanilla
This delicate fruity-floral is so nostalgic for me. It was one of the first designer scents I ever owned, and it makes me feel light and airy to this day.
Juicy Couture
Viva La Juicy Eau de Parfum
Key notes: Gardenia, honeysuckle, jasmine, sandalwood, amber, vanilla
Speaking of nostalgic scents, Viva La Juicy will always have a space in my heart! Alex Cooper famously wore it on her wedding day, so you can trust that it still hits.
Dolce & Gabbana
Light Blue Eau De Toilette
Key notes: Apple, white rose, jasmine, musk
Some reviewers compare Hello’s fresh, airy dry-down to Light Blue by Dolce & Gabbana, and I can totally see the parallel. Both are delightful fruity-florals with a sophisticated, musky base; Hello is just a tad sweeter.
YSL Beauty
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Key notes: Coffee, white flowers, vanilla
When you see YSL’s Black Opium tagged at $37, you run, don’t walk. This is a fragrance that transcends time.
Versace
Bright Crystal Eau de Toilette
Key notes: Yuzu, pomegranate, lotus, magnolia, peony, musk, mahogany, amber
Another fruity-floral that smells even better the longer you wear it. I’ve had it for years and won’t ever give it up!
Sabrina Carpenter
Sweet Tooth Eau de Parfum
Key notes: Marshmallow, candied ginger, chocolate, bergamot, madagascar vanilla, coconut milk, jasmine, whipped cream, sugar, musk, cashmere wood
Don’t love dessert-inspired scents? I swear Sabrina Carpenter’s Sweet Tooth will convince you to bite. It somehow smells delightfully edible without veering too juvenile.
Burberry
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Key notes: Plum, melon, cranberry, red apple, icy pear, sugared almond, musk
If you’ve ever wanted to smell like the most sophisticated candied fruit you can buy, I highly suggest giving Burberry Brit a whirl. It’s at once juicy, sweet, and sophisticated.
