The celebrity fragrances phenomenon first emerged on the scene during the 1980s, with the partnership between Liz Taylor and Elizabeth Arden. This landmark collaboration paved the way for a succession of captivating scents, including the eponymous perfume line of Billie Eilish.
At just 21 years old, Billie Eilish has been securing her place among the multimillionaires of Hollywood. With a collection of Grammy Awards adorning her name, a noteworthy partnership with Apple, an esteemed collaboration with Gucci, and an impressive perfume line that seems perpetually in high demand, Eilish's trajectory toward becoming one of the industry's most affluent figures is unmistakable.
According to Forbes, Eilish accumulated a staggering $53 million in earnings during 2020 alone.
Eilish's financial empire continues to flourish, with an estimated net worth of approximately $30 million as of 2023. This impressive figure owes much to her music and perfume line, which experienced exceptional sales in 2022.
How Much Did Billie Eilish Earn From Her First Perfume Launch?
In 2021, Billie Eilish ventured into the world of fragrance with her inaugural creation simply named Eilish. In collaboration with Parlux, this gourmand scent made its debut directly to consumers in November 2021, retailing at $68. The fragrance aligns with Eilish's values as it is both vegan and cruelty-free.
The financial success of Eilish's first perfume remains a subject of curiosity. While exact figures remain undisclosed, industry sources reported to WWD that the fragrance was projected to generate a staggering $60 million in sales during its inaugural year. Eilish revealed her profound connection to scents, citing their presence in every aspect of her life and creative endeavors.
As an individual with synesthesia, Eilish possesses a particularly keen olfactory sense. She expressed her desire for her choices in fashion, hairstyle, and music to evoke specific aromas. Her deep-rooted relationship with scents led her to develop the fragrance.
It boasts a captivating blend of top notes including sugared petals, mandarin, and red berries, heart notes of soft spices, rich cocoa, and vanilla, and base notes comprising musk, woods, and tonka bean.
In a Vogue interview preceding the perfume's launch, Eilish shared her enduring love for vanilla and its status as her favorite scent. Furthermore, she elaborated on her deliberate incorporation of amber and musk, explaining that these warm, amber-hued aromas hold a special place in her synesthetic experiences.
Additionally, the singer shared the symbolism behind the bottle's design. Inspired by her appreciation for natural beauty, she selected the shape to honor the chest, neck, and collarbone—the parts of the body she considers intrinsically captivating.
Her inclusive perspective challenged societal norms, expressing disdain for restrictive dress codes that prohibit girls from revealing their shoulders. Eilish says these body parts possess innate beauty, transcending gender boundaries.
"That's what I have always thought was so stupid about schools, where girls can't show their shoulders. Everybody, no matter what your gender, those body parts are just beautiful," she told Cosmopolitan.
How Successful Was Billie Eilish's Second Fragrance?
Billie Eilish's venture into the fragrance realm continues to make waves as she introduces her second perfume, named Eilish No. 2, just in time for the festive season last year. This timely release suggests that she likely achieved the impressive sales figures projected for her initial fragrance.
The Grammy-winning artist launched her second olfactory creation, Eilish No. 2, online in mid-November 2022 at a price point of $72. Currently, the brand is sold exclusively on its website and through a special partnership with Ulta Beauty.
Expectations are high for Eilish No. 2 to achieve similar success as its predecessor, crossing the $60 million sales milestone. The new fragrance offers an extension to the line, incorporating spicier notes such as apple and bergamot as top notes, papyrus and black pepper as heart notes, and a base note of Palo Santo, among others. Takasago, the perfumer behind Eilish's debut scent, also crafted this second fragrance, ensuring its distinct character.
Billie Eilish shared her inspiration for the fragrance in a Vogue interview, "My original idea was that I wanted whatever my second fragrance was to smell and feel like damp, rained-on concrete, like a sidewalk after the rain, and how that has such a specific smell—it just reminds me of my childhood. It kind of turned into this rain world, but also this more woodsy world."
Despite the crowded landscape of celebrity beauty brands, Lori Singer, the president of Parlux, expressed confidence in Billie Eilish's brand vision. "Our goal is to build Billie Eilish fragrances into a fragrance house that will be a true and enduring pillar in the industry, with ambitions to reach $200 million in the next three years, we think there's so much potential to expand the product offering driving newness, really all based on Billie's creative vision and her love of scents," Singer told WWD.
Are Billie Eilish's Perfumes Vegan?
Billie Eilish's eponymous vegan fragrance claimed the top spot in March 2023 based on MIV (media impact value) according to Launchmetrics and Glossy data. The fragrance generated an impressive $1.6 million in MIV, surpassing other notable scents such as JLO Glow with $571,000 in MIV, Ariana Grande Cloud with $520,000 in MIV, Fenty Eau de Parfum with $387,000 in MIV, and Charli d'Amelio's Born Dreamer with $160,000 in MIV.
Eilish has not only achieved worldwide fame but has also become a vocal advocate for animals and the environment. She was honored with PETA's prestigious Person of the Year Award for her tireless dedication to animal rights and environmental causes.
One notable example of her activism was seen during her Happier Than Ever world tour, where she supported local non-profit organizations at each stop and encouraged fans to embrace a vegan diet for 30 days in collaboration with Wicked Kitchen and Support + Feed.
Eilish's influential voice has extended beyond the realm of music, as she has forged partnerships with notable brands such as Nike and Oscar de la Renta to champion plant-based and sustainable fashion.
The star launched a range of vegan leather Nikes in a vibrant slime green hue and successfully persuaded Oscar de la Renta to cease using fur, just in time for the prestigious MET Gala in 2021. Eilish, who co-hosted the event, also made history by introducing a fully vegan menu, marking a significant milestone for the Gala.
