Perfume worldOne of the most talked-about celebrity perfumes of recent years, Billie Eilish’s first fragrance was launched in 2021 and quickly became known for its sweet, warm and vanilla-heavy character. Since then, the collection has continued to grow, with Eilish No. 2 arriving in 2022 and more fragrances following afterward.
This review was supposed to be written much earlier, but sometimes a fragrance deserves to be lived with before you decide exactly what you think about it. Eilish No. 2 is especially interesting because it does not simply continue the formula of the original.
I’ll admit, Billie Eilish No. 2 wasn’t quite what I expected from the second fragrance in the Eilish collection. After the creamy, warm and distinctly sweet personality of the original Eilish, it would have been easy to assume that No. 2 would simply take that sweetness in another direction.
There is Italian bergamot, but also incense. There is apple blossom and wild wet poppy flowers, but also papyrus and black pepper. Underneath everything are palo santo, ebony and skin musk.
The result is a fragrance that feels woody, spicy, slightly smoky, earthy and musky, with much less obvious sweetness than its predecessors.
What Is Billie Eilish No. 2 – Really?
Billie Eilish No. 2 is a Woody Floral Eau de Parfum from Billie Eilish’s fragrance collection. It was launched in October 2022 and was created by perfumer Catherine Selig of Takasago.
Where the original Eilish leans heavily into sweetness, vanilla, cocoa, spices, woods and musk, No. 2 focuses more on woody, earthy, spicy, floral and musky elements. Takasago itself describes the original Eilish around vanilla, soft spices, cocoa, woods and musk, which makes the difference between the two fragrances quite clear.
That difference is reflected in the bottle as well. Eilish No. 2 uses the same recognizable sculptural shape associated with the collection, but its darker metallic-grey appearance fits the more mysterious personality of the fragrance.
It is still unmistakably an Eilish fragrance, but smelling No. 2 makes it clear that Billie Eilish did not simply try to recreate the success of the original.
Billie Eilish No. 2 Perfume Notes
The official Eilish Fragrances store describes No. 2 as an alluring Woody Floral fragrance. The exact note structure published by the official store is:
Top Notes
Italian Bergamot, Apple Blossom, Incense
Middle Notes
Papyrus, Black Pepper, Wild Wet Poppy Flower
Base Notes
Palo Santo, Ebony, Skin Musk
You may notice that some fragrance databases list additional notes or use slightly different names for certain materials. That is normal with fragrance databases. One example is vanilla. Some community fragrance databases include vanilla in their listed pyramid, but it is not part of the official note structure supplied for Eilish No. 2. I therefore would not describe vanilla as one of the defining notes of this fragrance.
What Does Billie Eilish No. 2 Smell Like?
Eilish No. 2 smells woody, spicy, fresh, slightly smoky, earthy and musky, with a softer floral character running through it. The opening has a surprisingly fresh quality.
Italian bergamot gives the fragrance a bright citrus lift, while apple blossom adds a soft floral impression. Then there is incense, which immediately gives the freshness a darker edge.
The combination of these notes are important because the fragrance never becomes a straightforward citrus or floral perfume. Even at the beginning, there is something underneath the freshness that tells you the fragrance is going somewhere darker. Then the personality starts changing.
Furthermore, papyrus and black pepper bring an earthy, woody and spicy quality to the middle of the fragrance. The wild wet poppy flower also adds another floral dimension, creating a contrast between the darker woody elements and something softer.
This is the moment where I think the fragrance begins to show why it was not created as another version of the original Eilish because the original gives you a much more obvious feeling of creamy sweetness and vanilla. No. 2 feels drier, darker and more atmospheric.
The dry-down is where the woods become increasingly important. Palo santo and ebony give the fragrance its deeper woody character, while skin musk wraps everything in a softer finish. Takasago describes this part as woody aromatic palo santo and ebony being wrapped in a veil of skin musk.
So rather than thinking of Eilish No. 2 as one single smell, think of it as a progression: Fresh citrus and floral → earthy spice and woods → woody musk. That progression is a big part of its appeal.
Is Eilish No. 2 Sweet?
Not particularly. The original Eilish is much more closely associated with vanilla, cocoa, spices and a sweet gourmand character. In the same scenario, data from community fragrance also currently classifies the original around sweet, gourmand, creamy and spicy accords.
Eilish No. 2 takes a different approach. There can be some softness and subtle sweetness depending on your skin, but I would not describe this as a sugary or heavily gourmand perfume. The main impression is much more about woods, incense, spice, earthiness and musk.
If you are looking for a perfume that smells like warm vanilla, chocolate and creamy sweetness, No. 2 probably is not the obvious choice. If, however, you find very sweet perfumes overwhelming, the lower sweetness of No. 2 may be exactly what makes it appealing.
Is Billie Eilish No. 2 for Men?
Yes, men can absolutely wear Eilish No. 2. I actually think its composition makes it one of the easier Billie Eilish fragrances to approach if you normally enjoy woody, spicy or unisex fragrances. However, some men find the bottle clinging and view it as women parfum.
At the same time, the fragrance is not trying to smell like a traditional men’s designer cologne, and I would not describe it that way. There is still softness from the floral and musky elements, but the woods, pepper, incense and palo santo give it enough depth to work very comfortably on a man.
Current community data on Parfumo classifies Eilish No. 2 as a fragrance for women and men, and its dominant accords are listed as woody, spicy, smoky and resinous. That is probably a better description of its character than trying to force it into a traditional men’s or women’s category.
Eilish No. 2 Longevity and Performance
This is where I would be careful about anyone giving you one exact number and presenting it as a fact.
Perfume longevity depends on skin chemistry, temperature, humidity, application, clothing and how much fragrance you actually spray.
Current community data gives Eilish No. 2 a 6.9/10 longevity rating and 6.5/10 sillage rating on Parfumo, based on hundreds of user ratings. Its current scent score is 6.6/10 from 314 ratings.
That gives us a useful general picture, although it still does not mean everyone will experience exactly the same performance.
I would describe its performance as:
Longevity: Moderate to good
Projection: Moderate
Sillage: Moderate
Overall: Good everyday performance rather than guaranteed beast mode
If you’re buying Eilish No. 2 expecting it to project across a large room for an entire day, you may be disappointed.
Its character becomes more intimate as it dries down, and I actually think that suits the fragrance. It is atmospheric without constantly demanding attention.
Is Eilish No. 2 Good in Hot Weather?
Yes, but I would be selective about when and how I wear it. The bergamot and apple blossom provide freshness, but the composition also contains incense, black pepper, woods, palo santo and musk. Those deeper elements can become more noticeable when the temperature rises.
For extremely hot weather, I would therefore use a lighter application rather than trying to maximize projection.
For cooler weather, rainy days, evenings or air-conditioned environments, I think the fragrance becomes easier to appreciate.
I would particularly consider it for:
- Evening outings
- Dates
- Dinner
- Concerts
- Parties
- Air-conditioned offices
- Rainy weather
- Cooler days
- Casual nights out
It can certainly be worn during the day, but I think its personality works better when the temperature is not extremely high.
Eilish No. 2 vs Eilish No. 1
If you’re choosing between the two, the distinction is relatively easy to understand.
| Eilish No. 1 | Eilish No. 2 | |
| Main character | Sweet and creamy | Woody and spicy |
| Vanilla | Prominent | Not an official defining note |
| Woods | Supporting | Prominent |
| Sweetness | Higher | Lower |
| Mood | Warm and comforting | Dark and atmospheric |
| Style | Sweet-gourmand | Woody Floral |
| Gender appeal | Broadly unisex | Broadly unisex |
| Best for | Vanilla and gourmand lovers | Woody and spicy fragrance lovers |
The original Eilish is the obvious choice if your idea of a great perfume involves vanilla, sweetness, cocoa and creamy warmth. Community data currently describes it as sweet-gourmand, with vanilla, cocoa, spices, musk, tonka bean and woods in its listed pyramid.
No. 2 makes more sense if you want something less predictable.
It has more woods, more spice, more incense and a noticeably darker atmosphere. Neither is objectively better. They are simply trying to accomplish different things.
What Makes Eilish No. 2 Different?
For me, the interesting thing about Eilish No. 2 is its contrast. You have citrus freshness alongside incense. You have apple blossom and wild wet poppy flowers alongside earthy papyrus and black pepper. Then the fragrance eventually settles into palo santo, ebony and skin musk.
Those materials could easily have created a fragrance that felt confused, but instead they give No. 2 its personality.
Takasago specifically describes the fragrance through this contrast, moving from fresh bergamot and apple blossom into woody-earth spice before finishing with woody aromatic palo santo, ebony and skin musk.
That gives Eilish No. 2 more character than I would normally expect from the “celebrity fragrance” label. It is still accessible. It just isn’t completely predictable. That is probably my favourite thing about it.
How Much Does Billie Eilish No. 2 Cost?
The official store information you supplied lists Eilish No. 2 at $82 for 3.4 fl oz, with smaller sizes also available. The price should be treated as a current US retail reference rather than a universal global price. For international buyers, the final amount can be different because of taxes, shipping, currency conversion, retailer margins and local availability.
Is Billie Eilish No. 2 Worth Buying?
I think it is worth considering, especially if you enjoy fragrances that sit somewhere between mainstream and slightly unconventional. But I would not recommend buying it blindly just because you like Billie Eilish. The same applies if you loved the original Eilish.
The two fragrances have enough differences that liking one does not automatically mean you will love the other. Eilish No. 2 makes the most sense if you enjoy:
- Woody fragrances
- Fresh-spicy scents
- Incense
- Musk
- Earthy accords
- Less sugary perfumes
- Unisex fragrances
- Darker evening scents
It may be less appealing if you mainly want:
- Very sweet perfumes
- Strong vanilla
- Gourmand fragrances
- Extremely loud projection
- Traditional fresh men’s colognes
The current community reception is reasonably positive, although it is certainly not universally loved. Parfumo currently gives Eilish No. 2 a 6.6/10 scent score, with longevity at 6.9/10 and sillage at 6.5/10.
Those numbers should not be treated as scientific measurements. They simply give us an idea of how a substantial group of fragrance users currently perceive it. And that is important because perfume is subjective. A fragrance can have a 6.6 rating and still become someone’s favourite bottle.
Does Eilish No. 2 Smell Like How It Is Portrayed?
This is probably the question I would ask if I were considering buying it. And my answer is yes, for the most part. The darker visual presentation does make sense once you smell the fragrance. No. 2 does have a woody, spicy and somewhat mysterious personality, particularly as it develops. At the same time, I would not describe it as an overwhelmingly dark fragrance.
The bergamot and apple blossom give the opening some brightness, while the floral notes keep the composition from becoming too heavy. The darker side comes more strongly from the incense, papyrus, black pepper, palo santo and ebony.
So if the presentation makes you expect something smoky, woody, earthy and slightly mysterious, you are not completely being misled. The fragrance actually does communicate that personality through its development.
My Honest Take on Billie Eilish No. 2
What I like most about Eilish No. 2 is that it does not feel like Billie Eilish simply took the original fragrance and changed the packaging. It has a completely different mood.
The original feels warmer, sweeter and more comforting. No. 2 feels drier, darker and more atmospheric. I also like that it remains wearable despite having ingredients that could easily make a fragrance feel difficult.
The bergamot and apple blossom help make the opening approachable, while the woods and musk give it enough character to stop it from smelling generically. That said, I would not call it a universally safe blind buy.
The incense, papyrus, black pepper and palo santo can be divisive. Some people may find those elements intriguing, while others may immediately decide that the fragrance is not for them.
And honestly, I think that is okay. A perfume does not have to be loved by everyone to be good. Sometimes the fragrances that create the strongest opinions are the ones that are more memorable.
My Editorial Rating
Scent: 8/10
Originality: 8.5/10
Longevity: 6.9/10
Sillage: 6.5/10
Versatility: 8/10
Value: 8/10
Overall: 8/10
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Eilish No. 2 smell similar to any designer or niche perfume?
Some fragrance enthusiasts compare Eilish No. 2 with fragrances such as Tom Ford Ébène Fumé and Le Labo Santal 33 because of similarities in its woody, smoky and atmospheric character.
Does Eilish No. 2 smell better on skin or clothes?
It depends on what you want from the fragrance, because skin allows the perfume to interact with body heat and individual chemistry while clothing can help the scent remain noticeable for longer. If you are trying to decide whether you actually like Eilish No. 2, I would advise you always test it on skin first.
Is Eilish No. 2 a safe gift for someone who likes perfumes?
It can be a good gift for someone who already enjoys woody, spicy, musky or unisex fragrances, but I would be more cautious if their preferences are strongly centered around sweet vanilla and gourmand perfumes. If you are unsure about their taste, a smaller bottle or legitimate sample is the safer choice.
Perfume world
Perfume World
