Catchy Kellis lyrics aside, if there were ever a scent to wear while rollerblading through a pastel pink mansion with a strawberry milkshake in one hand and whipped cream on your collar, Juliette Has a Gun Miami Shake would be it. The fragrance house’s first-ever gourmand fragrance is as frothy as the city it’s named after – sun-soaked, super OTT, and sweet enough to eat. (But, please don’t.)
The brainchild of perfumer and fragrance royalty Romano Ricci – great-grandson of Nina Ricci – Miami Shake is no dainty floral. Instead, it’s a full-scented fantasy that opens with a pop of wild strawberries, melts into swirls of whipped cream and orange blossom, and settles with a creamy, musky vanilla base that lingers like the final note of your favourite 90s jam.
In Ricci’s words: “With Miami Shake, I decided to present the first really gourmand fragrance of the collection. As the composition came together, the woman behind the perfume appeared to me as well, playing hide and seek in her oversized Miami villa. Pastel colours, blue pool, and retro vibes. It’s never too much.”
The fictional femme fatale behind the brand, Juliette, lives in a Barbiecore dream villa. She wears cherry lip gloss and bows in her hair, skates through marble halls, and throws dinner parties where dessert is served for every course. Her scent is a delicious, edible cloud of strawberry-soft sweetness that’s flirty, whimsical, and unapologetically defiant in its decadence. In other words, this isn’t a “clean girl” perfume. It’s for the bold, the nostalgic, the indulgent. The kind of person who believes that minimalism is just another word for dull. And, understands the power of pink!
At first spray, the strawberry note is cool and a little tart, almost cherry-like – like the first spoonful of sorbet on a hot Summer’s day. However, within minutes, the heart of the fragrance softens with milky ice cream and a sweet, beachy creaminess that feels more grown-up than it sounds. Give it half an hour and you’ll start to notice the vanilla come through – like melted ice cream on warm skin, with a powdery, comforting finish. On fabric, it lingers for hours; on skin, it nestles close, intimate and airy, like the scent of a cupcake just pulled from the oven.
And, the bottle resembles a Miami mood board in 3D. Housed in pastel pink and blue hues, it’s reminiscent of South Beach sunsets and Art Deco dreams.
Miami Shake is the kind of perfume that makes you want to lean into your main-character energy. Wear it to brunch and order waffles with extra whipped cream. Spray it before a date and let your fragrance do the flirting. Or, just keep it on your vanity for the vibes – because sometimes the best part of a scent is how it makes you feel.
Sure, it won’t be everyone’s signature scent. It’s sweet, saccharine, a little camp. And, it doesn’t apologise for either. But, if you’re into playful perfumes that channel nostalgia with a modern twist and you believe in scent as self-expression, you might just fall for this fruity fantasy. We certainly think it will bring all the boys to the yard, if that’s what you so wish …
