
Lady Gaga's debut fragrance, Fame, was released in 2012 and has since been discontinued. The perfume was rumoured to smell like blood and semen and was to be designed to suit an expensive hooker. However, these rumours were later debunked, with Gaga herself stating that the scent was meant to remind people of sex without smelling like bodily fluids. The perfume combines notes of atropa belladonna, tiger orchid, incense, apricot, saffron, and honey to create a floral-fruity scent with a honeyed base and some smokiness.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Unisex | Yes |
| Scent | Floral, fruity, honeyed base, smoky, apricot, sweet, bitter, incense, bold, juicy sweet, seductive, elegant, sexy, witchy, intoxicating |
| Notes | Atropa belladonna, tiger orchid, incense, apricot, saffron, honey |
| Packaging | Futuristic, black |
| Unique features | First black eau de parfum, uses "push-pull technology" |
| Price | £25 for 30ml |
| Release date | 22 August 2012 |
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What You'll Learn
- Lady Gaga's Fame perfume contains notes of belladonna, tiger orchid, incense, apricot, saffron, and honey
- The perfume was rumoured to smell like blood and semen
- The scent is described as floral, fruity, bold, sweet, and seductive
- The perfume was released in 2012 and was the first fragrance created by Lady Gaga
- The packaging and advertising campaign for the perfume were designed to be unusual and extravagant

Lady Gaga's Fame perfume contains notes of belladonna, tiger orchid, incense, apricot, saffron, and honey
Lady Gaga's debut fragrance, Fame, contains a unique combination of notes, including atropa belladonna, tiger orchid, incense, apricot, saffron, and honey.
The inclusion of these notes creates a scent that is bold, floral, and juicy sweet, with a subtle and sensual edge. The apricot and honey balance the bitterness of the belladonna and the smokiness of the incense, resulting in a sexy, witchy, and intoxicating fragrance.
The perfume was designed to be evocative of the fickle and transient nature of fame, and the push-pull technology used means that the scent smells different every time it is sprayed. The dark black juice turns clear when sprayed, adding to the mysterious and intriguing nature of the fragrance.
Fame was released in 2012 and quickly gained a cult following, with many people loving the unique and seductive scent. It has been described as a light-hearted, feminine perfume, although some have found it to be too sickly-sweet.
The packaging and advertising campaign for Fame were just as unique as the scent itself, with Gaga making appearances in a horse-drawn carriage built to look like the bottle and on the cover of Vogue magazine to promote the perfume.
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The perfume was rumoured to smell like blood and semen
Lady Gaga's debut fragrance, Fame, was rumoured to smell like blood and semen. In 2010, the singer revealed that she had signed a fragrance deal with Coty Inc. and intended to create and market a perfume with these notes. She stated that she wanted to "extract the feeling and the sense of blood and semen from a molecular structure". The perfume was also rumoured to contain a sample of her own blood.
However, these rumours were later denied, with Gaga's team stating that there is "neither blood nor semen in 'Fame', nor [does] it smell like either of those substances". The perfume's packaging lists its notes as "tears of belladonna, crushed heart of tiger orchidea with a black veil of incense, pulverized apricot, and the combinative essences of saffron and honey drops".
Despite the denial, the perfume's unusual concept and association with bodily fluids sparked intrigue and controversy. The scent was highly anticipated, with some reviewers praising its unique and seductive qualities, while others found it disappointing or sickly-sweet.
The perfume's launch in 2012 was accompanied by a large advertising campaign, including a short film, a Vogue magazine cover featuring Gaga, and a 30-second commercial using her song "Scheiße". The fragrance was also notable for its black liquid, a result of its unique push-pull technology, which allowed it to spray clear when airborne.
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The scent is described as floral, fruity, bold, sweet, and seductive
Lady Gaga's debut fragrance, Fame, is described as a floral, fruity, bold, sweet, and seductive scent. The perfume, which was released in 2012, features notes of atropa belladonna, tiger orchid, incense, apricot, saffron, and honey.
The combination of these ingredients creates a unique and intriguing fragrance. The belladonna, a deadly nightshade, adds a touch of bitterness, while the apricot and honey provide a sweet and fruity element. The incense adds a smoky depth to the fragrance, while the saffron contributes a subtle spiciness.
The result is a bold and seductive scent that is both elegant and sensual. The perfume has been described as evoking the feeling of a "kiss after oral sex" and is said to be reminiscent of the "expensive hooker" that Gaga wanted it to embody.
While the final product did not include the rumoured notes of blood and semen, the perfume's packaging and advertising campaign reflected the singer's desire to create a scent that was unique and provocative. The juice of the perfume is a murky black colour, representing the "dark heart" of fame, and the bottle has a futuristic design.
Overall, Lady Gaga's Fame perfume is a bold and unique fragrance that combines floral and fruity notes with a hint of seduction, reflecting the singer's own distinctive style and personality.
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The perfume was released in 2012 and was the first fragrance created by Lady Gaga
The perfume was released on 22 August 2012 in the United States at the Guggenheim Museum and Macy's stores and in September 2012 worldwide. It was the first fragrance created by American singer Lady Gaga. The perfume was released in a collaboration between Gaga's Haus Laboratories label and Coty, Inc.
The perfume was initially rumoured to smell like blood and semen, with Gaga stating that she wanted to "extract sort of the feeling and the sense of blood and semen from a molecular structure". She also mentioned that the perfume would contain some of her own blood. However, these rumours were later debunked, with sources stating that the perfume does not contain any blood or semen and does not smell like either of those substances.
The packaging of the perfume lists its notes as "tears of belladonna, crushed heart of tiger orchidea with a black veil of incense, pulverized apricot, and the combinative essences of saffron and honey drops". The perfume is said to have a floral-fruity scent with a honeyed base and some smokiness, creating a light-hearted and feminine fragrance. Some reviewers have described the scent as "intoxicating", "sexy", and "witchy", while others have found it to be too sickly-sweet.
The perfume was marketed as using ""push-pull technology", which meant that the scent smelled different every time it was sprayed. The liquid is also unique in that it is a solid dark black colour but sprays clear. The black colour is said to represent the "dark heart" of fame.
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The packaging and advertising campaign for the perfume were designed to be unusual and extravagant
The packaging and advertising campaign for Lady Gaga's debut fragrance, Fame, were designed to be unusual and extravagant. The perfume was first released in August 2012 and was highly anticipated, with rumours circulating about its scent and concept.
Gaga described her perfume as being designed for women, but also worn by her gay friends. She wanted to create an unusual fragrance, and the concept she discussed was pure Gaga. There were rumours that the perfume would smell like blood and semen and would even contain the singer's blood. Gaga stated that she wanted to "extract the feeling and the sense of blood and semen from a molecular structure". However, these rumours were later denied, and the perfume does not contain or smell like blood or semen.
The packaging and fragrance of Fame are certainly unique. The perfume is the first-ever black eau de parfum, with a murky black juice representing the 'dark heart' of fame. The black liquid turns clear when spritzed into the air. The bottle design is also futuristic and unusual, with a shape resembling the costume Gaga wore to launch the perfume at Macy's stores in the US and the UK. She arrived in a horse-drawn carriage built to look like the bottle.
The advertising campaign for Fame was directed and photographed by Steven Klein, who previously directed Gaga's "Alejandro" music video. The campaign has been compared to the novel Gulliver's Travels. A short film titled "Formulation" was released, featuring attractive male models in laboratory clothing mixing and boiling chemicals to create the fragrance. Gaga did not appear in this visual but graced the September 2012 cover of Vogue magazine to promote the perfume. She also released a 30-second trailer of the commercial, using her song "Scheiße" as background music.
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Frequently asked questions
Lady Gaga's Fame perfume is described as having notes of apricot, honey, belladonna, saffron, and incense. Some people have likened the scent to "kissing after oral sex".
There were reports that Lady Gaga wanted her perfume to smell like blood and semen.
The box describes the scent as "tears of belladonna, crushed heart of tiger orchidea with a black veil of incense, pulverized apricot and the combinative essences of saffron and honey drops".
The juice of Lady Gaga's Fame perfume is a murky black colour, which represents the "dark heart of fame". However, when spritzed, the fragrance turns clear while airborne.











































