Reviews of La Vie est Belle by Lancôme
LVEB is really a beautiful fragrance to me, and it's popularity might have admittedly caused a temporary lapse of interest in me, but it's since returning. I don't believe it's nearly as ubiquitous as it once was in almost 2026.
It's such a smooth, plushy blanket of a fragrance...I personally find it to be a rare perfume that I truly don't pull for in summer weather, because it it's so very warming.
The iris. The tonka. The heavy gourmondishness (sometimes it's cookie-ish, sometimes though it smells of champagne cake). The VANILLA. It's so congruent, so...well-blended. Olivier Polge is recognizable in this piece of olfactive art, this is rounded off. If it were a shape, it would be a sphere of shimmering pastel colors. I would've put it in a round bottle (the ascot on it is fine). Without the blackcurrant (I don't know if it truly smells like blackcurrant to me, but there's something tart about it) provides a little lift, and helps prevent it from smothering the senses entirely (again, not enough that I'd wear it in summer).
This dries down gorgeously, and personally on my skin, it truly sings (I really do tend to do well on gourmonds though).
I do think it's suffered from it's success in some respects, but I absolutely cannot deny that it's lovely. It's somewhat of a relief when things begin to fade out of vogue, as is the case with LVEB currently. In another year, it might be considered a cool move to rock this (in future times) "classic 2000-teens vintage". 💝
It's such a smooth, plushy blanket of a fragrance...I personally find it to be a rare perfume that I truly don't pull for in summer weather, because it it's so very warming.
The iris. The tonka. The heavy gourmondishness (sometimes it's cookie-ish, sometimes though it smells of champagne cake). The VANILLA. It's so congruent, so...well-blended. Olivier Polge is recognizable in this piece of olfactive art, this is rounded off. If it were a shape, it would be a sphere of shimmering pastel colors. I would've put it in a round bottle (the ascot on it is fine). Without the blackcurrant (I don't know if it truly smells like blackcurrant to me, but there's something tart about it) provides a little lift, and helps prevent it from smothering the senses entirely (again, not enough that I'd wear it in summer).
This dries down gorgeously, and personally on my skin, it truly sings (I really do tend to do well on gourmonds though).
I do think it's suffered from it's success in some respects, but I absolutely cannot deny that it's lovely. It's somewhat of a relief when things begin to fade out of vogue, as is the case with LVEB currently. In another year, it might be considered a cool move to rock this (in future times) "classic 2000-teens vintage". 💝
Spray sparingly and you might understand why I really like this fragrance. Black currant, iris, praline. Very nice if used wisely. One spray is plenty. When venturing out amongst the every day population, it is well received.
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Generic mainstream sugar floral. I'm awed reviewers can differentiate between these. They all smell the same to me. That said, the body cream does smell nice on other people, with some distance.
I tested from a 4ml mini. I never check reviews before testing because I don't want to be biased. I used a very small amount--much less than a typical single spray from a full bottle.
Overwhelmingly sweet, synthetic, piercing, cloying. There is a certain synthetic thickness that is very common that I've always found headache inducing. I've always assumed it to be a synthetic amber accord but I don't know. Whatever it is, LVEB has used a lot of it.
I was absolutely choked by the incredible potency. I clenched my teeth and my neck and shoulder muscles tightened. I'm not exaggerating my own reaction for laughs. It was hard to force myself to take even breath shallow breaths.
I found that it was impossible to fully scrub off--I tried soap, cleansing oil, hot water and Dawn with a nail brush, several alcohol swabs, and a facial scrub Vitamin C powder wash. I tried mayonnaise and bit of ham fat rubbed in. More soap.
I opened the back door in near freezing weather to clear out the fumes.
I've tested fragrance that I hated immediately, but never one that I thought might actually kill me.
Overwhelmingly sweet, synthetic, piercing, cloying. There is a certain synthetic thickness that is very common that I've always found headache inducing. I've always assumed it to be a synthetic amber accord but I don't know. Whatever it is, LVEB has used a lot of it.
I was absolutely choked by the incredible potency. I clenched my teeth and my neck and shoulder muscles tightened. I'm not exaggerating my own reaction for laughs. It was hard to force myself to take even breath shallow breaths.
I found that it was impossible to fully scrub off--I tried soap, cleansing oil, hot water and Dawn with a nail brush, several alcohol swabs, and a facial scrub Vitamin C powder wash. I tried mayonnaise and bit of ham fat rubbed in. More soap.
I opened the back door in near freezing weather to clear out the fumes.
I've tested fragrance that I hated immediately, but never one that I thought might actually kill me.
Woody, Saccherin, Faux Vanilla Caramel Muck with an inadequate Patch counter, overpowers the Feathers of Jasmine, Austere of Waxy Iris and Delicate sweetness of Blossom.
Insipid Top notes fail to cut through
this Depressive Anaerobic Soup.
A Fine and Vulgar example of NAFF.
Insipid Top notes fail to cut through
this Depressive Anaerobic Soup.
A Fine and Vulgar example of NAFF.
This fragrance gets a lot of hate mail. I don’t think it’s warranted in this case. It’s a sweet, and very addictive patchouli, praline and Tonka, and it’s made even more alluring with the use of sweet juicy pear and orange blossom. You do have to enjoy sweet fragrances to like this, but if you do, it’s hard not to like. The other thing that’s amazing here, is the performance. It doesn’t seem like most modern perfumes have much longevity these days, but this is not lacking here. In fact, this one is incredibly strong and projects very well, so go easy on the atomizer. But it will last all day!
I don't care for man made food & chemical notes of the modern perfume world. I tried the perfumed body creme and it wasn't bad at all. I use a dash on pulse points, so not much. I didn't get cheap, chemical smell at all. It's nice.
I watched a Jeremy Fragrance Top Women's Perfumes video on YouTube and decided to try them all. I don't regret the experience, but it reinforced how we all have olfactory bias. His is candy sweet with a touch of praline.
Unfortunately the praline is an aromachemical that's been a bugaboo for me since forever. It always smells like burnt caramel to me and ruins any fragrance it's in. When that note's combined with fruit it becomes worse, like burnt fruit stew. Yeah, it's as bad as it sounds. So many of his recommendations were really bad to me.
I've heard about La Vie Est Belle for years, so I don't know if this one started a trend, like popular ones invariably do, or if it'’s copying the dna of a prior popular one (as perfumes invariably do). But I don't really care, they're all swimming in the same school of fish. Most of the ones I sampled in this group smelled of the same burnt fruity caramel.
I can see why it would be popular if you don't have aromachemical issues. It's bright, fun, vivacious, a little bit party-girl, sassy, feminine, sweet. But, like I said, it's similar to many other fragrances that can be described exactly the same way. There's not a lot of depth, and a herd mentality, but really, if it's a fragrance you like that shouldn't matter.
When you find this many similar ones you have the choice of picking the one you like most. But I have to pass on the whole school of fish.
Unfortunately the praline is an aromachemical that's been a bugaboo for me since forever. It always smells like burnt caramel to me and ruins any fragrance it's in. When that note's combined with fruit it becomes worse, like burnt fruit stew. Yeah, it's as bad as it sounds. So many of his recommendations were really bad to me.
I've heard about La Vie Est Belle for years, so I don't know if this one started a trend, like popular ones invariably do, or if it'’s copying the dna of a prior popular one (as perfumes invariably do). But I don't really care, they're all swimming in the same school of fish. Most of the ones I sampled in this group smelled of the same burnt fruity caramel.
I can see why it would be popular if you don't have aromachemical issues. It's bright, fun, vivacious, a little bit party-girl, sassy, feminine, sweet. But, like I said, it's similar to many other fragrances that can be described exactly the same way. There's not a lot of depth, and a herd mentality, but really, if it's a fragrance you like that shouldn't matter.
When you find this many similar ones you have the choice of picking the one you like most. But I have to pass on the whole school of fish.
It's actually called La vie est belle l'eau de parfum on my carded sample so it gave me some confusion - at first I thought that's some strange flanker that's not in directory, but no, apparently this is the full name of original La vie est belle.
LVEB line gets a lot of hate among perfumistas, but it's actually a very likeable sweet, feminine and lovely floriental-iris-gourmand scent. A bit too pink for my taste (at least the bottle is definitely too pink for my taste), but it is not that suffocating unbearably sweet monster it's often made out to be. It's a cozy, optimistic and romantic scent. You know what? The bad reputation it gets is probably because of people who spray waaay too much - it is very potent. A little goes a long way, keep that in mind and keep your friends and colleagues sane.
I frequent perfume stores a lot because I like doing sniffing trips after work to distract myself a bit and it's getting hard to count the times I've seen various ladies coming to sniff perfumes, not really liking anything much, and - guess what - after a sales associate shows them La vie est belle, I see their faces light up. And then they say: yes, this one is nice, I like this one! And then they buy it. Because it is very likeable indeed, and the name is inspiring, too - don't we all want our lives to be beautiful?
La vie est belle might be a snobby perfumista repellent, because it's so sweet and likeable and pink and so ultramegapopular to the point it becomes oh so boring, but it's so damn popular for a reason. And that reason is that it's actually blended nicely and women love it - they just do. And my inner hipster might be all ironic about it, but hey, I must admit I'm just another woman, too.
(And Cook.bot's review of this scent is the best thing on this site. Read it, read it. My review is a peasant's one, but that one is an art.)
LVEB line gets a lot of hate among perfumistas, but it's actually a very likeable sweet, feminine and lovely floriental-iris-gourmand scent. A bit too pink for my taste (at least the bottle is definitely too pink for my taste), but it is not that suffocating unbearably sweet monster it's often made out to be. It's a cozy, optimistic and romantic scent. You know what? The bad reputation it gets is probably because of people who spray waaay too much - it is very potent. A little goes a long way, keep that in mind and keep your friends and colleagues sane.
I frequent perfume stores a lot because I like doing sniffing trips after work to distract myself a bit and it's getting hard to count the times I've seen various ladies coming to sniff perfumes, not really liking anything much, and - guess what - after a sales associate shows them La vie est belle, I see their faces light up. And then they say: yes, this one is nice, I like this one! And then they buy it. Because it is very likeable indeed, and the name is inspiring, too - don't we all want our lives to be beautiful?
La vie est belle might be a snobby perfumista repellent, because it's so sweet and likeable and pink and so ultramegapopular to the point it becomes oh so boring, but it's so damn popular for a reason. And that reason is that it's actually blended nicely and women love it - they just do. And my inner hipster might be all ironic about it, but hey, I must admit I'm just another woman, too.
(And Cook.bot's review of this scent is the best thing on this site. Read it, read it. My review is a peasant's one, but that one is an art.)
An unmistakably oriental-floral perfume from Lancome!
With praline and vanilla as the strongest notes present in La Vie Est Belle, you've entered into touchy territory where you'll either love it or leave it. LVEB is no-nonsense in the strength and sillage department, which is in itself a really clean and well-made perfume per se. But as other reviewers correctly warn, this one can be easily overapplied and cause annoyance rather than charm to those who are in its wake.
When sprayed on with discretion, LVEB is a scintillating, beautiful expression that exudes fun and friendliness! :-)
With praline and vanilla as the strongest notes present in La Vie Est Belle, you've entered into touchy territory where you'll either love it or leave it. LVEB is no-nonsense in the strength and sillage department, which is in itself a really clean and well-made perfume per se. But as other reviewers correctly warn, this one can be easily overapplied and cause annoyance rather than charm to those who are in its wake.
When sprayed on with discretion, LVEB is a scintillating, beautiful expression that exudes fun and friendliness! :-)
Super sweet, delicious, edible fragrance, but a little definitely goes a long way! This scent had a whole room talking in the evening, hours after initial application. I don't typically like my fragrance to be quite that loud, so I'd stick to just one light spritz on my next wear. But it is delectable, feminine, almost cupcake like and quite addictive.
La Vie Est Belle
The candy is abundant. (The maturity, redundant.)
The fruits are glacée. (The passers-by will surely pay.)
The flowers are limp. (The meek demeanour of a wimp.)
The width is a mile. (The people request exile.)
The depth is a micron. (The classic perfumery is gone.)
The patchouli is... where? (The hippies say a prayer.)
The sillage is choking. (The perfumistas are all balking.)
The persistence is relentless. (The wearers, all repentless.)
The Julia Roberts is smiling. (The sheep are single filing.)
The cash registers are ringing. (The fat cats are all singing.)
The life may be beautiful.
The fragrance is a bore.
Credits:
Original review by Cook.bot
Greek chorus by Suspended
The candy is abundant. (The maturity, redundant.)
The fruits are glacée. (The passers-by will surely pay.)
The flowers are limp. (The meek demeanour of a wimp.)
The width is a mile. (The people request exile.)
The depth is a micron. (The classic perfumery is gone.)
The patchouli is... where? (The hippies say a prayer.)
The sillage is choking. (The perfumistas are all balking.)
The persistence is relentless. (The wearers, all repentless.)
The Julia Roberts is smiling. (The sheep are single filing.)
The cash registers are ringing. (The fat cats are all singing.)
The life may be beautiful.
The fragrance is a bore.
Credits:
Original review by Cook.bot
Greek chorus by Suspended
It opens with some fruity scents then quickly dries down into praline, vanilla and patchouli scents. The praline is dominant. Though the patchouli tends to balance it with some earthiness, it doesn't seem to be enough. I find it at the limit of being cloying sweet even with one spritz. Plus I have difficulty to associate the fragrance with the supposed image of a 'beautiful life'. I'm not very inspired. But the longevity is 9h+ and the sillage is quite good.
After I tested it again, I insist using it sparingly. Not only just one spritz but one litte spritz. This time I detect the fruits and floral scents much better and they helped a lot to pull the praline back from being cloying sweet.
Originall written in 2013
After I tested it again, I insist using it sparingly. Not only just one spritz but one litte spritz. This time I detect the fruits and floral scents much better and they helped a lot to pull the praline back from being cloying sweet.
Originall written in 2013
Excellent silage and very long-lasting. But to me, this smells like a little girl's perfume. Too sweet, no depth. It isn't saying anything new.
À strong and sweet floral that can be a bit itchy for the nose in the opening.
A mix of flower that's quite average. Nothing new. Good sillage and longevity.
A mix of flower that's quite average. Nothing new. Good sillage and longevity.
I have got to say that this is THE STRONGEST perfume I've ever owned. I own and have owned many perfumes, but this one tops the list of the strongest. It lasts for about three days on me, yes I said 3, it has that much lasting power. Let me tell you, if you're not ready for this, then don't buy it, it can be very clingy. It's sweet. There are some days that I cannot wear it, I have to be in the mood and with a strong stomach to wear it. It can be very overwhelming, so please, only spray a little bit and on parts of the body that are away from the face, like the wrists and the backs of your knees. Not for the office. It's a night time perfume. It's nice though too strong.
La Vie Est Belle Lancome smells, in its final wake, like a synth powdery combination of dusty iris, red berries, powdery balsams and praline. Opening is immediately fruity (pear and orange enjoyable in a more specifically spicy-balmy and smothly powdery way). Smelling the wake from a certain distance it seems to catch the aroma of a sort of ideal Dior Homme Intense's fruitiest flanker but after a more focused test you can detect a more propery feminine trait, a fruitier approach and this standout note of praline (nutty, orangy-berrish and powdery) mastering the dry down (in its connection with synth red fruitiness). I detect a certain soapy/floral/suede-oriented muskiness typically sweetish and feminine (sensual) in perfect tune with a sort of ideal (apparent or real?) "Lancomenade" (synthetically berrish and musky suede-oriented) which I frankly don't crave for and that I pick up as well in scents as Hypnose Homme to quote one from the same brand. There is in particular a synth (kind of oppressive, darkly berrish, tart and plastic) vibe which I detect in several feminine Paco Rabanne's (as Black Excess for her) or in various dark accords a la Renato Balestra Diamante Nero (but in a softer, less patchouli-veined and less gloomy way). In its complex the juice is acceptable (while lingering in the more powerfully synth range) but nothing providing a real sense of class, articulation or mystery to a woman with the goal of impressing the onlookers with a personal olfactory status.
Sweet praline and various flowers.It is very sweet and long wearing. Not ground breaking but my pleasant to my nose and people around me.
I love it Very mature and sweet. Perfect scent for the Fall and Winter or night time.
Reminds me of Lacoste's Touch of Pink- sweet, sickly, cloying and likely to cause me headaches. The scent is nothing unusual and smells like many generic cheaper perfumes. Looking at the list of components, I am surprised I do not like it- perhaps the combination does not work for me.
The pear - not an infrequent component in Lancôme products - with berry notes is fairly sweet but never cloying. Tonka, iris and jasmine determine the drydown and are overall well done, with a hint of patchouli added. Adequate silage and projection with three hours of longevity. A nice one, pleasantly sweet, floral and light - spring comes to mind.
The only truly sweet perfume that I adore.My son and daughter bought this for me for Christmas and I haven't worn much of it until recently. I am pretty "dull" with my go-to fragrances, as it's generally Chanel or Gucci. Once I started using this, I cannot tell you how many men have commented, complimented or just sort of sniffed me. I've been told I smell like caramel candy, vanilla toffee and just plain yummy. My boyfriend has shifted his love of No. 5 Eau Premiere to this. As for myself, I am surprised at just how much I have started to like it. It last all day on me and while it starts off sweet, it dries to a pleasant, creamy-like finish. It is not cloying or obnoxious, but the level of sweet may overpower some people (though I have yet to find that person). Everyone I meet seems to LOVE it.Pros: Long lasting, men LOVE it on meCons: Not for those that dislike candy, girlish scents"
smells just like pralinei guess you either have to love or hate Gormand perfumes. For me this is far far to sweet for anyone to wear. it honestly smells just like a shop full of praline , toffee, and chocolate. ot maybe even a toffee apple. if that is what you are looking for then you will love this. after a whilt the sweetnes fades and it becomes softer and more floral, but i don't find it at all attractivePros: is you want to smell like a toffee shop this is for youCons: sickly sweet"