Skin & Tonics : Skincare Guides & Product Reviews

Once, while wearing La Vie Est Belle to the grocery store, a really good looking guy walked past me in the hot sauce aisle. Then he stopped in his tracks, turned around, and came over to ask me what perfume I was wearing. “La Vie Est Belle,” I told him.  I had to repeat the name a couple of times. It is kind of a lot of surprise French for any American to process.

I thought for a moment that I was about to be asked for my number, but then he said, “My girlfriend would love that! And her birthday’s tomorrow!”

Oh. I see.

He then went on about how much his girlfriend loves Flowerbomb by Viktor & Rolf, and how the scent reminded him of it. I was actually kind of impressed by his knowledge of his girlfriend’s perfume preferences, but even more impressed that he identified the similarities between La Vie Est Belle and Flowerbomb.  See, Oliver Polge, one of the perfumers behind the creation of La Vie Est Belle, was also one of the noses behind Flowerbomb. Good nose, sir. Good nose.

The first time I smelled La Vie Est Belle, I didn’t immediately make the Flowerbomb connection. My first thought was that it was a more grown up Miss Dior, or a sweeter Coco Mademoiselle.

It’s also a very accessible smell – no weird turns and nothing too powdery. It starts off slightly sweet and I can definitely smell the black currant.  It quickly takes on a more floral heart.  Iris is claimed to be the key ingredient in this perfume, but I can smell the jasmine far more than the iris. The dry down is a blend of patchouli and vanilla, which happens to be one of my favorite combinations.

I’ve adopted La Vie Est Belle as my every day go-to scent. I love the way it smells, but I also like the compliments I get from strangers when I’m wearing it.

I hope the cutie from the grocery store ended up buying this perfume for his girlfriend’s birthday, because she will probably love it.

PERFUME HOUSE:  Lancome

YEAR: 2012

PERFUMERS: Oliver Polge, Anne Flipo, and Dominique Ropion

OLFACTIVE FAMILY:
Floral Fruity Gourmand

CONCENTRATION:
Eau de Parfum

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