La Vie Est Belle Lancôme

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La Vie Est Belle is a new fragrance from Lancome, available on the market since autumn 2012. The concept of this fragrance focuses on the idea of ​​natural and simple beauty, freedom from conventions and choosing your own vision of happiness. The fragrance is a unique outlook on life, inspired by joy and pleasure in the little things.

This gourmand yet elegant composition was developed by perfumers Olivier Polge, Dominique Ropion and Anna Flipo. The final formula is the result of three years of testing and 5,000 versions. Iris is the key ingredient of the perfume, surrounded by orange blossom and jasmine in the heart. The top notes of the composition open with fruity aromas of blackcurrant and pear, while the base is warm, gourmand and powdery thanks to almond-like accords of tonka bean, praline, patchouli and vanilla.

From a technical point of view, this is an extremely well-made perfume. It has a radioactive projection and persistence equivalent to the half-life of plutonium. You get what you pay for and more. It lasts a long time and doesn’t break down on a blotter; it keeps blaring its sweet, happy song. The truly amazing innovation of La Vie Est Belle is the combination of the comfortingly sweet aspect of the cotton candy/caramel molecule ethyl maltol, which makes up a whopping 4% of the composition, with floral (orange blossom) and fruity (peach) flanking notes. This is a truly huge percentage compared to the pitiful 0.1% of Angel that made this note popular (it existed before) and boosted it with vanillin (adult pink sugar, if you will).

The saving grace of all this incredible sweetness is the hint of toffee, which lends a slight tartness to an otherwise extremely sweet composition. And the wisdom of its inclusion lies in the inclusion of another huge trend: the sensation of starchy, smooth powdery notes in the latest women’s perfumes.

The bottle is a reworked version of the classic Lancome 1949 bottle, which was designed in 1949 by Georges Delhomme. Lancome was originally founded as a perfume house by Armand Petitjean in the 1930s. After launching the first fragrances, Armand Petitjean wanted to create something that would embody the “Jen na sa quis” (self-satisfaction) in the heart of every woman. In the 1940s, Petitjean brought in artistic director Georges Delhomme to embody this essence. Delhomme’s masterpiece was called “Le Sourire de cristal,” which translates to “The Crystal Smile.” The bottle, created by Delhomme, perfectly embodied Petitjean’s vision. The side view of the bottle conveyed the curves of a woman, while the front view conveyed a woman’s smile. The bottle was later placed in the Lancôme archives until a fragrance was developed that embodied Petitjean’s vision.

The famous actress Julia Roberts was faithfully the face of the campaign, shot by director Tarsem Singh. In a variety of nightgowns, with a deep neckline, in white with silver embellishments or in a little black dress on the Seine, she is the embodiment of joy, smiling broadly and radiating beautiful energy.
Part of the success of the concept lies in harnessing the energy of Paris. The city of love, where enjoying life is a must, where a boat trip on the Seine is not just a touristic way to see the sights, but to enjoy everything the city has to offer.

Since its launch, La Vie Est Belle has become more than just a stand-alone fragrance. La Vie Est Belle has expanded to include lotions, creams, shower gels, and other versions.

La Vie Est Belle L’egere – 2013

La Vie Est Belle L’Absolue – 2014

La Vie Est Belle Intense – 2015

La Vie Est Belle L’eclat – 2017

La Vie Est Belle En Rose – 2019

Each La Vie Est Belle fragrance has its own unique take on the original. Some versions, such as L’egere and L’absolue, have the same notes as the original but differ in the number of essential oils. The bottles are similar to the original, but again have their own unique design. La Vie Est Belle En Rose is taller and slimmer than the original. Despite the differences, all La Vie Est Belle fragrances still have the classic “Crystal Smile” design that Petitjean and Delhomme sought to create. When the bottle was brought out of the archives, Lancome added a chiffon scarf to the design to reflect a touch of Parisian chic.

Over the years, La Vie Est Belle has made a name for itself. Chosen by many for everyday wear or for special occasions such as a wedding day, La Vie Est Belle is a beloved fragrance. In the years to come, the La Vie Est Belle family will continue to grow, with La Vie Est Belle fragrances for everyone. Continuing the legacy of Petitjean’s vision of feminine beauty and grace.