La Vie Est Belle Iris Absolu, from Lancôme was released in 2023. The perfumer behind this creation is Anne Flipo and Dominique Ropion. It has the top notes of Black Currant, Fig, and Orange Blossom, middle notes of Jasmine and Orange Blossom, and base notes of Gourmand Accord, Iris, and Patchouli.
What a nice surprise! I had a hunch I’d like this, blind bought a 100ml bottle and I’m really happy I did. Firstly, I do own and enjoy from time to time the original. I’ve also had the Intense, which was my favorite flanker, but never cared for anything else from this line. And now Iris Absolu is coming close to a love. This one is far less sweet, which is a bonus point. It smells less childish than the original, and the Iris really makes its presence known. I find that the Iris in the first bottles of the original is yeasty, earthy…it cuts the sweetness beautifully but it doesn’t prevail; it’s mostly orange blossom and praline. I get the hit from the start but the floral sweetness mixed with the gourmand accord of the line prevails and that’s why I can’t wear it often. I haven’t tried the ‘it reminds me’ flankers, but, I do own a perfume which shares the same lipsticky Iris intertwined with a gentle and buttery gourmandise; Shalimar Parfum Initial. Yes, it does come really close to that one. Iris Absolu starts with lipstick Iris; powdery, cosmetic, sweeter than the dry and yeasty facet of the original. It’s more potent as well and the first half hour doesn’t bring La vie est Belle to mind. It’s different. I get the Iris all through the drydown. But even though it smells grownup and classier than the original, Lancôme plays it safe as not to scare people. So sweetness and similarities to the original start showing up fast. There’s jasmine, stronger than orange blossom here, and the recognizable praline starts creeping up slowly. It’s not extremely sweet but it does let people know ‘don’t worry, I’m sweet and won’t smell like an old perfume’ (as if old and vintage perfume was a crime; I’d be in jail for 100 lifetimes!). Somewhere in the middle, I get a nondescript herbal-ness; the fig and black currant? Have no idea, it’s like a counterbalance for the chocolate rush. As it reaches the drydown, the Shalimaresque Iris remains, the sweetness intensifies, some patchouli makes its presence known, and the floral and herbal facets subdue. It keeps smelling more like the Guerlain than the original to me and that’s what makes me enjoy it. I find it less cloying than the rest of the line and with a gentle application (it’s a powerhouse), can work anytime. It’s also more unisex if that matters to you, and more interesting than others from the line. While I don’t buy the 10x more Iris concentration (what is this anw, a dish soap commercial?) the Iris is there, it’s more lipstick than breadstick, and it’s less sweet and cloying. Interesting opening and far more common mid/drydown. I think it’s time they really think out of the box for the next one, or when this one flops and they decide to discontinue it. Maybe that’s what people really want. All in all, a solid flanker. For now, a big like. Adding; mid drydown reminds me of Poison Girl as well, a slight bitterness there. With every wear it smells less and less like a LVEB flanker, which honestly I don’t mind at all. It’s a love! Honestly, this is the most beautiful LVEB version yet, on par with the discontinued original Intense. Gorgeous!
What a nice surprise! I had a hunch I’d like this, blind bought a 100ml bottle and I’m really happy I did. Firstly, I do own and enjoy from time to time the original. I’ve also had the Intense, which was my favorite flanker, but never cared for anything else from this line. And now Iris Absolu is coming close to a love. This one is far less sweet, which is a bonus point. It smells less childish than the original, and the Iris really makes its presence known. I find that the Iris in the first bottles of the original is yeasty, earthy…it cuts the sweetness beautifully but it doesn’t prevail; it’s mostly orange blossom and praline. I get the hit from the start but the floral sweetness mixed with the gourmand accord of the line prevails and that’s why I can’t wear it often. I haven’t tried the ‘it reminds me’ flankers, but, I do own a perfume which shares the same lipsticky Iris intertwined with a gentle and buttery gourmandise; Shalimar Parfum Initial. Yes, it does come really close to that one. Iris Absolu starts with lipstick Iris; powdery, cosmetic, sweeter than the dry and yeasty facet of the original. It’s more potent as well and the first half hour doesn’t bring La vie est Belle to mind. It’s different. I get the Iris all through the drydown. But even though it smells grownup and classier than the original, Lancôme plays it safe as not to scare people. So sweetness and similarities to the original start showing up fast. There’s jasmine, stronger than orange blossom here, and the recognizable praline starts creeping up slowly. It’s not extremely sweet but it does let people know ‘don’t worry, I’m sweet and won’t smell like an old perfume’ (as if old and vintage perfume was a crime; I’d be in jail for 100 lifetimes!). Somewhere in the middle, I get a nondescript herbal-ness; the fig and black currant? Have no idea, it’s like a counterbalance for the chocolate rush. As it reaches the drydown, the Shalimaresque Iris remains, the sweetness intensifies, some patchouli makes its presence known, and the floral and herbal facets subdue. It keeps smelling more like the Guerlain than the original to me and that’s what makes me enjoy it. I find it less cloying than the rest of the line and with a gentle application (it’s a powerhouse), can work anytime. It’s also more unisex if that matters to you, and more interesting than others from the line. While I don’t buy the 10x more Iris concentration (what is this anw, a dish soap commercial?) the Iris is there, it’s more lipstick than breadstick, and it’s less sweet and cloying. Interesting opening and far more common mid/drydown. I think it’s time they really think out of the box for the next one, or when this one flops and they decide to discontinue it. Maybe that’s what people really want. All in all, a solid flanker. For now, a big like. Adding; mid drydown reminds me of Poison Girl as well, a slight bitterness there. With every wear it smells less and less like a LVEB flanker, which honestly I don’t mind at all. It’s a love! Honestly, this is the most beautiful LVEB version yet, on par with the discontinued original Intense. Gorgeous!