If you’re a regular reader, you’d know that I’m quite picky when it comes to fragrances. Honestly, I feel that a lot of them smell the same so when I try a new fragrance, I’m looking for something distinctive and long lasting. I have a select few that I keep on my beauty shelf and I rarely edit that collection as most of them have been staples ever since I was about 22. I first fell in love with Lancôme fragrances when I was about 19 years old with Miracle. Ten years on, it’s still part of my exclusive collection. They’re also my favourite fragrances to gift, with Ô d’Azur always a winner.
Lancôme is a brand with a long history. Founded in 1935 by Armand Petitjea in France, its name was inspired by a French castle, Lancosme, which is considered a symbol of prestige and harmony. Its story began with fragrances, so I’m not surprised that they’re so loveable. It then extended to skincare and makeup and is now the worldwide leader in feminine prestige beauty across 130 countries. For Lancôme, beauty is a science to be continuously reinvented, the boundaries of which the brand is forever
pushing back. It has 16 research centres; 3,000 researchers specialised in dermatology, biology, biophysics, biochemistry and
psychology; partnerships with specialised universities among other factors that make it renown for its excellence in developing innovative products for women globally. Lancôme purposefully always chooses very particular women to be brand ambassadors: women who are beautiful, at ease in their own skins, who love
life, who smile at life and who are talented women whom we can relate to; Julia Roberts, Kate Winslet, Penélope Cruz, Lupita Nyong’o to name a few. In a nutshell, their brand statement is to make a woman’s life even more beautiful with Lancôme.
La Vie est Belle
The first La Vie est Belle (which is French for “Life is beautiful”) launched three years ago and quickly became the world’s third best-selling female fragrance and number one in France. Three perfumers put their talents together to compose a fragrance that’s pure, almost 50% natural and relies on the strength of simplicity. After more than 5,000 versions, they finally found the perfect balance; one that combines iris, patchouli and a gourmand accord. It’s described as a true concentrate of luxury and an ode to joie de vivre.
La Vie est Belle Absolu
Two years later, La Vie est Belle Absolu was released and is described as a more powerful, sensual scent that is interwoven with raw ingredients while retaining the original’s character. The original composition is transformed by the inclusion of aldehydes which offer volume and elegance to the scent, highlighting the floral absolutes of orange blossom, jasmine, and rose Damascena essence.
La Vie est Belle Intense
Earlier this year, I added their recently launched iteration of La Vie est Belle to my stash; La Vie est Belle Intense. La Vie est Belle Intense is the newest expression of the original. Have you smelled this beauty? It’s warm, sweet and lasts the whole day. It’s elegant and feminine, like most of their fragrances – or at least the ones I’ve smelled! This latest incarnation is the most potent, enriched with a hazelnut accord which adds a further hint of crispness and a touch of pink pepper adds in a joyful, sparkling
and quirky twist.
Together, they make the La Vie est Belle family; Lancôme’s three expressions of happiness.
La Vie est Belle Intense, La Vie est Belle Absolu and the orignal La Vie est Belle are available at selected Edgars, Woolworths, Stuttafords, Red Square, Truworths and Foschini.
Are you a fan of Lancôme? What are some of your favourite Lancôme fragrances?
*This post was brought to you by Lancôme*
