La Vie est Belle L’Extrait by Lancôme

I love it! It’s a beast. I wore it after work, showered, slept, and the next day it was still blasting on my wrist. I know it’s pricey, but it’s worth every penny. I thought it would be a bitter, earthy oud, but I was wrong: it smells like expensive, creamy lipstick. Once it dries down, it leaves a sweet, velvety oud with rose and iris notes. It’s not for those looking for an identical flanker to the classic because it smells totally different and has so much personality. It’s my favorite perfume, and it’s such a shame they discontinued it—I already have backups for when the original runs out. In a word: perfect.

Suspiciously cheap, and influencers were selling it as the best. Now I understand why: it smells like old makeup, powder, and lipsticks from 40 years ago, mixed with old, damp wood. Plus, it lasts for thousands of hours. For me, it’s a resounding no. Maybe it’s good for oud lovers, but I recommend trying it before buying.

First impression: makeup scent (literally 💄🫠). I expected something more revealing. I love oud, but with all that accompanying stuff, no. It’s one of those perfumes I can’t give a chance; it’s not my style.

I bought this blind and it was a total fiasco; it’s not even close to the original La Vie Est Belle. On my skin, it smells terrible, and I’m gifting it after just one wear. Lesson learned: always test before buying.

I bought it blind and it was a huge mistake. I thought it resembled the original La Vie Est Belle, second mistake. On my skin, it was awful; I had to give it away after one use. You have to try it before buying.

When I decided not to buy for a while, I tested this perfume, what a madness. On my skin, I get cinnamon, in excess. It blew my mind. I don’t feel the DNA of the traditional one.

Oh please, no. The bottle is gorgeous. I give credit to Lancôme for making something different, but it has nothing to do with La Vie Est Belle. It should have been another perfume, not a flanker. It’s iris and more iris with oud. It smells like an old piece of furniture full of half-used lipsticks. No, no.

Bought it blind and it already arrived! I LOVE IT! The iris is super well-balanced, nothing overpowering (luckily). It has the classic LVEB DNA but darker, like winter. You can smell the oud a lot from the start through the dry down. It launches with the LVEB classic base and oud; as it dries, incense and red berries appear. The iris and rose accompany without stealing from the oud. Perfect for autumn and winter. Can’t wait for the cold to test its trail and longevity 👏🏻🥰

Summed up in three moments: Opening like My Way Parfum with steroids, heart like Dior Homme Intense, and base like La Vie Estelle Iris Absolu. I expected something else. I like it 50% just for the performance, considering I love Dior Homme Intense. Its downside is the exorbitant price for a commercial fragrance. I wouldn’t buy it.

Not being a huge fan of La Vie Est Belle myself, I was gifted a decant of LVEB L’Extrait and wanted to try it. At first, I liked it, noticing a woody aroma and that LVEB DNA peeking out little by little… Then, around half an hour in, the disappointment: it smells like LVEB but stronger, with a woody touch that doesn’t work for me. I wore it to work and suffered through the first two hours due to its potency. The problem is I just don’t like LVEB. In conclusion: the perfume isn’t bad, but I don’t see much difference from the original.

I tried it this afternoon and went crazy… it’s wonderful, a powerful and vivid vintage lipstick scent. I suppose the combo of berries and iris creates that effect. Obviously, the oud is there, providing a heavy base that gives it a lot of presence. You have to be very elegant and made-up to wear it as it deserves. For me, it has nothing to do with the mother perfume. I’ll buy it someday, although it’s very expensive, I think it’s worth it.

To be fair, this gave my nose a circuit breaker when I smelled it. It only smells like wood and oud, to say it doesn’t smell like ‘Freshly Cleaned Wood’. There’s no trace of the other listed notes. I never liked the La Vie Estelle line, but this one only suits you if you want to be a tree.

Exquisite, so powerful… a very ‘orientalized’, nocturnal, and enigmatic version of the classic. Worth trying and giving it a chance on your skin; it’s an LVEB for the brave who want to turn heads without looking for it. If you like Oud Bouquet from the same house, you’ll love this.

It’s not the classic LVEB; on my skin, the incense comes out strong and then shifts to something talcum-like, very similar to Iris Absolu (be careful with the sprays if you don’t want it to feel heavy). By 15 minutes, the sweet oud is noticeable. I love the rose gold bottle—it’s ideal for special occasions and very elegant.

It caught me off guard when I tested it on dry skin and on skin, and I bought it instantly. What I love most is its evolution and quality, speaking from my skin’s perspective. The opening is incense-heavy, flooding me with frankincense, then it fades to leave a very distant LVEB touch; if there’s iris or rose, they’re imperceptible here. Instead, I smell a delicious praliné, like baked cookies, nothing cloying or patchouly. As it dries down, a very wearable oud appears, without any animalic notes. It’s playful and elegant, ideal for late-night wear and special occasions in autumn and winter. Longevity: over 8 hours, with a wide-to-moderate sillage. Top-notch quality and packaging.