Sensuous by Estée Lauder
Women 2008
Main accords
Description
Sensuous by Estée Lauder is a woody oriental fragrance for women. Launched in 2008, the nose behind this composition is Annie Buzantian. The top notes are lily of the valley, jasmine, and magnolia; the heart notes evoke woods, amber, and ylang-ylang; while the base notes complete the olfactory pyramid with sandalwood, white honey, pepper, and mandarin.
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When to wear it (votes)
Key notes
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Top
lily
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Heart
woody notes
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Base
sandalwood
Community
5,937 votes
- Positive 78%
- Negative 18%
- Neutral 3.7%
The olfactory pyramid
A guide to the opening, heart and lasting trail of the fragrance.
The community speaks
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In the collection
Leading answer I own it
11,900 votes
What do you think?
Leading answer Like it
5,937 votes
Season
Choose severalLeading answer Autumn
4,271 votes
Time of day
Choose severalLeading answer Day
2,694 votes
Each question has its own vote count. You can choose several seasons.
Fragrance profile
About Sensuous
Sensuous by Estée Lauder is a woody oriental fragrance for women. Launched in 2008, the nose behind this composition is Annie Buzantian. The top notes are lily of the valley, jasmine, and magnolia; the heart notes evoke woods, amber, and ylang-ylang; while the base notes complete the olfactory pyramid with sandalwood, white honey, pepper, and mandarin.
White flowers Flowers Woods and mosses Musk, amber and animalic Spices
It may remind you of
Ranked by what the community voted.
More from Estée Lauder
Related editions
More from Annie Buzantian
How it wears
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Longevity
Leading answer Moderate
1,566 votes
Sillage
Leading answer Moderate
1,758 votes
Character
Leading answer Traditionally feminine
599 votes
Value perception
Leading answer Fair price
507 votes
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Community reviews
16 reviews
Share what you noticed: opening, drydown, sillage and the moments when it works for you.
Not very commercial, but an absolute gem in my collection. On my skin, it’s pure, spicy, honeyed sandalwood. If you don’t like sandalwood, stay away from Sensuous. It smells like wet woods with honey poured over them—pure nature with a mystical touch and a deep earthy connection. It doesn’t smell like powder; it’s warm and melted into the skin. It’s long-lasting and perfect for humid days during seasonal changes, though it’s also ideal for winter movie nights with a cozy blanket and tea. I wear it to enjoy myself or with a partner, but not for social outings or nights out because it might overwhelm those not used to it; it’s not for dancing or the office either. It’s sensual, creating intimacy like a peaceful hug, yet leaves a silky trail on the skin. I love layering it: over Illicit by Jimmy Choo or Cinema to boost the honey, or with white florals as a base. I won’t be buying more, but I have a large bottle that’s enough to enjoy this originality <3
Of all the Estee Lauder perfumes, this is my favorite ❤️. Basically, honeyed sandalwood with a ‘retro’ vibe that’s still very wearable and modern. On me, it doesn’t smell powdery; in fact, I’m sensitive to powdery scents (I don’t handle iris well). When it launched in 2008, I was 17 and wasn’t drawn to those kinds of aromas back then 😅. Now it’s my top sandalwood choice (I’m already looking for a backup because it’s hard to find), alongside Sherwood by Memo Paris, This Is Us/Her by Z&V (and Fields at Nightfall), and Guidance. Piano Santal stays out of the running because it’s too much cumin. It has great longevity; three sprays are enough for me. It’s very close to the skin even in the dorm test. Versatility: I use it for everything, ‘a little bit for you.’ Edit: Some say it reminds them of Oud Noir. It might be due to the woody notes, but it’s nothing alike 📝
For me, this is the best aroma from Estée Lauder; I absolutely love it.
A friend gifted it to me because she found it too soft for her taste… what can I say… A beautiful combination of notes that makes it unique. I perceive the soft honey and woody notes; in the first hour, I feel the pepper fading away to give way to tangerine and amber. For me, it’s a soft oriental with great star power and longevity. A pity it’s no longer available in Argentina 😔
A friend gifted it to me because she thought it was soft enough for her taste… well, what can you say? A beautiful combination of notes that makes it unique. I perceive soft honey and woody notes; in the first hour, I sense the pepper fading away to give way to mandarin and amber. To me, it’s a soft oriental with great quality and longevity. It’s such a pity it’s no longer available in Argentina 😔
This perfume surprised me the moment I sprayed it on my arm, as the scent instantly reminded me of Oud Noir by Mercadona, an unimaginably high-quality perfume for a supermarket. At first, this one seemed pleasant, but as minutes passed, an excessively sweet woody amber scent emerged, and I had to wash my arm because it made me nauseous (a reaction I don’t get with the Mercadona one, which lasts for days on clothes).
A glorious aroma of soft talc with oriental touches, where the honey and exquisite woods, especially that mystical sandalwood, shine from the very first second. It’s pure powder, lots of powdery powder, emanating this rich perfume from the always regal Estée Lauder, a house that never disappoints me.
This perfume requires patience. Perhaps the pepper is invasive and at first it seems very strong, but then the flowers and citrus notes emerge, and it’s in this evolution where it shines. The woods and sandalwood are star elements; the sandalwood is noticeable from the start, but the pepper obscures its warmth. It’s the typical perfume that evolves: some never change, but this one does. If you’re interested, keep in mind that the first impression isn’t what counts.
This perfume requires patience! Perhaps the pepper is too invasive at first, making it very strong, but then the flowers and citrus notes emerge, making the evolution extremely pleasant. The woods and sandalwood are stars here; the sandalwood and pepper are noticeable immediately, though the pepper masks its warmth. It’s the typical perfume that changes over time: it’s not simple. If you’re interested, keep in mind that the first impression isn’t what matters.
Sensuous is another pearl in the great necklace of Estée Lauder’s masterpieces. A fragrance that seems to have passed unnoticed in many perfumeries, yet it’s an excellent example of modern perfume with a mystical retro touch. The sandalwood, more woods, and that sweetness that must be honey give it an oriental personality with western roots. In the heart, Estée Lauder’s flowers take center stage, surrounded by that smoky sandalwood. I’ve loved it, and to make matters worse, it lasts a long time on the skin with a well-defined trail. I’m never disappointed by this house, and this one, being relatively recent, has made me very happy.
I bought it to gift to my mother, who uses Lauder, and the color of the box matched the fragrance perfectly. It’s a particular fragrance that deviates from the universal standard of orientals. It reminds me of artisanal oils from the Middle East, to Egyptian-style homemade maceration of oils. The sandalwood smells like walking through the Grand Bazaar: genuine and noble. It creates a subtly dense, mystical, and deep atmosphere, yet soft and luminous at the same time. I bought a 30ml bottle and mix it with flowers, for example, Sensuous with a few drops of 5th Avenue by Arden… an ultra-warm, long-lasting delight.
What a beautiful perfume! It’s sweet, mysterious, feminine, and very warm. On my skin, I quickly notice the woody notes, but they feel very feminine. It lasts all day and on clothes for up to 48 hours. I usually make perfumes disappear quickly, but this one is very enduring on me. It’s a great gift for a warm, mysterious, and feminine woman. It works well in warm and humid climates like mine, but it’s even more beautiful in cold climates. It almost always comes with a gel lotion, which makes the scent last even longer.
DULCE CASHMERE: Smells like Samsara but with its own personality. It’s a warm scent starting with fruity, fresh honey, then moving to raw wood, like an unpainted warehouse, and sweet skin, like fabric softener. It transports me to an overcast late summer day with a drizzle over the woods, fresh, honey season, and the imaginary sweater that smells like this. Perfect for outdoors, rustic settings, on cold and rainy days in spring, summer, and especially autumn. In the office, it can be overwhelming due to its longevity, and there are cleaner options for sharing. Sensuous is for enjoying alone, with a partner, or in open spaces. Perhaps because of the honey, it’s totally autumnal. USAGE: Cool and rainy months / daytime / daily / informal / outdoors. Use moderately and well-distributed. BOTTLE: 8/10. Round, flat, with a fingerprint or wood grain texture on the back. The octagonal cap reminds me of a honeycomb; the honey is key. The symbolism fits; it’s simple yet original and sensual.
In my opinion, this is one of Estée Lauder’s best scents, with which they opened up to a younger market. Sensuous is a ‘friendly’ oriental fragrance that doesn’t scare off the uninitiated. It’s very well-balanced: warm, sweet, with pleasant woody notes and a soft touch of honey and pepper, suitable for any occasion. I like its long-lasting performance and moderate sillage, ideal if you don’t want to bother anyone. Suitable for any age and climate. It’s a good option from this brand, which used to be associated with melancholic and cold scents.
It’s sweet and, as Aquaura says, reminds me of Opium but without being as voluptuous. Ideal for night and winter days.
At first, it smells like burnt orange or tangerine peel, a ‘hot bite’ for the nose that fades quickly leaving something soft with amber. Then the flowers emerge, highlighting the magnolia. Something strange happens to me: I smell the opening notes at the end and vice versa. I got it as a gift and it was pleasant for a while… it’s warm and attractive… but I’m not sure I want to keep it.