10 Fragrances Similar to La Vie est Belle

La Vie Est Belle has been a smash hit for Lancome, since its release last decade. It beautiful use of sweet notes, patchouli, and floral highlights is a really well loved blend. With such popularity, women will obviously be looking for similar smelling alternatives or comparative scents. For this post, I want to cover some of the best perfume options which can fit the bill.

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What Perfumes Smell Similar to or are Cheaper Alternatives to La Vie est Belle?

A Royal Life

Queen of Life by La Rive– Not necessarily the best option, but it’s the cheapest one to strike a close pose to La Vie Est Belle. La Rive usually does a pretty good job with their fragrances and this one is no exception.

Queen of Life sells in the $15-20 range, while providing a sweet and powdery aroma with notes that pretty much line up with the Lancome. This one, is however, less powdery overall. Plus, it lacks some of the later depth and lasting power of La Vie.

But, if you simply can’t spend anymore money than this, Queen of Life will mostly do the trick. Not a one to one match, just getting the major beats correct.

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Gourmand Inspiration

Gourmand Orange Blossom by Dossier– This one from Dossier and Bella Vita below, are going to be the closest thing to La Vie Est Belle in terms of smell. Not too much of an increase in price versus the La Rive above, but better matches for sure.

This actually lacks the pear note of La Vie and adds a hazelnut to the blend. Not a big deal, not too noticeable, just a slight difference. But, you’re going to get solid performance on the level of Lancome and something that is an ‘inspired’ version of our target.

At $29 currently, for a full bottle, this Dossier isn’t going to break the bank in order to get a well-rounded and similar smelling perfume to La Vie.

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Bella

Bella VIta by ALT Fragrances– At about the same price as the Dossier, ALT Fragrances produces some very wonderful inspired versions of popular designer wears.

This one actually does have the pear note, a sugary touch, and basically the same sort of structure as La Vie Est Belle. The weightings of the notes may be slightly different, but based on the reviews, Bella Vita really hits the mark.

I haven’t personally tried this one out, but I have tested some other ALT Fragrances, and found them to be worthwhile. Another inexpensive choice if you want something that tries to be nearly the same.

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Oui Belle

Hey Beautiful! by the Dua Brand– So, this actually takes after the flanker Oui La Vie Est Belle that Lancome came out with in 2022. Very similar to the original, but quite a bit sweeter in how it presents.

Raspberry and generic sweet notes are all over this scent. But, the pink pepper spice lingers underneath, with patchouli, and the usual floral combo of iris and rose.

But, even though this has a sweeter aspect to it, the Oui La Vie Est Belle flanker was actually lighter and fresher than the original. A nice pickup for the spring and summer months.

I haven’t tried out this Dua version, but it could be a great one to try out for someone who wants certain aspects of the La Vie DNA ramped up.

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The Other Popular Fragrance

Flowerbomb– Flowerbomb is one popular option that gets compared to La Vie est Belle a lot. They are indeed quite similar in their compositions. However, Flowerbomb has a spicier and earthier profile, than does the Lancome.

Flowerbomb features a much more prevalent patchouli note. It also doesn’t have the black currant and vanilla blend. What Flowerbomb does feature, is lotus, rose, and jasmine flanking that earthier smell.

Many will already be familiar with this Viktor & Rolf scent, but it’s a good choice for those who want a floral and spicier option.

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An Inexpensive, but Inexact Substitute

Her Secret Temptation by Antonio Banderas– This perfume from Antonio Banderas is a nice inexpensive alternative to La Vie est Belle. It has a nice fruity and sweet top, with floral undertones. You get spice from pink pepper and patchouli, with peach/citrus brightness from the opening act.

This one becomes much more floral, as it dries down. The spiciness fades somewhat, and you’re left with: rose, iris, and some jasmine. Is it an exact match? No, but it has enough similarities to make it a fine substitute, while having a distinct flair all its own.

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Sweet Blend of Love

Love by Sofia Vergara– Sweet with less floral and spiciness. In fact, you won’t be getting any patchouli or pink pepper with this one. However, it does feature praline, vanilla, lotus in spades…which let’s it have a similar vibe to La Vie est Belle.

So, you’re getting an inexpensive sweet perfume, that’s a good option for those who might not be too fond of the earthiness or spiciness in the other options on this list.

With included notes of coffee, this can come across as having a candy-like vibe, in the opening. Sort of a mix between Black Opium and La Vie est Belle.

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Fruity Spicy Floral

Live Irresitible– Live Irresistible is quite spicy upon opening. It has plenty of overlap with our Lancome target, but as I found in my review, the start is trying to do too much. It is citrus, pineapple, rose, pink pepper, and praline.

When it moves further along, this Givenchy perfume, does get better. The notes begin to settle, you get warm amber and the spice of patchouli and pink pepper.

This is joined by the sweetness of the praline, which allows Live Irresistible to have a baked goods like aroma. It’s not my favorite perfume, but it does offer another take, on this kind of fragrance formula.

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Sweeter Hanae

Hanae Mori Hanae Eau de Parfum spray, 3.4 Ounce– Hanae by Hanae Mori is closer to Flowerbomb, but I thought that I’d include it on this list, as well. Seeing as there is so much overlap, between these scents.

Hanae Mori EDP is sweeter than the Viktor & Rolf, with its use of strawberries and other fruits. With its plentiful use of vanilla, it gets closer to La Vie Est Belle and also has that great (though lighter), black currant tartness.

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Berry Sweetness, Similar Smell

Katy Perry Killer Queen Eau de Parfum Spray for Women, 3.4 Ounce–You get a sweet gourmet top, with praline and fruits, mostly its berries. However, there is a light citrus aroma at the start, from bergamot. While this is another sweet scent, Killer Queen, adds in a solid bit of patchouli to rough things up a bit.

It is similar to Flowerbomb and La Vie. Killer Queen from Katy Perry sort of straddles the line between these fragrances, while being available for super cheap.