Perfume Reviews

La Vie est Belle Soleil Cristal by Lancôme

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Soleil Cristal is a flanker of the best seller from Lancôme, La Vie est Belle. I received a sample of this with another order and had zero expectations of it coming in. I liked La Vie est Belle, so, was at least somewhat interested in trying this perfume out. How does it smell? How long does it last? Is it worth a try?

What does La Vie est Belle Soleil Cristal Smell Like?

Notes include: iris, orange blossom, vanilla, ylang-ylang, coconut, pink pepper, orange, bergamot, jasmine, patchouli

Click here to try: Soleil Cristal

soleil cristal review

My Full Review

Here’s how Lancôme describes it: Happiness is more than a feeling, it is an aura that radiates all around like the sun on a warm summer’s day. La vie est belle Soleil Cristal (Crystal Sun) eau de parfum captures the essence of a sunny summer day – warm yet fresh, made for those who live to bask in the sun.​

Soleil Cristal opens up with a great freshness and sparkling bright feeling. The citrus and coconut notes are prominent early on, but it doesn’t ever feel like a super sweet tropical drink. It still is sweet, just not completely sugary or overwhelming to me.

Instead, you get the early impressions of vanilla, iris, and ylang-ylang. The coconut is stronger in this mix on my skin, than is the vanilla. It doesn’t give me that lotion-like creamy finish.

There is a bit of spice early on, from the pink pepper, but it’s not overly loud or very long lived.

The ylang-ylang has an inside track early on. It’s fine, but might be my least favorite note in the blend. It’s just giving me a slightly waxy aroma, that I’m not too into. Luckily for me, the iris becomes the stronger of the two on my skin, during the dry down.

So, this one doesn’t get all that complicated. The vanilla and coconut are the stars for the rest of the way. Those two notes sitting on a bed of floral notes and I don’t really get any patchouli.

The ylang-ylang and jasmine give it a slight soapiness. The iris, some touches of powder (but even that, isn’t too much).

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The strength of this one kind of mixed. Really, it’s more deceptive. The opening hour is certainly powerful and reaches a pretty high peak. But, for much of the wear, Soleil feels more like a skin scent.

The deception, is, the fact that is actually stays stronger than you might be able to detect. It’s kind of easy to go nose blind to it, at a certain point. But, when I sprayed this on clothes I had laying around, I could smell it hours later from a good distance.

So, I might be giving this one too low of a score, with how it projects.

The longevity for me, isn’t in dispute. I can get over 8 hours and even up to 9. I’d say the range is 7-9 hours, sort of depending on conditions.

Seasonally, this is spring and summer. That’s the impression you get, solar and beachy. Not crazy with the tropical drink vibe and none of the marine saltiness, so, it’s safer for daily wear versus something more oceanic.

To me, it’s more pretty than anything too sexy. I do have an attraction to this scent, but don’t expect any sort of nightclub beast or something like that.

Overall Impressions of Soleil Cristal

Overall, do I like this fragrance? I actually do find it enjoyable. It doesn’t have much, if anything to do with the original La Vie est Belle, but I thought it was a nice experience.

It’s a fragrance that has a similar style and aroma to something like Alien Goddess or Bronze. I like all three of those fragrances, not totally wowed by any of them, but I think that they can all have a place as someone’s daily wear for certain stretches of the year.

There are definitely stretches here, that I found to be really great to wear. I think that this perfume got some mixed reviews, but I’m pretty positive about it across the board.

It’s not something that is going to offend most people with its scent, but may be one that you want to try out first, before buying.

Flowerbomb Nectar by Viktor & Rolf

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Flowerbomb Nectar is another one of the flanker releases to the mega-popular perfume from Viktor & Rolf. This one came out back in 2018. I grabbed a sample of this, along with most of the rest of the series, in order to finally do a full review for the site. How does Nectar smell? How long does it last? Is it worth a try?

What does Flowerbomb Nectar Smell Like?

Notes include: gunpowder, benzoin, orange blossom, tonka bean, jasmine, blackcurrant, vanilla, patchouli

Click here to try: Flowerbomb Nectar

nectar review

My Full Review

Flowerbomb Nectar opens up in a way that is familiar to the original Flowerbomb, while also doing a bit of its own thing.

The osmanthus returns, just to a lesser extent, but is joined in its sweetness by a nice blackcurrant note and a very light bergamot. The latter is really only apparent briefly.

What you will notice that is different here, is the resinous benzoin note and the inclusion of gunpowder. To me, the gunpowder is slightly metallic, and only a bit smoky. It’s very much like the note found in the men’s fragrance, Luna Rossa Carbon.

I also get some of the orange blossom and patchouli early on, but neither of those ever feels to significant in the mix. The blackcurrant doesn’t appear to just be the berry itself, but also the cassis leaf, which gives a slight greenish aroma with the patchouli note.

As we get further along, it is still sweet, just less fruity and more of a syrupy quality. Vanilla and tonka bean are major players at this point. The blackcurrant is all but gone, but I do still get some of that osmanthus.

It’s a lot like the original Flowerbomb, just with amped up vanilla/tonka bean and the inclusion of that gunpowder. It doesn’t seem as bright and is colder, but the jasmine and osmanthus do sell the floral part of this fragrance like its predecessor.

That’s mostly what I get for the remaining of the wear.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Nectar does have a nice ability to project. I think that it’s slightly stronger than is Ruby Orchid, but probably a tad below the original Flowerbomb. You get a pretty powerful sillage in the opening act, but that will moderate.

Still, above average, in that respect.

The longevity is somewhere in the 7-8.5 hour range. I got a few different outcomes while testing it, but each time it fell within that spread. Again, a little better than Ruby Orchid, at the high end.

Seasonally, this is best in the autumn and winter. But, I don’t think that it’s too heavy to be relegated to just that time period. It’s fine to venture into the springtime. Really depends on how warm it gets where you live, during the part of the year.

Like the rest of the series, this isn’t a formal sort of fragrance. But, it can work as a daily wear in most situations, smells attractive enough for the nightlife, and doesn’t come across as being too much of a teenager’s perfume.

I think it has more maturity than Ruby, but still has a playful personality. 

 

 

Overall Impressions of Flowerbomb Nectar

Overall, do I like Flowerbomb Nectar? Yes. Again though, the original Flowerbomb is still the best in the series, to me. Nectar and Ruby Orchid, are the next in line, and basically a tie for that second spot. Perhaps, a slight preference for this one.

I like the metallic and greenish aspects here. Plus, the resinous benzoin. The vanilla and tonka bean, are the notes that are really going to separate this from Flowerbomb. Do you want a scent that’s less fruity sweet and floral? This is one of the flankers that you should consider. 

The performance is good, just not elite, by any means. Though, I don’t have any real complaints on that front.

Flowerbomb Nectar is one to try out, it’s likeable and one of the best versions. The gunpowder note is more hyped up versus what you actually get. Yet, it’s an interesting touch.

Flowerbomb Bomblicious Edition by Viktor & Rolf

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Flowerbomb’s popularity has spawned a ton of flankers and special editions of the original formula. In 2019, they released Bomblicious Edition of Flowerbomb, I’ve been recently testing it out to do a full review for the site. How does it smell? Does it last long? Is it actually worth a try?

What does Flowerbomb Bomblicious Edition Smell Like?

Notes include: grapefruit, orange, blackcurrant, patchouli, rose, jasmine, bergamot, cashmere wood, musk

bomblicious review

My Full Review

From the first spray, I can tell that Bomblicious Edition isn’t going to be as thick as the original Flowerbomb formulation. The citrus notes and blackcurrant give this one a bright sharpness early on.

Still, some of that jam-like aroma of the original remains. On my skin, this one really throws off a lot of patchouli in the early stages of the wear. It’s mainly a grapefruit, bergamot, blackcurrant, and patchouli affair at this point.

After a while, the initial sharpness and that patchouli subside. Flowerbomb Bomblicious gets woodier and fresher. Not as sharp with the freshness, but clean and cold. I really don’t get much in the way of florals, aside from the rose note.

The jasmine is almost non-existent here.

The dry down is simple enough, a citrus and wood combination with a musky rose undertone. A fresh and clean scent, with some light citrus, and a somewhat soapy smell. Not a complete lather, but it is there.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, you do get a nice strong pop at the opening. It’s not super bold, but very noticeable. Perhaps, a tad weaker than the original, even at this stage. On the whole, it is a notch below Flowerbomb.

But, it is overall firmly above average with how it projects from the skin. It’s not going to take over a room, for the most part. However, it will create a nice scent bubble and trail behind you for at least a few hours.

The longevity itself is a little bit better than average. I can get it to go close to 7 hours, but it usually falls closer to 6. Nothing super here, but Bomblicious is certainly passable.

Seasonally, this is a Flowerbomb that is built more for the spring and summer. A nice change from the others that are autumn through spring. Nice change of pace and gives you an extend use case.

Still Bomblicious is a casual or daily wear type of perfume. Nothing super formal or sexy with this one. It’s pleasant enough, nice in the daytime, while not really having that attention grabbing ability for the nightlife.

Overall Impressions of Flowerbomb Bomblicious

Overall, do I like this scent? I actually like the beginning quite a bit. It made me start to think that Bomblicious Edition was way underrated. But, as it moved along it almost completely loses my interest.

All in all, it’s not terrible, but not much above your average perfume. It just doesn’t hold up over the long haul.

The grapefruit, blackcurrant, and patchouli notes are surprisingly captivating. I really dig the way that this blend comes together. Sure, it’s sharp, but it’s got enough of the original Flowerbomb spirit to keep me into it. I like the cold inhale that I get while wearing this.

The lighter citrus and wood based dry down isn’t all that amazing. It’s fine enough, I suppose, just nothing all that great. Performance is also decent.

This is a fragrance that might be worth trying, if you can get a good deal. At full price, I’d probably look elsewhere. Bomblicious Edition has some enjoyable aspects, but never fully comes together.

Idôle Nectar by Lancôme

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Nectar is the latest flanker of the Idôle line, released by Lancôme in 2022. I have tried out the others in the series and was curious as to what this one would be like and where it would take the line. How does Nectar smell? Does it last long? Is it worth a try?

What does Idole Nectar Smell Like?

Notes include: rose, popcorn, caramel, vanilla

Click here to try: Idole Nectar

idole nectar review

My Full Review

Here’s how Lancôme describes it: Idôle L’Eau de Parfum Nectar is an olfactory treat, a reinvention of the sweet and floral fragrance. A unique, avant-garde scent which marries a faceted rose bouquet with a sweet blast of popcorn deliciousness, Idôle Nectar cannot be ignored, and rather is meant to stand out.

Nectar starts off with a sweet blast, that’s almost fruity with the way it comes across, and somewhat green. Not sure what it is, it kind of reminds me of the osmanthus note in Flowerbomb, but nothing like that is listed by Lancôme.

Bergamot and pear have been used in the other perfumes in this line, perhaps they have been snuck in here too, and are interacting with the roses.

Underneath that, is the variety of rose types, and a caramel popcorn accord. Yes, this Nectar is the gourmand version of the Idole series. It is also the one which goes full on with the rose, instead of a rose and jasmine blend like EDP and Aura.

After a few minutes, the rose really starts to take over. The ‘fruity’ sweetness has faded and it’s a warmer deliciousness of caramel popcorn and vanilla. I was expecting this to be a buttery sort of aroma, with those three notes, but it’s really not. Also, not salty, like Idole Aura is.

The dry down is a fresh rose with mostly the vanilla. It’s more of a pinkish rose blend, Centifolia is the official listing from Lancôme. Along with rose water (freshness) and rose absolute. It is a very easy to wear perfume, even if you’re not a huge rose fan (I’m not, myself).

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, I think that this has a slightly stronger reach than Idôle Aura, but the longevity is a step behind. Not much of a difference, but that initial hour or two, seems a tad better than Aura a leaving a scent trail.

Then, it is back to the 3-5 foot range, just like its predecessor.

The longevity is in the 6.5-7.5 range versus the 8 I can get with Aura. I timed it twice on my skin and 7.5 hours was the max that I got with Nectar. Not bad.

Seasonally, I came into this expecting something heavier and more winter based. But, that’s not actually the case. It’s fresh and not overly cloying. Actually, it be fine in most temperatures except the extreme heat of summer.

This is mostly a daytime type of wear. Not too formal or too casual or just exclusively for teenagers. It’s probably good up to semi-formal occasions.

I do think that it could venture into the nightlife, if need be. Nectar does have a certain sexiness to it, not really sultry, but certainly quite attractive.

Overall Impressions of Idôle Nectar

Overall, do I like this scent? Yes, as of now it is my second favorite from the series. L’Intense is the best overall, in my mind. But, this is slightly better than Aura and pretty easily exceeds the original.

I enjoy that they went in a gourmand direction with Nectar. The caramel popcorn and vanilla are great here. Not too heavy or cloying, still very wearable in some warmer temperatures. The initial sweetness and later use of the rose, make for a very pretty perfume.

The performance is above average. It never reaches the realm of spectacular, just a well performing and one that can go close to a full workday with normal sprays.

Idôle Nectar is one from the series to try out. It doesn’t stay crazy sweet or overly sugared and the rose notes are actually pretty tame and wearable. Even if, you’re generally not a rose lover. With this perfume, you don’t need to be.

Rive Gauche by Yves Saint Laurent

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Rive Gauche is an absolutely classic fragrance from Yves Saint Laurent which dates back to 1971. As a consequence, this became a daily wear staple for a few generations of women. I got a hold of a decant to revisit this one, after probably close to 10 years of not coming across this perfume. How does it smell? How long does it last? Is it still worth a try?

What does Rive Gauche Smell Like?

Notes include: peach, lemon, honeysuckle, aldehydes, rose, oakmoss, vetiver, iris, musk, and more

My Full Review

Note: I am reviewing a decant from one of the later bottles of this perfume (not sure what year), after not experiencing it for a handful of years. Probably one that is considered to be ‘reformulated’ from the original 70s offering. 

Rive Gauche opens up with a fresh icy burst of aldehydes, light crisp fruit notes, and a further dewy/greenish sort of aroma. Personally, I tend to pick up a peach note, as the main aspect of the fruit accord. Though, that’s not overwhelming.

It is an interesting mix of dry freshness, the dew aroma, and the floral notes. The opening has an underlying dryness to it thanks to the oak moss and vetiver notes. The aldehydes here, always bring to mind Chanel for me, but Rive Gauche has a very dynamic and distinct personality all its own.

The floral notes do emerge, once we get past the start. I mean, rose comes across somewhat early, but this really becomes about the white floral notes. Gardenia and lily of the valley are going to be main attractions for this portion.

Iris, will help add a powdery smell for a duration, but that seems to disappear on my skin. I get much more powder, if I spray this one on clothing.

As it dries down, Rive Gauche still has that cold feeling, but the muskiness starts to ramp up when I wear it. The floral notes are less distinct from one another. I will say, once the iris has had its little run, its: rose, lily of the valley, and jasmine.

The final dry down is going to be woodier and muskier. Sandalwood, vetiver, and musk are the main trio. The floral note and aldehydes are all that remain from earlier, but sit underneath those notes, and are more of a generic impression than being easy to separate out.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage is actually fairly strong, on the whole. This will leave a trail behind you and can reach pretty far across the room, at least early on.

It does moderate fairly quickly, with a limited amount of sprays. But, Rive Gauche does give you the option of going heavy and getting a much better performance.

The decant that I had, had really a really solid wear time. I could get it to last on skin for between 8-8.5 hours, during testing. Nothing insanely good, but still nothing to be disappointed in.

Seasonally, this could be worn almost anytime. I’d pick something else for the extremes of winter and summer, but outside of that, no worries. It’s ideal in springtime, though.

It’s very versatile as a daily wear. Not really a sexy nightlife perfume, but one with an ability to go more formal, if need be. While still finding a way to be fairly casual, also.

Overall Impressions of Rive Gauche

Do I like Rive Gauche? Yes, this is an example of an aldehyde soaked white floral fragrance that I enjoy. It’s not one of my favorite types of perfume, but this YSL is one, that I’ve always appreciated.

I was reminded of Rive Gauche again by two perfumes, one a Cartier (that I liked, can’t remember which), and one was Guilty Love Edition by Gucci (not a like). Both had a similar style, while not duplicating the Saint Laurent’s exact aroma.

I like the initial cold freshness with the hints of peach and even the greenish qualities. The floral notes are there doing their thing, with an increasing influence as we move along. There’s plenty of depth here and a classic style.

This may not be one for everybody, but it has been appreciated for over 50 years, for a reason. Rive Gauche is likeable and one that you can return to again and again.