la vie est belle movie review

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Life Is Beautiful

When an open-minded Jewish waiter and his son become victims of the Holocaust, he uses a perfect mixture of will, humor and imagination to protect his son from the dangers around their camp. When an open-minded Jewish waiter and his son become victims of the Holocaust, he uses a perfect mixture of will, humor and imagination to protect his son from the dangers around their camp. When an open-minded Jewish waiter and his son become victims of the Holocaust, he uses a perfect mixture of will, humor and imagination to protect his son from the dangers around their camp.

• Roberto Benigni
• Vincenzo Cerami
• Nicoletta Braschi
• Giorgio Cantarini
• 1.5K User reviews
• 112 Critic reviews
• 58 Metascore
• 72 wins & 52 nominations total

• (as Sergio Bustric)

• Madre di Dora

• Dottor Lessing
• (as Horst Bucholz)

• Guicciardini
• (as Lydia Alfonsi)
• Direttrice Didattica

• Amico Rodolfo
• Uomo della chiave
• Attendente tedesco festa
• (as Jurgen Bohn)
• Ausiliaria tedesca
• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Did you know

• Trivia Guido's wife, Dora, is played by Roberto Benigni 's real-life wife, Nicoletta Braschi .
• Goofs Dora calls her husband ( Roberto Benigni ) "Roberto" rather than "Guido" on one occasion.

Guido : Buon giorno, Principessa!

• Alternate versions The version shown at the Cannes festival in 1998 is slightly different from the original Italian theatrical release: some scenes have been slightly re-edited and a panel has been added at the beginning of the film, showing the phrase "This is a fairy tale", supposedly to avoid controversy over the subject matter.
• Connections Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Godzilla/Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas/Bulworth/The Horse Whisperer (1998)
• Soundtracks Marcia Reale (1831) Written by Giuseppe Gabetti (as G. Gabetti) Ed. Casa Musicale Pucci di Portici (Napoli)

User reviews 1.5K

• Nov 12, 2005
• How long is Life Is Beautiful? Powered by Alexa
• What is the answer to Dr. Lessing's final riddle?
• What does the German guard say?
• December 20, 1997 (Italy)
• Official Facebook
• Cuộc Sống Tươi Đẹp
• Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy
• Melampo Cinematografica
• Cecchi Gori Group Tiger Cinematografica
• See more company credits at IMDbPro
• $20,000,000 (estimated)
• $57,563,264
• Oct 25, 1998
• $230,099,013

Technical specs

• Runtime 1 hour 56 minutes
• Dolby Digital

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Some people become clowns; others have clownhood thrust upon them. It is impossible to regard Roberto Benigni without imagining him as a boy in school, already a cutup, using humor to deflect criticism and confuse his enemies. He looks goofy and knows how he looks. I saw him once in a line at airport customs, subtly turning a roomful of tired and impatient travelers into an audience for a subtle pantomime in which he was the weariest and most put-upon. We had to smile.

"Life Is Beautiful" is the role he was born to play. The film falls into two parts. One is pure comedy. The other smiles through tears. Benigni, who also directed and co-wrote the movie, stars as Guido, a hotel waiter in Italy in the 1930s. Watching his adventures, we are reminded of Chaplin.

He arrives in town in a runaway car with failed brakes and is mistaken for a visiting dignitary. He falls in love instantly with the beautiful Dora ( Nicoletta Braschi , Benigni's real-life wife). He becomes the undeclared rival of her fiance, the Fascist town clerk. He makes friends with the German doctor ( Horst Buchholz ) who is a regular guest at the hotel and shares his love of riddles. And by the fantastic manipulation of carefully planned coincidences, he makes it appear that he is fated to replace the dour Fascist in Dora's life.

All of this early material, the first long act of the movie, is comedy--much of it silent comedy involving the fate of a much-traveled hat. Only well into the movie do we even learn the crucial information that Guido is Jewish. Dora, a gentile, quickly comes to love him, and in one scene even conspires to meet him on the floor under a banquet table; they kiss, and she whispers, "Take me away!" In the town, Guido survives by quick improvisation. Mistaken for a school inspector, he invents a quick lecture on Italian racial superiority, demonstrating the excellence of his big ears and superb navel.

Several years pass, offscreen. Guido and Dora are married and dote on their 5-year-old son Joshua ( Giorgio Cantarini ). In 1945, near the end of the war, the Jews in the town are rounded up by the Fascists and shipped by rail to a death camp. Guido and Joshua are loaded into a train, and Guido instinctively tries to turn it into a game to comfort his son. He makes a big show of being terrified that somehow they will miss the train and be left behind. Dora, not Jewish, would be spared by the Fascists, but insists on coming along to be with her husband and child.

In the camp, Guido constructs an elaborate fiction to comfort and protect his son. It is all an elaborate game, he explains. The first one to get 1,000 points will win a tank--not a toy tank but a real one, which Joshua can drive all over town. Guido acts as the translator for a German who is barking orders at the inmates, freely translating them into Italian designed to quiet his son's fears. And he literally hides the child from the camp guards, with rules of the game that have the boy crouching on a high sleeping platform and remaining absolutely still.

At this year's Toronto Film Festival, Benigni told me that the movie has stirred up venomous opposition from the right wing in Italy. At Cannes, it offended some left-wing critics with its use of humor in connection with the Holocaust. What may be most offensive to both wings is its sidestepping of politics in favor of simple human ingenuity. The film finds the right notes to negotiate its delicate subject matter. And Benigni isn't really making comedy out of the Holocaust, anyway. He is showing how Guido uses the only gift at his command to protect his son. If he had a gun, he would shoot at the Fascists. If he had an army, he would destroy them. He is a clown, and comedy is his weapon.

The movie actually softens the Holocaust slightly, to make the humor possible at all. In the real death camps there would be no role for Guido. But "Life Is Beautiful" is not about Nazis and Fascists, but about the human spirit. It is about rescuing whatever is good and hopeful from the wreckage of dreams. About hope for the future. About the necessary human conviction, or delusion, that things will be better for our children than they are right now.

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

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The Greatest Hits

Film credits.

Life is Beautiful (1998)

Rated PG-13 For Holocaust-Related Thematic Elements

114 minutes

Roberto Benigni as Guido

Nicoletta Braschi as Dora

Giorgio Cantarini as Giosue

Giustino Durano as Zio

Sergio Bustric as Ferruccio

Horst Buchholz as Doctor Lessing

Directed by

• Roberto Benigni
• Vincenzo Cerami

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Life is beautiful.

1997 ‘La vita è bella’ Directed by Roberto Benigni

An unforgettable fable that proves love, family and imagination conquer all.

A touching story of an Italian book seller of Jewish ancestry who lives in his own little fairy tale. His creative and happy life would come to an abrupt halt when his entire family is deported to a concentration camp during World War II. While locked up he tries to convince his son that the whole thing is just a game.

Roberto Benigni Nicoletta Braschi Giorgio Cantarini Giustino Durano Sergio Bini Bustric Marisa Paredes Horst Buchholz Lidia Alfonsi Giuliana Lojodice Amerigo Fontani Pietro De Silva Francesco Guzzo Raffaella Lebboroni Claudio Alfonsi Gil Baroni Massimo Bianchi Jürgen Bohn Verena Buratti Robert Camero Ennio Consalvi Giancarlo Cosentino Aaron Craig Alfiero Falomi Daniela Fedke Antonio Fommei Stefano Frangipani Ernst Frowein Holger Alessandra Grassi Hannes Hellmann Show All… Wolfgang Hillinger Margarita Lucia Krauss Patrizia Lazzarini Maria Letizia Concetta Lombardo Maria Rita Macellari Carlotta Mangione Franco Mescolini Francesca Messinese Inger Lise Middelthon Andrea Nardi Günther Pfanzelter Cristiana Porchiella Antonio Prester Gina Rovere Laura Susanne Ruedeberg Massimo Salvianti Richard Sammel James Schindler Andrea Tidona Dirk K. van den Berg Giovanna Villa Omero Antonutti Adelaide Alaïs Daniela Fedtke

Director Director

Roberto Benigni

Assistant Directors Asst. Directors

Gianni Arduini Giovanni Marino Luigi Spoletini Daniele Cama

Producers Producers

Gianluigi Braschi Elda Ferri

Executive Producer Exec. Producer

Mario Cotone

Writers Writers

Roberto Benigni Vincenzo Cerami

Casting Casting

Shaila Rubin

Editor Editor

Simona Paggi

Cinematography Cinematography

Tonino Delli Colli

Camera Operator Camera Operator

Roberto Brega

Lighting Lighting

Carlo Vinciguerra

Additional Photography Add. Photography

Salvatore Bognanni Marco Cuzzupoli

Production Design Production Design

Danilo Donati

Set Decoration Set Decoration

Luigi Urbani

Special Effects Special Effects

Giovanni Corridori

Choreography Choreography

Leda Lojodice

Composer Composer

Nicola Piovani

Sound Sound

Tullio Morganti Benni Atria Silvia Moraes Alberto Doni Claudio Chiossi

Costume Design Costume Design

Makeup makeup.

Walter Cossu Enrico Iacoponi Federico Laurenti Martina Cossu

Hairstyling Hairstyling

Giusy Bovino Fabio Lucchetti Maria Pia Crapanzano

Mario e Vittorio Cecchi Gori - C.E.I.A.D. Melampo Cinematografica

Primary Language

Spoken languages.

German Czech English Italian

Releases by Date

20 dec 1997, 21 oct 1998, 22 oct 1998, 06 nov 1998, 12 nov 1998, 03 dec 1998, 22 jan 1999, 05 feb 1999, 12 feb 1999, 26 feb 1999, 06 mar 1999, 01 apr 1999, 08 apr 1999, 12 nov 1999, 15 dec 2009, 13 apr 2016, 01 aug 2020, 04 may 2000, 01 oct 2002, 06 may 2006, 29 may 2006, 29 may 2008, 01 dec 2010, 04 may 2002, releases by country.

• Physical M DVD
• Theatrical 12
• Theatrical PG
• Theatrical U
• Physical DVD, FilmX
• Theatrical 6
• Physical 12 DVD
• Theatrical T
• Theatrical B-15

Netherlands

• Theatrical AL
• Physical AL DVD
• TV AL Nederland 1

New Zealand

• Theatrical M/12

South Korea

• Theatrical All
• Theatrical All Re-release
• Theatrical APTA
• Theatrical 11
• Theatrical PG-13

116 mins   More at IMDb TMDb Report this page

Popular reviews

Review by cinéfila... 🕯️ ★★★★

me, looking at the title of this movie immediately after watching it: so that was a fucking lie

Review by Eli Hayes ★★★★★ 27

I'll never forget the first time that I saw this film, as it was the first film I'd ever seen to flat out wreck me emotionally, make me burst out into a fit of uncontrollable tears and lose complete command of my motor functions. The ending of the film, for me, is a flashbulb memory and always will be; as the sobs came spilling out and I, quite literally, fell off my bed and onto the floor, my (now deceased) father heard me wailing all the way from downstairs and came rushing up to my room, under the impression that something terrible might have happened.

I can still, so vividly, recall the haste of my father's footsteps -- their speed…

Review by Two Cineasts ★★★★★ 11

"To laugh and cry coms from the same point of the soul, no? I'm a storyteller: The crux of the matter is to reach beauty, poetry, it doesn't matter if that is comedy or tragedy. They're the same if you reach the beauty." (Roberto Benigni)

CAN A COMEDY IN A HOLOCAUST SETTING ACTUALLY WORK? YES! FUNNY, ENTERTAINING, INTENSE AND DRAMATIC. THIS TRAGICOMEDY IS WITH ONE WORD: BEAUTIFUL

Review by maddie ★★★★½

Buongiorno, Principessa!

Review by kayla ★★★★★ 5

1. Everything sounds so much better in Italian 2. I am crying

Review by Andre de Nervaux ★★★★★

There are tears all over my keyboard for fuck sake.

Review by Sara Clements ★★★★

My dad? Idk him. Guido is my father now.

Review by allain ★★★★★ 11

This is a simple story… but not an easy one to tell. 

Life is Beautiful is a tragicomedy film that tells the story of a Jewish bookkeeper and how he navigated the atrocities of a Jewish concentration camp using wits and humor to protect his beloved son. When I first watched this film back in 2018, I asked the question, “why would anyone attempt to make a comedy film about a topic as sensitive as the Holocaust?” and it still made me uncomfortable because it’s not really a topic you should be making fun of, but the film isn’t all about that. 

The movie started as jolly and high-spirited as we’re introduced to the life of Guido pre-Nazi occupied Italy…

Review by amaya ★★ 7

my mom told me this was a comedy wtf

Review by Esteban Gonzalez ★★★★★ 4

“This is my story. This is the sacrifice my father made. This was his gift to me.”

The film that introduced the world to the charming Italian actor, Roberto Benigni (perhaps not because they saw his actual movie, but for the way he accepted his Oscar for his performance in this film as he leaped through the seats of the actors that were attending the ceremony). This is my favorite foreign film because it manages to balance a wonderful story that begins as a romantic comedy and ends up being about the tragic events that took place during the holocaust. How could Benigni possibly pull something like this off? He’s telling a hopeful light hearted story in the midst of…

Review by George Carmi ★★★★★ 11

Oh my. My oh my.

I was not in the right mental state to watch this beautiful piece of film-making. I am an absolute mess right now. No movie has broken me this much in a very long time.

Very few films have ever left me speechless and I am genuinely struggling to articulate my thoughts right now while tears stream down my face and my hands tremble across this keyboard.

Life is Beautiful is one of the most powerful films I have ever seen. Presented in an incredibly devastating way, this film touched on themes of innocence, human dignity, and the heartbreaking truth of reality. This film is dark, yet it is presented through the eyes of children. Those…

Review by jeaba ★★★★★ 11

so glad that this movie ends after one hour and nothing absolutely soul crushing happens

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La Vie Est Belle Review

01 Jan 1989

La Vie Est Belle

Kouru (Wemba), an aspiring singer, hitches a lift from the country into Kinshasa with ambitions of becoming a star. Instead he gets a job washing up for Nvouandou (Kasongo), the owner of a music club. They both fail in love with the same young lady, Kabibi (Krubra), and the romantic tangle is further complicated when Nvouandou's wife Mamou (Nzunzimbu) embarks on her extra-marital affair.

A slight romantic comedy built around the musical talents of Papa Wemba, this is handicapped by a script which takes for granted the audience's affection for him. It's a dangerous mistake since his very passive Kouru is hardly a properly defined character, has very little dialogue and comes across more in terms of coyness than of country innocence. His relationship with Kabibi is presented as love, but that we have to take on trust as a simple function of the plot.

The film is largely redeemed by the music and Nzunzimbu's formidable Mamou who stays comically one jump ahead of her foolish husband at every stage. There are some interesting insights into marriage and feminism Zaire-style too, but the various elements don't add up to anything substantial and the "opportunity knocks" finale was grey-haired 50 years ago.

• Women's Fragrance

La Vie Est Belle Eau De Parfum

3 months ago

Personally not a fan although others love it. I find it too sweet and cloying. It has really good sillage and lasting power. I'm not sure if it's been reformulated or watered down, I've read...

About reviewer ( 151 reviews )

7 months ago

La Vie Est Belle is my favorite perfume. It has style and it lasts. I like a perfume that smells feminine, and this is it. There is nothing manly about this fragrance. It's all candy and flowers,...

About reviewer ( 69 reviews )

Skin Sensitive, Fair, Not Sure

Hair Red, Other, Other

3 years ago

The scent is nice with good longevity (4-6 hours). However, if you live in a very hot and humid area like me, you might want to think again before buying a full bottle. It gets a little cloying...

About reviewer ( 8 reviews )

Skin Oily, Fair-Medium

This perfume is a bit too strong and too sweet for me. Personally, I smell something peppery about it and others I have mentioned it to say they can smell it too. It has a really good staying power...

About reviewer ( 1236 reviews )

Skin Oily, Medium, Neutral

Hair Brunette, Wavy, Fine

This review is based on a sample from Nordstrom. Although I like the concept of the notes in this scent, the actual execution of it reeks on me. Not sure if it's the patchouli or iris, but it...

About reviewer ( 51 reviews )

Skin Combination, Fair, Neutral

Hair Brunette, Wavy, Medium

I would definitely say this is a perfume you have to try on your skin, as I think it smells very different on the blotter. It really blooms on skin and smells really feminine and beautiful. I get...

About reviewer ( 734 reviews )

Skin Sensitive, Fair, Neutral

Hair Red, Wavy, Medium

Love/hate fragrance. It is very cloyingly sweet vanilla with strong fruity scent then dry down to spicy, musky, fruity-sweet ashtray scent on me. Vanilla is not so apparent but still there...

About reviewer ( 13 reviews )

Age 56 & Over

Skin Acne-prone, Fair-Medium, Not Sure

Hair Black, Other, Other

4 years ago

Would've been a great performance were it not for the overpowering sugary smell. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, unless of course the nouveau riche.

About reviewer ( 1 reviews )

Skin Normal, Dark

Gorgeous vanilla fragrance and beautiful bottle. I once went to see a popular band wearing this and the guitarist hugged me and raved how good I smelled. It costs an arm and a leg though so I keep...

About reviewer ( 92 reviews )

Skin Combination, Fair

Very pretty scent! I saw a lot of comparisons to Flowerbomb, which I also love. This reminds me more of one of the Miss Dior perfumes though. They change formulas so often I'm not entirely certain...

About reviewer ( 366 reviews )

Skin Normal, Fair-Medium

Hair Brunette

La Vie est Belle is my signature scent so you know up-front that this is a favorable review. Things become ubiquitous when there is greatness to them and that is the case with this magnificent...

About reviewer ( 30 reviews )

Skin Dry, Fair-Medium, Neutral

Hair Other, Wavy, Medium

5 years ago

This perfume smells amazing. It has staying power like no other. It is a rather strong perfume so if you're not into that or have a sensitive nose you might want to stay away. It smells sweet and...

About reviewer ( 131 reviews )

Skin Combination, Olive, Warm

Hair Black, Wavy, Fine

This perfume has lasting power and strength, second to none. Lasting power like no other perfume I’ve ever sampled. I love vanilla-like scents and I’m always a fan of that extra touch of patchouli...

About reviewer ( 68 reviews )

Skin Oily, Fair-Medium, Not Sure

Hair Blond, Wavy, Other

Not a showstopping or especially unique fragrance. To me, it smells like V&R flowerbomb but more fruity. A fruity flowerbomb, if you will. I like that it’s feminine, pretty, and fairly strong. It’s...

About reviewer ( 93 reviews )

Skin Dry, Medium, Warm

Hair Blond, Wavy, Medium

I cannot say enough good things about this perfume. I have literally had people CHASE me down to tell me how good I smell and ask what I'm wearing. I've been chased down in Walmart, chased down...

About reviewer ( 21 reviews )

Skin Oily, Fair-Medium, Cool

Hair Blond, Wavy, Fine

Several months ago I wrote a scathing review of LVEB, accusing it of being the ultimate in generic, formulaic "mall" scents. I mean, how many candied fruitchouli scents do we need, especially for...

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Skin Normal, Fair, Not Sure

My sister purchased it several years ago simply because she loves every single perfume with sweet notes which is not my favorite at all. I sprayed a little bit on my wrist and once I sniffed I had...

About reviewer ( 148 reviews )

I cannot stand this perfume, it is really cloying and sickening. Very strong and sweet - in a bad way. It make me nauseous.

Skin Other, Other

Ewww.... I can't tolerate this one. I get cotton candy. That's it - starts there and ends there.

About reviewer ( 102 reviews )

Skin Combination, Fair-Medium, Neutral

Hair Other, Wavy, Other

6 years ago

In my opinion, La Vie Est Belle is Flowerbomb but better. Instead of Flowerbomb’s opening tea note, there’s a slight powdery note in LVEB (the iris??). And it’s sweet… Very sweet. I actually...

Skin Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm

Hair Brunette, Curly, Fine

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La Vie Est Belle

1987, Musical/Comedy, 1h 25m

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Kourou (Papa Wemba) is a young man seeking fame and fortune as a singer in Zaire's capital, Kinshasa. He finds work with Mamou (Landu Nzunzimbu Matshia), the wife of a local nightclub proprietor whose dissatisfied husband, Nvouandou (Kanko Kasongo), is seeking another wife. Both Nvouandou and the young Kourou set their sights on the same woman -- aspiring secretary Kabibi (Bibi Krubwa) -- while Mamou does all she can to rig the romantic competition in Kourou's favor.

Genre: Musical, Comedy

Original Language: French (Canada)

Director: Benoît Lamy , Mweze Ngangura

Writer: Benoît Lamy , Mweze Ngangura

Runtime: 1h 25m

Sound Mix: Mono

Cast & Crew

Bibi Krubwa

Landu Nzunzimbu Matshia

Kanko Kasongo

Lonkinda Mengi Feza

Kalimazi Lombume

Mazaza Mukoko

Mama Dingari

Benoît Lamy

Mweze Ngangura

Véra Belmont

Co-Producer

Critic Reviews for La Vie Est Belle

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La Vie Est Belle by Lancôme Perfume Review

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that if you click on an Amazon affiliate link on my pages, I receive a commission based on that qualified purchase. It doesn't cost you any more money and it helps keep the site running.

I could’ve sworn I had already posted a review of La Vie Est Belle, years ago, on the site. Turns out, that I was wrong. So today, I will correct that mistake, and revisit this best selling EDP from Lancôme. What does it smell like? When should it be worn? Is it even worth the hype?

What does La Vie Est Belle Smell Like?

Notes include: patchouli, vanilla , blackberry, iris , pear, tonka bean, praline, and more

My Full Review

Before we get into my personal review, let’s see what Lancôme has to say about the perfume: “La vie est belle”, a French expression meaning “Life is beautiful”; the manifesto of a new era. Universal yet personal, Lancôme’s femininity is a choice embraced by women, not an imposed standard. The choice to live one’s life and fill it with beauty. Your own way. It introduces a new olfactory story, the first ever iris gourmand. The juice is made with the most precious natural ingredients, a modern interpretation of an oriental fragrance with a twist of gourmand.

La Vie Est Belle opens up with its fruity notes, taking center stage. Mainly, I pick up on the tart and somewhat sour blackberry note, which is joined by pear. When paired together (along with the other notes), it puts on a sweet, somewhat grape-like smell at first. Like, a candied grape scent, just more tart in the opening.

A few minutes after the initial spray, the patchouli begins to draw away some of the energy of the fruity ingredients. With the iris note (plus a touch of jasmine), you do get a more classic floral aroma in there.

Yet, it still remains a fruity gourmand, at this stage. This perfume gets compared to Flowerbomb a lot, and I can smell the similarities, but there’s less patchouli in La Vie.

This is really when the shift begins to occur, in this fragrance. The praline/vanilla/patchouli triumvirate, gains a strong foothold, and the blackberry note is just floating along the periphery of the aroma.

Initially, the patchouli is the strongest, then it is the praline/vanilla mix. They become slightly stronger than the patchouli, the rest of the wear.

La Vie Est Belle isn’t a super complicated fragrance, but it does have a nice little lifecycle of development.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage isn’t huge, but it can fill a room, if over sprayed. You don’t need to go heavy on the trigger, for the scent to project itself. In fact, it’ll probably make for an unpleasant wear.

The performance is great, in terms of how long it’ll go for, on the skin. You will definitely get a full workday, at least, possibly into the double digit hours depending on the climate. 7.5 or 8 hours mostly, with some extra time, sometimes.

Is this a versatile fragrance? Yes. There’s a reason it is a best seller, La Vie Est Belle is a daily wear for a ton of women, out there. It is pretty and pleasant. Appropriate for the office, school, casual functions, formal wear, etc.

This is more of a cold to moderate temperature wear. Mostly, autumn through mid-spring. When it gets hot, go with another option.

Is this a sexy perfume? Ehh, I don’t know that I’d call it ‘sexy’, it’s appealing. It’s attractive, but it doesn’t drive me wild. Though, I do enjoy smelling this fragrance on a woman.

Overall Impression of La Vie Est Belle

Do I like La Vie Est Belle? I do. I still think that this is a very good option for women looking for an all around daily wear. Yes, it is pretty commonplace. But, so what? It works.

The blackberry opening, while tart, is quite awesome. Some people don’t care for it, but it is a highlight for me. The dry down gets warmer and sweeter, with enough patchouli, to keep it all in balance.

Add to that, the performance is worth the price of admission. It is strong and lasts for a long time, so, it’s actually not a bad value proposition for what you actually get.

La Vie Est Belle has been a massive hit and will continue to be so. It won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but seems to attract a lot of women to wear it. I would recommend giving it a shot.

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La Vie Est Belle Perfume Review: Is It Wowing Or Not So Much?

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Middle Notes

Inspiration, who made this perfume, how to apply this perfume, other la vie est belle fragrances, viktor & rolf flowerbomb, dior miss dior, dkny be delicious, givenchy irresistible.

• Question: Is Lancome's La Vie Est Belle Eau De Parfum for older ladies? 
• Question: Is Lancome's La Vie Est Belle Eau De Parfum an everyday perfume?

Question: Does perfume expire?

Bottomline:.

I spend half the year in Quebec, and I see the expression “la vie est belle” everywhere. It translates to “life is beautiful” and is a popular expression in all French-speaking regions, especially in France. But when I see “la vie est belle,” I think of one of my favorite perfumes ever. The Lancome La Vie Est Belle Eau De Parfum . The fragrance was released in 2012 and has been one of the brand’s best-selling fragrances ever since.

You can see why; the perfume is the perfect combination between irresistibly sweet and powdery. While the fragrance is similar to others, such as Flowerbomb, this perfume has a lovely feminine complexity to it that other fragrances don’t have.

• Energizing floral and sweet perfume
• Beautiful packaging
• Notes include iris, patchouli, sugar, and warm vanilla
• Perfect daily perfume, sweet fragrance that’s not too strong
• Timeless scent that I’ve already repurchased twice
• Men love it (including my boyfriend)
• Long-lasting but not overpowering
• Lancome offers great deals and kits, such as an additional rollerball, lotion, and even lip gloss
• Not everyone will like the overly sweet scent
• Many reviewers say it smells cheap (I disagree)
• Young women’s perfume, not one for mature women
• May not work with all pheromones

La Vie Est Belle has fragrance notes of iris spring flowers and the intoxicating earthiness of patchouli. These are layered alongside perfume notes of delicious spun sugar and sensual warm vanilla. Plus, like a bright blooming bouquet, it also has other flowery hints of exotic Arabian jasmine sambac and sparkling Tunisian orange blossom. 

Fragrance Notes

The bulk of the Eau de parfum’s top notes are sweet notes. Iris, black currant, and pear are what hit your nose-first. These notes are very simple and provide a clear pathway to the more complex scents in the middle.

A few minutes after you spray the perfume , you’ll get a whiff of the perfume’ s transformation. While the perfume is still sweet, you get a complex patchouli and orange blossom combination. Since my pheromones love floral, I get strong iris and jasmine scents. As the keynote, I dominantly smell iris. While this is technically a floral fragrance, all of these scents combine to bring this perfume to life.

While I’m not crazy about gourmand fragrances, they work here since they make up the bulk of this scent. Lancome uses a combination of warm vanilla, praline, and sugar to carry the sweetness for hours. On me, you can smell the praline and sugar more than the vanilla (because my pheromones reject everything warm vanilla). The patchouli also carries over and the sweet smell becomes more complex, something like tonka bean.

As stated previously, “ la vie est belle” is a common French expression that translates to “life is beautiful.” Lancome wanted to capture the pure essence of happiness and put it into a fragrance. The result is a timeless fragrance that makes you feel happy with one scent. For the marketing, Lancome chose Julia Roberts as the ambassador to the fragrance, since her classic smile can leave anyone feeling good.

At its core, it’s a very simple fragrance. While there are some complex notes here, floral and fruity notes are very simple and flexible enough for day and nightwear. Plus, there’s a sense of mystery here that makes this perfume stand out from your typical body spray.

Why I Love This Fragrance

I think the main reason why I love this perfume is it has a little bit of everything. While it’s a sweet perfume, it’s not sickly sweet. It’s a floral fragrance, the note profile is complex enough for even those who don’t like floral scents. And it’s a sultry scent without being too musky.

It’s the perfect feminine scent that’s ideal for everyone and every occasion. I sprayed this perfume before going to a prestigious event and even before going to the grocery store. That’s how flexible it is.

I smell a lot of good perfumes. But if I’m spending $70+ on a bottle, it better last. That’s the main reason that drew me to this fragrance. You only need a few spritzes and this perfume lasts all day. I don’t need to reapply at all. I spray it once in the morning or before an event and I’m smelling like the Lancome section of Sephora all day.

Keep in mind, I never measured exactly how long this perfume lasts. Many reviewers say eight hours, and I think that’s a fair estimate. If you want the scent to last from day to night, I suggest buying the rollerball and touching up the fragrance after the eight-hour mark.

So who’s the mastermind behind this genius scent? Three expert perfumers created this scent: Anne Flipo, Olivier Polge, and Dominique Ropion.

Flipo is a Master Perfumer (it takes a lot to earn that title). Flipo has also made fragrances for Chloe, Burberry, and Jimmy Choo. She has consistently designed best-selling and high-quality fragrances, making her the mastermind of La Vie Est Belle.

Polge has made 5,000 attempts to create this perfume! He’s now the head perfumer at Chanel, but his resume extends farther than his work with Lancome and Chanel. You can also smell Polge’s creations in Paco Rabanne and Dior perfume.

Experienced perfumer Dominique Ropion also lent a helping hand. He also has experience designing fragrances for major names such as Givenchy and Dior.

All Lancome perfume packaging all looks the same to me. The style is minimalist but chic, featuring clean lines to accentuate the fragrance. The clear bottle shows off the pink liquid. The packaging is finished with a gray ribbon, a cute little final touch.

Actress Julia Roberts is the face of the Lancome La Vie Est Belle. Since the perfume represents happiness and loving life, she was chosen because of her iconic smile.

The commercial, directed by film director and photographer Tarsem Singh, shows Roberts at a prestigious event where everyone has crystal threads around their wrists. Roberts rips hers off. The commercial represents “breaking free” and achieving happiness. This matches the slogan: “Life Is Beautiful. Live It Your Way.”

Lancome released two other commercials and advertisements for the fragrance: La Vie Est Belle Expression and a holiday version of the commercial.

The packaging has a square topper. Simply pop that off to access the perfume nozzle. For this perfume, we suggest applying it to your pulse points. While the wrists and base of the neck are classic spots, the inner elbow and behind the knees are also great places to apply this fragrance. These pulse points emit more heat so the fragrance will radiate farther.

Because of La Vie Est Belle’s success, Lancome released different fragrances in the collection. They are:

• La Vie Est Belle Intensement

This is an amber floral fragrance that has a blend of black currant and violet leaf, iris flower, damask rose and jasmine, patchouli, sandalwood, and oakmoss.

• La Vie Est Belle En Rose

This floral fruity fragrance features a blend of bergamot, pink pepper, red berries, peony, lily of the valley, Centifolia rose and Damask rose.

• La Vie Est Belle Soleil Cristal

Top fragrance notes: bergamot and mandarin oils, pink pepper oil. Heart fragrance notes: sunny coconut accord, orange blossom and jasmine sambac absolutes. Base fragrance notes: iris concrete, patchouli bali oil and vanilla bourbon premium madagascar infusion.

I haven’t smelled any of these other variations but I imagine they’re exquisite! Lancome also offers different limited edition La Vie bottles, a variety of other products (lotions, shower gels, etc.), and a bunch of kits. They even offer a limited edition bottle for the holidays!

I suggest you check them all out on the Lancome website . As an alternative, Lancome also has the fragrance Idole that’s very popular!

Alternatives

Even though La Vie Est Belle is one of my favorite fragrances of all time, there are more in this scent category. Here are a few of my other recommendations.

If I’m not bathing in La Vie Est Belle, I’m probably bathing in Flowerbomb . As you can guess from the title, this is the ultimate floral fragrance. But unlike La Vie Est Belle, it’s on the warmer side than the sweet side. Orange blossom, jasmine, and patchouli make up the bulk of this fragrance. Rose and vanilla make this perfume make this more sensual and intoxicating.

A heart is floral and opulent with intensive, sweet and pure Sambac jasmine, seductive Centifolia rose, freesia and Cattleya orchid. Musk and patchouli in a base wrap us with an oriental scent, while its milky and powdery notes gently fondle our skin.

I practically ate this up when I got it. I should get this scent again. While Blooming Bouquet is a lovely scent, I’m recommending the classic here. The Miss Dior we use today is the reinvented scent from 1947. While this fragrance holds a lot of lily notes, rose is the dominating scent here. There’s also a combination of floral and fruity notes here, such as peony and apricot. Wood scents act as the base, enhancing the vibrancy of all of these notes.

Miss Dior Eau de Parfum celebrates the beauty of a sensual Grasse Rose wrapped in fresh notes and woven with a lively Rosewood.

I never owned this fragrance, but DKNY released it when I was working at Sephora. Unlike La Vie Est Belle, Be Delicious is a great floral fragrance if you prefer fresh scents. Apple is the very first note, but it’s balanced with sandalwood and magnolia. I’m not a fan of juicy fruity fragrances, so this one isn’t for me.

A blend of cucumber, white muguet, violet, magnolia, apple, grapefruit, tuberose, wood, and rose.

Like La Vie Est Belle, Givenchy’s Irresistible inspires you to “let go.” I like this fragrance because it’s a combination of floral and woodsy, two of my favorite fragrance types. Rose and blond wood are the two dominating notes. But this authentic fragrance isn’t for the faint of heart. While the fragrance is strong, it’s irresistible.

Givenchy presents Irresistible, the new floral-woody fragrance that balances notes of luscious rose with radiant blond wood. Sparkling pear and ambrette add a subtle hint of vibrancy. 

Question: Is Lancome’s La Vie Est Belle Eau De Parfum for older ladies? 

Answer: While I never like to categorize scents by age, I think this is a scent women of all ages can enjoy! This is a sweet, lovely, feminine scent I think anyone would fall in love with.

Question: Is Lancome’s La Vie Est Belle Eau De Parfum an everyday perfume?

Answer: I think so! I never had any problems with the longevity of this scent. I was able to spray it on once in the morning and could smell it as I wore it all day long.

Answer: Yes, perfume does expire! How long a perfume will last depends on when it was made, the blend, and who made it. Some perfumes have an expiration date up to one year, while others can last as long as 10 years!

Lancome’s La Vie Est Belle Eau De Parfum is one of the most beautiful-smelling perfumes ever. It’s a sweet perfume that’s more on the floral side. However, it’s not too strong, so it’s also perfect as a daily perfume. While not everyone will like this sweet and floral perfume, I also think it’s versatile enough for a variety of wearers. Overall, I highly recommend this perfume and it’s one I will continue buying.

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La Vie Est Belle Review

By Allure Staff

All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Iris, patchouli, praline, sambac, jasmine, and Tunisian orange blossom

WHY WE LIKE IT:

Somewhere deep down—and if we're being honest, it's probably not even that deep—we are giddy little girls who relish pink and want to smell like all sweet things. This fragrance speaks directly to that alter ego. It's sweet as praline pie, until it gives way to the richer, headier notes of patchouli and jasmine that make it perfectly lovely for a very grown-up evening out.

PRICE*: $75

BEST BEAUTY PRODUCT REVIEWS >

*Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price

• The 7 Modern Classic Fragrances That Changed Everything

Alternate Title

Mpaa rating, produced by, la vie est belle (1987), directed by benoit lamy / mweze ngangura.

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Now Smell This

A blog about perfume, lancome la vie est belle ~ perfume review.

Posted by Jessica on 10 August 2012 59 Comments

Day to day, week to week, there are fragrance launches, and then there are fragrance launches . Lancôme 's La Vie Est Belle is one of the major launches of pre-fall 2012, complete with big-name perfumers, Julia Roberts as its "ambassadress," a gala celebration in the south of France , a soon-to-be-unveiled commercial directed by Tarsem Singh , and more. Lancôme is promoting La Vie Est Belle as its next "iconic" fragrance, hoping it will match  Trésor in popularity and longevity as a pillar of the brand's fragrance collection, and no expense or effort has been spared in this campaign.

The fragrance, whose name translates as "life is beautiful," was developed by perfumers Olivier Polge ,  Dominique Ropion and  Anne Flipo . Its composition includes notes of Florentine Iris pallida, iris aldehyde, jasmine sambac, Tunisian orange blossom, Indonesian patchouli, and a "gourmand accord" of vanilla, tonka bean, praline, black currant and pear. According to Lancôme, La Vie Est Belle represents "a new era" and "the choice to live one's life and fill it with beauty." (You can find more information on the fragrance's philosophy at the Lancôme website .)

I was immediately skeptical about Lancôme's assertion that La Vie Est Belle is "the first ever iris gourmand" — what about Guerlain's Iris Ganache , for example? However, it turns out not be be much of an iris-centered composition at all, as far as I can tell. The gourmand accord appears much earlier in the fragrance's development than I would have expected, with a spun-sugar note and a praline effect of chocolate and nuts. Fortunately, it's a high-end dessert accord, Vosges  rather than Hershey's. It's a bit sweeter and more feminine than the gourmand element of Les Parfums de Rosine Rose Praliné , for example, but more grown-up than the plasticky chocolate note that shows up in so many celebrity scents. In my favorite phase of the fragrance, these gourmand notes are brightened by an edge of bergamot and given texture by a prickle of patchouli that softens as the fragrance settles down.

I still can't detect iris in the heart of La Vie Est Belle: there's none of the green-tinged woodiness or the chilly silvery feeling that characterize many iris-inspired fragrances. I'm guessing that the inclusion of patchouli is meant to evoke the earthy quality of iris root, but instead it's essentially a gentle, warm patchouli married to some creamy jasmine and a hint of vanilla. The dry down of La Vie Est Belle is something that I'd be tempted to call " Angel  with Botox and a blow-out" if I were in a snarkier mood, but instead I'll just say that it's a polished and long-lasting harmony of cocoa and soft patchouli and white floral notes. When I wore La Vie Est Belle on a recent warm evening, it had enough sillage to attract the notice of someone sitting next to me, but not enough to fill the room.

Over the years, I've had mixed reactions to Lancôme's perfumes: I enjoy Trésor and Ô de Lancôme , but I was disappointed in Hypnôse and Miracle. I'd categorize La Vie Est Belle as one of my positive Lancôme experiences, and at the same time I'm guessing that it will be popular with a wider audience. I'd still quibble that it doesn't really "break through traditional codes to invent a new kind of olfactory language," as the promotional materials claim, but it's gracefully composed and it's very wearable, and it's been given an appropriately polished presentation. The bottle designed for La Vie Est Belle (see below) feels heavy and sleek, with convex sides and bevelled edges and the finishing touch of a gray organza ribbon. It has a high quality spray mechanism (yes, these things do matter!) and, in a surprising touch, no logo except for a tiny Lancôme rose etched into the top of the atomizer button.

To make a long story short, if you're hunting for your ideal iris fragrance, you might want to re-read some of the many, many previous Now Smell This posts tagged "iris,"  but if you're in the mood for an accessible new "fleurmand" for fall, La Vie Est Belle is well worth a try.

Lancôme La Vie Est Belle is available as 30 ml ($55), 50 ml ($75), and 75 ml ($95) Eau de Parfum.

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This is the twin sister to FLOWERBOMB! I do want a 1.0 of this cause that bottle is beautiful but FLOWERBOMB is my little sisters Sig scent and they smell 100% identical

Journey, I found it much less sweet than Flowerbomb, which I just can’t wear… but I do agree that they are ‘related’!

My fav sweet, wearable patchouli is Jessica Simpson Fancy Nights. No florals, but I don’t normally like my florals sugary. I’ll test this, but I don’t expect my nose to be engaged. As far as Lancome goes, I am anxiously wondering whether or not they will release the special LE of Mille et Une Roses that’s already in release at Selfridges in the USA at holiday time? Any word on that? Now that’s big news from Lancome as far as I’m concerned…..

ooh i 2nd that notion – that would be great news!

Ann, I did like Mille et Une Roses, but I don’t have the latest word on this. Will keep my ears open!

I’ve never found a Lancome scent that I adore. Then again, I’m very fickle, I will try a sample of something, love it, buy a bottle and then the 3rd time I wear it HATE it. Sigh. Now I only buy decants that will last 2 or 3 wearings, and if I love it, I’ll buy another decant. Just in case.

Katie, I admire your restraint. Nothing wrong with that!

Strange that author didn’t mention that La Vie is almost a full copy of Flowerbomb…

That’s because the author would have had to mention Calvin Klein Euphoria and Bond no. 9 Nuits de NoHo and La Prairie Silver Rain and EL Pleasures Delight and all the other children of Angel…!

Seriously, though, I found it less cloyingly sweet then Flowerbomb.

*La Prairie Midnight Rain, that is*

Spitting image of Angel

Indeed. Sampled this yesterday and am glad I only sprayed it on a card. First hour or two, Angel, Angel, Angel, then a flat powdery stage and later back to Angel, or as Jessica brilliantly suggests “Angel with Botox and a blowout.” I’m willing to believe there are differences, but I was too overwhelmed to perceive them.

I still think Angel has more wonderful-weird personality… La Vie en Belle includes many of the same notes, but it feels more polite and more “groomed.” I’d never wear Angel in an office situation or in hot weather, but La Vie could work for the office — spritzed lightly — and I’ve tested it on a hot day or two without feeling overwhelmed — again, just a spritz or two.

This fragrance in NO WAY resembles Angel. They are not even remotely close. Angel is my signature fragrance and that’s what I wear 90% of the time. After I ordered la Vie Et Belle I was a little worried they would be too similar (after reading these reviews) but luckily they aren’t even close. If I could compare it to any fragrance, I would say it reminds me of Tresor. I’m perplexed that anyone would think they smell anything alike. It’s a lovely fragrance all in its own category.

This is probably much too sweet for me, especially if it resembles Flowerbomb, but I’ll give it a go. It may be pitched at a slightly more mature customer than Flowerbomb? It sounds like Lancome hopes it will become a signature scent for a lot of people, but of course the younger consumer tends to be fickle.

L’Artisan’s Traversee au Bosphore is supposed to have an iris note, but I lose it in all the Turkish delight sweetness. For me, sweet gourmand notes tend to smother everything else that may be in there. I get a teeny bit of iris in Iris Ganache, but not much.

I do think it will appeal to a slightly more “mature” shopper than Flowerbomb, and the promotional copy seems headed in that direction, with lots of prose about knowing your true self and simplifying your life and wanting only what is simplest/best, etc.

I do love Traversee du Bosphore! I get a leathery iris note in the heart, but mostly powdery-musky Turkish Delight in the drydown. Yum.

yuck! i hate angel, i strongly dislike flowerbomb, and i can’t think of a single lancome i’ve ever liked. patchouli is like death to me, and chocolate and vanilla and caramel and gourmand scream ‘trashy’ and ‘lowbrow.’ i’m excited to ignore this completely. (sorry for being cranky!)

Bluegardenia, I have a feeling that this one won’t appeal to you. 😉

This does not smell like a copy of Flowerbomb… Flowerbomb IS WONDERFUL, but this is…. MAGICAL! It’s really Very Pretty and Intensely Feminine! 🙂 Just IN LOVE WITH THIS! Must Buy!

A fan!! I actually enjoyed it much more than I expected to. I think it’s very smooth and feminine and warm, without being spicy (since not everyone loves spicy scents, after all).

I would try this, but although I appreciate Angel, it’s not something I especially enjoy wearing. Haven’t tried Flowerbomb, but it doesn’t sound like it would appeal to me.

Are people truly moved to buy a fragrance if a celebrity lends his or her face to it?* One thing that I love about mainstream fragrances is that they are a lot more financially realistic for me than niche fragrances. It may be gauche to mention price, but it does matter. I cannot spend $300 on a single perfume. That being said, more money could be put into juices that do NOT have to buy someone famous to appear in its ads.

*The answer must be yes, or we wouldn’t have the glut of celebrity smells that we have. But it still boggles my mind. I mean…why? “Oh, look, Jessica Simpson’s new fragrance. I want to smell just like her.”

I will never understand.

Jennifer, I have a feeling that many people *are* drawn in by a celebrity face/name when it’s someone they wish they could emulate. There aren’t many celebrities that fascinate me in that “aspirational” way, but I’m probably in the minority.

I’ve never been a big Julia Roberts fan, but I’ve come to admire her longevity, her consistency, and her privacy — a rare quality these days! She has ended up seeming like an old-time movie star, interestingly enough…

Where you can discern some personal qualities about a celebrity that you like, such as those you identify with Julia Roberts, you might be drawn to try their perfume or a perfume they promote. But other than that, as Jennifer says, why bother? Most celebrities seem the same to me, as do their perfumes. I have a soft spot for SJP’s Lovely tho’.

“Lovely” is different for a couple of reasons. It’s truly a good fragrance, most importantly. Secondly, reading “The Perfect Scent,” made it much more interesting. I was not left with the impression that it was some random bottle of trash to which a celebrity thoughtlessly lent his or her face. There are only two celebrity fragrances that have interested me, “Lovely,” and “Dita Von Teese.” Dita has me curious because I have the impression that she cared about what she was doing.

While rare, there are celebrity fragrances that I like, but I don’t try them BECAUSE of someone’s mug on the packaging.

I agree on the $300 thing. Half that is a huge spend for me. I’m always on the look out for good mainstream fragrances, but thank goodness also for the decant services! I have tried stuff that way that I never could otherwise. And it’s amazing how long 8 or even 5 mls will last.

Thanks for letting me know! I am excited to try this out. I like several Lancome fragrances (starting with Climat) and always try their new releases.

Sometimes it’s nice to be able to find and try a fragrance at a nearby department store, without any fuss and bother and long-distance sample-ordering! I do wish Lancome would bring back some of those classics, and *keep* them in rotation… well, we can always dream!

Firstly, these people need to stop saying things like “the first ever iris gourmand” and “it breaks through traditional codes to invent a new kind of olfactory language.” It was stupid when Lady Gaga was saying it and it’s even stupider when Lancome is saying it.

An SA told me the bottle was designed to look like a smile. I literally LOL’ed at that b/c it’s actually a pretty damn cute factoid.

I really don’t get Angel, although I understand why people are citing it. I kind of get Flowerbomb and I also get Miss Dior Cherie. And I get a headache.

Even tho I hate this new Lancome, I think your review is very thoughtful and well done, Jessica.

Lys, there was lot of information about the bottle’s “crystal smile” in the press materials… but I just… couldn’t. 😉

Smelled this today and I completely agree with Miss Dior Cherie (I refuse to call it anything else) comparison and, maybe, a drop of Coco Mademoiselle. Done to death and utterly puzzling to see this kind of thing still being released in 2012.

The funny thing is, Lancome hasn’t really released anything like this before… so it’s new to *them*… but they can’t possibly be unaware that it’s not really a new genre of fragrance, lol. I guess it’s a conservative move for financially risky times.

Have tried this at Dillard’s and was lucky enough they had a sample. Am liking it pretty well so far. I agree with Jessica that it is far less sweet than Flowerbomb, though I can see some similarity. I can’t stand Angel and have enjoyed La Vie pretty well so far, so the Angel-phobes shouldn’t worry too much. I do smell just a little iris in the top notes amidst fruit. I need to test them side by side, but what this is really reminding me of is Jimmy Choo (I have the parfum and samples of the EDP). Will compare them later.

Wow, you got a sample?! I never have much luck getting samples of mainstream fragrances at department stores. I need to try the Jimmy Choo… I’m not really interested in high-end designer shoes, so I’ve managed to ignore that one. 😉

“I never have much luck getting samples of mainstream fragrances at department stores,” IKR? Jessica I asked for and received a sample of this from a Macys counter. I almost fell over!

Lys, maybe *that* is the “new era” they’re talking about! 😉

Perhaps the aspect of this that is designed to “break through traditional codes to invent a new kind of olfactory language” is the olfactory equivalent of hypersonic – it’s there but only dogs can smell it. 😉

Sorry, but since you aren’t in a particularly snarky mood today, I just had to lend a hand. 🙂

I also, I want to mention how much I enjoyed your Tinsel Creations blog post on the Lady Gaga perfume ad and its antecedents – there is nothing I like better than the intersection of art and perfume! (I’d comment at TC, but I can’t seem to come up with the right password/e-mail/name combination to get the comment posted.) Love that blog!

Noz, I’m glad you’ve been visiting TC, and so sorry you can’t seem to leave a message when you want. Are you trying to remember the password for an existing WordPress account? You shouldn’t need a WP account to comment… you can just fill in a name/nickname/username and your e-mail, I think.

I have had almost no luck with Lancome fragrances (Mille et Une Roses being the notable exception). This one was, alas, typical for me – a near scrubber with what to me seems a very harsh, chemical-ly note. It’s in a pretty bottle, and I love Lancome’s mascara, so I hope it finds some love – but that I never have to smell it again (at least on myself)!

I love Lancome’s Teint Idole Ultra foundation, and I have a Rouge in Love lipstick that I really like. Lancome can be hit-or-miss for me, which makes sense, since it’s a huge line.

I am surprised that no one has mentioned that the ribbon on the bottle looks just like…fairy wings. Which brings to mind Julia as Tinkerbell in the movie Hook (I believe it was Hook!)… Every time I look at that ad I think it is a Tinkerbell perfume! I wonder if that was intentional or if it’s just my overly analytical mind, but it was my immediate thought when I first saw the ad. (As I grew up with “Tinkerbell makeup” in the 70s, trying a Tinkerbell perfume would not be too far-fetched!):-)

Pretty sure if you go to a Disney store, you can sample that Tinkerbell perfume (and one or two other Disney princesses while you’re at it).

Thanks, but you are about 30 years too late!:-)

AMarie121, I’ve just checked the press materials… the ends of the ribbon are meant to suggest “the twin wings of freedom.” So there you have it. 😉

Advertisers are always trying to tap into our collective subconscious mind to make something appealing. I’m sure that “wings of freedom” and an actress who played a fairy didn’t escape their notice! Thanks for the additional insight!

Hm. Maybe the nervousness I feel when I learn that it took not one but THREE perfumers to compose this perfume is justified after all. PS your “snarky mood” assessment does just fine for me. One Angel in this world would have been enough.

Olenska, it was “an undertaking so complex that it called for no fewer than 5521 versions and three years’ work.” I don’t belong to the industry, so I have no idea how much time and planning the average mainstream fragrance requires, but… that does sound like a lot, especially for something that draws so heavily on the trends of the past decade.

That is mind-boggling. Like you, I confess I don’t know how much time or how many versions the average fragrance requires to reach a state of perfection, so I don’t know whether to offer La Vie Est Belle (with its “5521 versions”) my congratulations or my condolences. It sounds nice but not earth-shattering…. and I still can’t help but puzzle over the need for so many cooks, in a manner of speaking.

Too bad Julia isn’t using her “Mona Lisa Smile” in the photo. As we say in Hungarian: “her smile is as big as the Vienna gate.” She is a really good actress but is she current? The bottle is nice but the juice is not my category. I like Oui! de Lancome.

Hmm … reading your review brought Prada Candy to mind, not sure why as they’re not related. Probably I was thinking of vetiver, as of vetiver and iris. I love vetiver. Iris is an aquired taste and must be softly done otherwise it makes me cringe (Voleur de Roses is brutal).

There is not one fragrance of Dominique Ropion that I like, or of Olivier Polge, although I love his father’s work. Anne Flipo flipped me over with Ananas Fizz but other than that I was not impressed. Will try La Vie Est Belle for sure as I try all new releases. But it is mind-boggling to mix so many notes only to produce something that reminds consumers of something else. At first I thought of the famous movie with the same title.

Mainstream perfumery is going down the drain.

Bottle looks lovely and hefty. Shame it just sounds like an Angel/Pleasures Delight scent.

And surely Prada is technically an iris gourmand, what with the caramel, even though it’s very sheer (gorgeous too – nice alternative to the usual toothaches in a bottle).

Candy, that is.

STill liking pretty well. Managed to cadge a second sample (from Dillard’s again, but this time they made me leave my name and phone number for it–OK since I buy their makeup). The top notes seem to be very strong on the pear and blackcurrant, and I like the softer drydown on the whole. I kept thinking that Lancome had actually done something similar awhile back, and they did have a fragrance called Attraction, released in 2003 and there are a lot of similarities, except Attraction lacks the fruit. Estee Lauder Intuitioni is also similar, but lacking fruit. Kind of preferring my Jimmy Choo parfum overall, so may or may not buy a small bottle when they have a GWP.

I get red apples, apple blossoms and bug spray. The dry-down to me is masculine like Grey Flannel–rather common.

yummmm!! ditto to all the comments of this being akin to Flower Bomb…but depending on your body chemistry…it does something completely dif after first whif! I own flower bomb, so when i sprayed it (just to test it) I was immediatley telling myself that I’d be leaving it on the counter (why pay double for the same sent?). Went around the bend to keep on shopping, and ….good golly…had to turn right back around and buy the muthasucka!! This is like Flower Bomb’s long lost twin that she was separated from birth from. Appearing the same at first site, but spend enough time and you realize she’s got her own thing going. That being said, I will reserve Lancome for the sexy nights…and Flowerbomb for my corporate days. Love it!!

Ok, the idea is just ok…but Julia walks sooo stiffly like a linebacker, not a graceful woman…and the pasted on “I am so perfect” smile on her face when she turns around is laughable! How bout more of an “I am happy to be free..to be myself”..but it looks like she looked at her smile in a mirror and then held the pose and went back to shooting the turn around scene……..one word? AWKWARD! two words: and stupid.

This is certainly a wearable and not too dessert like to be too sweet fall perfume; I bought a decent sized amount. The bottle itself is lovely, and decidedly sturdy for something so feminine, it’s not breaking any barriers or creating new ground in perfume but it IS nice. Nice is all I’d describe it as however, it’s too mainstream to be stunning.

I would say I got quite good in perfume notes guessing. Still – I did not detect any hint of iris, none. This scent has no identity, this makes it even interesting. I smelled it on several people (it is very loud, so I tend to make an compliment and ask what it is) and I would not recognize it, though I tried it myself and alos on paper. It smelled different every time – nice, loud, someimes clean-gourmet, sometimes fruity-gourmet…

I expected less to be honest – I mean they promised really a lot, and this is Lancome, they are mainstream amrket, they cannot make something that crazy.

I find it more complex than Flowerbomb, not so linear, beautiful projection, great longevity, a pretty darn good creation by Lancôme.

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Home – Perfumes – Lancôme La Vie est Belle en Rose

La Vie est Belle en Rose by Lancôme

Key Notes of La Vie est Belle en Rose

What does la vie est belle en rose smell like.

La Vie est Belle en Rose by Lancôme opens with a distinct whiff of mouthwatering red fruits. This juicy, tantalizing aroma of ripe berries and cherries imparts a sweet, almost candy-like, yet not overpowering scent. Following this, the fragrance transitions seamlessly into its floral heart. The delicate scent of peonies dominates the midsection, offering a rich, velvety aroma that provides a sensual, almost creamy texture to the blend. This peony note is quite pronounced, creating an intense floral core to the fragrance. In contrast, the rose note is more of a subtle undercurrent, adding a touch of classical elegance and mild freshness to the composition.

As the perfume settles, the base notes start to emerge. Here, the robust yet creamy scent of sandalwood takes the lead. Its unique earthy, slightly milky scent provides a peaceful, calming foundation to the entire blend. Subtly present throughout, it lends depth and solidifies the overall character of the perfume. La Vie est Belle en Rose by Lancôme wonderfully combines strong floral, fresh fruit, and warm woodsy scents, offering a truly mesmerizing olfactory experience. Overall, it smells sweet, floral, and mildly fresh with a synthetic twist.

Review of La Vie est Belle en Rose

Lancôme's La Vie est Belle en Rose, released in 2019, offers an ode to women with a particular inclination towards sweet and floral fragrances. This perfume is all about embracing life through the lens of optimism, evoking a vibrant expression of femininity wrapped in a bouquet of delicate scents.

The perfume predominantly appeals to women and savvy youngsters who appreciate a good mixture of sweet and floral undertones. It is a scent that doesn't shy away from a robust fruity presence, with the red fruits playing a significant role in the top notes. The perfume's core is anchored by the timeless elegance of rose and peony, giving it a sense of familiar warmth and grace.

Entering a room lightly scented with La Vie est Belle en Rose brings a sense of delight, which is neither overpowering nor underwhelming. Its longevity is commendable, making it a reliable companion for your day, lingering from morning coffee to evening strolls. This perfume is suitable for leisure activities and daily wear, providing a pleasant backdrop for your routine.

While its sillage is not the strongest in the market, it's just right for those who prefer a more personal scent, one that creates a soft aura without being too intrusive. However, its subtlety might disappoint those seeking a more pronounced olfactory signature.

This perfume finds its sweet spot in the spring and fall seasons, but it can still lend itself to summer and winter, making it a versatile addition to your collection. It provides good value for the price, offering a well-formulated fragrance that can add a touch of elegance to your everyday life. Yet, it might feel a bit synthetic for those with a keen nose for natural scents.

In conclusion, La Vie est Belle en Rose is a charming tribute to the hopeful and vivacious spirit of femininity, encapsulated in a sweet, floral, and slightly fruity scent.

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