C'est La Vie

Just adore this fragrance - have worn it since it was first issued when I fell in love with the description of the bottle shape - it is supposed to be reminiscent of the curve of female hips - and the colours of the box. I have worn it every day since and have had nothing but positive feedback on it. It seems to smell very different on other people who have tried it, and I must say that perfumes tend to fade very quickly on my skin. Men seem to love it too! I have spent a small fortune on it over the years, I'm still managing to find it despite it going out of production years ago - have to look online, I've bought lots on mini bottles which have gone into a glass atomizer, bought a bottle with a faulty spry which I purchased a cool pump filling bottle to decant it into - you have to really love a perfume to go through what I do to still use it. It is a stunning sugary floral scent, quite powerful and heady, but settles into a beautiful subtle 'feminine' scent. I think it has a 'cat like' quality to it, quite musky, but it is a definite woman smell. I have been told of several 'alternatives' - Apres L'Ondee being the closest in my opinion - but it doesn't do it for me in the way that C'est La Vie does. Unfortunately the perfume got slated when it was available, it is a love or loath scent I think, and unfortunately it bit the bullet. For me it will always be the perfume of my life - I wore it the first time I was kissed, on my wedding day and whenever I need a reassuring reminder that I am a confident, independent and sexy woman I put on a spritz. I am so pleased to find other people who love it too.

It is like an orchestra playing, lots of notes coming and going. It is very strong, very dense, very opulent, right the type of scent I appreciate best. The notes I can smell most distinctly are Ylang Ylang, Jasmin, Carnation or Clove, Tuberose, Sandalwood and Amber. It has a clear duality, actually threeality, very sweet and full on one hand, but on the other it has the carnation hasrshness balancing it, and the woodiness seems to give it an aereal side. It is one of the few scnets I know where sandalwood smells like sandalwood. In most fragrances, sandalwood just smells of common wood, while in itself it is a really precious scent, with a very peculiar and sprecial aereal character, very light and etereal, rising one does not even know from where. Well, in my opinion, that character is totally lost in almost all fragrances. Overall, although the notes are noticeably different, it is very much a scent of the type of Poison and Red Door. I still have several bottles of it, EDT and EDP and do really treasure them. Luca Turin says in 27 years He only came across one person who liked it. Well, I do like it and in much shorter time came across lots of people who also do. Some people forget that we are all different and that taste is a personal matter and try to impose on others their taste. While in a matter like this that is of no importance at all, a frivolity really, and very provincial, in other ways the assumption that you know what is better for other people is at the root of all dictatorships and intolerance in this world.

Its just a delight. I really like perfumes of this era, still full of exuberance and myriads of notes and some real blending and interplay. Its like analogue music in todays digital era. I was happy I was able to find a reasonably priced vintage on eBay to enjoy C’est la Vie again. Its heart shaped bottle with the arteries on top pull out to reveal the juice. There is this beautiful what I call soapiness to this scent, I have not been able to figure out what it is precisely that creates this effect found in C’est la Vie and, for example, Salvador Dali original and Diorella, two very different perfumes in other ways, but I love it, it creates this incredible comfort to a fragrance - a wearable quality like a high quality natural fabric. This is a joyous, brightly fragrance, full of heart - if you like Christian Lacroix’ multicoloured, whimsical but stylish fabrics you will like this. Such a great balance of florals fruits amber and a balsamic quality AND the brightliness of just right proportion of aldehydes. Its a joy.

19. January 2011 This fragrance started this journey for me!!!! I wanted to try it for a long time and had a feeling it has to be good. I was always fascinated by Lacroix ́s fashion, his creativity and admired it deeply. What can i say! I am totally in love with this one! it is very different from C`est La Fete which i also love, but totally got me falling for this! This is such a classy smell, that makes my soul sing! Quite sweet, a bit powderly, i think i will work best on windy autumn or spring days and evenings and best for frosty winter days. Yes, definitly best during winter days and evening which a re filled with snow! Dress up to nines, put your best jewerly on and spoil yourself with this beautiful fragrance on an evening out in the restaurant or at the theatre! C`est La Vie! C ́est ma vie!! I also use it as a bed time fragrance: just a small dap behind my ears gives me very sweet dreams :)

C'est La vie is a fragrance which belongs to after-war time by its spirit. Its bright smell of woman's hairdressers colognes, has design of antique flowery wallpapers and image of feminine woman admiring herself in front of table-dresser while brushing her hair. 100 strokes by natural brush only of course! Beautiful solo of spiced carnation with osmanthus, cheerful, energetic, long-lasting, dancing mood under vintage gramophone C'est La Vie should receive an Oscar from Perfumery Award for such a beautiful vintagy-vintage composition which was made in 90-s (by smells like 50 years earlier) by Edouard Flechier

This one escaped reformulation, since it is discontinued. I remember this one on my best friend, when it was a new perfume. I felt she was too young to really pull this one off. Twenty years. I feel this is a beautiful slightly heavy floral for a mature woman. Strong, and stylish. Lovely scent. Bought a small 10 ml bottle today and sniffing my wrist, I am transported through the times. Why are beauties like this one (and many others) discontinued to make room for all those horrible sweet fruitchoulis??? Oh, and love the bottle, inspired on an anatomical correct heart, with the aorta as a stopper. Brilliant.

I just purchased a miniature from eBay, a real bargain that was! When this came out I was 10 years old and got this for one of my first perfumes. I absolutely loved it and sniffing it now still reminds me of my very cool childhood. It has not changed! I wish it wasn't discontinued since I always search for those "back in the days"-scents of the 80ies and early 90ies. Using a tiny bit on my arm even lasted through a bath and several hours. Being a fan of Tuberose, this is one of my alltime favourites.

I absolutely enjoy this smell. It has a wonderful, sweet, flowery scent that is rather intense and overpowering at first but fades into a lovely delicate feminine aroma. Strong and fashionable. Lovely aroma. Oh, and I adore the bottle, which was inspired by an anatomically perfect heart and features the aorta as a cork. Brilliant. Rich, opulent, maximalists, sophisticated, bright, vivid, and cheerful. Big, strong floral with neroli, amber, and peach notes. Stunning!

Oh, my God! One of the very best fragrances ever! Totally iconic! East meets West in it. Rich, luxurius, maximalistic, classy, colorful, vibrant and joyfull... It reflects the spirit of the great french haute couturier Christian Lacroix. A combination of exotic spices, flowers and fruits. "La joie de vivre" in a amber-colored bottle, sealed with a red coral...A must-have for every perfumarista.

This is my signature scent, I wear it during the day, during the night, summer, winter I don't care, it was released in 1990 and discontinued in 1991, a complete flop, people did not like it then and don't care for it now, which makes it even more desirable to me. The anatomically correct heart shape flacon with the arteries as the stopper is to die for. Living for it

When I look at the notes, I understand why I couldn't get a grip on this perfume. I use to wear this as a young girl. It has so many ingredients, the scent is always changing when you wear it to. It starts light and fruity but oh my, don't let the opening fool you! How this changes into a smell for people who dare! To bad I can't find it anywhere.

This used to be my signature, prior to the time Cassini was later on. I only now understand how unbelievably complex this perfume is, when I was younger I thought, how happy! Cest la Vie! Now I know it is only for mature and confident women! It must have had some impact in my earlier years, as I used to spray very generously with it!! Action

Love C'est La Vie, trying for first time today :-) Blind buy based on Fragrantica reviews, not disappointed, thank you! Happy fragrance, reminds me a bit of L'air du Temps with a little White shoulders thrown in too. Very chic feeling, after an hour, dries down to nice soft skin scent on me.

A very cozy, rich scent! It puts me in mind of the Parfum version of Red Door, but with more powder up front and a boozy accord. This is fantastic scent for cooler weather, but I could see it working for warmer weather if you sprayed it on lightly.

I love this perfume, it is what I consider a happy perfume, you put it on and it's uplifting and happy:) happy happy happy:) I have hopes they will re-launch it soon.

strong tuberose and ylang sweet in the top and some carnation and musk, aldehydes, benzoin, heliotrope; long lasting and big projection

Where Spellbound failed, this one was able to make the complex concept work! I do NOT agree with Turin on this one. Action

Very intense and lingering fragrance. Delicious on your skin. The essential feminity. Sensuality at its peak.

A wonderful creation - both perfume and bottle!!!! Stunning!!! Glorious!!! Perfect!!!!!

i really miss this one. I had it 15 years ago and did i love it!!!!

WONDERFUL taste you have Passionata!

Fragrance Review For C'est La Vie Christian Lacroix Notes Pineapple Carnation Tuberose Patchouli Musk, Iris Sandalwood Orange Blossom Benzoin, cassia, raspberry, vanilla, osmanthus, peach, jasmine, heliotrope, ylang-ylang, cedar, bergamot rose C'est La Vie is a party perfume so this is more a "life's as party" type of fragrance. The first whiff is a sweet fruit concoction of peach bergamot orange and pineapple. The pineapple is like pineapple juice! Sweet fruits. Being a linear scent that doesn't have too much of a development, the scent seems to be short-lived and all the notes pass you by pretty fast so you have to have a good nose to pick them out. I do like that pineapple. It's fruity first spritz is delicious and puts me in a party mood every time. It matches up with summer clothes and outdoor pool parties. The florals are not heavy and they turn powdery for a moment. There's iris, rose, and heliotrope, but for me the orange blossom and ylang ylang are the dominant scents. There is a citrusy-floral type of scent. The florals are sweet and blend with the fruit. Tuberoses are usually quite heavy but there is only the littlest dose of it here, allowing the heliotrope and iris powder to keep it lightly textured. The fragrance, despite all these notes, is also quite soft and subtle by nature. The dry down is a mixture of musk, vanilla, and sandalwood, as well as patchouli. The sandalwood is gorgeous and very woodsy and clean. The perfume feels mature but not old lady ish. It's one of those fruity floral Orientals that were popular in the beginning of the 90's. This is also fun, casual, and sweet, more feminine than masculine or unisex, and a perfumy type of perfume. The perfume reminds me of a beautiful psychedelic colored dress, or a summer themed dress with bright oranges, reds, yellows and peach colors. It's also like a multi colored beach towel you put over the sand as you relax at the beach. So many scents that seem to evoke the summer: orange blossom, pineapple, peach, ylang. Delicious and fruity and floral, a perfume that is sure to delight your senses. It's still out there and you can buy it on ebay and other websites. I'd go for it if you love fruity florals and Orientals.

First sniff immediately made me think of Red Door. Big scent bubble. Floral but not delicate. Powder in the back at first and gets stronger later. Naturally rather than gourmand sweet. An ingredient list that would make a perfume buyer in 2022 wonder what on earth had gotten into this mad scientist. It's very well blended and balanced, but if you're sniffing with the notes list open and looking for the individual scents you'll find them. A lighter version of the powerhouses of the late 80s and early 90's, however I'm smelling this for the first time in 2022 and "light" isn't a word I'd use for it if comparing it to current trends aside from the brightness of the aldehydes. Is it "mature"? I hate to say it, but maybe. The pantyhose and sensible low heels vibe of Secretary's Day is strong in this one. It's wearable and office safe, but you'd have to lean into the retro aspect of this 30 year old scent. It's not passing as modern and it's not quite old or recognizable enough to be classic. I like it enough that I'd be happy to own it but I don't know when I'd ever reach for it. Good scent bubble at first. Fades enough to warrant reapplication in 2 hours.

I was surprised to find I really like C'est La Vie! It's a big brassy power fragrance from 1990, and is similar in character to other '80's powerhouses like Lou Lou and Exclamation (though it doesn't smell like those). Those fruity berry notes are prominent upon application, and I'm not nuts about them, but they burn off quickly to a floral woody amber that lingers for hours. C'est La Vie is warm, feminine and sexy. This is a great fragrance for dates and evenings out, though I may apply a discrete amount for office wear, too. If it were being introduced today, it would sink like a stone. Not enough fruit. Sweet, but not enough of the kind of sweetness found in today's scents. For appreciators of all types of fragrances besides Floral Fruity, it's a beautiful anachronism in a joyful box, and worth seeking out.

I loved this one back in my youth! I loved the bottle and I loved its extravagance compared to all the cheap waters worn by all girls. It was very strong, aromatic and basically centered on beautiful osmanthus flower. It was a happy perfume, full of life, but classy enough and very longlasting and projecting. Years later it was worn by a lovely girl who had a big problem with her armpits, even in winter with clothes on and she was not a dirty one. Maybe she had a hormonal unbalance and was very shy and emotional. Anyway since then I associate C'est la vie! and armpit... I still own a beautiful mini from those years, it smells great! The last bottles I've seen around a few years ago smelled re-formulated.

I love all perfumes great and small, especially vintage bottles with history, and view them all as little souls that when applied on one ́s wrist or neck are rereleased back into the world to play their magic for another day. For Cést la vie. The name is cute, the bottle is really unique and practical and its house, a well known classic designer. The drydown is nice, interesting, questioning, complex, and more appealing than the opening, which personally I found too sweet and cloying. If you like big bold sweetish white florals, and carnation, then you may well really like this one. And for all, await the drydown, as it is really quite remarkable.

I have an EDT and EDP miniature of it. The EDT is sharp and alcohol-y at first then shortly settles into a distinct sandalwood and pineapple combo. Soon enough, the scene gets busier with lots more of soapy jasmine and earthy, mossy patchouli being the most dominant notes. The drydown is floral - woody and fruity, especially in the EDT where I can pick out a strawberry then peach not one after another from the sheer and almost transparent woods. The EDP is softer, deeper and the fruits are somewhat lost. C'est la Vie isn't sweet but oh, it's so comforting. A lovely, vintage style comfort scent, essentially for automn.

Very nice scent for calm winter days where you want to appreciate rich and heady notes in front of the fire... The intial spritz is loud and perfumey and takes you back to the 90`s...heavy blusher and red luscious lips come to mind... After an hour or so, the scent settles down into a very pleasant floral mix which is uncommon and certainly keeps your attention till the very end; settling down beautifully with woody and musky notes Big Thumbs up...!

Big bold floriental with lots of neroli, amber and peach. This is 1990 in a bottle. EDIT: I just saw what this is selling for on eBay. This is nice but it's not $180 nice! I'm just going to have to relive 1990 by spritzing Red Door and blasting the Red Hot Chili Peppers from my turntable.

Ylang Ylang & Jasmine. Straight up. I have a bottle of my mom's from the 90's, and that's exactly what it smells like after all these years.

I bought a sample of Parfums MDCI - Enlevement au Serail and it reminds me alot of Cést la vie as i remember it from the early nineties.

A very rich and luxurious (unusual) scent. Dark purple and red autumn fruits. It's sweet but spicy, with notes of creamy warm wood.

I had this a long time ago.Nice perfume little bit strong though. I wore it in the evenings

Mildred ( Frances McDormand ) in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

I'm testing this from a splash mini. It has an amazingly iconic throw-back quality. I can see it being one of my go-to's back in my "hey day" along with Samsara, Safari, Dune, Paloma Picasso, Bijan and the gang. The opening is a bit intense but it quickly evolves into this aldehyde and carnation mix that I wasn't too sure I'd like. That too soon recedes and I'm left with this warm, sweet and gently spicy floriental gem. I get the osmanthus, sandalwood, ylang, amber, tonka bean and some fruits. I was about to say no to this but I'm going to give it a go when the weather cools, this may be one throw-back that I can still enjoy. Let's hope.

Aldehydes and a deep sticky patchouli-dripping sandalwood. If the aldehydes had been dialled down a notch it would be nicer than my favourite sandalwood centered frag ever, Venice by Yves Rocher. But it's that aldehydic sting that ruins it for me. It's not bad, it's just a tad too sharp for me, to close to soapy territory. Could be the carnation... Red door has that same tinnitusy note? Tested from little splash mini. Those guys live a tough life haha and most of mine are still evidently alive and kicking!😄

Really interesting to read the reviews and look at the long list of notes, because on my skin this is mostly just sandalwood. Perhaps on warmer and more moist climate it would be different.

C'est la Vie epitomises everything I dislike in a perfume, all that's missing is the oakmoss . I remember the scent being released but couldn't remember if I'd tried it, so I got myself a 10ml mini to try . The bottle is nice and I can't deny the quality of the scent inside it , but those aldehydes are just too much - in fact it is all too much ! I applied literally 1 drop from the stopper and I blind guessed 12 of the notes before I had even looked at this page because the strength nearly knocked me sideways ! Aldehydes, ylang-ylang, tuberose, peach and orange blossom are the first notes I noticed, quickly followed by jasmine, cedar, patchouli, rose & sandalwood,then cinnamon (cassia) carnation, amber and musk. Some of the other notes I can only just pick up because all the above notes are fighting for attention, and I don't detect the pineapple, raspberry or iris at all. Although this was released in 1990, it has the vibe of a vintage fragrance due to the choice and strength of the dominant ingredients . Brash and bold, long lasting and with a heavy sillage, if you like the classics you will probably enjoy C'est la Vie . For me, it's just way too strong to appreciate.

I really respect this scent, love the name and clever bottle, but WOW... C'est La Vie reminds me of a person who lives in an unkempt house. Her clothes have not been washed well so that previous perfumes are still present in the fabric, and when you stand near her you are overwhelmed as all the old perfumes are mixed into a new one. On this day she is wearing several layers, producing a headache-inducing, overbearing scent. That's what this reminds me of: a bunch of old perfume mixed into a hodgepodge which is C'est La Vie. Intense throw back to the 80s scent, a floral bomb with sticky sweet fruits. And now I know I don't care for vintage aldehydes.

This is a wonderful smell for a perfume novice (like myself) who isn't really sure what people are talking about when they talk about aldehydes. Now I know. Now I really, really know, and I can't ever go back to not knowing. For me, this scent has unpleasant associations -- it softens a little on my skin as compared to in the bottle or on fabric, but it's aggressive without being interesting, intensely "perfumey" without being transcendent, loud without being melodic (or even intriguingly discordant). I guess I just don't like aldehydes? Good to know. (Note: This was not even a blind buy -- it came as a sample with another purchase.)

Wow, what a discrepancy between the joyful name on the fancy heart&artery-shaped bottle and the refined juice that reminds me of an elegant, mature, dignified grande dame wearing a black fur, a hat with a veil and rides a carriage instead of a taxi! The initial blast is suffocating, but luckily the ylang-ylang and musk evaporate quite soon and what remains is mainly the aldehydes, some bitter orange blossom and a little bit of carnation. Later some bitter, herbal raspberry syrup emerges and gives the lightness to the scent - and this is the nicest surprise!:)

This blind buy arrived today, and while my yearning for this perfume has been satisfied, my expectations have been dashed. Clv is a stylish little number with over 20 notes, but on my skin it's just hairspray. The kind my mother would have sprayed on her pageboy style 40+ years ago, when helmet hair was the norm. And while hairspray isn't a bad scent it's not what I want in a perfume. No florals, no amber, no sensuality ... just alcohol hairspray. Sillage is modest, longevity is pretty good, unfortunately.

I see this was released in 1990 but it screams "big 80's scent" to me. It starts out with the iris, spice and orange blossom, jasmine, white flowers dominant. The next stage patch, musk, and cedar give it a very earthy tone that ends out smelling like dirt to me. The last element to appear is the strong, almost bitter, incense note. To me this is all flash, no substance. It it loud and in your face. It definitely lacks finesse. If you like big & bawdy, this is the one for you.

MMMMMM C'est la Vie. I have to say I LOVE it. Let me tell you, there are major bidding wars for this fragrance e on EBAY, and snyping is about the only way you can get it half way at a decent price. It definitely tends to be high end. Watch carefully if you take the EBAY route because some vendors will show a full bottle for the auction, but in their description, hidden in the various parts of the description, they will have something such as ' bottle only' or at the very end will have something like, ' this 1.5 oz bottle that is 1/4 full'. REALLY GOTTA WATCH THE WORDING.. Also, the shipping can be really misleading. With that said, I have to say that it is a truly beautiful scent that is an almost EXACT scent/ smell as Apres L'Ondee by Guerlain but with less of the cedar/ woody edge. It has that beautiful sweetness ( but not sugary) scent of 'After the Rain' as in the translation for Apres L'Ondee. I have worn this several times and I love it on me, and others have complimented me on my C'est la vie. For me I love to almost bath in it. Could get really expensive though... especially since you can hardly get any FULL bottles in the auctions. LLC COmmon Scents, however which is an online designer replication of 'Designer Scents' has it to the TEE!!!!! Can't tell the difference, and I have both versions. LLC Common Scents, which also lists themselves as 'PURE SCENTS' will reformulate any perfumes if they get enough people requesting them. I would say that the heliotrope and carnation are the elements that tend to draw me, even thought I can't detect them 'literally'... such as 'Oh, that's carnation, and Heliotrope'. I admit, that I tend to gravitate to scents with those elements.... as well as a couple others. Yes, Go for C'est la vie. If you can get it at a good price go for it. Just know that I'll be trolling the sites along with you, as well as buying by the full ounce from Common Scents. C'est la vie.... I wouldn't call it a LIGHT scent, I would call it a WINDY scent... gentle, yet active.

Just received a parfum 7.5 ml jewel... to me this opens with a big, Big BIG carnation that quickly becomes a powdery carnation (iris root? Is not listed). Def tuberose there. A flower powerhouse not for the faint of heart. The parfum concentration is intense I say! in the orders of magnitude of Carolina Herrera 1985 formula, but there, the tuberose is the dominant one in the couple. Eau de toilette is lighter-white-flowery. Never understood why this was a flop. I remember in 1992 the CLV ladies dressed in their pink outfits spraying this perfume on paper fans (abanicos) and then waving them in the air! the entire Corte Inglés smelled like this feminine woman that enjoys life and is a bit slutty-chique! One of them gave me a miniature and I felt extatic for days. They don’t make them like this anymore....

I just bought this on ebay after not having it for at least 15 years. I remembered how much I loved it in my 20s and began wearing it in my search for my own signature fragrance. I was surprised to find that I don't like it as much as I used to. It seems dated now and doesn't smell as exciting to me as it once did. It actually smells like a fragrance for a more mature person, and I'm so surprised that I liked it so much in my 20's. My best friend used to wear LouLou. I wonder if I wouldn't like that as much now either. note: I recently decided that I thought this smells like Oscar de la Renta's Oscar. I checked and they share at least 9 notes so they are very similar. But I think this might smell slightly more youthful.

I bought fragrance for my beautiful late mother. This was her signature. As powerful and uplifting as my remarkable teacher mom. When her husband's family looted our house at her demise from Alzheimer's, they took her stash away too. Recently I found a good price. I will always remember her skin chemistry blending with this marvel. The bottle to me is a woman's curves waist down. The faux coral stopper is like her compact case to put on mascara. It used to be complicated. But her clear blue eyes needed no enhancement.

C`est La Vie! And this life is wonderful - bright and frivolous, as collections of Chistian Lacroix on the border of 80th and 90th of the last century. No cheerless unisex. luxurious beautiful women, clever enough, that to understand that glamour it is a game only, and luxury - is in your head. the Defiant luxury, bold stylishness, reckless-bright paints and flying silhouettes. A powerful aldehydic-raspberry entry is replaced floral madness. Fleur-d'oranger, tuberose, jasmin, rose,cassia and more and more... ...

This doesn't seem fruity to me or similar to poison (as someone mentioned) despite it being created by the same perfumer. It reminds me more if l'air du temps. Soapy and powdery. It doesn't seem like a 90s fragrance, to me it seems much more dated. That being said I don't mind it but I own L'air du temps and would reach for that if I was in the mood for this type of fragrance. Still glad I was able to experience it and I do like the bottle!

Ahhh, what a disappointment this one is. Bubbles1964 Really nailed it — it smells like a hodgepodge of perfumes without its own identity. I’m finding a very sour finishing note as well — I think the cassia is fighting with the patchouli? Ugh. Absolutely ADORE the bottle. Not only is it attractive, it feels wonderful in the hand. Too bad the milk has gone bad.