Beautiful Absolu

(Original late 1980s EdP comparison to the Absolu EdP) Beautiful is indeed beautiful. Lauder’s history has many examples that the brand is perfectly capable of giving us beautiful perfumes, so why they struggle to maintain quality output now, and especially with the litany of brands they are buying-up, is a mystery. That’s an aside for a different conversation. I wore Absolu quite a while back and was very taken with it, telling myself, thankfully, that Estee Lauder stayed faithful to the original. But when I went to recall the original in my mind while wearing Absolu I drew a complete blank. It had been quite a long time since I wore the original. I couldn’t articulate how Absolu was the same or how it was different, save for that the original was more powdery aldehydic and musky (i.e. old school smelling). So, I told myself I’d have to wear it again, and play my favorite game, an arm-by-arm comparison with Absolu on one and the original EdP on the other. The orange floral opening is inspired. In Absolu it says it wants to nod to the past but also look to the future, presenting sparkling aldehydes and a more saturated/vivid 4K presentation of citrusy florals than the vintage EdP. The vintage EdP is a true fruity floral amalgam that very nearly feels like it has Roudnitska’s signature on it, but that is more Bernard Chant’s influence on the perfume than it is Grojsman’s. The vintage EdP is very yellow floral, powdery and musky; the citrus and florals are dry and wispy, they have shadows, a sultriness to them, and a very hazy texture, which make their lines and characteristics blurry and create a true floral amalgam more than Absolu does. And that says quite a lot because Absolu is definitely an amalgam as well. Absolu pushes tuberose forward, but overlayed with plenty of citrusy orange blossom and jasmine. The vintage EdP is also tuberose forward, but keeps the volumes of the orange blossom and jasmine a bit quieter than Absolu, which allows rose to shine more in the vintage. Before you begin thinking "oh, a 1980s American tuberose perfume? - I guess I better expect something like Amarige or Giorgio Beverly Hills, and Beautiful is going to announce itself for blocks away as soon as I spray it and dominate the conversation with anyone that comes within six feet of me." No, it won't. This is an unusually well-behaved tuberose for its day, and because red rose has more of a voice this gives the vintage a richer, elegant, and more serious feeling than the Absolu’s happy-go-lucky and vibrant citrus-led energy. Wearing the vintage EdP I’m reminded of the intense fog we get in the late winter months here in Northern California. The fog is cool, very close, cloudy and hazy. It has a silky yet misty texture that’s palpable to the skin and nose, and it’s this feeling of thick fog I get in the vintage EdP. Absolu has a lot more sunshine in it. Fortunately, the dry down of Absolu sticks to the original brief and doesn’t descend into a hateful and scratchy soap musk or fruit-chouli abomination. Green woods that have been sanded down to linen like textures thanks to a very precisely balanced composition of sandalwood, gently green vetiver, and touches of musks keep the intention alive and well: beauty that is not majestic, grandiose, loud or showy, but instead beauty that is calm, restrained, softly spoken, yet alive and confident. For a quiet, restrained, and beautiful tuberose perfume - and not the garish monsters of the 80s and early 90s - very little else is as good as the original Beautiful. It truly lives up to its name. However, it is inevitable and to be expected that the powdery and abstract presentation is likely going to feel too dated to modern noses. That is where Absolu comes in, and I am very grateful to Lauder for updating Beautiful for the 21st century while being very faithful to the original. Absolu is Beautiful, just with a new lick of paint and some youthful energy. The original Beautiful is one of the best perfumes the Lauder brand has created, but if you can’t get your hands on a vintage bottle or you’re not big on vintage perfumes, Absolu is a very worthy choice that is very worthy of the Beautiful name.

Beautiful Absolu is so good--it's worth a dozen of those misbegotten Legacy Malle reboots--and whatever happened to the reformulation of the OG Beautiful does not seem to be affecting this flanker, which I picked up for very little on eBay in its original Andy Warhol box. The first time I wore it, I noticed the tuberose--which is a big part of the regular Beautiful, too--but the marigold jumped out at me first, and it blends so beautifully with the tuberose and other flowers that you don't get the bubblegum effect that sometimes comes from a tuberose accord. The drydown is my favorite part, though; the sandalwood (I'm sure it's synthetic, but it's a good synthetic), amber, and vetiver come together like magic. It has the same clean and cheerful bouquet feel that the original has in its prereformulated form, and the performance is quite good--better than the current formulation of Beautiful and about equivalent to the way it used to be.

Splendid! A very elegant & pretty floral. Balanced across the spectrum of white-yellow-rose notes upon a noble base of sandalwood-amber. Not overpowering. Classic, luxurious and also very unique.

I love this one! Such a pretty floral scent. Warm, elegant and just a beauty in the bottle! Win for me! Blind bought.

This is an Eau De Parfum spray and it is gorgeous! Very close to the original DNA

Estee Lauder's Beautiful has been a perfume I have struggled to understand. When it was released in 1985 I was 15 years old. I remember the advertising like it was yesterday. My cousin and I went to the mall w/ breathless anticipation to smell this perfume called Beautiful. Neither of us liked it. When I got into collecting, I bought a sample of the original hoping that I had changed my mind. I kept smelling it but it was still a no. Then yesterday I went to ULTA to sample what were some pretty disappointing new releases and they happened to have more EL fragrances on display and Beautiful was one of them. I tested her again because I knew my Beautiful Absolu that I blind bought would be coming in the mail soon. And was surprised by my reaction. I began to understand and come to know and to like Beautiful. And I may purchase a small bottle to have in my collection....That being said here are my thoughts on this very similar flanker... Beautiful absolu starts of w/ a blast of marigold, then a very green just bloomed that day tuberose comes in blending w/ that strong marigold. Those 2 florals are the standouts for me. As the perfume progresses it becomes a big bouquet of white, and yellow flowers w/ a lot of greenery. There is also a very bouffant quality here that can seem quite dated for today but who cares. I wear what I'm in the mood for trends be damned. In fact, this perfume as it goes along has the same hairspray quality that the original has. I suspect there are a lot of aldehydes in the creation of both Beautiful and Beautiful Abslolu. How else could they create this aerosol of flowers type of effect? This creation is very, very similar to the original but there are subtle differences. Almost like there are a few more spaces between the notes of the perfume to give you time to breath and process the whole composition and get to know it in an easier way. Like I said before the original is challenging. At least for me. The dry down is heavenly and a bit muskier than the original, like a bed of sandalwood musk if such a thing is possible. I have to say I am really loving this as I am wearing it right now and am very happy w/ my purchase. The box and presentation are lovely, more companies need to do these types of details. The bottle is lovely as well and the sprayer is wonderful. A nice fine mist of perfume is evenly distributed when applying. Little details that I assure you do not go unnoticed by perfume collectors. Surprisingly my husband likes this rendition of Beautiful, he says it smells like marigold from his mother's garden. I agree, it has a very strong marigold scent a floral I didn't care for in my youth and even through most of my adulthood but now adore. If you are a person who struggled w/ the original Beautiful but want to give her another try pick up a bottle of Beautiful Absolu. She is a bit easier to get to know and to really appreciate. Edit: For me the longevity w/ Beautiful Absolu is actually really good. I sprayed very little on myself last night after a shower and I can still smell it wafting off the skin on my arm this morning.

This is a much softer version of the original. As such, I find it much more wearable. I love the original version, but for me it was never an easy fragrance. I never felt comfortable wearing it anywhere outside of an event, like a wedding or celebration of some sort. As a result of events like that being few and far between, I have a bottle that is rarely worn. While this version still retains a lot of the elegance of the original, it is also more relaxed and casual. I would feel just as comfortable wearing this at a wedding as I would schlepping around town doing chores. The fragrance essentially smells the same as the original, but the florals are less high pitched, not as vivid, and not as loud. The comparison is like looking at an image shot in high contrast and the same image taken with a soft lens. Unfortunately, silage and longevity are not as good. Still, it is very pretty and well worth it if you also found the original version a little too much for everyday wear. Edit - If you want this to last it is a must to spray clothes. I also spray the nape of my neck into my hairline and the scent lasts all day.

I loved the original Beautiful in the 1980s. My absolute favorite back then. Today, because of a combination of reformulation and a change in my olfactory sense and preference, I no longer love Beautiful. Based on reviews, which suggested that this is somewhat a defanged version, I decided to try it. And I agree. It is still an ok for me, not a like. But it is not a dislike. I think it is slightly less soapy than the reformulated Beautiful but slightly creamy. It is wearable but nothing to write home about.

I liked the original Beautiful back in the 90’s. This is similar but definitely different in several ways. The tuberose is front and center here. I get ylang ylang but don’t enjoy it. There’s more amber than I like. It’s still beautiful - an intoxicating bouquet in a large vase with a creamy tuberose stem inside. The packaging is gorgeous. I’ll probably let go of the perfume, but not the box. 🙂

Just received this. It is different from the vintage...but I am still enjoying it. The differences are subtle... I somehow get....less of a floral "punch" than the original. Toned down florals...??? Still good/classic Beautiful. Cool presentation.

It opens with green notes then becomes floral. The dry down is creamy soft amber floral. It easily becomes a skin scent in the dry down. Wearing this makes me feel nostalgic. Totally a spring perfume.

unexpectedly pleased with a beautiful bouquet in the spring (I wear it at +18), other seasons - no, retro-calendula-lily, I don’t like it

I can't believe I'm saying this, but, does this need to macerate or something? I wore beautiful through my preteen and teen years and it was so gorgeous on me. I know it well. This...seems extremely weak and leaning unisex to me (hence the Any Warhol quote on the box?) I get a frustrating hint of the original glory, but before I can really solidify my opinion on it, it's GONE without a trace. Worse than most EDT. Just me?

Love it❤️ Longevity could be better but I do love the smell!!

Once upon a time I adored all fragrances by Estée Lauder . I also owned most of them throughout my life , as did my female relatives who appreciated classy elegance for ladies . Most of the EL fragrances had PRESENCE , good longevity , and very distinctive notes and personalities . Two or three sprays in the morning could still be traced by bedtime because the ingredients were first rate. Sadly, my love for this house diminished after Ms Lauder passed and the company became managed by foolish people who never understood her longtime devotees and made bland replicas of some of the finest works of perfumery . Getting back to Beautiful Absolu , I am happy to post a positive review for a Lauder scent . It is definitely distinctive, has presence, elegance and very good longevity . I am quite impressed by this creation and find it to be a bit of a blend Of the notes of Beautiful and Michael Kors . The white flowers, probably lilies seem to be dominant . I own a LOT of vintage Estée Lauder scents , but have declined any recent purchases for years because of diminished qualities and truly horrific reformulations. But this is one I will eagerly purchase .

i was meh about original because its very 80s HUGE floral and its just not my cup of tea. However, I read about this and made a straight beeline for local Macy's. I guess other locals had same idea as me because this item was selling out and I snatched the last one. It retains the original DNA imo but its a slightly more updated modern version if you will. I LOVE the opening btw-its much fresher and greener. I wish it lasted longer but alas its very fleeing. The white flowers take same center stage as original but it has more warmth on the drydown with amber which i really like. Longevity was ok, I don't find it all that long lasting unfortunately but it could be my chemistry, I will have to spray it more liberally and on the clothes and update. Presentation of this is really nice-comes in double box with a booklet featuring Andy Warhol's art and it I guess it was his favorite scent! I will be keeping the box, its too nice to throw it away.

Just received this in the mail about 2 hours ago. First off, the box is beautiful. Has a nice booklet inside describing the fragrance, and art by AW. Ok the review. Very pretty, or should I say Beautiful. I smell the rose, and the tuberose. It does seem lighter to me than the original. So if you think the original is too strong, you may prefer this. Definite similarities, and some subtle differences. I really want to drench myself in this. I think it is a very “ beautiful” perfume. And yes, it is a spray. Definitely worth the price, and I would love to see a lotion in this. But I also believe you can use the original lotion with this and it wouldn’t mess things up. Good job EL!

Quite pretty! As to be expected. Great modern interpretation. Not exactly the same as the original though, reminds me of Tom Ford Soleil Blanc, with the coconut vibe. Well blended, clean pretty and timeless.

It's 30 degrees Fahrenheit and this smells just like muguet de bois. It does not smell like that in warmer weather but right now in this weather it does.

Just tried this on yesterday and I am smelling some similarities to Anais Anais. Not a bad scent, just wish it were more exotic. Good longevity.