Estee

A friend gave me this perfume several years ago because it was marketed as sporty, and I was doing a lot of sporty things at the time (relatively speaking, for a myopic bookworm). I wasn't crazy about it at the time, although I liked it, but I never thought it smelled like a real sport scent (not like, say, CK One or something unisex, or a "freshie" or so forth). I have kept it in a box in the refrigerator door all this time, and it has held up beautifully. Now that I know more about aldehydes, I can appreciate this perfume for what it is: a sharp, strong (Super Cologne! lol) aldehyde-heavy floral fragrance. Its floral mix probably reads as dated to a certain demographic, but I don't care. I think it is a perfume for a lady who might golf or play the occasional set of very desultory doubles tennis, the kind who perspires just enough to glow but always stops short of sweating. The white florals (lily of the valley maybe) and sharp florals remind me a little of Sparkling White Diamonds by ET, but I find some overlap among many of the EL and ET and EA fragrances, no doubt because they often worked with the same noses. Also, for a cologne, even a "Super Cologne," as labeled, this is insanely strong. I'm not even very warm right now. I imagine that in the summertime you would have to be very careful not to overspray this. What a performer, especially for a chypre. Update: If you haven't read Alphairone's review a ways down, do yourself a favor and read it. Also, the person who discerned the faint pissy note lurking amid the jonquils isn't wrong--and yet it doesn't mar the fragrance for me. Betty and Bernard--what a dynamic duo! Update: Just tested this against the new Frederic Malle-ified "Legacy" version, and it won on every count. It's practically criminal that they are releasing a zombified version (it's not awful or anything, but it smells like one part OG Pleasures to two parts Estee Super Cologne Spray to one part water). It's creamier, with a stronger lilac accord, and altogether less moss. It is very much not a chypre, nor is it aldehydic. I could tell the old formulation (which is perfectly preserved--I have a mostly full bottle that I keep in my refrigerator) immediately from the Legacy edition, at every stage of the drydown. If nothing else, the Legacy edition makes me even sorrier that they're planning to discontinue what I will always consider the REAL version, the one my dear friend gave me as a gift many years ago, my Super Cologne Spray. I do understand that there is no way those oakmoss notes can return, at least not in the same form, but I don't think Malle et al. even tried to fake it. This "Legacy" version is missing at least 75% of the listed notes--and I don't smell them, so I don't think they're just streamlining the description. I get that chypres are a hard sell in this gourmand-jonesing market. Fine! Change the name of the fancy $300 Malle formulation; call it something else, or make it a flanker of Estee. But if you're going to call something "Legacy," don't update it and make it smell like some entirely different fragrance. At every stage of the drydown I could tell the difference between the two. The fragrances aren't even sisters; they're first cousins at best.

Refinement has a name and a surname, and here's where I could find it, in this Estée Lauder EDP that, by far, I never imagined it to be all it is in performance, "character" and representativeness. I still wonder: Was I born in a misguided olfactory-corresponding era?! only can. Everything in the past that configures itself as a perfume in its final phase, for my nostrils is certainly pleasing, even if it is repulsed by the rest of the world. It's impressive, from the 80's onwards, everything in the way of aroma represents me, and in a dignified way. Estée Lauder, while EDP is not kidding, opens very harshly and with a lot of pressure, blowing everything ahead with its Aldehyde note united with white flowers and something sweet, only fleeting in the middle! It has those difficult openings, but that already leave traces of something sublime that will emerge ahead. It turns into a closed, luscious and quite intense floral. The Iris note in it is quite noticeable and leaves the perfume with a touch of old-time makeup which it exudes so much that if it is being used in a temperature that is not mild, headaches will be almost certain. Particularly I was superb in front of his dry down, I felt extremely exalted, wanting to dominate the world by noticing how Estée Lauder exuded closed touches of powder and warm honey in a way to promote me! After a whole day on the skin, bravely resisting baths and even sweating, Estée Lauder is a little more intimate and with a touch of Oakmoss, Sandalwood, Iris and the raw resinous aspect of Styrax that for a moment reminded me of a good old animal civet, a big mistake! There is no such thing as perfuming yourself with Estée Lauder EDP and regretting it later, no. It's a perfume that is a level above everything and elevates any "ego" to a level that we only discover when we submit ourselves to such a fragrance! Delighted, so I stand before Estée Lauder EDP!

This past May I decided to try Estee Eau Du Super Parfum spray in it's current formulation. Estee Lauder may claim that Estee has not been reformulated, but it definitely is different than the 1970's version. The first difference is the extremely harsh opening. It is very loud, astringent and medicinal. The opening is long lasting,, at least 45 minutes. I applied three small sprays and my two family members who walked through the room a bit later both got particles caught in their throats. They both agreed that it was a very caustic scent. Fortunately it dried down to a beautiful sharp fresh clean aura that kept improving as the day went on. I wore Estee 2 or 3 days a week all summer even in 100 degree weather. I worked out in it and asked my trainer how it seemed while at my sweatiest. She thought it was lovely and fresh. I don't think that I would have used the Estee of the 70's in this fashion. There must be a fair amount of synthetics in ther brew as Estee elicited no allergic reactions in me. Normally I use a bottle until it is gone, but in December I packed this one away to use next summer. It's sharp freshness is just the thing to carry me trough that heat and humidity. Don't be afraid of this formulation, once you get past the opening, it's an improvement over the original. Two spritzes are plenty and some may say that one is enough. On me the longevity is a good 12 hours. Sillage is less than the original, but very respectable and infinitely more wearable. This fragrance is a great value and a fine testament to the women whose name it bears.

Brand new bottle. Less liquid. More money. New formulation. EL told me they bottled super cologne. From reading all those who loved super cologne, I think plenty of water was added to this. Initially, it smells similar to what was manufactured in the 70s through 90s. The headache-inducing smell in 2008-2010 left me nauseated and I returned it. A sweet SA at Macy's had both bottles in the drawer and she let me choose. The original wasn't as yellow. How I wish I'd bought more than one bottle from that drawer. Then in late 2010 (by checking batch codes) they began to formulate again, seemingly trying to return it to Estee's creation herself in 1968-69. I breathed a sigh of relief and compliments came. Fast forward to 2015. I plunked down $50 for a new bottle because I was out. I always wore pure fragrance spray. I was not opposed to super cologne. But this stuff doesn't even last!! Different bottle (I thought the original was beautiful), now like a watered down cologne---not eau de PARFUM, no more compliments, etc. I have made a permanent switch to a company which found a legal way to use oakmoss, to make a fragrance that lasts on the skin, & comes in a variety of forms. I'm so weary of dealing with the yearly whims of Estée Lauder. Many of my students used to love the smell of my classroom due to great sillage of this scent. I've spent years asking EL via phone and online to return it to original formulation. I'd love for others to join me. The reviews on their own site sure have dissatisfied customers. Thank you for letting me vent.

Estee super perfume is what is photographed. I was told that first it was called Estee, then it was called Super Parfum, then it was called Pure fragrance mist, then there is a lighter version called Super cologne. I have actually tried all three and they all smell alike to me. Warning or I guess I should say Disclaimer: ONE SPRAY is all that is needed. Review of both vintage and non vintage formulas: I was at Ulta and sprayed the version of pure fragrance spray. It was somewhat unpleasant to my nose but I sprayed it on test strip and took it to the car. Very strong. Anyhow I had the test strip in my car. As it calmed down wow it was absolutely gorgeous. I decided to give a vintage bottle of the Super cologne and I must say it's totally gorgeous. I think if your going to get this go for the vintage. It just has a niche type vibe to it. I can't quite explain other then this is VERY clean. Not floral really, not at all fruity just very classic and clean. I suggest to try finding a vintage bottle. I am middle aged and try and avoid loud scents that remind me of older women who were in my life. I gravitate towards newer popular fragrances. But something with Estee is extremely uplifting as though I am receiving a large hug from the warmest kindest person. It's a mood lifter. If your someone who enjoys Flowerbomb or Victoria's Secret scents I would guess you might actually hate this one. But if your willing to open the possibilities and go beyond current trend - this is one hell of a number!