Pleasures Intense

A pretty lily-jasmine-lilac concoction--I wouldn't have guessed it to be a flanker of Pleasures, which I also like; it reminds me more of Beyond Paradise than Pleasures, but I'm relieved it's in the Pleasures bottle and not the one they're sticking BP in these days. The Pleasures bottle isn't a work of art, by any means, but it's functional and pleasant to hold, which automatically makes it superior to most of the "classic" EL bottles (the Cinnabar bottle came apart in my hands moments after I attempted to spray it; the Azurée bottle, which is of a similar design, also looks like it's not long for this world and will probably require transfer to another bottle, too). I do wish they'd just come up with new fragrance names instead of making flankers, but I suppose that's what the luxury line is for, and the luxury line names all sound like bougie weed strains. Update: I just compared this with Aerin Fleur de Peony, which I received as a sample, and Pleasures Intense outperforms it in every way while also smelling more distinctive, even though it's not an especially distinctive fragrance. Fleur de Peony is way more expensive and doesn't deserve its lovely (no doubt relatively costly) sandalwood base; it's just like a slight variation on Miss Dior Rose n'Roses or OG Delina, with maybe a whiff of Oscar Flor. I don't dislike FdP, but I would have felt cheated if I'd blind-bought a bottle. Pleasures Intense, if more expensive than OG Pleasures, is still a bargain, like most of the fragrances under the EL imprint. I also think I'm getting more peony in OG Pleasures than I am in the drydown of Aerin Fleur de Peony. I'm really enjoying the lovely maple-wood base. I expected it to smell more like maple syrup, but it's just a sweetish woody, slightly cedary smell, a bit like sandalwood. Update: Wearing again today, I wonder how the hell there can be no lilac listed among the floral notes. It certainly smells like lilac to me, and I love the scent of lilac, so I'm glad this scent comes through so strongly on my skin. I have been borderline obsessed with lilac fragraces, maybe because it's winter, and they are such a quintessential spring fragrance to me. Insert T.S. Eliot allusions as you see fit!

I can't believe I overlooked this for so long. I tried it this afternoon, and had purchased it on the grey market by evening. I've been hunting forever for a green white floral - and this is it. Pleasures OG reads celery to me, and on my skin unfortunately it becomes a rich chicken soup. Pleasures Intense is what I wanted Pleasures OG to be. I love lilies, I love all white flowers. This is photorealistic, and GREEN to boot. It's as good in the opening as Lys de Mediterranee (better, in fact, because the white floral feels less "waxy" in Pleasures Intense). The green is sumptuous, and the flowers are simultaneously crisp and chewy. And the dry down? Oh my gord. It is exactly how they describe Sweetbay Magnolia (which I spied outside the gym window this morning and subsequently cut my workout short so I could trek out for a sniffaroonie.). It is lemon and vanilla, like a fluffy vanilla cake with a touch of soft spices. Summer's hitting hard here, I cranked the aircon and wore Pleasures intense to cuddle my children on the couch while we crunched veggies and watched cartoons and it was pure perfection. Some magnolia-forward scents are so aquatic as to be generic-smelling to my nose at least (such as Halloween), some are cashmere-heavy, a note I do not like (such as 4711 eau de Magnolia). Others are plain screechy and cheap-smelling (Sarah Jessica Parker Lovely Sheer). When to wear it? I will wear it as a transition fragrance. I will pack it in my work bag and spritz prior to the car ride home. It will be a welcome balm on hot evenings. It will layer well with all my favoured work-scents (non-sweet vanillas, soft irises, lactonic gardenias, sandalwoods, gentle greens). And by the time I get home to my kidlets I will smell like freshly baked lemon and vanilla muffins and they will actually want to cuddle me because I will smell so flowery and delicious. Pleasures Intense is a far cry from the usually challenging niche fragrances I prefer for home, and my children always tell me, "Mummy your perfumes smell like rotten farts". Now that I have Pleasures Intense, the only thing about me that will smell like rotten farts is my farts.

EL Pleasures original has always been one of my favorites since my 20s along with Ralph Lauren Romance, Polo Sport Women, Organza, Hot Couture a name a few. I don't get why people here have mentioned it as a warning to not over spray this or that it gets cloying or headache inducing. It does not. Not at all. To me it's very similar to the original Pleasures, albeit a lot richer and bolder and heavier. If I wore Pleasures original during the day, I'd switch it up and wear Intense at night. Currently it's summer where I live with temperatures going over 50° & I can still wear Pleasures Intense without any issues. It's probably coz I'm used to heavy oud and bakhoor fragrances, raised in the Middle East so I guess French fragrances that are classified as "beast mode" don't really bother me as much as it does to someone not used to deeply, animalic scents. Pleasures Intense is truly beautiful, like walking into a florist shop early in the morning, when all the fresh, dewy flowers are just delivered and they still have their natural scents of the just-cut green stems, the water drops on their petals....it's literally like being in a garden with hundreds of flowers! The one thing I love the most about Pleasures (original and intense) is that even though it lists rose in the heart notes, the rose does not dominate the overall feel. I do love a fresh rose scent, but there's a time and place for it. And Pleasures Intense isn't it. This one is like burying your nose into a huge bouquet of peonies and lilies and just enough jasmine to give it the depth for lasting. I'll end with telling anyone who's afraid of the other reviews saying this gets cloying to move past the fear and try it, especially if you love Pleasures original or any of the floral heavy Dior scents. This will not disappoint, I promise.

I honestly can't smell much else, other than the lillies and green lillies in this. It has a greenish snapped sort of smell as well, which is just beautiful. It is a pollen heavy and spicy lily that you find in Pleasures Intense and it is very sweet and aromatic in a floral kind of way. I smell the maple syrup like smell of the maple in the base and the warmth from rhe vanilla as well, but it just accents the lily and brings out the warmth and spiciness found in this flower. I only get the tiniest amounts of peony and I don't really smell the blackberries, jasmine, tiare flowers or rose. This is mostly a photorealistic lily to my nose, which is very rare to come across in fragrances. Pleasures Intense is a a heady grande dame in the best possible way, smelling like a high end hotel lobby with big vases of lillies on a table, the scent wafting into the air on a joyous Easter morning. I personally feel like she could be worn either day or night and basically all seasons, but that she would be best for spring and summer, to really make her sing. It is a highly feminine perfume and it isn't afraid to admit it, which I love. It is a very bridal fragrance and is very pure smelling, but in a good way. This fragrance lasted 7 hours on me and the sillage was very good, reaching reasonably far away from me, without choking anyone out. It is very wearable and I feel like most people wouldn't get overwhelmed from smelling it, unless they really hate lillies, of course. I am giving this a very good 8/10. A great fragrance from Lauder, one of the houses best at white florals, as always!

I smelled this on a woman as I was out and about shopping one day. I was actually surprised when she told me that it was a flanker of Pleasures. I would have never guessed in a million years as it didn't smell anything like the OG or even bring it to mind. While Pleasures is a cool green floral that's almost aquatic on me, this is a full-on floral that's so different it really should have been its own perfume instead of a flanker. Heavily floral with a fabulous, very creamy lily leading the way. It is not dense or overwhelming thanks to the benzoin in the base, which gives fluffy weightlessness to this scent. The styrax and maple leaf adds earthy, woody undertones, buoyed with creamy smoothness by the barest trace of vanilla. There's a freshness to this scent thanks to the black currant, that doesn't add excessive fruitiness, but just a little sweetness, roundness, and lift to the florals. While the OG is an ice queen, this is the total opposite. There is something very warm here; an ambery quality, that adds a lot of richness and depth. Possibly the benzoin or a combination of notes? Whatever it is contributes to the overall effect as if you are smelling a flower garden in full bloom at their most potent, lush, and sweet on a warm, spring day. It really is a showstopper! I've since purchased a used bottle and am so glad I did. I love it so much; I consider it one of the top five best purchases I've made all year. Speaking of years, I want to wish a Happy New Year to All My Fellow Perfume Lovers!!! I hope 2022 is the most fabulous, scent-filled year of your life!

I hate the original Pleasures. Smells like lawn clippings and pool water to me so this or any of the other flankers were not on my radar to blind buy. Then I was thinking I needed a good lily perfume in my collection. I have White 💎 and Tocca Stella but that is about it for lilies in my collection. I've sampled quite a lot of lily perfumes and there were only 2 that I liked enough to buy unfortunately both are discontinued and impossible to get. I have also have been searching for a lilac perfume. Some I've liked but for some reason I didn't pull the trigger and buy them in a full size. Then by accident I saw the reviews here for pleasures intense and read an article here about lilacs that mentioned this fragrance. I decided to blind buy it. And I am so glad I did. Pleasures Intense is probably the best lily, lilac, and peony bouquet fragrance I have smelled. It is the heavy smell of Easter lilies mixed with the soft spiciness of lilac and the green rosy freshness of peony. The base notes support the florals, they never take over. This perfume stays floral throughout its duration. I know most people will like this for spring only but I would wear this beauty year round and on a date. It has a romantic feeling about it. Very angelic, classic and beautiful. I think you have to really love floral fragrances to appreciate this. It is Soo very floral. A hothouse full of them.

Luminous Lily & Lilac... This is the lily scent-trail that Antony chases and falls hopelessly in love with in Bridgerton Season 2. The pied piper of lily scents, this beauty is also an evoked lilac scent that opens with slightly green lily that continues, shedding its green facets, into a sweet, buttery floral heart resting on a vanillic, resinous base with maple touches. The lily here has a velvety, lush quality that fills the air, leaning to lilac. Growing up we had lilac bushes in the yard, and this is the closest scent to that exact smelll I've ever smelt (if you don't believe me click the link to the lilac article on this page under news). The other notes are there, including lily, but they're building the lilac. Well above average performance, with amazing projection, this is a longtime love for me. Contrast to Pleasures (OG) Estee Lauder: Reviewers have noted that PI could have been a stand-alone rather than a flanker, as there isn't much in common with the original. Predominantly a lily of the valley scent, the original is greener, and sharper to my nose, with more aquatic tones. Although many people love it, I could take or leave Pleasures (OG), but Pleasures Intense is a longtime favourite. Overall: Well above average performance and a beautiful lily-lilac scent profile. It's a longtime love for me that I'll always want in my collection. 10/10. Enjoy!

This is my absolute favorite "floral". It's not wimpy or super "green" and it lasts quite a while, better than most of the florals I've worn. With that being said, since this is my favorite floral, it should be easy for me to describe the opening and dry down and to be honest, I just can't. Quite a few of you have talked about strong Peony, but maybe my nose doesn't work. I've smelled blooming Peonies and to me they don't have much of a scent. I even remember remarking to a friend that for such a gorgeous flower I wish it had a stronger fragrance. To me it is just a delicious combination of Lily, Rose, Jasamine and Honeysuckle (not listed). It blooms just beautifully where all these flowers sing in harmony with none taking center stage but all together just gorgeous! The longer I wear it the spicier it gets (maybe my chemistry because mostly all go that way). The silage is amazing, but not overwhelming or cloying or headache inducing, just this lovely bouquet. I get asked all the time what I am wearing when I spritz on this lovely! Please please please Estee Lauder, never stop making this! This is my signature spring/summer scent and when I'm feeling depressed in the winter, it's my guilty pleasure, because it apply liberally and then just enjoy it. It always makes me feel better.

If Seasonal Affective Disorder was a geographic location, that’s where I’m from. Our fall and winters are ennndlessly grey and drizzly, with no blue sky in sight for months. When spring finally arrives, people react like we collectively survived the apocalypse. Wearing this makes me feel like I’m turning up the volume on that feeling for everyone anywhere near me. This is one of the beastiest beast mode perfumes I own, which is saying a LOT. The Patron Saint of Springtime In a bottle. This is my absolute favorite for a cool, rainy, spring day! To me, it’s a bold celebration that the sun is finally back, the buds are blooming, winter is over, and everything is full of promise and celebration. Everything around you is beautiful, juicy, bountiful, and new! This perfume smells like that- gratitude, answered prayers, possibilities - in a hyper realistic floral bomb. This is the PERFECT perfume for getting caught in a flash thunderstorm on your way somewhere, showing up with wet hair, glistening skin, just a little undone, breathlessly shaking off your umbrella whilst EVERYONE in the room INSTANTLY falls in love with you. Yup. Accurate. Enjoy.

I agree with the reviewer below who suggests Pleasures Intense should've been a standalone rather than a flanker. It's not much like the original Pleasures at all. This should have been called "Pollen." It smell exactly like the pollen in a waxy white Easter lily. Or maybe "Floraison" or "Stamens" or "Dust of Spring" or "Lily Dust." The name "Pleasures Intense" could have a wry risqué connotation, but the fragrance is purity itself. Actually, "Purity" would have been the perfect name. This is a powerful lily bomb. If you adore lilies, get this before it disappears. I get maybe 10% peony and 20% a mixture of some of the other notes such as ylang ylang and jasmine which gives it a soapy twang -maybe maple? - but 70% is LILIUM LONGIFLORUM. This is so amazing and beautiful if you love lilies. Right up there with Baiser Vole, the desideratum of lily perfumes. Some people dislike the smell of lilies because there is a fleshy quality almost like salty ham in lilies. They are a fleshy flower. I love lilies.

This is better than regular Pleasures. I think it is more intensely floral with lily and Ylang Ylang. Very pretty scent. Regular Pleasures, which is far more popular than this flanker, is a bit too aquatic for me. I thought that older people like me who like original versions of EL perfumes would love this. But I was surprised when a young woman who looked like a teenager complimented on the scent. Yes, I realize I am stereotyping, but EL perfumes can be heavy, which some may equate to more mature women. These days I like delicate, subtle scents, but this one is very lovely. Spectacular. Gorgeous. 10/10 Bonus: if you want longevity, this lasts quite long, impressively so. Update: 09/20/2023. I have been wearing different scents for several months and sprayed this again today. And oh my goodness; it’s so beautiful. One of my favorite perfumes. Love love. 🥰🌹💐

On me this gets me the most compliments plus I can smell myself and not in the headache inducing manner but in a pleasurable way .. I can smell myself and feel fresh , clean and content .. However, I have read the reviews about this being way too strong and this might be the case but recently my sinus made me far less sensitive to strong smells .. especially the scents I like and I certainly like the way this perfume smells .. It falls under floral / green genre no doubt about it .. the silage as i mentioned is great people can smell it on me for up to 4 hours after spraying it and they compliment me for it..This has become a staple as to me it doesn't get too much like other perfumes I own and I didn't get tired or bored with it which is really great for me and very few perfumes achieve that ...this is a keeper...

This is a very nice floral, this isn’t white floral like some that go bitter, on me anyway. At first this is like putting your nose in a posey of white flowers that have stems/leaves also. Rounded and ... white floral After about an hour I get a slight slight sweet edge, and a little of a ... possibly play dough tinge to the overall beautiful white flowers. This is a winter test by the way. It performs very well on me, I’m not massively a straight floral wearer, I enjoy this very much. Similar fragrance might be: modern muse Estée Lauder Glam jasmine by Michael Kors - though this ended up having a bitterness in the dry down on me! Might be different on you. ... Michael by m kors, though not the ‘same’ it’s a white floral. ... hmm I’m wracking my brain here, you get the drift.

My husband gave this perfume to me as a present on Valentine's Day. It was a surprise, as it is a perfume I had researched due to the good price, but not something I was truly going to buy. I tried it today for the first time, as I had a full day in the office and knew the weather would be warm, I was fancying a floral and spring-like fragrance. The white flowers were super strong at first, a touch green and indolic (but only a tiny bit) and then they mellowed and became sweeter. It gave me a very nice clean and fresh scent all day—not sharp, not overly sweet, just clean and beautiful. I loved smelling it most of the day; it lasted a decent 6 to 8 hours. Gorgeous, one of the best white flowers perfumes in my opinion, with the perfect balance of green, sweetness and freshness.

So lovely, divine and feminine. Lily is the true queen here and she is gorgeous! I love floral scents, especially if they are so realistic and this one here is pure joy. At first I felt a bit overwhelmed by the queen since she’s quite dominant, but after few more wears I was totally in love. Signature scent worthy for those who like such scent profile. It also has a sweet accent, but it’s not synthetic or gourmand - it’s like sniffing floral bouquet, that kind of sweetness. I love it so much! I like the original Pleasures, but this one is a love. It’s more complex, warmer and... intense ;) in the best possible way. I highly recommend tests if you are looking for real, non synthetic flowers. It’s like walking through the garden in the spring, perfection!

🗣Estee Lauder Pleasures Intense edp: This Is A True Masterpiece Of A Fragrance!!, Once Like "Estee Lauders Beautiful" (The Perfume For Brides) Was Before Reformulation's Ruined That One!! This Should Have Defiantly Been A Stand Alone Fragrance, And Certainly NOT Named Pleasures Intense!! (FOR IT's NOTHING LIKE THE OG PLEASURES AT ALL) The Perfect Name For This Beauty Would Have Been "Floral Dreams Or Floral Dreamer/Floral Interlude/ Floral Prelude/Floral Escapes/Even Floral Pleasures"!! So If You Love Your Strong Florals, Snap This One Up Before It's Gone With The Wind!! But Hopefully That Will NEVER Happen Anytime Soon!! Aa I Think That Estee Lauders Pleasures Remains One Off Their All Time Best Selling Perfumes!!!

Charming, rather light, but intensive very floral fragrance on the woody base! Most of all this fragrance smells peonies and lilies (also green lilies). These floral notes are very intensive. Mixed with the cassia note this floral bouquet smells fascinating. But there is also a very noticeable maple wood base in this fragrance. And I don't like it. As for me, I think that this maple wood note spoils the floral beauty of this fragrance. Maybe at the same time this note makes this fragrance more serious, but I wish it was maybe just less noticeable. Anyway, I like this fragrance because of its bright floral bouquet, and especially because of the lilies notes.

So after reading so many reviews I decided to blind purchase this gem 💎 And so glad I did!! Such a unique and gorgeous scent, although reminiscent of early 2000’s perfumes. The dry down is like that of a baby smell, so innocent and full of shampoo. In the best way possible this is how I would describe the smell to someone who never tried it. I don’t get flowers, any, I just get the end result of someone so so feminine & gorgeous. Although it’s more suitable for kids/teens. It just gives childhood innocence wrapped in candy feminine sweetness. Highly recommend. Truly indescribable but very good.

So powerful. Smells like the refrigerator in a florist's. Beautiful lilies and white florals and peonies with the vaguely sweet base of vanilla and I guess maple that keeps the florals from being screechy. They are strong, though. Wearing this is like being a kid riding in a car on a hot day holding a potted Easter lily to bring to some older relative. Almost overwhelming, but you stick your nose in the lilies and get orange pollen on your face. Then the lily smells like flowers in church and has that ham note. INTENSE is right. If you want to lock in a memory for some occasion, wear this.

On my skin turns to heavy oriental; intriguing blend of vanilla, maple and peony. Tender and a bit difficult at the same time. I was rarely in the mood for this fragrance but I still think it's unusual and beautiful interpretation of peony, actually can not remember similar perfume. Unique, intense as the name says, retained on my skin for about 8 hours. I still prefer Pleasures, so fresh and inspiring throughout the day. edit/ still missing that maple syrup aroma in dry down with velvet peony, lovely, unforgettable!