Pleasures

(Review of a bottle c. 1998) I love Pleasures. However, I can understand why many do not - or, at least, do not care for it. Something about it smells “blocky”. This perfume has mass and density, and it’s in the shape of a big ol’ square block of... something. To use an American phrase, this perfume is built like a brick sh*thouse; it’s big, strong, blocky, and indestructible. In my opinion, a significant reason for this is because all sections of the perfume are abstract amalgams. There are no truly distinct notes in any section, everything - and there are a lot things to Pleasures - are piled-in high and tight on top of each other, resulting in a perfume that feels enormous, massy and dense. Take the opening for example, with the wet, green, lily note. Muguet shouldn’t smell aquatic, nor should it really smell green, it should smell of a white floral that is sweet, heady, and savory. Not here in Pleasures, instead the muguet smells like it was drowned in cold lake water, then pulled to the surface where it was immediately blasted by powdered and super-bitter green tea. Bizarre. It doesn’t stop there either. The heart section smells of every flower imaginable. Imagine walking into a vast florist shop, and telling the florist to make you a bouquet so big that you cannot smell any of the individual flowers, where all of them are at the same decibel level and overlapping with each other, and you’ll have the heart of Pleasures. Do all of the notes of the pyramid exist in this section? Yes, probably, I’m sure, but good luck picking them apart. One floral that I do believe I pick up quite noticeably is the karo karounde, thanks to what certainly seems like a chocolate facet. There is something brown, lightly fermented and roasted, woody, dense, and sweet to the heart section, like a big bar of chocolate. It’s not chocolate in the way gourmand perfumes frequently push, so please don’t get that idea, it’s much lighter and less sweet than that, but it definitely seems to be there to my nose, and lends to this continued overall feeling of a dense and blocky perfume. The base keeps to the amalgam theme by presenting every wood note you can imagine - sandalwood, cedar, rosewood, oak, all of them - alongside a light brown patchouli note that was disguising itself as chocolate earlier in the heart, but the blockiness has started to disappear as the heavy mass and density begins to disperse and relax into what is a very nice woody-melange dry down. Pleasures is a pretty odd perfume, and at times a bit difficult to wear and certainly difficult to read, but it’s also beautifully striking. The creative brief driving the perfume is an everyday wear for the woman who lives for life’s everyday little pleasures, and to that context there is a little bit of everything in Pleasures - except that the final result of all these little things ends up being enormous in summation. In fleeting and in passing it smells wonderful, easily wearable and approachable, and in close study it smells very complex and subjective. That’s what we want out of a great perfume, right?: some pleasures for everyone, and anyone of any style or need, that comes across its path.

Pleasures is another modern classic from Estée Lauder. A 1990s time capsule for many, it bridges the gap from classic aldehydic florals like No. 5 and, especially, White Linen; and the radiantly clean futuristic minimalism of the 1990s. This kind of thing served as a palette cleanser of sorts after the huge amber/tuberose/spicebombs of the 1980s. Pleasures is a beautifully formed sheer green floral; dewy, soapy, strangely snow-like and cleanly musky. It is the olfactory equivalent of the transition of winter to spring, as well as simply smelling like luxury soap. Pleasures has a dewy, sap-like green opening, heralding the beautifully-rendered muguet note that follows. The freesia, a sweet, aquatic floral note that I strongly associate with floral-fruities of the noughties, is used to perfection here, adding to the transparent floral theme. Green, slightly powdery violet follows, quite prominent for a spell. Pink pepper gives a tiny hint of spice. It is all very sheer and fresh. As it develops, a creamy yet soft white floral accord, reminiscent of rich soap, rounds out the heart beautifully. It remains sheer and green. Dewy rose and aquatic peony follow, with geranium adding fresh greenness. A clean musk develops steadily in the background, tying it all together, making it ethereal, soft, soap-like and snowy. Soft woody notes creep in as it dries down, becoming a cleanly musky skin scent. Sillage is moderate and longevity is surprisingly long-lasting. It is decidedly feminine to my nose. A beautifully composed, dewy, transparent floral with a lovely greenness throughout, Pleasures is remarkable in that it relies on musk instead of aldehydes to create its white soap effect. "A rich bouquet of fresh flowers after the rain" indeed. Made for spring days. Excellent. 4.5/5.

I got Pleasures as a gift from my sister’s best friend nearly thirteen years ago. I still remember it, we were on our way back from the airport where we picked him up along with my sister. I was sitting next to him in the car, and as if he suddenly remembered it, he pulled the perfume out of his bag and handed it to me. I thought it was immensely cute of him - I mean, he didn’t need to get it for me but he still did. Truth be told I wasn’t very impressed with the smell. It was nice, sure, but it didn’t feel like it was for me. But I wore it all throughout winter, so much that Pleasures became the background score to my university days, my jackets and shirts smelling of it for days on end. What would you know, I ended up marrying that best friend of my sister’s. It had been a decade since I last smelled Pleasures, and having read Luca Turin sing its praises in his book, I wanted to revisit that familiar smell. Why had I not liked it as much? Is it really as special as Luca Turin makes it sound? So on the last day of the year, I asked my husband to get this for me - it felt symbolic somehow. Ending the year with the first perfume he ever gifted me. That first whiff got me smiling. It was like greeting an old friend. And yes, I get how sparkly it is. It isn’t warm and inviting - no. It is almost intimidating, like that pristine elegant lady you see with her perfectly coiffed hair and manicured hands you appreciate from afar but don’t gather courage to go talk to. I am not into florals these days, but I will gladly make an exception for this one. On me I get a lot of cool green notes, and somehow it doesn’t really evolve a lot over time but sings a single harmonious note that isn’t jarring at all. Beautiful, simply beautiful.

What do you say about a classic that has spawned so many flankers? Notably - she is VERY body-chemistry dependent. This is a whole different fragrance on me than on anyone else. My body chemistry does something to this that makes it unrecognizable to others who wear this scent, but not in a gross or bad way. Lilacs and roses come to the fore. Deep, rich lilac, and both light and dark roses. Patchouli adds a spicy earthiness, but not offensively. Getanium adds a bit of a kick, but there's no pepper. I know it's there, but no one who smells this on me uas any idea that there's cedar in it. This version smells exactly the same as the original, on me and to me. It does smell like a garden after the rain, when I wear it. I can wear it all year. The weirder characteristic of this is that it's SO linear on my. There is no opening, there is no dry down, this is all hefty heart notes with the opening and dry down notes present as well, but not loudly. Body chemistry is such a funny thing. Flowers I am allergic to shine through, but do not create a headache, and not screechy. Huge warning - Estée Lauder notes are VERY volatile, do not expose your fragrances to too much light. The shelf life improves significantly by keeping these in the dark... so put them back in their boxes, not on a bright vanity. Anytime my Lauder fragrances have gotten darker, they are beginning to 'turn', so be wary. Celery, cat pee, or rotting white flowers are all definitely signs that your perfume is no longer wearable in a way that is enjoyable.

I'm wearing this scent as I write this, and if I'm not mistaken, Pleasures has been reformulated. However, I actually like my current bottle better than the vintage mini I had before. The vintage Pleasures had a snowy vibe to it that reminded me of Christmas trees in the dry-down. My current full-size bottle smells like a soapy floral with a hint of sweetness to it in the floral notes, maybe a sweet rose note? It's more wearable in my opinion. I found the original to be a little sterile; a bit harsh. Maybe it had just aged badly in the bottle and there is nothing different in my current bottle's formulation. More modern perfumes sometimes ages quicker and badly? I don't know. But what I do know is that I'm really enjoying my new fragrance. It makes me feel very feminine and extra clean somehow. I find it lasts a decent amount of time (i.e. at least 7 hours) and gives a decent amount of throw. It's not in your face though. Pleasures makes a good everyday perfume. I can't think of any time or place I couldn't wear this. Really, this is just perfection.

I love this perfume, even though it doesn't suit my body chemistry. My mother wore this exclusively from the year it was released til the day she died. She left behind a nearly full bottle of Pleasures that I've inherited. I spray it on one of her scarves or blankets whenever I miss her, it's almost like getting a hug from her. Just a brief inhalation suffuses me with a liftime's worth of memories. That bottle will always have a spot ony dresser. This perfume has a big floral nose to it. As someone mentioned, a bride's bouquet is the perfect analogy for it. It's fresh and sexy in an effortless way. Great for spring and summer. Day or night scent. I wish it didn't smell sharp and too harsh on me, otherwise I'd wear it. This perfume is ageless to me, could be worn by the very young and the old.

I had to return a perfume and I immediately thought of Pleasures as the perfect replacement. This is a very green, floral and refreshing perfume best worn during the day and in the spring and summer months. I first wore Pleasures back in the late 90's when my mother gave me my first bottle. It was a time when my love life was in limbo and I needed this beautiful smelling perfume to cheer me up. So it holds a very special place in my heart. Fast forward to today when I am now a happily married woman and I still can't forget this perfume so I convinced my husband to get me the biggest bottle even though I still have a barely used smaller bottle as my Valentine's gift this year. Definitely holding on for nostalgic reasons but also still enjoying this beautiful perfume after all these years.

It was my first love in the perfume world when my husband gifted it to me for Christmas. It’s like walking in a luscious Spring time garden where the lilacs and other spring time florals are in bloom. Pleasures fits this perfume, and I have always loved the ad where a pretty lady is on the sofa with her pet. Every time I come back to this, it makes me smile and uplifts me. It’s perfect for Spring or summer. If you ever smelled Romance by Ralph Loren, and liked it, you might like this. It has the same crisp freshness mixed with an intense floral bouquet. It’s by no means subtle. But if you are into a strong intoxicating burst of flowers, then try to smell it at the Estée Lauder counter. The modern version of this will be their Beautiful Magnolia. For me it is a forever vintage classic.

Dewy green insanely fresh infinite fields of flowers Minty green actually Nothing like splendor arden or any arden& taylor scent Diorissimo moschino star lalique crystal smth no no nothing Its not like ur typical Muguet scents in general Its a really well crafted luxury 90’s floral that has a modern morillas feel to it That’s incredibly cold and dewy It just gives me comfort smells like the most warmhearted aunt Smth like matilda’s kind teacher forget her name Anyways this is a masterpiece and one of the all time most well crafted floral scents in the history Morillas knows he’s florals don’t he ? He created pleasures, 212 NYC, CK One, omnia crystalline bvlgari and so many floral masterpieces I love that guy he knows what he’s doing

I want to hate this bloody fragrance, with its insipid name, widespread popularity and uninspired bottle... and yet, it is the closest I've come to a signature. Every time I pick it up (which isn't often, given the aforesaid hatred), I am struck by the wet, crispness of its beauty. It really does smell like what you imagine fresh rain on a field of Jasmine should smell like. No cloying sugar, no overpowering cacophony of flowers, just pure white elegance. My favorite thing about it is that it is so chemical - its harsh and slightly startling, contradicting its name and curves, and I like that. Maybe if it was called Pain and came in a square bottle I wouldn't have relegated it to my top shelf. Damn annoyingly perfect juice.

After being gone for quite a very longtime here i Indonesia, Estee Lauder bring back this classic scents... I was at the store when they approach me saying it came back again the beautifull estee lauder pleasures... I was using it on 2006 - 2007. To my memory, the scent previously smeels stronger and more white floral while the one that I just purchased (2023) still have the strong white floral scent but I can also smell it's more greenier than the older version This is a typical of clean parfume for me.... I can imagine a woman sun-drying clothes under the sun in the midst of a field of tall grass, accompanied by a refreshing breeze. It's a real beauty for the white floral lovers....

This was a love for me back when it came out, although it held a sour note on a friend who claimed this as her signature. Clearly it depends on one’s own chemistry. Blind buyer beware! I repurchased last year (30 years later!), and unlike so many other Lauder classics, I detect no major alterations. It is perfect late Winter/early Spring rainy day gorgeousness. Crystal clean fresh flowers, absolutely beautiful. Wearer must love florals, because green and bright, this offers a stunning bouquet and little else. I find it’s as loud as you want it but never too quiet. Excellent longevity. Ageless.

I am surprised by all the negative reviews. I love pleasures. It reminded me instantly of my grandmother, but not in an old lady perfume kind of way. To me it smells like beautiful garden flowers, roses and lilacs from my grandmothers yard. And fresh crisp white sheets and laundry hanging outside to dry in the sun. I don’t wear it out, it is too distinct and knowable, to me this is a fragrance for an evening in, a spa night - a bubble bath, pajamas, the bed just made and a movie. I will never tire of this one, I really truly love it.

Can there be too many floral notes? I don't know, but this would be one that has a few too many. I do love it though, especially when it dries down. Initial spray is a little overkill, but I don't care. What really makes me smile is how old it is...1995 and still around. No doubt there are comments below about how this is for old ladies, and too mature. But it's a well made fragrance and is so pretty...really a bridal scent. I will probably never buy a large bottle, but I'm tickled to be able to try it.

One of the few times anyone ever complimented me on the fragrance I was wearing was while I was wearing Pleasures! I think I might start wearing it again come spring.... and yes, my vibe is green-floral and fresh citrus for the most part. In summer I wear Versace Versense endlessly, which works well in a hot climate. Of course, it's all about body chemistry and I find most fragrances too cloying or heavy on me so I now gravitate to lighter non-offensive scents for an uplifting experience!

If you like florals.. Green notes and fresh/clean vibes you cannot go wrong with this just be aware that this is (Obviously) the epitome of femininity. When I don't want to smell like a cozy mom I wear Pleasures to smell like a happy go lucky Final Fantasy girl (If you know you know). I think you could wear this any season any occasion it's just all in if you own it with the confidence of a girl who embraces her femininity, which, P.S. Don't be afraid to do!!!

Pleasures is one of my absolute favorites, if not my no. 1. It has fresh white florals and green notes that remind me of a perfect summer day. It is soapy as well, but I happen to love clean soapy fragrances. I like many fragrances by Estee Lauder, but this is my favorite. I was lucky and was able to get this in a gift set that included the 3.4 ounce bottle for around $75 quite a few years ago. If you like fresh, soapy floral with green notes this is for you.

Akaysmart.. just wear Pleasures. It's really preppy and unisex smelling. It's really green and woody and not sweet at all. I think anyone could wear it.. Male or female, young and old. The only thing that was similar was Gucci Envy and it's been discontinued. Romance has more rose and patchouli. Pleasures is more lily of the valley/lilac plus the stems and leaves. Also Pleasures and Lalique Amethyst layer perfectly together. It's amazing actually.

Stole it a few times from my mom in high school. Now I have my bottle. Smells like being 17, chamomile (not mentioned in the notes?), being freshly showered, early spring, having a crush, and having an exam tomorrow. Carefree. I remember one day I sprayed it everyone asked me if I smoked a cigarette (I never smoked), and I kinda get it, it has something a little 'dirty' or 'ashy' about it, but it only adds to the experience.

Aaghhh REALLLYYY GORGEOUS if u are a true floral lover u can’t go wrong with this if u didn’t stand that beautiful green muguet dont call ur self a floral lover sorry not sorry For me suits anyone any age any gender im a 14 yo male and I absolutely adore this masterpiece Smells sooo innocent and absolutely inoffensive just like a muguet fields in the countryside i need a bottle of that asap