Tender Light

I just have a tiny bottle in a discovery set, and so far I have just sprayed one arm, but I'm not getting the iris note, the supposed heart, at all. I get more of a jasmine-neroli soap smell, with a bit of cinnamon or another clean-reading spice. Maybe I'm just not that familiar with this variety of iris, the Tuscan variety, but it smells a lot more like jasmine to me than it smells like the bearded irises that come up every spring in my front yard. I like Tender Light, but it reminds me a lot of Beauty, the Calvin Klein perfume, with its soapy jasmine and crisp, clean, white-oxford-buttondowned musks. The three notes listed don't really seem like the whole picture to me; maybe the Chinese tea contains lots of other accords or something. I'd be glad to receive this as a gift, but I wouldn't put it on my wish list unless I got an exceptional deal. Not because this isn't nice in its own right but because it doesn't really plug any holes in my existing collection. Update: This one is growing on me, so much so that I used up the rest of the sample vial. When I wear it now, sprayed more liberally, I get more of the iris--even a little incense, although I'm sure that must be the tea/bergamot combination, since incense isn't listed. It reminds me ever so slightly of Prada Infusion d'Iris, even though that one has a much more pronounced iris note than this one, unless I'm just completely ignorant of the smell of the Tuscan Iris. I love the soapy-floral quality of this perfume, and so far it's my favorite of the EL luxury line. If I use up a travel spray, I would consider buying a full bottle someday, but I still think this should not be more expensive than the classic EL fragrances. Although not nearly as expensive as the Aerin line, a bottle of Tender Light shouldn't cost so much more than, say, Private Collection. I believe it would be much more in the tradition of the founder, Estée, to keep the prices on the lower and more reasonable side and trust the loyal EL customer to recognize quality without these status differentials. Upgraded to long-lasting (from moderate) in the longevity field. For such a delicate fragrance, it really lingers, even though it doesn't project a lot after a few hours. But I'm still catching whiffs of it, several hours later, and I think it probably sticks around a lot longer than my current formulation of Prada Infusion d'Iris. Update: I love this more all the time; I even bought a full bottle, which I don't think I'll be doing with the other fragrances in the line, unless I come across a great deal. The performance is superb.

I absolutely love this fragrance. I bought the little 7.5mL bottle and once arrived and sprayed, delighted, I immediately went and purchased a 3.4oz bottle of this. It's just such a beautifully crafted and appealing feminine scent. It doesn't smell like "tea" in the way the Bulgari Au the Vert or Gris Charnel does, it's barely noticeable as a tea scent tbh. It also doesn't smell powdery, it's actually quite bright and refreshing. It's the perfect amount of sweetness, and while it is a lighter scent, it really does make an impact, projects and has great longevity. I'm not usually the biggest fan of earthy, green scents or freshies but this one really does it for me. It's so good! I highly recommend this gem. It's a safe blind buy IMO and perfect for everyday wear. I have way too many perfumes and I've wanted to wear it every day since I got it. I could easily see this becoming my signature scent-it's just a little too light to make the impact that a signature scent needs to make, though. I really love this perfume and want to try the rest of the Eight wonders line now. I never thought three notes could make such an impact and create such an amazing perfume. This is definitely my favorite tea scent to date and my favorite freshie scent. These three little notes create magic for me! It really exceeded my expectations, and I don't think it would be possible to make this scent smell any better than it already does. It's perfect in my eyes (or shall I say nose). It's not exactly citrus, it's not exactly a "freshie", it's not earthy, and not quite a floral either; while it has all of these facets, I find it hard to categorize but I guess I would call it a fresh citrus floral. Also, this HAS to be sprayed. Do not trust the scent by the aperture because it really smells geriatric when I smell it from the sprayer. Also, it does not do well in hot weather. Its a better spring, fall scent. Right off the bat, its just such a pretty iris fragrance. The bergomot is bright and citrusy, the iris is earthy and similar to the iris used in La Vie est Belle Iris Absolu or by Guerlain, and the tea has a soothing quality. I have to be in the mood for this, because if I'm feeling young and frisky it really can come across geriatric. This reminds of LVEB Iris Absolu just minus the LVEB sweetness.

It pains me that EL seems to be discontinuing Tender Light, along with the rest of the Luxury Line. This was my favorite of the bunch and my favorite recent EL release in general--so much better than anything from the dismal Legacy line of reboots, mauled by Malle et al. Anyway, I have an almost full 50 ml bottle of Tender Light but found a good deal on a 100-ml bottle and broke my no-buy to buy it, I'm sad to report. I felt like I needed a backup, especially because I love the bottles, which is not something I have said about any EL (or Aerin) bottle in a long time, and I didn't want to miss my window of opportunity. I couldn't find anything from the Luxury Line on the EL website, and they moved Private Collection Tuberose Gardenia to the Aerin line and stuck it in one of those ugly Tom Ford wannabe squatties that Aerin seems to think look so elegant, so who even knows what the executives are thinking these days. But I digress. I have other iris fragrances that I love, but Tender Light is the best tea-iris fragrance in my collection, and it's also up there at the tippy-top of my personal "clean-girl" pantheon. I tend to love everything I have sampled by Shyamala Maisondieu, and this is probably my favorite perfume by her. Occasionally iris-orris can be a bit earthy-greasy, but Tender Light is much more powdery and tealike, more like the fragrance of a bearded iris blossom combined with a good jasmine tea. I don't know why EL created such a beautiful fragrance only to discontinue it almost immediately, but it doesn't bode well for their business. I'm sure there are some people who don't think it's necessary to have both Prada Infusion d'Iris and this perfume, but I own them both and don't consider either redundant. I love them both and they're certainly similar, but Tender Light is more tea, whereas Infusion is more incense. Tender Light seems warmer and more approachable. I think it's unisex leaning feminine, but the name screams feminine, as does the bottle, so I'd probably have to decant it to get my husband to try it. He's not nuts about Dior Homme, so it probably wouldn't work. Oh, well. More iris for me!

For anyone that has followed my perfume reviews, they will know that I have been on an absolute mission to find a perfume that I love as much as my dearly beloved "Eau Du Ciel" by Annick Goutal - which means "Spring Rain". There is an earthy quality to this perfume that smells like you are in a country barn after a spring rain. It is a gorgeous perfume ON, particularly if you grew up around horses and hay. This is the closest that I have come to finding a perfume that is in the same general ball park as Eau Du Ciel, so I am delighted by that. This actually lasts a little bit longer on the skin - and projects a bit more than Eau Du Ciel. This is really a breakthrough to find this. I was recently at a perfume showing - and dropped by Macy's on my way through the mall. The girl in the Estee Lauder bay handed me a free sample marketing piece - and as I opened it, it had a small cotton soaked sample. I tried this on, and was in sheer heaven - smelling this beautiful perfume! This is lovely! I really love this perfume - it is fresh and youthful - with an earthy quality to it. A little bit of heaven on earth! Just Gorgeous! This won't be for everyone, there will be people who may not like this - But to me, this is really a fabulous perfume! --------- Verdict - After wearing this for over a month - This is a "just out of the shower" - fresh and clean type perfume. The longevity is ok, but doesn't last as long as my signature perfume does. This is good after a workout -- or while working out. It flies under the radar, it is not something that stands out so much during the first hour of wear. This is a very sweet, innocent perfume - could be worn to the office and school easily - this is missing any type of alluring factor to it. It is fresh and clean - but doesn't have the appeal that you would want for an evening perfume for dates. This is close to Eau du Ciel - but it has one particular note which stands out more, which is not in the formula of Eau du Ciel. I like this perfume, but it is not a signature perfume for me.

I have EL Tender Light on one arm and Sol De Janeiro Cheirosa 68 on the other. They have a similar vibe. EL TL is more clean and cool- calming. It’s giving luxurious spa, clean tea, great for hot weather but it feels like it can hold itself up in cold weather too. If you don’t like citrus, the sour bergamot calms down and harmonizes with the iris and tea really well within an hour. EL TL can easily be a moderate to heavy scent. You can build it up so to speak. I love smelling like a dryer sheet when it’s hot outside and humid, so this is right up my alley for humid, hot Georgia summers. This has depth and I totally understand the name. It puts you in a good mood... it is uplifting and boldly ethereal... yet super angelic and soft. 8/10 for this one. It’s an angel scent, if that makes sense. Personally the bergamot needs a lotus flower, narcissus or a waterlilly to cut through the sharpness. I’ll try mixing this with others in my collection. If you LOVE bergamot and iris- this is you. In 100 degree weather, this is great. It’s a nice quality blend. Cheirosa 68 is more sour fruity versus sweet fruity (think the fruit that makes your tongue go numb. That type of sour fruit), vodka like, tropical warm, it just rained type of clean. Great in hot weather... might even work in the office if you're into it. Not so great in colder weather for me. It can be kind of cloying for me because the dragonfruit is dragonfruiting. They both have the same vibe but they are slightly different in noticeable ways. I’m a sucker for tea and iris so... I really had to get ELNL. It was a blind buy. It does smell like the notes listed. But it’s Cheirosa 68’s really kind and caring aunt who always tells the truth and has sound advice. Both did not last a 1.5 hour leg training session though. EL NL is more of a skin scent after finishing the workout- skin smells clean up close, but no projection. C 68 is completely worn away lol EL NL lasted about 5 hours, give or take. Turned into a skin scent after the workout.