La Vie Est Belle Flowers of Happiness

This was one of the flankers I was never really keen on simply because it sounds nothing like the OG LVEB (which I love!) The comparisons to Chance Eau Tendre intrigued me because I own and adore Chance Eau Tendre but I didn’t really think I needed this. But then I received a sample of this, and of course I had to try it. On first spray, all I got was green. Sharp and citrusy. After a little while I got the sparkly pink florals (think Versace Bright Crystal). Smelled very generic which is why I dismissed it. But today I wore it again, right before I went to the gym. Just a tiny spritz on my wrist. I didn’t pay much attention to it, but when I walked out after a sweaty hour in the gym, I was greeted by the most beautiful whiff. Could have been the breeze. Could have been the calming blue of the nearby pool. Could have been the euphoria after working out, but I knew right there I would get myself a full bottle. This isn’t one of those perfumes I’d go burying my nose in. It’s one of those perfumes you’ve got to let be. It’s perpetually hot where I live, which is why I think this would be perfect. I’m thinking a flowy flowery cami dress, sandals on my feet, my hair let loose. And this perfume. Ah, perfection.

Flowers of Happiness is a watery, airy, fresh, fruity floral. It is completely inoffensive and office or church worthy. It's refreshing, and a little sweet. I imagine Dominique Ropion whispered, "La Vie Est Belle" in a ravishing French accent over the formula before bottling, but that would be the only waft of the OG in this fragrance. The scent is soft, and really very nice for those days when you just want to smell pretty, for yourself and those closest to you, and not necessarily stand out. This would be lovely to wear to a spring wedding, baby shower, or christening, or any event where you want to feel light and pretty. It would also serve beautifully as a bedtime fragrance, or to spray on over-tired children, because as it dries down it becomes wonderfully comforting. The more I wear it, the more I appreciate its tender aura.

Not at all similar to La Vie Est Belle, those who expect a true La Vie Est Belle flanker with gourmand notes are going to be disappointed. This is a fresh musky fruity floral with aquatic tones, pretty similar to Versace Bright Crystal. It opens slightly stronger, and the pear note makes it very slightly sweeter in the dry down, but the differences are very subtle. The main differences are Flowers of Happiness' luxurious bottle, and unfortunately the price too. The 15 mL purse spray is much cheaper and looks almost as beautiful as the full bottle, but it seems like the fragrance is starting to be pulled off the shelves already. Lancôme's online store is the main distributor in Europe, and the fragrance can't be bought in physical stores. A lovely inoffensive perfume for Spring and Summer, that would make a nice gift.

Although I have a strong affinity with the original La Vie Est Belle, this is entirely different from it. Flowers of Happiness is a lot more airy and much lighter. Fresh pears for its opening, then the peony accompanies it. Dry down is more musky as well.

This flanker definitely has the same vibe as most of light pink juices like Versace Bright Crystal, Dior Addict 2, and Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet, just to name a few. They are not quite similar but definitely share the same accords. I guess it’s the peony – fresh, light and floral. You can wear it to the office without offending anyone. You can also wear it to a casual dinner in summer or warmer spring. Longevity on cloth is quite impressive considering its lightness. I could still smell it after a few hours of dabbing it on my sleeves but disappeared at the end of the day. I’m not complaining though as the smell stays the same and turned out to be a bit boring at this point. It didn't develop whatsoever. Maybe it would be different if sprayed on the skin. Sillage is minimal but I’m pretty sure it can go ‘louder’ when you overspray but I would refrain myself from doing so as it might be too heady and would trigger headache.