La Vie Est Belle Eau De Parfum

The 2012 pillar that defined a decade of sweet-gourmand feminines: a bright blackcurrant-and-pear opening quickly gives way to a powdery iris heart wrapped in a thick praline, vanilla and patchouli base. It reads as warm, sugary and cozy rather than fresh, with the earthy patchouli keeping the sweetness from turning cloying. Performance is a genuine strength. Expect all-day longevity and a sillage that fills a room, so a light hand is wise. It is also polarising: devotees find it comforting and elegant, while critics call it overly sweet or overexposed. A benchmark scent the affordable Arabic houses have interpreted many times over.