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You’ve likely noticed it, or perhaps even worn it yourself; this fragrance has been the top choice among French women for the eleventh consecutive year.
Gracing our shelves since 2012, this fragrance has captured the hearts of millions. You’ve probably smelled it, seen it on TV, or spotted it in a friend’s bathroom. For the eleventh year in a row, French women have chosen this delicious iris-scented perfume as their favorite. The numbers are telling: in France, two bottles are sold every minute. By 2024, it has become the best-selling perfume in France, outpacing both men’s and women’s fragrances. Impressive, right?
The secret to its success likely lies in its unique and masterfully blended scent profile. The fragrance opens with fresh, fruity notes of pear and black currant, followed by iris, jasmine, and orange blossom. It finishes with rich base notes of praline, vanilla, tonka bean, and patchouli. An iconic scent from Lancôme, La Vie est Belle is touted as the market’s first “gourmand iris.” It features the “Florence iris Pallida,” described by the Olfastory website as “one of the rarest ingredients in niche perfumery.”
The development of this fragrance took three years, involving three perfumers and no fewer than 5521 iterations to perfect the scent we know today. A true feat of craftsmanship. While you may not recognize the names of the perfumers involved in creating La Vie est Belle, their works will surely sound familiar: Olivier Polge, known for Spicebomb by Viktor & Rolf and Repetto by Repetto; Dominique Ropion, the nose behind Very Irresistible by Givenchy and Lady Million by Paco Rabanne; and Anne Flipo, who created Sweet by Lolita Lempicka and Manifesto by Yves Saint Laurent, among others. Indeed, such an exceptional project required a stellar team.
Another key to the success of this fragrance, famously represented by Julia Roberts, is its signature bottle, whose base resembles a broad smile. Interestingly, this design was conceived by the founder of Lancôme in 1949, well before La Vie est Belle was created. In 2012, the brand revived and modernized this design to create the beautiful, now refillable bottle we recognize today.
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Ellis McDowell is a trend analyst with a sharp eye for spotting the next big thing in entertainment. With years of experience in digital media and trend forecasting, Nora tracks the movements of influencers, viral content, and entertainment trends. Her insights help shape the stories that captivate our audience.
