Beautiful by Estée Lauder

Very vintage.

What you need to read… Alongside Givenchy’s Amarige, these are the best florals in history. The quality is undeniable, though they aren’t for everyone (nor do they need to be). I love that they describe it as baroque, old-fashioned, or cloying… it doesn’t matter; there are people who don’t know how to appreciate certain things. It has the same galbanum as Loewe’s L, and I adore that, but here the white flowers (lily of the valley, magnolia, freesia…) and the fruits take the lead. The woody-green base is top-notch. It’s perfectly balanced despite being an explosion. Very long-lasting with great sillage. If you like florals, give it a try; it won’t leave you indifferent. I love it.

My aunt used to wear it and I remember it fondly, but now that I’ve tried it, I feel it has aged terribly. It overwhelms me; the florals don’t sound natural or fresh, but rather clumped together and give me a bit of a turn. It’s not my style; I’m looking for more natural fragrances without that concentrated ‘perfume’ smell. It can be quite invasive for others.

The vintage version of Estée Lauder’s Beautiful doesn’t go unnoticed: at first, it may seem out of touch because nowadays it’s not common to find titans with such aldehydic-floral notes. But that gives it sovereignty for the right woman who wears it with confidence. It has a medium-to-heavy weight that makes it seem almost light among the bombshells of its era. It starts with a touch of anise and then green mandarin. The flowers dominate but don’t suffocate, offering delicacy amidst that powerful eighties feel of high standing. The pleasure lies in the heart phase. On my skin, the heart continues to pump flowers far more than expected, merging with a velvety, creamy, woody base. Beautiful reflects what we seek in perfumery: perfect interaction for magical moments, such as when two people meet, with that special warmth that flows through an irreplicable moment.

A classic, elegant, floral, and intense without being overwhelming. Ideal for feeling confident and vivacious. It will always make you feel feminine and of good taste. I like it because it’s not one of those cloyingly sweet ones that grate on you after five minutes. I love it.

To those who have come this far to criticise this beauty, I want to ask you what you wear. Tell me, because to say the nasty things I’ve read, I’m intrigued to know if you have the money to buy an Estée Lauder. Because it’s not just about wearing the perfume on your skin; it’s about knowing how to carry it with the right clothes, the correct shoes, and above all, with style… so when you reach that level, C R I T I Q U E.

A journey to the splendid floral and green perfumery of the 80s. A fruitful era marked by the generosity of ingredients. Beautiful is the child of an era where slightly greenish floral fragrances with earthy and woody highlights were understood as beautiful. Always from a very feminine, elegant, and opulent point of view. I can’t help but think of Chanel’s No. 19 or Hermès’ Amazone formulas. Beautiful is a sum of a thousand notes that lead to a unique and compact scent evoking flowers, plants, trees, and vintage gardens. Perfumery history that very well represents the taste of an era and that still works. *edit: that note that leads to woody without really being so is the galbanum and hyacinth. Like Feaubourg, No. 19, original Miss Dior… Fashion notes of that era.

It smells like a classic, powerful, and super vintage floral. There are so many flowers that I can’t distinguish which one stands out. I don’t dislike it, but I don’t love it either; it’s not my style. I wouldn’t wear it at night for a formal event because its scent screams elegance and maturity.

It has happened to me three times with different people at different times: they smell a very strong, ugly, cloying, and even foul perfume. I ask them what they’re wearing, and they all proudly reply: ‘Beautiful by Estée Lauder’. That’s enough for me not to try it on my skin or buy it! I’d rather stick with the fresh floral of Pleasures.

It’s one of my favourite perfumes; it defines the feminine, elegant, charming, and conservative woman. Without a doubt, it’s not for every woman, because upon perceiving it, you can’t help but turn around. Fresh flowers predominate with a touch of elegance. If you walk into a meeting wearing it, you’re sure to catch attention; I always must have it. It’s a clean, white fragrance that denotes purity and tidiness, almost as if education itself became perfume. I’ve been wearing it for years and always find something different; I even realised it changes depending on how much you apply, just like other Estée Lauder scents. It’s a jewel.

Flowers, flowers, and more flowers; that is Beautiful. It is a whole floral bouquet; it makes you feel as if you are sitting in the middle of a garden full of flowers of all types and colours; for me, Beautiful embodies spring and the beauty of flowers. Beautiful is a perfume that has always stood out since it was launched in the 1980s; at that time, fruity and oriental bombs predominated, but Beautiful came to market, dusting off the proposals of the first perfumes, those of the beautiful era, incorporating their modern air. It took those floral proposals of the past and made them more intense and without aldehydes, perhaps following very closely the guideline set by Quelques L’Original Fleur (with which it shares great similarity in its opening). This fragrance is a bomb of flowers that, as it evolves, becomes somewhat sweet, woody, and powdery. Although it has been reformulated, it retains great resemblance to its vintage version and still maintains good longevity and trail. For those who like flowers, this is their perfume; without a doubt, they will like it.

It’s my personal fragrance. A love that this December turns 24. Fortunately, the reformulations haven’t made it unrecognisable. It remains luminous, luxurious, and feminine, with decent longevity and sillage. It’s worn on any occasion, day or night, all year round. It’s a true jewel; I love it so much! (Forgive the lack of accents; my mobile keyboard doesn’t have the Spanish alphabet).

Of the miniatures I bought looking for a charming scent, this is the only one that I liked more or less, although I wouldn’t buy it. It’s a bit baroque for my taste.

Few perfumes are truly feminine, and this is one of them… sweet, beautiful, and floral, yet without feeling old or heavy. It’s easy to wear and very romantic. Notes of lilies, neroli, roses, mimosa, and magnolias surrounded by a sweet citrus like ripe fruit. A special fragrance for women whose style doesn’t seek glamour. A magnificent creation; I recall Kirtash saying it’s like an adaptation of Coco, just more wearable for any occasion. My mother used it in the 90s and still has a miniature in her collection. Powerful trail, soft, and excellent longevity.

What a beauty! It highlights the woman you are inside, making you look incredibly feminine. It’s a classic floral, well-made, with an incredible longevity. It’s one of Estée Lauder’s bestsellers in the US, though not quite as iconic as Chanel’s Coco Mademoiselle. It suits any woman, regardless of age; it’s timeless and one of my favourites. Plus, people will always recognise you by it. The quality and scent are on par with Chanel’s Coco, I agree with Kirtash.