Lancome have recently launched a brand new addition to their bestselling La Vie Est Belle line – La Vie Est Belle L’Extrait.

Created by Anne Flipo and Dominique Ropion, this is Lancome’s first woody iris scent, reinterpreting the classic La Vie Est Belle fragrance with a sensual, oud base note.

‘Immerse yourself in the radiant and opulent scent of La Vie Est Belle L’Extrait, the new feminine Extrait de Parfum. Follow the delicate drop, paving the way through the iconic Iris, the emblematic rose and the deep oud, finding its way to the exquisite golden bottle.’The La Vie Est Belle collection is known for having quite a few flankers now, and some of them can really differ from the others – an example being La Vie Est Belle Soleil Cristal, which is a lovely scent but really doesn’t smell too much like the others in the range. So knowing this, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from Lancome’s latest limited edition release.

La Vie Est Belle L’Extrait is a fragrance based on notes of iris pallida, Damascena rose and oud. The scent opens with sparkling bergamot, soft pink pepper and incense, leading to a floral heart of damascena rose, jasmine and iris pallida. The base includes only one note, oud wood accord. This is a really easy going oud, it’s not intense or overbearing in any way. The dry down feels smooth and warm, lightly woody and slightly nutty – I love how this has given a beautiful twist to such a classic scent.

When I think of a rose and oud scent, I always go back to Jo Malone’s Velvet Rose & Oud, this is such a beautiful fragrance that I really love. Comparing La Vie Est Belle L’Extrait to this, they really are very different scents, but equally beautiful in their own way. Velvet Rose & Oud really focuses on the rose, whereas La Vie Est Belle L’Extrait has Lancôme’s distinctive iris note shining through across the longevity of the scent – this is also the signature note running through the entire La Vie Est Belle collection, tying them together.

Compared to other La Vie Est Belle flankers in the collection, La Vie Est Belle L’Extrait is definitely more on the intense side. The opening of La Vie Est Belle L’Extrait is where it’s most similar to the other flankers, but as the fragrance begins to dry down, you really experience the difference. It smells closest to La Vie Est Belle Iris Absolu over all, but some of the sweetness has been exchanged for soft oud and woodsy notes.

I also have to mention the bottle too, which I love! The deep amber gold is really fitting with the style of this scent. Overall I’m really impressed with La Vie Est Belle L’Extrait, this is a beautifully intense version of La Vie Est Belle, and with the added oud it makes for a fantastic autumn fragrance – fans of the line should definitely snap this one up!

• Top Notes: Bergamot, Pink Pepper & Incense Accord
• Heart Notes: Damascena Rose, Jasmine & Iris Pallida
• Base Notes: Oud Wood Accord

Lancome La Vie Est Belle L’Extrait is available now at Lancome. 

Fragrance Lancome Perfume Review