I feel very lucky to have gotten a free sample of this in late 2024. This flanker isn't sold in stores, only from Lancôme's website (at least in the US where I am), so otherwise I wouldn't have been able to try it without purchasing. Initially, I was a bit hesitant because I hadn't liked any of the other LVEB scents my local Ulta offered, and iris is a note I sometimes have trouble with; most of the LVEB line has patchouli, a note I definitely don't like, and iris can occasionally be too powdery or "mature" on me. The more I wore my sample, however, the more it grew on me, and I was able to get the travel size duo they were selling at the time to continue testing before eventually getting a bottle.
The scent itself feels a lot more complex than the note listing both here and on the Lancôme US website. I get a bit of a raspberry jam note, which isn't listed, but also the beautiful combination of rose notes and just a little bit of the iris. The base has a bit of a warm woods feeling to it, but I can't say for sure what kind of wood. All I know, is that it doesn't just feel like musk as I'm used to. When I compare the US website note listing to the UK one, though, I see that there are differences:
- US Website notes: fresh rose water, rose accord, rose damascena absolue, iris, woody musk
- UK Website notes: bergamot, orange oil, green stem accord, rose damascena, rose water, space rose (your guess is as good as mine on that one), woody moss, gourmand accord, and orris concrete.
If I had to guess, the raspberry note I'm getting is a combination of the rose notes and whatever is included in the gourmand accord, possibly some of the bergamot/orange oil as well. I am genuinely curious as to why the UK website has different notes listed, though!
This is my favorite rose fragrance for winter because it cuts through the cold and performs very well without becoming overwhelming or stifling. I also love the L'Elixir flanker from the LVEB line, but in comparison Rose Extraordinaire isn't as "deep" or "velvety"; this fragrance has a bit of freshness to perk up your mood at the start before it settles into those warm, fruity florals and the eventual cozy wood-musk base. I'd say I get at least 6 hours out of it, depending on my activity level. You could wear it in warmer weather/seasons, but I'd caution to use a lighter application as the sweetness and sillage get much stronger the higher the temperature and humidity get. I tested out a single spray from one of my travel sizes on my wrist this past summer, just to see how it would perform, and it was a bit much. Sillage goes a bit beyond the personal bubble in my experience, at least until you get to the base notes; I don't think you'd have to worry about filling the entire room unless you went in heavy handed. I find 3 sprays (one split between my wrists, one split between the backs of my hands and sides of my neck, and one on my chest) does just fine, but again this is during the winter, and where I live the real heart of winter sees us usually below 35-40F.
I would have to say that this is my favorite La Vie Est Belle fragrance, with L'Elixir being a close second, and one of my absolute favorite roses in general. I know Lancôme has a terrible habit of giving us beautiful, intriguing flankers and then discontinuing them 1-3 years after their release, but I'm hoping that Rose Extraordinaire will have a significantly longer lifespan. If possible, I highly encourage you to get a sample or decant and give this fragrance a try.
