La Vie est Belle Soleil Cristal Lancôme 2021

With me is freshly moved in La vie est belle - Soleil cristal. One reads yes many negative voices, but I think that comes from disappointed expectations, but not from the actual fragrance. He is just no sparkling midsummer refreshment and also no sunscreen fragrance.

I like him very much. He gives me the following mood again: vacation in Italy. One has spent the day on the beach, rather sluggish, because it was so hot. Sun on the skin, only slightly cooled by wind, in between also bathed in the sea, grateful for the cooling and some movement. Tired, with still heated skin you have gone to the hotel, maybe rested a little on the cool white sheets, through the closed wooden shutters sounds penetrate into the room from again increasing activities towards the evening. You take a shower, let a hair treatment take effect, put on a nice cream, put on make-up, because you have an appointment for a meal in a noble garden restaurant with a view of the sea, a little off the beaten track. And now you're sitting in the garden, wearing a beautiful flowing summer dress and sandals, you're perfumed, you're wearing lipstick, and you're enjoying an aperitif, perhaps a cool Fragolino. It's still very warm, but there's a breeze coming up, and you're looking forward to a nice evening in cultivated company, with delicious food over several courses, chilled wine, with the view of the sunset, the countryside and other guests, who are all well-groomed and beautifully dressed, and behaving discreetly. Nothing is garish or loud, the sedate pace of the day continues and segues into the night.

All this stands out for me in the fragrance, a lot of warmth, but also a light sea breeze, a Mediterranean garden, warm earth and stones, scent of cosmetics and a light fruity wine. I can only really recognise iris and vanilla once the citrus-heavy top note dies down and fades into the white florals. Coconut and patchouli I perceive more as a consistency than as a smell, the coconut gives off a creaminess reminiscent of Raffaello, the patchouli creates a dark, slightly krispe base.

For me, this is definitely a scent of vacation, a carefree time where you gently drift, calm down, enjoy without chasing from one highlight to the next, but just let things happen. I actually like scents that make me longing, but this scent embodies for me the existence in the here and now - and that's exactly what I long for ;)