Beautifully Scented and Memorable

Author's Rating:

Pros: A memorable scent that is indeed beautiful

Cons: Goes on strong at first, can be overpowering

The Bottom Line: 
A must-have scent for romantic nights.

Author's Review
Imagine a scent so uniquely distinctive that someone who is deaf-blind can identify it...

This literally happened to me one day when I was wearing "Beautiful" by Estee Lauder. I happened to stop over at a friend's house before heading out to dinner. Robert is legally blind, having lost his vision in recent years and is also deaf.

"Hey Karen," my friend Robert took a step closer. Sniffing and pausing for a moment, he said, "You're wearing 'Beautiful.'"

My mouth dropped open, because my own husband can rarely identify the scents that I wear, with the exception of "Pheromone." (That's another story that dates back to our college days. ) Estee Lauder describes this scent as "memorable." They aren't kidding!

When you're in the mood for romance, "Beautiful" is a scent that conjures up images of a couple strolling hand in hand through an English garden. Although listed as a floral scent with a woody undertone, to me, the woody undertones are what make this scent stand out. It's almost easier to describe what this scent is not: it's not musky, it's not overly fruity, it's not a perky scent that demands attention.

Instead, it is a scent that wavers and slowly arouses the senses. It is quite strong, yet very subtle in in being noticed. It is something that intrigues, and then envelopes a person so that they move closer...

And closer...

And even closer....

Yup, this is one romantic spray that you'll save for special occasions, ones that will linger in your memory much like the perfume does.

So what's in this concoction that makes it so memorable? Estee Lauder lists the scents in order of their prominence:

Top Notes: Rose, Mandarin, Lily, Tuberose, Marigold
Middle Notes: Orange Flower, Muguet, Jasmine, Ylang-Ylang
Base Notes: Sandalwood, Vetiver, Amber


Ok, rose, jasmine, lily and marigold I can identify and there is a touch of orange in the scent that comes from both the Mandarin and Orange flower. But muguet? Ylang-Ylang? Vetiver? Do I have to pull out my gardening book to identify these scents? Ah better yet, I'll haul out the dictionary. Keep reading and you'll soon be as savvy as me when it comes to analyzing perfumes:


Muguet: Ahhh, it's lily-of-the-valley!
Ylang-Ylang: A Tagalong term describing a tree from the apple family populated in the Phillipines.
Vetiver: An east Indian grass with fragrant roots.

Hmmmm, it must be the Vetiver that stands out in my mind.

Estee Lauder describes this scent as "Romantic, tender, memorable. Like a thousand flowers in a single bouquet. With a woody warmth and a touch of citrus."

Quite descriptive, except I really can't relate to the 1,000 flowers concept. To me, that describes something very heady, with competing scents. I assure you that this scent is nothing like a fresh flower arrangement. Instead, it is mellow and sensual.

So sensual that a little drop, a little squirt goes a long way. There is quite an art in applying this scent, because spraying too much of it totally ruins the experience. It can very quickly go from pleasing to overpowering, so apply it sparingly. I strongly suggest purchasing the .5 ounce spray rather than the full ounce. The full ounce is priced around $36.50. At $26.00 for a half ounce, you still get your money's worth with this scent. And surely $26.00 is nothing compared to the memories that are sure to follow.

If you don't believe me, just ask my husband.