* AD - this post was written in collaboration with Notino.co.uk
The past year and a half has clearly been all about giving our favourite perfumes a berry twist. I’m not entirely sure why berries are suddenly everywhere, but I’m absolutely here for it. I can pretend all day that I’m a vanilla girl or an Arabic-perfume girl or whatever-scent girl… but juicy berries will always have my heart.
As much as I enjoy the original La Vie Est Belle, it’s never been a fragrance I’d feel the need to repurchase the second I run out. It’s lovely—just not a signature scent for me. The Elixir version, however, is a completely different story. It shares the same iconic bottle shape as the OG, but the deep red juice inside gives you a hint of what’s waiting.
And honestly? The scent is nothing like the original. I’m genuinely surprised Lancôme didn’t launch this as an entirely new perfume. It opens with the most authentic raspberry note—rich, juicy, and vibrant—that clings to the skin for hours. As it develops, soft florals and a warm cedarwood base start to peek through, giving it depth and a slightly more mature character.
The longevity is impressive, and there’s something about it that feels like a nostalgic slice of summer wrapped perfectly for winter. It smells like frosted raspberries—cold, sweet, and sparkling—and it’s easily the most raspberry-forward fragrance I’ve tried so far.
This might just be one of my favourite launches of the year and definitely a fragrance worth watching for in Black Friday deals. If you’ve been craving a scent that feels both cozy and vibrant, this one is absolutely worth sampling. Whether you’re new to raspberry-heavy fragrances or already obsessed with them like I am, La Vie Est Belle Elixir delivers something that feels familiar yet exciting. It’s the kind of perfume that makes you want to keep sniffing your wrist—and trust me, you will.
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