CandyScent

Dear community,

i like the La Vie est Belle series!

There, I said it.

(Oh dear, do I already see the angry mob with the pitchforks on the horizon? *duck away*)

For many of you this, especially of course the classic LVEB, is the epitome of boredom. Uninspiring, or even worse: The ultimate mainstream! *bibber*

But I stand by it and of course I was completely thrilled when I first heard about the latest flanker "Intensement". The desire to test was immediately aroused and at the first best opportunity I struck blindly.

Shortly after spraying, the well-known LVEB-DNA is perceived for a minimal short time. However, this quickly gives way to a sea of red fruits. In the top note it says that raspberry is responsible. But I can't see this one in particular. Rather, it seems as if all the species of red berries have agreed to a flash mob.

Well, what can I tell you... From this moment on, one waits anxiously but unfortunately in vain for the scent to change again. Where is the red iris, the red vanilla or the benzoin? It seems that they made themselves safe just in time. Safe, from the invasion of the red berries!

By the way, the flowery notes of the heart note have also decided (watch out, pun!) to stay away from the event.
At best, a light powdery texture trickles down onto the fruit bombs towards the end of the fragrance. However, these cannot be really contained.

I am really disappointed. Only the pretty bottle in Bordeaux red can inspire me. Apart from that, this is a narcotic-red fruit soup that robs me of my senses.

So I stay with the predecessors LVEB EdP Intense and L'Absolu and wait patiently for the next flanker. Because he'll be here

Flowerbomb belongs to the fragrances that have a constant place in my collection. But I discovered it relatively late (for me). And it went like this:

One fine holiday, I wandered around a perfumery. Always on the lookout for a new treasure, my eyes fell on a V&R sales booth. Here, like a shrine, all the collector's bottles and special editions of Flowerbomb were lined up and shone at me. Or did I shine a light on her? There were golden, silver, glittering flacons decorated with flowers or bows, all of which made my heart beat faster.

I knew of its existence for quite some time, but I had never tested Flowerbomb before. The reason for this is quite simple: I do not like purely floral fragrances. But the name and the scent suggest exactly that... Far from it, as I shall soon learn.

Dazzled by its beauty, I grabbed a golden bottle with a golden flower (if anything, then yes!) and sprayed boldly on my forearm. What happened then can be confidently described as 'falling in love'. The flowers were sugared! Quasi pollinated, if you like. A heavenly, wonderfully sweet aura surrounded me. Tender, almost fragile. (Almost a little too tender, for my taste. As an avowed fan of strong, intense fragrances, it might be a little bit more here :-)

The sweetness of the flowers is slowed down by the patchouli as it progresses, without becoming too pungent or prickly. The scent is nevertheless quite linear, which I find very beautiful. After all, it was love at first sight and I would have been a pity if only the top note would really inspire me.

The biggest and only shortcoming of Flowerbomb for me, as already indicated, are H&S. Contrary to the local ratings and assessments, the scent on me unfortunately becomes relatively quickly very close. This circumstance made me almost desperate, so that I gradually bought both older and newer batches/formulations for testing. Perhaps a reformulation was responsible for the fact that the Bömbchen lost to Bumms? But in conclusion I can say that this is not the case and that it is probably simply due to my skin chemistry... :-( In any case I could not find any significant differences. Except that the fragrance undergoes a natural "fermentation process" over time and darkens. However, this does not detract from the fragrance experience.

Fortunately, there is a whole arsenal of wonderful care products that can be purchased to complement Flowerbomb. For a long time I worked with the Body Lotion or Body Cream and applied it as a base before spraying on. Recently I am now also the proud owner of the Body Oil, which absorbs super fast due to its silky texture and is wonderfully suitable as a base.

As you can see, I never give up! :-D

Love, Peace & Flowerbomb

First of all I would like to point out that I do not know or have ever tested the original Byzance (1987) or its successor from 2016.

Like probably some people here, I became aware of Byzance (2020) solely through the beautiful bottle. As an avowed flacon fetishist, an immediate look at the fragrances was of course unavoidable... And lo and behold, the joy was great - nothing to scare me off directly!
(When I looked at the fragrances of the two predecessors in advance, it was clear to me relatively quickly that they might not quite suit me... Anise, cloves, tuberose - all rather not my cup of tea ;-)

So it was decided, I would dare a blind purchase again!

Today the longed-for sweetheart finally arrived. The bottle is even more breathtaking in its natural state than it appears in the pictures. Completely noble and high quality processed, completely without plastic - only glass and metal. The heavy, golden lid is enthroned almost majestically on the deep blue container.

The fragrance begins floral and sweetish, although the exact origin of the sweetness cannot be precisely defined. I don't perceive pears separately and the slightly citric approach of bergamot and neroli are not clearly discernible. I imagine a thick, amber-coloured syrup. No caramel, not even real honey. Dark-sweet and very aromatic. Not artificial or even corny.

In the further course of time a warm woodiness is added, paired with Slight soapiness. The latter only minimally, pleasantly and yet "old-fashioned" enough to form a bridge to its two predecessors. At least I imagine the original Byzance to be quite soapy.

Fortunately, I personally do not know of any other fragrance that I can name here as a fragrance twin. If anything, I would carefully compare the DNA of Byzance with that of the Gaultier2. Both fragrances radiate dark sweetness, warmth and pure comfort for me.

I am really completely thrilled and incredibly happy to have made a successful blind purchase. Of course, I can imagine that fans of the 'original' could be disappointed because of the modified/reduced scents... But that should not be my problem! ;-)))))

"...with a taste of a poison paradise. I'm addicted to you, don't you know that you're toxic?"

An infinite amount has already been written about Hypnotic Poison. So much that I wondered, is there anything really NEW to report about this fragrance? Probably not.

Nevertheless, something always happens in me (or with me) when I wear it. Hypnotic Poison is a state scent. Period. I couldn't possibly use it every day, because it literally screams:
Here I am! Here I come! Take it. Me. True!
Something I definitely couldn't use forever. I love to disappear into the masses, to be a small part of a big whole.

But now and then, sometimes more often - sometimes less often, there are THESE days. Special days when it just fits. Then I need a scent that carries me. Not the other way round! That's Hypnotic Poison. He carries me, makes me rise above myself. Gives self-confidence.

The deep, slightly oriental sweetness. The almond-like heaviness of the fragrance: it creates an opulent aura that envelops you warmly and comfortably. You can rely on the scent like the most potent lover. YOU decide when to stop!

After a wild and wild night, you wake up in the morning in his arms. He's still there... The smell. Hypnotic Poison lies like a delicate but reliable veil on your skin and reminds you what is possible.

"intoxicate me now, with your loving now... I think I'm ready now!"

Cher is an icon. If you look at her impressive career, which now stretches over almost 6 decades, there is nothing to shake about it.

I still remember very well how I first became aware of her. It was the year 1998 and their super hit 'Believe' completely captivated me! In November 1999 the first concert followed in Frankfurt... I, sweet 12 years and 39 degrees fever, had a really hard time that day convincing my parents that we would NOT sell our cards to the neighbors!

Thank Goddess Cher I was heard and it was still a successful evening. At that time I wouldn't have believed that I would see Cher on stage again 20 years later... This time in Mannheim. But I would have believed even less that it would not change optically at all in the 20 years! ^^

When my passion for perfume began to flourish, it was almost impossible not to stumble over Chers first fragrance 'Uninhibited' at some point. Since this was launched before my birth and shortly after my birth it was discontinued again, it had to be a 10ml Splash, which I had blindly bought at a still relatively humane price.

Uninhibited' is the keyword which now leads me to 'Eau de Couture'...
Eau de Couture is like Uninhibited 2.0. Or 'Uninhibited Reloaded'. Both fragrances are almost confusingly similar, even though 'Eau de Couture' is a noticeably more modern, more contemporary variation.

The scent is powdery. Woody, balsamic. The almost spicy aldehydes, which dominated 'Uninhibited', have been pimped up here with dry vanilla. This in turn makes the scent for me personally more pleasant, warmer, more wearable.
The flowery notes take us back in time to a time when opulent, madam scents were still on the agenda.

Eau de couture is not a fragrance I would wear every day. He doesn't even represent my usual loot pattern. Yet he has something that fascinates and attracts me - just like Cher in 1998.
The scent looks noble. You might call it almost sophisticated. He's over the top, a kind of attitude towards life

(By the way, the bottle looks much more appealing and more valuable in reality than the original images suggested.)

In conclusion, one might think that despite everything a certain disappointment has spread: 'Eau de Couture' a fragrance twin of 'Uninhibited'? How boring and unimaginative...
Think! It is this very fact that gives the feeling that Cher has remained true to herself, her preferences and her nature all these years. Eau de Couture' is the Cher of the Year 2019, a modern yet timeless diva who knows what she wants and who she is.

Do YOU believe in a life after Cher? Personally, I can't imagine any!