First off, let’s be real, La Vie Est Belle (which, I think means “Life is Beautiful” in French? Don’t quote me on that!) is *everywhere*. You smell it, you recognize it. That praline-iris combo? *Chef’s kiss*. But, like, not everyone wants to shell out the big bucks for the real deal. And hey, I get it. Times are tough.
So that’s where the “inspired by” fragrances come in. Basically, it’s perfume companies trying to capture that same vibe – that sweet, kinda sophisticated, a little bit gourmand feel – without using the exact Lancôme formula (because, ya know, patents and stuff).
I saw something about “31 best Lancôme La Vie Est Belle dupes” somewhere. Thirty-one?! Holy moly. That’s a LOT of almost-La Vie Est Belle. I haven’t personally sniffed all 31 (who has the time?!), but I’ve definitely encountered a few. Some are…okay. Some are straight-up offensive. Seriously, some smell nothing like it and it’s almost like they are trying to play a trick on you.
And honestly, it’s a tricky business. La Vie Est Belle has this really distinct thing going on. It’s sweet, but not *too* sweet. It’s got that iris powdery-ness that elevates it. Get it wrong, and you end up with something that smells like cheap candy or, worse, grandma’s dusty potpourri. No offense to grandmas, of course. Some grandmas smell amazing!
I also saw that Oakcha brand mentioned. “Blessed” is their take on it, apparently. Never tried it, but I’ve heard Oakcha makes pretty decent dupes in general. Dossier is another brand that pops up a lot, their “Gourmand Orange Blossom” is supposed to be inspired by LVEB. Makes sense, considering the article mentioned black currants, iris, and pear being key notes.
And then there’s the whole “L’Elixir” thing. I think Lancôme has a bunch of different versions of La Vie Est Belle? Which, I mean, good for them, milking that cash cow. But it just makes finding a good dupe even harder. Are you looking for a dupe of the *original* La Vie Est Belle? Or the L’Elixir? Or some other flanker I haven’t even heard of yet? It’s a perfume labyrinth, I’m telling you.
