Beautiful (1985)
by Estée Lauder

This certainly brings back the memories; my first love wore it, so did my ex wife. Herein lies the problem, scent associations by memory. People you associate certain fragrances with have the power to 'make or break' a scent for you; if you had first smelled this off an old lady, you probably tend to think of this as 'old' or 'dated'. Luckily for me I happen to associate this fragrance with 2 beautiful women who had had a huge impact on my life. Still it is with considerable conscious effort that I make an attempt to describe BEAUTIFUL for what it is: a heady floral blend with the 80's trademark sillage and longevity, and bearing an uncanny resemblance to Halston (1975). I prefer my women's perfumes to be light and teasingly fleeting, elegant and classy, or sensual and mysterious. Beautiful is none of these; not when a heavier application easily turns 'heady' into 'headache-inducing'.

I used to adore this when it came out. I was 19 and knew nothing about fragrance. My mother had never worn any. I happened upon it at the mall and could not resist. I thought it smelled wonderful on me. Fast forward - 15 or so years later. I bought it again. Too bad ...smells nothing like I remembered. Did I change that much?

Like another reviewer, I received Beautiful as a gift with purchase from Estee Lauder. I avoided this scent during its time because it was very popular and I was brainy and different and wore Calyx (no regrets, btw. A wonderful perfume, and, incidentally, another Sophia Grojsman.) So I was surprised to discover how beautiful Beautiful is. On me, a floral bouquet (I can pick out the rose) anchored by a slightly musty (hello, grandma) velvety green mossy base. Just the kind of perfume the mature New San Antonio Rose loves. Look, I think Beyond Paradise is sublime, the last word in florals, etc., etc. But it's not "me" like Beautiful is. When I put on BP, I'm dressing trendy, and in Beautiful, I'm classic and totally self-assured. No question, I would wear Beautiful on a date, or just when I want to feel, you know.

Very heady florals, too well blended to pick out the rose, jasmine, tuberose, etc., but they're ALL in there and then some! The flowers seems to rest on a chypre-like base. Alltogether too lush for me.

Too much of everything; too sweet and too heady, this is a no-no for me. Tuberose is one of those funny notes - it can be the very thing that draws me to a fragrance, or the very thing that makes me gag a little. In the case of Beautiful, it's the latter. I'm not sure what tips the balance over (perhaps it's the fruity elements?), but something really really does. I've sniffed this perfume on others and have appreciated it, but I really can't stand it on my skin.

This, to me, is in the same category with the "Tiffany" signature scent, so those of you that can't get enough of Beautiful might also enjoy Tiffany.

It was the year beyond paradise launched. The duty free lady made me try their new launched scent i went on board and as i have enjoyed it so much that on the way back in a hurry i bought that wrong B. of Estee lauder. It was a disappointance. I tried to use it. Mandarin and rose is not a nice duo to me, jasmine and orange flowers were not the best quality and turned sour on my skin. The only compliment it take was from a taxi driver. I regretted i did not have bottle with me and give him away.