Pleasures (1995)
by Estée Lauder

Pleasures is a floral fragrance that comes across as too clean, generic and somewhat synthetic. It's also missing that special 'something'.

[Original submission date: 27 September 2008]

Another one of my "everyday" perfumes. I like the fresh floral smell. It wears nicely all day. It's one of my favorites. I "found" florals later than most, and my girlfriend asks me everytime I wear it what it is. Then she says "oh yeah, I used to wear that in college" - 14 years ago! My only complaint is that my bottle leaks. :(

Pleasures is a beautiful fragrance. It's polite and sweet. It evokes the image of the girl next door type, always smiling and wearing sundresses. She never curses or says a negative thing about anyone. It's perfect for the type of girl who likes to play it safe. I don't know any man, of any age, who doesn't like this fragrance. But its safeness and its beauty may be its downfall. So many girls have worn this perfume that it's losing some of it's luster. Yes, you smell great wearing this, but you smell just like every other teen and twenty-something. If you consider yourself to be adventurous, individual, or unique: steer clear of this one. If you're happy to be a follower rather than a leader, pleasures is a wonderful choice. You may fade into the background, but at least you'll smell really good doing it.

I bought this one because my lady friend insisted that she LOVED it. Well it's not the most sexy scent I've experienced on her but she seems rather content with its "light and airy floral expressions" as she likes to say. I tend to agree that it is somewhat unassuming and it does have the staying power for a full day of wearing. Although the floral scents aren't strong it suits her personality very well, flirty without being obvious. Seems to me that what makes her happy will make me happy as well.

Pleasures is a clean, fresh floral with a little spice (pepper). It’s an in-between fragrance: not too sweet or too dry, not too strong or too weak, not too edgy or too dull… Okay, the last one is wrong: it’s not a very interesting scent. I don’t enjoy the green notes in the opening (violet leaves), but I enjoy the clean feeling of the florals (lilies and peony). The woody (sandalwood and patchouli) base is very discreet. Amiable and feminine in a pretty rather than in a sensual way; the fragrance seems light but it does have some disguised heft to it. It’s a comfortable wear but it doesn’t last long unless some major spraying is employed, but it becomes opaque and clumsy if too much is applied.

I was in high school when Pleasures came out, and every parent in the school must have put a gift set under the tree. I will forever associate the scent with those days, which is a nice memory. I think it smells lovely on many women - clean and classic, not overwhelmingly floral. Unfortunately, it gives me a headache if I wear it myself. It isn't the most exciting scent, but I think it's an excellent choice to give to a young woman just starting out in fragrance. Like most Lauders, silage and lasting power are excellent.