Reviews of Beyond Paradise for Men (2004)
by Estée Lauder

Beyond Paradise for Men is essentially a green-tinted, fruity/woody composition in the manner of Cool Water and Green Irish Tweed, though more obviously floral in its heart than the former, and drier and more herbaceous than the latter. It’s also distinguished by a peculiar luminous quality that pervades its structure, the result, I assume, of some potent synthetic base notes that I cannot identify. It’s a nice, upbeat, casual scent, but having worn it for a while, I’ve come to find it disappointingly bland. In this crowded field Yves Saint Laurent’s Jazz, the grand old Grey Flannel, and especially the lamentably discontinued, (though still available) Rochas Globe all offer far more by way of depth and character.

A well made, and expertly balanced fragrance, that ticked a lot of the requisite boxes for a winning formula. However, despite its many virtues, wearing Beyond Paradise was never a terribly engaging experience,and found it lacking in soul and character. In some ways, it was overly polished and a touch contrived. The opening did manage to provide a sweet and fruit laden accord that never became cloying or excessive, and this basic character remained for the duration of the fragrance. The subtle freshness provided by the floral presence in the middle notes ensured that the working phase felt soft and and reserved, which added a slight nuance on the original theme. I really wanted things to kick on and for Beyond Paradise to thrill and delight me, but it petered out, and nothing in the base notes could save it from a rather drab end. There is no doubt that this is an interesting product, but I find it hard to get passionate about it.

I have tried this on at department stores numerous times, but I can't get past the initial shock of a cat urine-like stench. It does dry down to a more complex composition, but there is that feral sub-odor that repulses my olfactory sensibility and makes me gag. This scent is a cross-blending of beauty and depravity, intended for the Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde-type personality. Beyond Belief is what I call it. What were they thinking?

Smells like rotten fallen citrus fruit, very disappointing.

I cannot think why this horridly cheap and nasty concoction achieved 5 stars in The Guide. This would be acceptable for a cheap shower gel or deodorant but that is about it. I am totally puzzled as to why The Guide would so wholeheartedly praise something so pedestrian. Cheap cheap cheap.

I fell foul of Luca Turin's notes for this one. He's clearly having a practical joke. Either that or it seriously doesn't work on my skin.

Soapy and cloyingly sweet, and hideously juvenile. To me it's the equivalent of a white tracksuit and baseball cap.

...And I bought two bottles.

Unlike mrclmind, I bought this before I read Luca Turin's review....once I read his opinion, I thought that I needed to give it another chance....I completely agree with mrclmind. I would prefer to wear that blue Derek Jeter concoction to this. It is a generic citrus mess with less longevity than a lush hand lotion. I only paid 20 bucks for a 3.4, and it was about 19.50 too much. Please try this before adding it to a collection based on Turin's review, mine only gathers dust....

the words are missing, so disappointing the experience has been!according to luca turin this is an A-class scent- i definitely cannot agree and as it has been already said the biggest waste of money and one of the worst perfumes i ever smelled!A cheap fruit basket on the lowest level- a simple mixture of tropical fruits.....very sweet, disturbing, badly mixed up, very chemical and artificial melange and as it has been aready said-at the certain point the scent becomes exhausting, unpleasant and nerving, almost causing headaches.There comes the point when you can´t smell it anymore!This one of the worst and most horrible perfumes I have ever bought!Really awful and bad!
It is so sad because this company has produced such great scents as Lauder for men,JHL and do not forget Private cllection,Alliage, Youth Dew-masterpieces!What is happening to this company?If Estee Lauder knew.........................

My mistake was wearing this in the heat of summer. I guess everything burned off but the galbnum and aquatics. I was disappointed. But, I tried it again yesterday during a snow flurry, and it was so different. I smelled fruit and flowers and, yes, the beach but it wasn't the least bit "feminine", whatever that means. What an unexpected revalation. Needless to say, I am now quite happy with it. It is whimsical but balanced, light but full, and tropical but classy.

I`m one of those people who doesn`t quite follow the Luca Turin`s admiration towards this fragrance. It`s quite strange indeed, isn`t it? :)

On the other hand, I don`t detest this scent by any means, it`s actually quite nice. It smells quite alot like a lite version of Comme des Gargons Dry Clean to my nose. (that one is ultra strong stuff, btw)

I love the pyramid of Beyond Paradise for Men, and like I said, the scent isn`t that bad at all : I get grass, cucumber, a hint of herbs, subtle aromatic woods and something which reminds me of wet concrete - and in my mind this accord especially linked this one to Dry Clean.
I won`t buy me a full bottle, but I presume I would enjoy this scent especially in summertime, when walking down by the water on a sunny day.

But is it one of the greatest fragrances for men ever created, and will it be a classic like Luca Turin said??

Well, what else can I say but...."Opinions are just like a-holes - we all got one."

I really like the saltiness of this fragrance...

Fruity bug spray?
Who would've thought.
Avoid it like the plague. I actually had a few decent frags sprayed on my arms today & this rubbish took over.

A citrusy oakmoss that just doesn't cut it. Disappears after an hour on my skin with not even a trace of the scent. I had to re-smell the bottle just to make sure I wasn't losing my sense of smell of the stuff.

This was one of the few blind buys I've ever made. Most of the fragrances in my wardrobe I enjoy, or I wouldn't have bought them. The only reason I bought a mini of this was based on Luca Turin's review. I have tried and tried to like it. I thought it might grow on me, but every time I smell it I just think "Bleah." To me, Beyond Paradise for Men is a headache inducing melange of very synthetic smelling abstract notes that create an extremely unpleasant dissonance. I don't like how it smells on a blotter, I don't like it out of the bottle, and I don't like it on my skin. I find it thoroughly unpleasant. There are several fragrances that I don't enjoy yet I can still appreciate their composition; Yet I don't smell the artistry that others have described in this one at all. This is the worst fragrance I own.

Brilliant. That is all I can say, absolutely brilliant. After all the stages of pure bliss this fragrance goes through, it all comes down the fantastic ending. An ending that reminds me of a deserted beach I once found myself on just me some wildlife, sea breezes, sea life, and slight aroma of vegetation whisping in the air - the first fragrance I have ever have ever came across the has the scent of that beach - Glover's Atoll, Belize, I will never forget that scent - EVER - it sticks in my mind so clearly to this very day and, without a doubt, this fragrance is it. Fantastic.

Turin's rating prompted me to go testing this morning. The SA tried to steer me away to Pleasures implying that BP for Men was actually for the 20-something, sporty type. Anyway, I persisted and got three good shots on my arm. It's unique enough, with some vaguely tropical top notes, but then it settles into something quite sour and run-of-the-mill on my skin. It's only 16˚C outside, so perhaps I'll give it another go in summer when it's over 30˚. I like sweet, I don't object to fruity. But for me there's just too little of either in Beyond Paradise.

Here are the fragrance type and notes, per the Lauder website:

Fragrance Type: Prismatic Wood

Top Notes: Fresh and tangy, with Eden's Mist, Jabuticaba Fruit and Eden Buchu

Middle Notes: Cool, invigorating, energetic with Mediterranean Accord, a blend of Lavender Absolute, Provence Sage, Tarragon and Thyme

Base Notes: Unfolds a masculine sensuality with Golden Melaleuca Bark, Eden Vetiver, Beach Wood, Oak Moss and Patchouli

A few opening comments.

First, I wish fragrance manufacturers would NOT make up bogus fragrance types to sound unique and different. What is a prismatic wood? Is it because the bottle looks like a bit like a prism and scent has wood notes in the base? To me, it is a meaningless label. If I were to label it, I would call it "fruity-woody" or "tropical fruity-woody".

Second, the one thing that struck me on the sample packet I have is the number of synthetic ingredients. Now, I have no problem with the idea of synthetic aromachemicals. They serve a purpose. Typically, on a fragrance container I will see somewhere between 8 and 12 of them. This one had 21 (can't say they are all aromachemicals for sure, but 21 chemical ingredients after 'parfum').

Third, I see some interesting notes here. I try to be literate about fruits, but I had never heard of a fruit called Jabuticaba. I researched it and found out it is a grape like fruit from Brazil that has anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic compounds. Neat. Sorry for the educational aside, but I can't tell you what one smells like, though.

As to the scent itself: two things strike me here: (1) tropical fruits and (2) woody notes. There is a watery undercurrent here. It is an okay fragrance in terms of smell, but it one I neither love nor hate. They could have done a few stupid things here like make it sweeter or drench it with coconut to make it more tropical. I am glad they did neither. I am surprised it is so polarizing here, with currently an equally large number of thumbs ups and thumbs down reviews (11 apiece). For me, it a scent I feel rather ambivalent about, hence a neutral rating.

It puzzles me to no end that Luca Turin considers this a masterpiece. I smell a cheap, synthetic, fruity aquatic that distinguishes itself from its peers solely by virtue of a melon note so obnoxious that it upends the entire composition. I've forced myself to wear it several times to see if maybe time would reveal its putative charms, but no doing. THIS is supposed to be one of the top ten masculines on the market? More proof, as if any were needed, that listening to perfume "experts" is a waste of time. Our subjective perceptions of smell are so variable, and so individual, that other people's opinions are irrelevant. Just sample everything and buy what you like.

This smells quite far from how I imagine paradise or anything beyond. Clearly the presence of oak moss has something to do with my dislike for this scent; I have quite often noticed that the scents that I really can't stand, contain moss. But Beyond Paradise for Men's other notes also fail to please my nose. Thumbs down from me.

I'm afraid some houses treat their male fragrance buyers with utter contempt, i.e. any old rubbish will do. This is a case in point.

Kaern

Gee -- a fruity aquatic in a metrosexual bottle. How very original.

PASS.

There is a fruity/cucumbery note that I detect strongly also in Hugo by Hugo Boss. In fact, this smells exactly like Hugo with added patchouli. Good as a beach scent, maybe, but nothing special.

I tried this today and was dissappointed. The one in the magazine add smelled truly beyond paradise. When I sprayed it on me today at first I didn't like it, but then after awhile it was a pleasant scent. Problem is I have to put my nose right up to my skin to smell it.

As much as I hate it when people try to pass a scent as an aquatic one and fail miserably, I still like this one. I like the bottle and the colors too.
On my skin the ridiculously named notes are something entirely alluring and very fetching, it smells of leisure and relaxation, of watery tropical calm combined with warmth and dance.
The fruits basket of the female version is much better balanced here than in that other version, and I like it.
I have smelled this one on other people and sometimes it’s very unelegant and almost just about to become rank.
The metabolic mess-or not- that this scent can provide on the skin, sadly depends on each one. If it doesn’t agree with your skin, why not use it as a room spray.

My signature scent. I wasn't aware of the men's Beyond Paradise long after the release of the women's fragrance. But it clicked with me as soon as I sniffed it for the first time. The top notes can be too pungent and sweet, but the dry-down is naturally "beyond paradise" and yes it lasts long, with the dominant whiff of Patchouli. Great for an everyday perfume! Both Thumbs UP!

This indeed does start out sweet and that may (and does) put a lot of people off Beyond Paradise Men. This reaction would be wrong, I assure you.

That cloying sweetness lasts a bit longer than most top notes, granted, but when it settles down, a very easy and thoroughly enjoyable accord shows up and guides the wearer the rest of the way.

Thumbs up!

This is a very original fragrance and the frsh fruity tope notes are lovely, even if a little too much.. the dry down though is what makes the fragrance great and it lasts long! perfect for sexy summers

Manly, tropical scent.

Honestly, Beyond Paradise has to be the single most generic, synthetic cologne I have ever smelled. It smells like a blue toilet freshener and gives you a headache in about 1 minute. Total crap!

beyond masculinity
beyond sugar
beyond cheap
Is this intentded as a caricature of the lighter tropical juices in the CSP line?

The scent is just too sweet and fruity. To me it didnt smell manly at all. Maybe if you like overly sweet and fruity scents, perhaps you should try it. Otherwise, steer clear.

I agree- it starts of sickenling sweet, but its dry down is a pretty good combination. It has a long lasting time, but I would recommend putting this on an hour or so before your event.

Beyond Paradise opens with a quite substantial tangy-melony-tropical fruit aroma that is a refreshing relief from the typical citrus /fruit combinations. It is Caribbean—South Pacific in impact and the notes hold for a very respectable length of time. The movement to the herb and grass middle is smooth, and the herb notes of the middle seem a natural projection of the fruity opening. The dry down is a quite mellow combination of wood and moss. This gourmand / aquatic has unique and interesting notes, is very well structured of quality ingredients, and has excellent longevity. I would love to see myself wearing this while partying and relaxing on the beaches of Cancun or Tahiti, but in real life, it isn’t very often that I want to smell like a mango.

Opens up with an insane cucumber, like a bathtub full of the sliced vegetable, a bit nauseating actually. But it dries down to something completely else, somewhat Fahrenheit-ish actually. Not bad, and sporting a very good longevity. This has also received Luca Turins "blessing" if I'm not mistaken.

I just received this as a christmas gift.
I love it, the top notes are fruity indeed, but the drydown reminds me of Lauder's own Pleasures for men. For me it's Pleasures for men minus the floral notes plus fuity top notes= Beyond Paradise Men...
This is a keeper: a sexy summer scent.

Awful! It's so sickeningly sweet I'm surprised people wearing it haven't been attacked by swarms of bees and whole ant colonies! One of the worst fragrances I've smelled.

I have to say that this cologne is overly sweet and grassy. It kind of reminds me of what bes would chase in the middle of July if you scented up and then mowed. If you like very sweet and fruity frags it may be for you.

hmph well i love this scent its so fresh, so happy, so summery, so evocative and so moreish definatley a classic of yrs to come

Smells like old watermelon candy and an overripe canteloupe. Fruity, sicky sweet- some might even say downright nasty. Another cheap edition to the Estee Lauder men's line. With better fragrances out there, it's hard to see why anyone would pick this fruity little monstrosity. Yuck. Totally gross.

Loved the sample of it I saw in an issue of Sports Illustrated, but once I got a bottle it doesn't seem to have the same effect.

"WOW"!!perfect summer scent, misty and cool all the way through, top notes are hard to describe, almost a celery, mango floral, which morphs into a deep driftwood heart, this scent realy evolves into an otherworldly, and gorgeous dream........VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

A very reluctant thumps up. What I mean by this is simply that the scent is "oblique". I wear this scent liberally applied [yet carefully so as not to ruin the shirt] with a silk shirt. It has an appeal and an ambiance that is hard to describe (much like this review). An enigma.