La Vida es Bella

Notes & Nuances

Fragrance World's "La Vida es Bella" aims for Lancôme's "La Vie Est Belle" and gets... reasonably close. The opening black currant and pear are there, but lack the original's polished, fruity sparkle; a little synthetic. The heart of iris, jasmine and orange blossom is a decent imitation, but slightly muddier. The dry down of praline, vanilla and patchouli, which is the essence of the original, leans heavier on the vanilla and less on the sophisticated patchouli. I'd say it achieves about 85% of the original's DNA.

Wear time & Sillage

Longevity is surprisingly good point. I get a solid 6-7 hours on skin, with decent projection for the first 2 hours. It projects about arms length. After that, it becomes a skin scent.

Conclusion

If you crave that sweet, gourmand floral of La Vie Est Belle but balk at the price tag, this is a worthy budget option. It won't fool anyone who knows the original intimately, especially up close. But from a distance, it captures the essence well enough. This hits the mark for everyday wear when you don't want to use your expensive bottles. Perfect for students or anyone on a tight budget.