Our take
What does Beautiful smell like?
Launched in 1985, Beautiful embraces the maximalist floral style of the decade and ties it to the imagery of weddings. The opening gathers rose, lily and a juicy mandarin for sparkle. The heart is a white avalanche: jasmine, creamy tuberose and a spicy, almost peppery carnation that keeps the whole thing from turning saccharine. It carries the generosity of an era when perfume was worn like a stole. The base is calmer, built on smooth sandalwood, dry vetiver and a musk that holds the flowers on skin for hours. Bright, rounded and unapologetically feminine, it lasts remarkably well.
When to wear it
Made for ceremonies, spring celebrations or a roomy office if applied sparingly; it pleases anyone who loves an opulent bouquet.
It belongs to the Floral family. Beautiful is one of 3 creations by Estée Lauder in our encyclopedia.
