Our take
What does Idôle L'Intense smell like?
Lancôme released Idôle L’Intense in 2020, a year after the original Idôle. The same three perfumers returned: Shyamala Maisondieu, Adriana Medina-Baez and Nadège Le Garlantezec. They kept their rose and gave it more weight. The opening is crisp. Mandarin and bitter orange sting for a moment, then fade fast. Rose and jasmine follow, denser and less soapy than in the original. The real change is in the base. Patchouli pulls the scent toward chypre territory while vanilla rounds it off. Sandalwood leaves a smooth trail and a touch of cedar keeps it upright. It shares a family resemblance with Chanel’s Coco Mademoiselle, another rose and patchouli built to last. Idôle L’Intense is sweeter and has less bite. The flat bottle still slips into a bag like a card. Its concentration is noticeably higher, and you feel it in how long the base hangs on. On skin it can last a full working day.
When to wear it
An evening rose that also works at the office if you stop at two sprays. It shines in cold weather, sprayed on a sweater or scarf.
It belongs to the Floral, Chypre family. Idôle L'Intense is one of 25 creations by Lancôme in our encyclopedia.
