Our take
What does La Vie est Belle Soleil Cristal smell like?
In 2021 Lancôme gave La Vie est Belle a summer edition called Soleil Cristal. The eau de parfum keeps the original's iris and vanilla but bathes them in beach light. It opens with mandarin, bergamot and pink pepper, juicy and fizzy. The heart brings coconut and ylang-ylang, plus orange blossom and a creamy sambac jasmine. It smells like a very expensive sunscreen. In the base, Bourbon vanilla and patchouli recall the family line, while iris adds a powdery touch. Less praline than the original, it is still sweet. Tom Ford's Soleil Blanc is the natural comparison for the coconut and ylang, though Soleil Cristal is sweeter and less ambery. Lancôme has since pulled it from its US catalog. The coconut stays light and never turns into heavy tanning oil. On hot skin it blooms nicely.
When to wear it
A holiday perfume for the seaside or a summer terrace. Two sprays on warm skin and the coconut wakes up in the sun.
It belongs to the Floral, Gourmand family. La Vie est Belle Soleil Cristal is one of 25 creations by Lancôme in our encyclopedia.
