17 thoughts on “Super Scent – The Very Best Of Estée Lauder

  1. Loving this. No discontinued ones to consider explains the missing Private Collection. Ah well, though I saw it yesterday in Boots.

    My favourite is Pleasures but for very personal reasons. A weird choice as I'm rarely after 'fresh floral' type scents but my history with it makes it very special for me.

    1. Danaki, THIS is why I love my readers 😀 I am so pleased you spotted the absence of Private Collection. I can't quite ascertain whether it has or hasn't been discontinued, but most of the evidence seems to suggest that it has, so we didn't consider it. Of course, that doesn't change the fact that it's a classic with TONS of fans.

      I think Pleasures has an equally large number of admirers. If it carries a special meaning for you, then you just keep wearing it and enjoying it!

    2. It's great to see Youth Dew get the appreciation it deserves.

      On the subject of Private Collection, I don't know if it's discontinued in the UK, but it's definitely available in the US. I've seen it in shops (though rarely) and it's also available on the official website. It has always been my favourite Lauder 🙂

    3. Minaeve, I'm glad you're a Youth Dew fan too.

      Private Collection is a bit of a strange case, because it seems to be available only in a few markets. I wonder if our lists would have looked different if we'd considered it… bearing in mind that I haven't tried the current formulation.

      Do you still enjoy it in its current state?

  2. We definitely seem to be in sync here! I do need to spend a bit more time with Cinnabar. Because of the Opium connection, I've never really given it the attention it deserves.

    Also, as nice as the new bottles are, I am very disappointed to see BP's rainbow bottle go.

    1. Yes, I think we've come to what I would call a very healthy level of consensus. Mind you, even if we'd disagreed completely, I would still have found the exercise interesting.

      As for the new Beyond Paradise bottle… yes, crying shame! The new bottles definitely feel cheaper, but if that's what has to be done for the juice to be preserved, then so be it.

  3. I enjoy this format and this specimen. Thanks for sharing! I don't know all the Lauder scents, so I just have a few questions for you, out of curiosity: Why not Azurée? How would you compare White Linen with Estée? What's your take on Lauder For Men?

    1. Leathermountain, thanks very much for stopping by. As for your questions… I'm not sure where to start, because they raise all sorts of issues… but I'll try to be succinct.

      In a nutshell, the main response to your question is that, obviously, several scents had to be left off the list because Candy Perfume Boy and I decided we'd limit ourselves to five. So, a perfume's absence on our list doesn't indicate that we think it isn't worthy of praise.

      To pick up on some of your specific points:

      Azurée – I think it's an extremely well-constructed leather scent, but unlike several other critics, I don't find it especially elegant. I always think there's something a touch harsh and crude about it, at odds with its name/concept. It's very, very good indeed. But not good enough to make it into my Top 5.

      White Linen vs Estée – I'd say the latter hasn't aged very well, whereas White Linen has managed to become a classic.

      Lauder For Men – I'm afraid I'm not an admirer of heavy-handed fougeres.

      But more importantly: what are YOUR favourite Lauders?

  4. I'm glad you have Beyond Paradise on your list. It's so beautiful, pure escapism in a bottle. Just went to one of the perfume websites and looked it up and was shocked at the horrible reviews….according to most of these reviewers it was bland, it was an ugly (colorful) bottle, it was suburban, it was old lady. I don't think anyone smelled it. And I for one am sick to death of the whole "old lady" attribute to perfumes. It smells good or it doesn't. No need to act like the worst–and smelliest– thing a woman can do is not die young! But off topic. Thanks for your care in making your list. It's a good one. I love everything on your list except Youth Dew, and I love it in theory. 🙂

    1. Celeste, I know exactly what you mean about the 'old lady' tag. It does seem like a rather silly way to describe a perfume.

      And as for Beyond Paradise, I still think it's one of the best Lauders ever made, and until recently, I actually thought it had been a massive success for the brand.

  5. I used to LOVE this brand in the eighties! I used up several bottles of White Linen and Estee, I owned Knowing and Pleasures and my mother wore Private Collection. Unfortunately I did not follow up the development of the new perfumes and flankers so I am not competent to comment on your choices. Youth Dew certainly deserves a special place although it is not my cup of tea.
    Once again: I like the idea of Super Scent very much!

    1. Neva, thanks very much for your comment.

      It's funny you say you loved the brand in the 80s, because there is actually something very 80s about it, as a whole, isn't there? Maybe that's something to do with the fact that their perfumery work came into its own during that decade.

      Yet another vote for Private Collection. It's a shame that it isn't available in the UK.

  6. Persolaise, it's always a pleasure to stop by. 🙂

    My favorite Lauders are Azuree and Youth Dew. If Azuree is harsh or crude, then that is working for me. I'll contemplate that a bit the next time I wear it. I dislike Youth Dew perfume spray, but the bath oil is delightful. Any idea why they seem so completely different?

    I don't know White Linen, but the old bottle I've got of Estee seems so similar to what I read. It's also a floral aldehyde that's not really so floral, easy on the nose, and it's got the clean thing as well. There might be a hint of dirt under the clean; I can't be sure and I like that about it. For some reason I want to say that Estee also smells classic and smells Lauder, although I can't say exactly what those things mean.

    I notice that Beautiful made both of your lists, but I haven't liked it the few times I've tried it. It seemed sharp and sour and synthetic, usually traits that don't play well with me.

    It would be great if you and TCPB also included your bottom five from each house in the Super Scent series. I would find that just as interesting and informative, maybe more so!

    1. Leathermountain, it's always great to see you here.

      Why is the Youth Dew bath oil so different? Hmm… good question… maybe it uses a higher proportion of base notes.

      You should check out White Linen and let me know what you make of it.

      Your idea of including the bottom five is intriguing. I'm not sure how that would work, but we'll certainly give it some thought.

  7. Thank you, I absolutely LOVE Youth Dew, Cinnabar & Beautiful. I have YouthDew EDP in its current formulation, made in Switzerland and still has oakmoss in it….
    Its unbelievable, its my yoga perfume, 1 small spritz and the air is filled with reverence, the incense, the spice and the headiness…..its like walking into an temple filled with smoke from the incense.
    I adore it….
    Beautiful is my happy scent, one I wear to work on a bad hair day…
    Cinnabar, ah…like my Opium, I find it sensuous….

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