Choosing between Estee Lauder’s Beautiful and Beautiful Belle will be based on preference, with Beautiful being a classic and Belle, a modern take on a classic.
In 1985, Estee Lauder marked the beginning of the Beautiful canon of fragrances with Estee Lauder Beautiful. The fragrance house took its time with introducing new flankers in the canon as it took over a decade to introduce the flanker, Beautiful Belle.
While the fragrances are a part of the same canon, their scent profiles represent the era in fragrances in which they were created. Therefore, deciding which fragrance to purchase between the two boils down to preference.
Whether you are seeking a classic or seeking a modern take on a classic nose designed for more contemporary noses, these are both great.
How many fragrances are in the Estee Lauder Beautiful canon?
Estee Lauder was founded by Joseph and Estee Lauder in 1946, and the intention of the company was to be a cosmetics house.
However, based on Estee’s belief that every woman could be beautiful, the company expanded into fragrances in 1953.
Beautiful was introduced in 1985. Only after over three decades, in 2018, did Estee Lauder introduce the second flanker of the canon, Beautiful Belle.
Then in 2019, the third flanker of the canon, Beautiful Belle Love was released. The most recent perfume in the Beautiful canon is Beautiful Magnolia in 2021.
Estee Lauder Beautiful vs Beautiful Belle
Considering that Beautiful and Beautiful Belle are part of the same canon, the profile of the two fragrances is similar in the contexts in which they were designed.
Beautiful was designed in 1985 and was touted as the ideal fragrance for brides as the scent is described as, “…a romantic light bouquet of a thousand flowers, combined with fresh citrus notes in the top and warm woodsy notes in the base”.
As a fragrance of the 2010s, Beautiful Belle does not have as flamboyant and overwhelming scent profile like its predecessor.
However, the fragrance was designed in the same vein as it is described as a fragrance that is meant to capture the journey of falling in love from the first awkward moments to the deep love, which often eventually lead to walking down the aisle wearing Beautiful Belle.
Both fragrances share a connection in their association with romance and the journey of love, including the idea of walking down the aisle.
Beautiful Belle, being a product of a more recent era, is likely to have a scent profile that reflects contemporary tastes, possibly with a more subdued and modern interpretation of floral and woody notes.
Beautiful, with its description of a thousand flowers and warm woodsy notes, has a more classic and timeless appeal, fitting for its era of creation.
A side-by-side comparison of the perfumes’ nose designs is as follows:
| Details | Estee Lauder Beautiful | Beautiful Belle |
| Description | A floral fragrance for women | An amber floral fragrance for women |
| Nose design | Sophia Grojsman, Bernard Chant, and Max Gavarry | |
| Top notes | Rose, galbanum, lily, black currant, fruity notes, cassia, Mandarin orange, bergamot, and lemon | Mimosa, litchi, and rose |
| Middles notes | Carnation, tuberose, marigold, mimosa, jasmine, narcissus, chamomile, ylang-ylang, geranium, Lily-of-the-Valley, orange blossom, lilac, magnolia, freesia, pink violet, sage, and neroli | Gardenia, tuberose, and orange blossom |
| Base notes | Sandalwood, amber, vetiver, musk, cedar, and vanilla | Marzipan, suede, musk, orris, and Ambroxan |
| Where to buy |
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| Buy it on Amazon | Buy it on Amazon |
If you appreciate classic, timeless florals with warm woodsy undertones, Beautiful might be more suitable.
If you prefer a more modern and nuanced interpretation of a romantic fragrance, Beautiful Belle could be a great choice.
Longevity
Touted as having better longevity, Beautiful reflects the era in which it was designed—a time when fragrances were often created as statement pieces with robust and long-lasting projection.
With the reputation of being a statement fragrance, Beautiful likely has a more potent sillage and longevity compared to modern fragrances.
The anecdote about Andy Warhol being buried with a bottle of Beautiful further emphasizes its iconic status.
Beautiful Belle, on the other hand, has more subtle projection properties. The reference to the fragrance having more subtle projection properties indicates that it is designed to be more moderate in its sillage.
Fragrances with softer projection may require reapplication throughout the day as the initial application wanes, which means that you have to reapply the fragrance every few hours.
Versatility
In terms of the versatility of the fragrances, they are neck-and-neck. This is as both fragrances have been touted as bridal fragrance.
But they are also ideal and versatile enough for everyday wear. This suggests that they can be worn casually, for work, or while running errands, making them adaptable to a range of daily activities.
The fragrances are not limited to daily use; they are also mentioned as potential choices for special occasions. This versatility allows them to transition seamlessly from everyday wear to more formal or celebratory events
If you so choose, both fragrances can be ideal special occasion fragrances. The slight difference is that Beautiful is a classic, and thus it may lean more towards the mature demographic.
While Beautiful has a mature scent profile, its modernity makes the fragrance ideal for a young professional woman looking as it is a light but mature fragrance.
The choice between the two may depend on individual preferences, age, and style. Some may prefer the classic and mature elegance of Beautiful, while others may gravitate towards the modern and subtle sophistication of Beautiful Belle.
As always, personal chemistry and preference play a crucial role in choosing a fragrance, and it’s recommended to test both scents on the skin to see how they interact with individual body chemistry.
Which is discontinued?
Currently, Estee Lauder’s Beautiful canon has only two fragrances, as the other two fragrances have since been discontinued. This includes Estee Lauder Beautiful Belle and its predecessor, Beautiful Belle Love.
However, due to the discontinuation of the Beautiful Belle being quite recent, it is still available on reputable online stores like Amazon, both in the 50ml bottle or the 100ml bottle.
Beautiful, as the classic fragrance of the range, is still widely available, with the most affordable bottle being the 30ml bottle which is available on Amazon.