Estée Lauder Beyond Paradise Review

Launched: 2003
Perfumer: Calice Becker
Perfume Type: Prismatic Floral (Floral Bouquet)
Strength: EDP

Perfume House Description:
The new fantasy in fragrance, Estée Lauder Beyond Paradise transports you to a perfect world of optimism and wonder. Unfolds on your skin with a fascinating blend of tropical wetness, zesty freshness and a burst of floralcy.

Top Notes: Eden's Mist, Blue Hyacinth, Orange Flower Templar, Jabuticaba Fruit
Middle Notes: Laelia Orchid, Crepe Jasmin, Mahonia Japonica, Pink Honeysuckle
Base Notes: Natal Plum Blossoms, Ambrette Seed, Zebrano Wood, Golden Melaleuca Bark

This is just one of several fragrances in the Paradise Perfume Range, created by Calice Becker for Estee Lauder. The others in the Estée Lauder Paradise range being; BP Blue, BP Summer and BP Summer Waters. Some of her other noteworthy fragrances have been: J'Adore-Christian Dior and Gold–Donna Karan.

This is just Beyond Paradise. It is presented in a pretty pastel pale blue, lilac and white box. The bottle is a rainbow coloured and is a squat teardrop shape, very pretty. However, I did feel a little stupid spending some time trying to get it to work, before spotting the simple "twist and depress" instructions on the top flap of the box – DOH!

I don't think for one minute that you need much knowledge of perfume to realise that this is more or less an out-and-out floral perfume. If you don't like florals, this is not for you.

On first application you get a wonderful, tropical burst of intense floral aromas. Ummm. This settles quite quickly into feminine and relatively delicate but persistent floral mid-notes with honeysuckle and jasmine (for me) being the primary flowers. However, I did detect a slightly wood-smoky undertone, which I found a little detracting.

It has several layers of fragrance that unfold on the skin, but it is not as complex or as sophisticated as other fragrances can be. Depending on how you like your perfume, this is can be either good or bad.

It has exceptional staying power though, always a good trait, in my opinion.

I truly want to love this perfume, and in many ways I do. It's perfect for day wear and I would recommend wearing it on pleasant spring and summer days. It's reminiscent of sunbathing in a flower garden, all that’s missing a fat and fluffy bumble bee lazily buzzing around trying to find where the floral aromatics are coming from. It brings a smile to the face. It could be a great fragrance to take away on a sunshine holiday too.

I found that my friends either REALLY loved it or disliked it, so the overall opinions from others were a bit mixed. It also subtly changes from skin to skin, which may explain these differing reactions.

A near-to-perfect fragrance for anyone who loves feminine florals. It is truly lovely, but a bit "flighty" and not as stable on the skin as other florals I have tried.

About the author
Debbie Cave is 39 and works in Quality Assurance for a large home improvement retailer. She lives in Hampshire with her partner and dog. Amongst numerous interests and hobbies, Debbie has held a lifelong love of fine fragrance and hopes to be able to share some of that passion with DM Fragrance readers.

Discover Estée Lauder Beyond Paradise for yourself.