Perfume was my first foray into beauty, I can faintly remember pushing open the heavy door of the little fragrance shop in my local town for the first time when I was just 11. I instantaneously became overwhelmed with excitement at the beautiful glass bottles that lined the walls. I left with a bottle of perfume that day Lolita Lempicka to be precise (which so happened to be the prettiest bottle I could find) and that’s where my love for fragrance began.
Fast forward to 2017 I now have a dedicated cabinet for my ever-growing perfume collection. Typically I love rich sexy scents that stick around, but come the summer months I like to switch-up to lighter, airier options. That’s where NUXE Sun Delicious Fragrant Water Spray and Estée Lauder's Bronze Goddess Eau Fraîche Skinscent come in.
This year marks the 11th release of the Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess collection and the line-up includes a fully-fledged makeup collection and a line of body products. The original and much-loved Estée Lauder's Bronze Goddess Eau Fraîche Skinscent £58.00 is a scent I know and love, having introduced it into my collection last summer. Its described as “a sensuous, sun-drenched blend of Bergamot, warm Amber, Tiare Flower and Vanilla combined with delicious creamy Coconut”. It isn’t too sweet, or floral and just one spritz transports me back onto the beach in Kos, where I’m sipping a piña colada having just applied sun cream. It’s drinkable (although not advisable) and has been poured into a gold-topped ombré glass bottle. The only downside is I find myself having to layer it on thick, as the high notes burn off pretty fast, so I always ensure I’m carrying my trusty travelo for a top-up.
While Estée Lauder's Bronze Goddess Eau Fraîche Skinscent is on the sweeter side, NUXE Sun Delicious Fragrant Water Spray £26.00 gets a kick of the familiar NUXE Huile Prodigieuse scent, that lasts on the skin all day once the soft notes of coconut and orange fade. The fragrant mist is described as “a mouthwatering blend of sweet orange and petitgrain, creating a touch of citrus freshness with a sensuous edge. In the heart, swathes of coconut milk meet with the tropical touch of tiare flower for a creamy impression, before a dry down of vanilla and musks enwrap the skin in sunset warmth.” And NUXE recommend to spray your hair brush for an even more delicate effect. Its base notes are what set apart the NUXE Sun Delicious Fragrant Water Spray from Estée Lauder's Bronze Goddess, it’s muskier; a little more adult. Also, look at it’s pretty packaging, another ombré glass bottle that feels just as luxurious.
The verdict? Both fragrances are basically summer in a bottle and they drawer similarities. They’re both beach-based scents with notes of coconut and vanilla that are best paired with sunshine, shorts and a strawberry daiquiri (of course). They’re soft, light and seasonal. And neither will leave you smelling like you’ve tried too hard. But NUXE Sun Delicious Fragrant Water Spray has base notes that make a lasting impression giving it that extra oomph and not to mention it’s half the price. Estée Lauder's Bronze Goddess Eau Fraîche Skinscent hasn’t been kicked to the curb, but NUXE although not as well-known is well worth a sniff.
