Star rating: 5 stars–outstanding/potential classic, 4 stars–very good, 3 stars–adequate, 2 stars–disappointing, 1 star–poor.
One of the most popular feminine fragrance genres, modern green florals, has much to recommend itself for someone who is looking for a pretty and wearable fragrance. When the crisp, leafy notes are woven through the opulent floral accords, the compositions attain a vivid, bright quality. While classical floral bouquets are usually much more languorous and sensual, with rich honeyed and animalic facets, contemporary florals strive for a clean and luminous impression. Estée Lauder Wild Elixir is the latest addition to the available fresh green floral selection, a composition of honeysuckle, jasmine and gardenia notes painted in verdant hues.
Perfumer Harry Frémont who created Wild Elixir experimented with the crisp notes reminiscent of violet leaf and green apple to give a jolt to the top notes of the composition. The fragrance opens up on the very appealing floral notes reminiscent of the florist shop—dewy, green, with a pleasant sparkle. As it develops, the floral accord unfolds as layers of soft petals. There is no hint of animalic notes—these florals are wholesomely pretty and clean. The simple base of musk and soft wood provides a pleasant, if somewhat bland backdrop. On the performance level, Wild Elixir has a great tenacity and a strong sillage.
While I am at a loss to say what is wild about it, Wild Elixir is a very nicely done floral composition. For those who love modern gardenia and jasmine notes à la Marc Jacobs for Women, Burberry Weekend for Women, Ormonde Jayne Tiaré and Christian Dior J’Adore L’Eau Cologne Florale, Wild Elixir might be likewise a good choice. While I like its cheerful presence, Wild Elixir is not particularly memorable. I know that once my decant is finished, I will not be tempted to repurchase a full bottle. It simply offers yet another take on the popular green floral theme, without attempting to challenge our expectations. Those who want something complex and unusual in the floral genre might want to skip Wild Elixir, but if the goal is to find a well-crafted, pretty perfume, then it would fit the bill.
Estée Lauder Wild Elixir (limited edition) includes notes of mandarin, purple freesia, marigold, violet leaves, gardenia, genet NaturePrint, blue jasmine, pink lily of the valley, waterlily, iris, sandalwood, amber, and musk. Available from all the major retailers.
Sample source: Estée Lauder
23 Comments
Olfactoria: I smelled this only last Saturday at the store and while I enjoyed the first stages, it is a bit of a letdown later. I did not expect a “wild” perfume from Estee Lauder at this day and age, but a little more sass would have been really beneficial.
Your review exactly matches my impression. And the bottle is way to pink and square to be wild anyway… 😉 February 28, 2011 at 3:45am
Jenny: I was curious about it when I first read the news. Sounds exactly like you would expect it to smell, pretty and safe. I like MJ for Women though, so maybe I should give it a try anyway. February 28, 2011 at 10:23am
Casey: How strong is the green apple note? I am usually ok with most fruits, but the green ones bother me. February 28, 2011 at 10:59am
Gitcheegumee: I would not be able to get past that Pepto Pink bottle.
Sorry. February 28, 2011 at 11:08am
Lucy: Your review is spot-on! I smelled it the other day and thought the same thing, that it was very pretty, but not all that wild.
Now, the bottle looks cheap and tacky to me! Why must it be pink anyway? The bottle totally doesn’t match the fragrance. February 28, 2011 at 11:16am
Lucy: I also wanted to add that I got complimented on it by a stranger. Maybe, I put on too much at the store, but the comment was very positive. The girl wanted to know what perfume I was wearing. February 28, 2011 at 11:18am
Olga: I smelled it on a paper strip and decided that I will test it on the skin if I have time on my hands and nothing better to sniff. This sounds ironic, as I have a load of things to sniff right now. Wild Elixir is well done but not memorable, this is a conclusion I came away with as well. February 28, 2011 at 11:55am
Nora: Victoria,I agree with you. Honestly I don’t understand why it’s called wild. I had high expectations but when I smelled it on the paper strip I didn’t want to believ that it was Wild Elixir. What makes it wild???
Yes, the colour of the bottle is quite wild but the juice itself is not. It’s an average floral fragrance; I would have expected something else, something much better. February 28, 2011 at 12:07pm
Victoria: Yes, the bottle is hardly wild! If there were not so many pretty florals on the market already, I would have liked it more. I also agree that the initial stages are wonderful–crisp, green and petally. February 28, 2011 at 8:40am
Victoria: It has a nice sillage, and I also got a few nice comments on it either when I was wearing it, or when someone stopped by my office and smelled it in the air (I kept a scented blotter on my desk.) February 28, 2011 at 12:01pm
Victoria: If you like crisp, fresh white florals, it will definitely be a good choice. I smelled it next to Marc Jacobs, Pleasures and the new version of J’Adore, and it was a alternative to those (I still love Pleasures more.) February 28, 2011 at 12:02pm
Victoria: Casey, it is more of a leafy, stemmy note, closer to the scent of apple peel, rather than the juicy, sweet flesh. The fruity accents are obvious to me, but they do not dominate. February 28, 2011 at 12:03pm
Victoria: No need to apologize! I do not like this bottle too. The pink is too flashy and neon, and the shape is just not exciting. February 28, 2011 at 12:04pm
Victoria: Yes, you can do a lot worse though, if you are looking for a floral on the market today. I like green gardenia-white floral bouquets time to time, because they are uncomplicated and easy to wear, but it is hard to justify to myself why Wild Elixir should get any shelf space in my crowded perfume wardrobe. February 28, 2011 at 12:06pm
Victoria: It makes perfect sense to me! There are so many things on the market that a fragrance really has to grab one’s attention. I certainly do not want yet another pretty floral as what I can get from any other brand.
It is a shame, because the fragrance itself is a nicely done, very good quality composition. It is too commercial though to be memorable. February 28, 2011 at 12:11pm
Victoria: I agree with you completely. I have no idea either, because nothing about it is wild, other than the color of the bottle, if I am forced to come up with something. 🙂 February 28, 2011 at 12:24pm
Elisa: I’m rather fond of this style of floral — it reminds me of the discontinued Michael Kors Hawaii: cheap, cheerful, easy, pretty. I wouldn’t mind owning something like this for summer, since it is indeed cheap. It’s certainly not a game-changer, but I’m glad they didn’t overkill the fruit section. February 28, 2011 at 1:51pm
Victoria: Hawaii was one of my favorite flankers to Michael Kors Island, very cheerful, just as you said. Like you, I like this style of florals time to time, especially in the summer, when the classical indolic and rich white florals feel too heavy.
Marc Jacobs for Women is still among my favorites, and I miss the discontinued Marc Jacobs Blush, which was a lovely honeysuckle. February 28, 2011 at 2:20pm
OperaFan: I think that the name definitely leads one to have a different sort of expectation than what they end up getting. I’m willing to bet that if EL had called it something along the line of “Floral Fantasy” that people would like it much more.
This fragrance actually reminds me of the little pots of floral scented cream sachets that Avon used to make in the ’70s when I first became acquainted with their products. I think it’s lovely for what it is, several notches higher than the standard dept store dreck, and very wearable for those days when I don’t want to spend a lot of time and effort analyzing my SOTD. February 28, 2011 at 11:15pm
violetnoir: V, what would you suggest from this genre that would be more memorable?
Hugs! March 1, 2011 at 2:17pm
Victoria: You are right, Floral Fantasy would be more appropriate. I am glad that you are enjoying your bottle! I can also imagine that it will be very appropriate in the summer, as it is quite fresh and uplifting. March 1, 2011 at 10:36am
Victoria: R, my choices would be Ormonde Jayne Tiare, Frangipani and even Champaca (it gets a bit warmer as it dries down, but the main accord is a fresh floral one.) Then, Marc Jacobs for Women is a fantastic fragrance, airy, elegant, with a beautiful sillage. I would even pick it over Tiare.
Then, also Annick Goutal Un Matin d’Orage (more of a watery floral, but same feeling.)
For a full blown lush white floral paired with an intensely strong green note (same violet leaf accord as what is used in Wild Elixir,) I would recommend Michael Kors (the original.) I admit that I find it rather difficult to wear, but it is sure memorable. March 1, 2011 at 2:36pm
Saima: It has been years that I have been looking for a perfume that would leave me completely enchanted! The last perfume that I found breathtaking was Gucci Rush which I understand has now been discontinued?!! So, about a month ago, I was walking through the Bay perfume area and discovered the Wild Elixir. I honestly don’t have the words to express how it made me feel. I felt as if I have found a long lost friend. The perfume put me in a state of sheer pleasure, joy and….peace! I am absolutely in LOVE with this fragrance! And then I found out that this is limited edition for some reason. Well, I have already bought 3 bottles of it. I am simply hoping that Estee will consider making this perfume all year round for those that are in sheer joy to finally find something they love! Further, I hope that Estee will also produce Wild Elixir as an Eau de parfume, and make this scent available in a lotion and shower gel as well!!!!!!! Thank you Estee!!!! July 19, 2011 at 9:10am