The world of fragrances has a massive collection of scents available for ladies – starting from floral, fruity, and aquatic to spicy, woody and musky ones.
Among the floral category, two very famous scents are Si by Giorgio Armani and La Vie Est Belle by Lancome.
Today, I will cover these two perfumes and determine which one is the superior scent of the two. You are in the right place if you are confused between these two scents.
Read until the end to find out how these scents compare and which is the ultimate winner.
Clash of Scents: Armani Si Vs. La Vie Est Belle
Armani Si
Main Notes: Cassis, May Rose, Freesia, Vanilla, Patchouli, Woody Notes and Ambroxan
Sì by Giorgio Armani was launched in 2013 and created by Christine Nagel. Due to its widespread popularity, the brand introduced multiple flankers since this original scent.
Si has a lovely blackcurrant, a vanilla undertone and a soft powdery rose. Even after applying three sprays, the scent of Si never appeared to be overpowering because it is more of a delicate fragrance.
This sweet, powdery scent of Si makes it appealing to ladies of different age groups, hence, its huge popularity.
Lancôme La Vie Est Belle
Main Notes: Black Currant, Pear, Iris, Jasmine, Orange Blossom, Praline, Vanilla, Patchouli and Tonka Bean
La Vie Est Belle by Lancôme was launched in 2012 and created by Olivier Polge, Dominique Ropion and Anne Flipo. Much like Si, La Vie Est Belle has also given rise to its own fair share of flankers.
Iris is the major element of the fragrance, with orange blooms and jasmine flowers forming the core of the composition.
A scent dominated by blackcurrant, including an iris, orange blossom, and jasmine trifecta, is well-balanced.
It lingers into a phase that I can only describe as candy-like, a warm sweetness that may become cloying depending on the number of sprays used.
But between these two pleasantly sweet, aromatic, floral scents, which one has better performance? Which one is “worth it”?
Well, in this article, I have discussed just that for you to find out!
So, here is my thorough comparison between Armani Si and La Vie Est Belle:
Opening
The opening jolt of Si is a concoction of the rose note, the black currant note, and the vanilla note. This results in a pleasant and fruity aroma that is more reminiscent of a candy-like peach.
Although the black currant does retain some of the astringency that is characteristic of it, this sharpness is muted by the other notes.
After a brief period of time, the black currant emerges in my memory as the dominant note. The aroma of luscious berries is extremely sugary, yet it is also stunning and warmly welcoming.
On the other hand, La Vie Est Belle begins with fruity aromas that take the stage. I mostly detect an acidic and slightly sour blackberry flavor, which is joined by pear.
When combined, it emits a sweet, somewhat grape-like aroma at first. It is like a candied grape aroma, but tarter in the beginning.
After a few minutes, the patchouli begins absorbing some energy from the fruity ingredients. There is a more traditional flower aroma in there with the iris note and a hint of jasmine.
So, which opening is superior?
While they both have a fruity and patchouli scent, out of the two, I like Si much better. It doesn’t have the same tart or sour properties as La Vie, but it smells juicier to me.
Projection and Longevity
Now, I’ll compare these two scents’ performance in terms of projection and longevity.
La Vie est Belle is an impressive projection. The sillage is rather strong and can completely dominate a space if applied excessively. You will most certainly get a good performance out of this perfume.
However, Si, on the other hand, isn’t particularly heavy but also not particularly light. It never quite reaches the heights reached by La Vie and instead maintains a consistent level of moderation throughout the duration of the wear.
Moving on to their longevity, there is a similar trend.
When applied to the skin, Si lasts up to 7 hours. However, the Lancome scent is much more long-lasting, lasting up to 10 hours at times.
In terms of projection and longevity, La Vie est Belle is much better than Armani Si.
Compliment Factor
It is logical to compare the complement factor, given that we all enjoy being told that we smell wonderful.
Both Belle and Si have excellent projection and sillage, and they will attract as much attention as possible. On the other hand, the two scents’ complimentary potential can be different.
Because it is so potent and can be overbearing at first, some individuals find the scent of La Vie est Belle too much when they enter a space where it is present because it is so potent.
On the other hand, Armani Si is much more subdued, making it less noticeable.
However, because La Vie possesses an exceptionally full and well-developed aroma, I’ve seen that people love it more, and wearing it generates more comments.
Which of these fragrances do you think is going to garner more compliments, and why?
Of these two options, choosing La Vie est Belle will garner more compliments than selecting Si.
Versatility
When it comes to versatility, I believe they are on par with each other, especially since they are from the same fragrance category.
Both of these scents, in my opinion, are incredibly adaptable, which is one of the reasons why they are so widely used as everyday wear.
Each one is appropriate for wearing to the office, out to dinner or other informal activities, or even on a date. However, neither one of them is designed to be used during the summer.
Their optimal conditions range from arctic conditions to areas with more moderate temperatures. In this particular aspect, there is no discernible difference at all.
So, in terms of versatility, they are both equally great.
Value For Money
When deciding between two fragrances, it is essential to take into account and contrast their respective pricing.
I have analyzed the pricing of these perfumes sold at Sephora to make an accurate and fair comparison.
As per the website, 100 ml of Giorgio Armani Sì Eau de Parfum costs $113. I would say that this is quite a good price for the scent, performance, and brand value, and per ml costs you around $1.13.
On the other hand, you cannot get a 100 ml bottle of Lancome La Vie est Belle, but you can get a 50 ml bottle which is going to cost you around $102. Hence, per ml costs $2.04.
Needless to say, the Lancome scent is slightly pricier than the Armani. But it does offer excellent performance that’s better than the former.
Anyway, comparing the prices and the scents, I would say that Si offers greater value for the price than La Vie est Belle.
Overall Scent
Due to the fact that these two fragrances compete in the same fragrance group, comparisons between the two are common.
Not only that, but there is duplication in the components that make up each one. As a consequence of this, the comparison between the two is relatively close.
The band La Vie Est Belle puts on a truly impressive performance. Moreover, once it has had time to settle, it reveals a pleasant gourmand scent.
The opening could be overwhelming for certain people. There is also a subsequent addition of vanilla and praline, both of which are complementary to the patchouli and fruit notes that are already present.
Not to mention the powdery quality that comes from the iris.
However, I happen to enjoy Si by Giorgio Armani a bit better. Not that there is a significant difference between them, but still.
I think the smell of Si is somewhat superior to La Vie. It begins with the juiciness of the berries and other fruits, and then it transitions into a more floral and woodsy quality.
In my opinion, the rose and freesia, along with the amber and the woods, are what really set these fragrances apart from one another. Those notes coming in later distinguish Si and lend it the quality of being in a lower key, both of which contribute to it being a winner.
Hence, when it comes to overall scent, I would say that Si is the winner of the two.
Final Verdict
Both “La Vie est Belle” and “Si” are gorgeous fragrances to wear.
On the other hand, in contrast to the other available option, I believe that Si is the superior selection because it has a pleasant starting, an appealing overall aroma, and a relatively lower price.
You are ultimately in charge of making the decision. No matter whatever option you choose, the overall quality and style of the scents will be the same.
Let me know which option you end up choosing to go with in the comments below!
