Azuree Soleil Eau Fraiche Skinscent is part of this year's Tom Ford Estee Lauder Collection, and will launch as a limited edition this coming April. Other than the inspiration ("the Mediterranean near Mrs. Estée Lauder's vacation home in Cap d'Antibes, off the coast of France"), it has nothing in common with the original 1969 Azuree fragrance from Estee Lauder. The notes include tiare (gardenia), orange blossom, jasmine, magnolia petals, myrrh, bergamot, mandarin, amber, sandalwood, vetiver, caramel and coconut cream.
I have said before that I'm not a big fan of tropical-beachy or suntan oil scents, and so when the Azuree Soleil Body Oil was released last year, I didn't rush to try it. By the time I got around to giving it a sniff, all the stores were sold out. Even then, the little tiny sample I managed to snag didn't make much of an impression on me. Still, everyone else raved about it so I was curious about the new Eau Fraiche Skinscent.
Well, I'm a convert. It is tropical-beachy, but the lovely thing about the Azuree Soleil is that it is so much nicer than your typical, overly sweet coconut-laden suntan oil; in fact, if Estee Lauder would release this in a suntan oil, I buy it in a flash. Yes, there is milky coconut, and tropical flowers, and even a hint of caramel, but the tropical accents are not overdone: it is very subtle, with just the right amount of warmth and spice, and the woods keep the sweeter elements grounded. In the early stages, it is as much a summery woods scent as anything else, with, as promised, a "warm sand" quality; after an hour or so, the woods start a slow fade, leaving behind a very soft, very pretty gardenia-based floral.
I've seen a number of complaints from those who wish that Estee Lauder had released Azuree Soleil in a stronger concentration, but I think I like it just as it is. The lasting power is excellent for an Eau Fraiche (4-5 sprays on one arm lasted for as many hours, perhaps more). It is a mood as much as a fragrance, and will be just the right sort of thing for very hot days when you don't want to wear anything heavy, or for nasty cold days when you'd like to pretend you're somewhere other than stuck at home, watching the sleet fall outside your window.
It is best, perhaps, not to think of it as a perfume at all but as a body product — you'll want to use it as a body spray, not dab it on pulse points, and it is light enough that you could just about bathe in it without creating more sillage than those around you could stand.
Estee Lauder Azuree Soleil Eau Fraiche Skinscent will be in 50, 100 and 250 ml, or you can try the Azuree Soleil in Body Lotion or Body Oil. If last year is any indication, you might want to keep an eye on the Estee Lauder website and buy sooner rather than later.
More beachy scents: Bobbi Brown Beach & CB I Hate Perfume At The Beach 1966, CB I Hate Perfume Mr. Hulot's Holiday, Comptoir Sud Pacifique Aqua Motu, J Lo Miami Glow, Matthew Williamson.
I had wondered why everyone went crazy for the 'Azuree' products when you can still buy the 'Azuree' perfume. I've just read your review and discovered they aren't the same fragrance. I'm so lazy! I haven't even smelt the new 'Azuree' but I like summery-beachy perfumes so I will have to give it a try. I love the bottle though!
I agree with Baby Jane; why didn't they just re-formulate the original Azuree?
Hugs!
Robin, is this a part of the many-bottled Tom Ford invasion?
Hope you will like it…and not sure why they used the Azuree name at all for this one, but it is very nicely done so I won't complain.
R, I can't remember the reasoning behind last year's Azuree collection. I think Tom Ford was supposedly inspired by the blue coloring on some old EL packaging? So perhaps the name is just supposed to evoke that?
No, this is an EL product. The many-bottled thing (Private Blend) will be under the TF name, and I think it is coming in May.
Ah, thank you for clearing that up. I am looking forward to the Tom Ford takeover of the universe, but this beachy floral thing, not so much.
We are opposites then…I suspect I'm going to like the beachy floral thing better than any of the Private Blend scents
Want! I did love the body oil last year, so I think I am basically safe to buy this unsniffed
(Coconut seems like a note du jour, it's everywhere)
This is the one of the 2007 upcoming scents that I am SO LOOKING FORWARD TO, thanks for the review.
I totally missed the boat on the Azuree Oil too…although I have oily skin and rarely wear body oil, I still wanted to smell it. I always admired Azuree from afar (I really LOVE Private Collection) but it always seemed too old-fashioned smelling to me.
So glad Mr. Ford did the redo.
'Warm sand' notes, huh? That piques my interest!
Coconut is making the rounds, isn't it? You'll probably come up with something wonderful to layer this with, in which case, let me know
I understand the body oil is not *too* oily — or that it soaks in well, or whatever. My sample last year was too small to tell, but I do like this Eau Fraiche.
Okay, I'll try it! It sounds like it hits the right notes. I didn't particularly like the Azuree Oil (I prefer the Nars Monoi oil, which I think smells better). But this one actually sounds like fun. BTW if you get a chance, please try that new Creed Virgin Island Water — this post made me think of it, I found it very different for a Creed.
M, I forgot that Nars had a Monoi oil, will have to look for both of those .
i'm really looking forward to this. when is the release date?
The official release is April, and sorry I don't know the date, but perfumes often appear on counter long before their “official” release date anyway. You might want to call an EL counter and ask if they will call you when it is available?
OK, I finally got a generous sample from Neimans and gave it a full wearing today – really nice. The warm sand notes are quite genuine (even more so than Eau de Merveilles) and the coconut is really subtle. I think this is as good, if not better, than Virgin Island Water (the new Creed frag) and about a 1/4 of the price…Tom Ford rules!
So glad you got some and you like it! I haven't tried the Creed on skin yet, only on a card, but on a card at any rate it didn't wow me.
Well, it's available, at least in tester form, I found it in Belk. And I've got to say I was disappointed. I have and love the body oil, but the perfume was way overpowering. It ended up smelling like a gardenia mash up on me. I think however that this is a case of body chemistry versus the scent being done wrong as the body oil is such a hit otherwise with me. Argh, and I was so excited too.
So sorry! It is true that you get more sillage with the Eau Fraiche, although to my nose, only minimally more. Ah well, you've still got the body oil
Really unusual appeal with this stuff—it really smells like clean, salty skin sweating in the sun. The myrrh (what an interesting touch) mimics the bitter by-products released in human sweat (part of the reason myrrh was such a good masking agent in ancient burials). Despite it's subtlety and “Estee Lauder” dash of tropical-gardenia cocktail, “Azzuree” has Tom Ford's nose written all over it. It's one of the few tropical island scents that doesn't smell shower clean; its solar accord-esque vibe actually smells like sun on skin during a day by the shore.
Funny, I thought the opposite: it was way more subtle than I'd expect from Tom Ford, and wondered if he really had anything to do with it!
I guess I assume anything that mimics sweaty skin is a Tom Ford pick…hahaha. Not always the case, of course!
LOL — yes, there is that
I was lured by the summery bottle and wanted to like this scent even before I read your review and mention of milky coconut, a favorite. But between Macy's and home I realized Azuree Soleil reminded me of my 85 year old mother's signature, White Linen, and couldn't get it off my arm fast enough. Perhaps it's a chemistry issue for me.
Interesting, don't think it calls up White Linen for me, but then, haven't tried White Linen again recently. Anyway, just as well — you've saved a few $$$!