Estée Lauder Pleasures Delight Review: A Modern, Luminous Floral for Everyday Joy
Is this bright, fruity-floral flanker a worthy successor to the classic Pleasures? We break down the scent, performance, and value.
Launched in 2015, Estée Lauder Pleasures Delight arrived as a contemporary reinterpretation of the brand''s iconic 1995 fragrance, Pleasures. The original Pleasures was a landmark scent, defining the clean, green floral genre for a generation. Pleasures Delight was conceived to capture a younger, more vibrant energy, reflecting a shift towards brighter, more effervescent femininity in the mid-2010s. It was positioned as a more playful and accessible entry point into the Pleasures universe, designed to feel instantly uplifting and modern.
Within the Estée Lauder fragrance portfolio, Pleasures Delight sits as a key flanker in one of the brand''s most successful and enduring franchises. It''s not meant to replace the original but to complement it, offering a different facet of the "pleasure" concept. While the original is often described as a serene, dewy bouquet, Delight is marketed as a more sparkling and juicy experience. Its launch was supported by campaigns emphasizing light, happiness, and a carefree spirit, targeting women who wanted a signature scent that felt both cheerful and sophisticated.
The inspiration behind Pleasures Delight is centered on pure, radiant joy. The concept is to bottle the feeling of a perfect, sun-drenched moment—a burst of laughter, a sudden rush of happiness. It moves away from the contemplative greenness of the original towards a more immediate, fruity sweetness. The aim was to create a fragrance that felt like an instant mood booster, a scent you could reach for to add a touch of luminous delight to any ordinary day.
In the fragrance community, Pleasures Delight has carved out a specific niche. It is generally well-regarded as a reliable, pleasant, and inoffensive daily wearer. It hasn''t achieved the cult status or groundbreaking reputation of the original Pleasures, but it is often praised for its wearability and consistent performance. It''s frequently recommended for beginners, for office settings, or for those seeking a "safe" yet pretty floral. Its reputation is that of a crowd-pleaser—a fragrance unlikely to offend and likely to garner polite compliments, making it a staple in many collections for its sheer versatility and easy charm.
The Nose Behind the Scent
The fragrance was created by perfumer Annie Buzantian, a Master Perfumer at Firmenich. Buzantian is a legendary figure in perfumery, known for her ability to craft complex, beautiful, and commercially successful scents. Her other iconic creations for Estée Lauder include the original Beautiful and the modern classic, Modern Muse. Her extensive portfolio also features notable works like Aramis New West, Clinique Happy, and Calvin Klein Eternity, showcasing her mastery across diverse olfactory families.
Accords
Notes Pyramid
Scent Journey
The fragrance opens with a bright, effervescent burst. The pink pepper provides a subtle, sparkling tingle, while the cassis (blackcurrant) offers a juicy, tart berry sweetness. Underpinning this is a crisp, dewy greenness that connects it to the original Pleasures DNA. This opening is lively, cheerful, and immediately feminine.
Within the first hour, the scent softens and blossoms into its floral heart. The peony is the star here—lush, rosy, and slightly powdery. It''s supported by the clean, airy notes of freesia and lily of the valley, with a touch of jasmine adding a hint of floral depth. The fruity tartness from the top notes lingers in the background, creating a sweet, peony-dominant bouquet that feels romantic and polished.
After several hours, Pleasures Delight settles into a soft, skin-scent drydown. The florals become a gentle whisper, blending seamlessly with a clean, warm base of cedarwood, white musk, and a touch of amber. This final stage is intimate, comforting, and slightly woody. It loses most of its initial fruity sparkle, leaving behind a trace of well-blended floral musk that can last for a significant time.
Performance Dashboard
Lasts a solid 6-8 hours on skin, transitioning gracefully from projection to a persistent skin scent.
Projects moderately for the first 2-3 hours, creating a personal scent bubble of about an arm''s length, before hugging closer to the skin.
Leaves a light, pleasant trail for the first few hours. It''s noticeable to those in close proximity but is not a heavy, room-filling scent.
When to Wear
Community Verdict
Receives consistent, polite compliments. It''s often described as ''you smell nice'' or ''what''s that pretty scent?'' rather than generating intense reactions. Its safe, pleasant profile makes it a reliable compliment-getter in casual and professional settings.
Pros & Cons
- ✅ Exceptionally versatile and office-safe
- ✅ Bright, cheerful, and uplifting opening
- ✅ Very easy to wear for any occasion
- ✅ Good longevity for a fresh floral EDT
- ✅ Often available at a discount, offering great value
- ❌ Scent profile is not unique or groundbreaking
- ❌ Drydown can be somewhat generic (clean musk)
- ❌ Projection is moderate, not a powerhouse
- ❌ The peony note may come across as slightly soapy to some noses
Price & Value
“Excellent value for money, especially when purchased from discount retailers. It offers reliable designer quality, good performance, and a pleasant scent at a very accessible price point.”
📜 Reformulation History
No major publicized reformulations or significant batch variation issues have been widely reported for Pleasures Delight. As a relatively recent flanker (2015), it has maintained a consistent profile since its launch.
Who It's For
✅ Ideal For
- Women aged 20-40 seeking a bright, easy-to-wear signature scent
- Beginners to fragrance looking for a safe, pretty floral
- Professionals who need an inoffensive, polished scent for the workplace
- Those who enjoy classic feminine florals with a modern, fruity twist
⚠️ Not Recommended For
- Those seeking deep, sultry, or intensely woody/oriental fragrances
- Individuals who dislike peony or sweet-berry notes
- Anyone looking for extreme longevity or massive projection for evening events
The Family
The original 1995 green floral masterpiece
A tropical, coconut-infused variation
A brighter, more citrusy and aquatic take on the Pleasures theme
Explore More
🔍 Similar Fragrances
Shares a prominent, romantic peony and rose heart, though Chloé is powderier and more rose-dominant.
A similarly bright, fresh, and peony-forward floral aimed at a youthful, cheerful audience.
While more citrus-aquatic, it occupies a similar space as a bright, daytime, crowd-pleasing designer scent.
A much sweeter and denser gourmand floral, but shares the target demographic of women seeking a happy, feminine, designer fragrance.
💡 Clone Alternatives
Often cited as a very close dupe for the original Pleasures, which shares significant DNA with Delight. A budget-friendly option with a similar fresh floral character.
A body spray that captures the sweet, candied peony aspect of Delight at a fraction of the cost for a similar vibe.
❤️ You May Also Enjoy
Offers a more intense, woody-ambery take on a floral bouquet for when you want a similar brand feel with more warmth.
Another cheerful, fruity-floral with excellent daytime wearability and a youthful spirit.
For those who enjoy the white floral and peony aspects but want a more luxurious, tuberose-forward presentation.
A more refined, niche interpretation of peony, paired with fruity notes and suede for a sophisticated twist.
More from Estée Lauder
🧪 Layering Ideas
- A vanilla-based body lotion (e.g., Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream) to add warmth and sweetness to the drydown.
- A crisp citrus or aquatic fragrance (like Elizabeth Arden Green Tea) to amplify the fresh, opening sparkle.
- A simple, clean musk perfume oil to bolster the intimate, skin-scent base and extend longevity.
🏆 Final Verdict
Estée Lauder Pleasures Delight is a smart, well-executed fragrance that knows exactly what it is and who it''s for. You should buy it if you are in the market for a no-fuss, pretty, and universally pleasant floral that can be worn anywhere, anytime. It excels as a signature scent for daily life—perfect for the office, running errands, or a casual lunch date.
Its greatest strength is its effortless versatility. You never have to think twice before spraying it. The bright, peony-and-berry opening is instantly uplifting, and the soft, musky drydown is inoffensive and comforting. While it won''t shock or awe the fragrance connoisseur with originality, it delivers exactly what it promises: a delightful dose of everyday joy.
Considering its frequent availability at discounters, Pleasures Delight represents outstanding value in the designer fragrance world. You get a reliable, good-performing scent from a prestigious house without the premium price tag. It''s an ideal first "big girl" perfume, a reliable backup bottle, or simply a cheerful staple for anyone who believes a fragrance should make you—and those around you—feel good.