There are few fragrances worthy of Perfume Hall of Fame status, but Estée Lauder’s Bronze Goddess is one of them. This warm, coconutty, vanilla-rich floral scent is one of the bestselling summer fragrances, and it’s easy to see why.
Since it launched in 2008, Estée Lauder has launched a few spinoff and limited-edition Bronze Goddess scents, all with similar notes to the original (tiare flower, coconut, amber, sandalwood and vanilla) but with slight twists. I’ve tried them all and this one (now a permanent edition) is, I think, the best of the bunch – and it’s cheaper than the orginal.
Bronze Goddess Nuit Eau de Parfum is a slightly more sultry, sensual version, yet still has warm, beachy vibes of the much-loved classic. Its fragrance notes include bergamot essence, ylang ylang and pepper, along with coconut and white florals like the orginal Eau Fraiche.
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Bronze Goddess Nuit Eau de Parfum, now £49 from Seophora (was £70)
For me, it’s my go-to perfume when I want to be reminded of sunnier days, a grown up ‘solar scent’ (or sun cream scent), a fragrance trend that has become popular in recent years, especially in summer.
Bronze Goddess Nuit is available to buy in 50ml and 100ml bottles from retailers including Boots, John Lewis and Lookfantastic, although the cheapest place you’ll currently find it is on Sephora, where it’s currently £49 instead of the usual £70 – that’s a saving of 30%.
It’s clearly a hit with shoppers too, as almost all the reviews online have given it five out of five stars, calling it “great for holidays and summer”:
“Love this perfume it’s just like the original except with added scent of coconut. Smells just like expensive sun cream,” this customer continued.
“I kept seeing people saying that this smells like summer in a bottle and they were not wrong! Smells like beautiful, expensive sun cream. Gorgeous!” another agreed.
“This perfume smells so nice – sweet and sultry,” a third reads. “It has a floral beginning but sets with a woody undertone. The perfect blend of jasmine and salted coconut notes makes it an easy choice for a summer night.”
If you’re looking for something a little more floral you might like this other Estée Lauder iteration, Bronze Goddess Flora Verde Eau de Parfum, a vibrant, floral take on the classic inspired by the carnival spirit of Rio de Janeiro. A 50ml bottle costs £70 and is available to buy now from retailers such as Sephora, Fenwick and Boots.
I also really rate Sun by Jil Sander, which has nostalgic vibes – and is under £20 on Amazon.
