Why Editors Are Hailing Estée Lauder’s Glimmer As The Season’s Most Optimistic Scent

Not every fragrance launch warrants a second look. After years of covering beauty and a whole shelf in my linen closet solely dedicated to my favorite perfumes, I know the difference between a fragrance that's beautiful on paper and one that's genuinely worth your attention. Estée Lauder's new Glimmer is the latter. Maybe that's because there's something kind of refreshing about a fall fragrance that chooses optimism over brooding, and this is just that. While the season tends to inspire scents that lean introspective and even a bit heavy, Glimmer goes warm and luminous instead: an amber floral with a gourmand twist that feels less closed off and more like an opening up.

The Face Of The Fragrance

But before we get into the notes, we have to talk about the face of the new launch. Tapping acclaimed actress and singer Hailee Steinfeld for this was clearly intentional: With her infectious energy and unmistakable voice, she embodies exactly what Glimmer is about: finding those little sparks of joy, sharing them with those around you, and letting one good moment turn into another. Steinfeld’s campaign rendition of Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good” captures that spirit perfectly. And if Steinfeld is the spark, the fragrance follows suit starting bright and fruity then blooming into a soft floral that lingers.

Not Your Standard Accords

It starts with raspberry mousse, a juicy burst that feels bright and playful, before giving way to orange flower and its softer, more luminous floral quality. At the heart of it is a Macaron Rose Accord that keeps things interesting. As it suggests, it isn't your standard rose. Almond lends a creamy richness while subtle lychee lifts everything just enough to keep it feeling fresh and airy rather than cloying. It's the kind of softness that feels entirely right for the season — warm enough for a crisp morning and afternoon, refined enough for wherever the evening takes you.

From there, the exclusive Amber Embrace Accord brings everything back down to earth with a musky, cashmere-like warmth that settles onto the skin like the soft glow of golden-hour light. It’s comforting without being overly done, and exactly what a fall fragrance should feel like.

Shimmering patchouli brings it together and it's a brighter, cleaner take on patchouli than you might expect: none of the dusty heaviness the note sometimes carries, just a subtle warmth and longevity that deepens as the day goes on.

A Feeling That Lingers

What sets Glimmer apart is how effortlessly it holds its contradictions. It is warm but weightless, rich but not heavy, cozy and ethereal at once. It’s a fragrance that’s genuinely rare, and genuinely magnetic. And in a season that can trend towards moody, that feels like exactly enough.