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Burberry Goddess has become a very popular fragrance for women over the past few years. Another now pretty standard option is Libre by YSL. It has spawned a bunch of different flanker perfumes of the formula, but the original is still quite well loved.
But, which of these two perfumes smells better? Which of them lasts longer? Which is the fragrance that you should buy?
Tale of the Tape: Goddess vs. Libre
Burberry Goddess
Notes include: lavender, vanilla, cacao, ginger, vanilla absolute, vanilla caviar
Click here to try: Goddess by Burberry
Read my review: Goddess
Libre EDP
Notes include: lavender, white musks, orange flower, vanilla, orchid
Click here to try: Yves Saint Laurent Libre Eau De Parfum Spray for Women 90ml/3oz, clear
Read my review: Libre EDP
Opening
Libre eau de parfum opens with a vibrant blast of orange blossom (possibly with other citrus notes mixed in) alongside lavender, which grows increasingly the focus as it develops.
The fragrance has a soapy, somewhat musky quality with a creamy undertone that runs throughout. As it evolves, the lavender takes center stage while the musk becomes more pronounced.
The orchid is much more subdued compared to what you get with something like Libre Intense, and the vanilla stays in the background rather than leading the composition.
Goddess takes a sweet rather than tart direction, moving away from any fruity elements. Here, vanilla emerges early accompanied by cacao notes, but there’s also a ginger component that adds lovely freshness right from the start.
Despite being vanilla-forward, it feels lighter and cooler than you’d typically expect from such perfumes.
Which is better? I think that I prefer how Goddess starts out versus the YSL. It’s not a massive advantage, but I just like the sweeter notes and use of ginger.
Edge: Goddess
Projection
Libre delivers solid performance. I’d place it in the upper moderate to strong category for intensity. For a mainstream designer fragrance, it projects well and maintains a noticeable presence in your personal space even after the initial spray settles.
Goddess never reaches the same intensity levels as Libre. I anticipated it might be stronger going in, but it actually maintains moderate strength throughout its wear.
Most of the time it sits at what you might call a lighter moderate level. It’s not weak by any means, just not demanding attention, like I thought it might.
Edge: Libre
Longevity
Libre delivers 8-9 hours of longevity on my skin, which is pretty much ideal for most occasions. Others in the series can go longer, but the EDP is still solid.
Goddess clocks in at around 6.5 hours maximum. It doesn’t drop much below that threshold, but it lacks the endurance that Libre offers.
The performance is a clear cut edge for the YSL.
Edge: Libre
Versatility
Seasonally, both are good in the autumn and winter months. I think that Goddess, can do just fine in the springtime too, but Libre is better at it between them.
Libre is a great option for those who want a daytime wear. It’s stronger, but it fits in well without being overly sweet. While not formal, it is more suited to something like that than the Burberry.
With Goddess, you can wear it in the daytime or nighttime. It’s not a nightlife beast either, the sweetness isn’t too unbearable or anything for most occasions.
There’s not a huge gulf between these fragrances, but I’d give Libre the slight edge.
Edge: Libre
Overall Scent
Overall, which of these two fragrances do I prefer?
Libre EDP is an appealing fragrance with a distinctly floral character. If you’re seeking a lavender and orange blossom combination, this could be your match. It’s not overly complex, but it wears nicely.
Libre also has the better performance between these two scents.
The opening of Burberry Goddess is delightful. The heart of things, with vanilla and lavender works beautifully too, staying balanced without becoming overwhelming while maintaining an airy quality.
The dry down becomes fairly straightforward with heavy vanilla and some amber presence, yet Goddess remains enjoyable throughout.
However, when it comes to which fragrance I enjoy smelling more, I’ll go with the Burberry. It’s not a whole lot better, but I think that the composition overall just as a better scent.
Winner: Goddess
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Best Men’s Colognes started back in 2013, as a way to share my learning experiences with the different fragrances that I’ve owned, as I dove head first into the hobby. Since then, that new hobby grew into a consistent passion, helping millions of readers along the way. I have personally written reviews for well over 800 perfumes and colognes for both men and women. This is along with writing hundreds of other in-depth fragrance guides.