Yves Saint Laurent

Burberry Goddess vs YSL Libre

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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

Libre vs Libre Intense by YSL

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Libre from YSL has sort of been all over the place since its release a few years back. It’s success lead to the release of Libre Intense, as a strengthened flankers scent. I grabbed samples of each of them for my upcoming reviews on these perfumes, but wanted to first do a comparison post. Which smells better? Is the one to buy?

Tale of the Tape: Libre vs. Intense

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

Libre Intense

Notes include: lavender, orange blossom, orchid, vanilla

Click here to try: Yves Saint Laurent for Women Libre 1.6 oz Eau de Parfum Intense Spray

Opening

Libre kicks off with a strong burst of the orange blossom (maybe some additional citrus fruit spritzed in) and the lavender, which will only grown more powerful.

It’s soapy, somewhat musky, and has a definite creaminess throughout. 

The main change that I get during the rest of the wear is the lavender becoming dominant and the musk coming out more. Very little orchid when compared to Intense and the vanilla isn’t a front and center.

Meanwhile, Libre Intense starts sweeter for me, but still not super sugary or anything. Less lavender/musk soapiness, a lot more orchid, and the orange blossom is about the same. Vanilla is a bigger player for the entire duration of the wear. 

Which do I prefer? I enjoy Intense a bit more than the original. It’s not a wide margin, but I like the different facets and the toned down lavender.

It actually reminds me of a more feminized Stronger with You by Armani or one of those flankers.

Edge: Intense

Projection

Libre isn’t a weak fragrance. I’d rate it as being at least in the upper range of moderate, if not firmly in the strong camp. As a mainstream designer wear, it’s got plenty of projection ability and will be very noticeable in the air around you, even after the opening act.

However, as by design, it doesn’t match up to the abilities of Intense. Libre Intense isn’t the strongest fragrance ever, but it for sure delivers the power. Bold with a pretty massive reach, at least for a time.

This category is easy for Intense, but that doesn’t mean that Libre isn’t great in its own right.

Edge: Intense

Longevity

Again, both of these perfumes are great with their performances. Libre will go 8-9 hours, on my skin. Which, all things considered, is about what you’d want in most situations.

Libre Intense goes into the double digit hours. Maybe 12-ish or a little longer. YSL didn’t cheap out when creating these formulations.

Testing out Intense numerous times, it just seems to want to keep going, even with a pretty small amount applied. It takes this category too.

Edge: Intense

Versatility

This is where Libre EDP gets the edge. It’s lighter formulation, allows it to fit into daytime environments, where Intense wouldn’t do as well. Intense does strike me as being more of a nighttime wear.

Also, Intense is pretty much a cold weather scent. If it’s not too warm, it’ll be fine, but above that it will melt. EDP isn’t for hotter temperatures, but it can venture into spring without issue.

Edge: Libre

 

Overall Scent

I like both of these fragrances. I’m not in love with either, but for what they are, you get a pleasing aroma and good performance. YSL did well with this line.

Libre EDP is an attractive fragrance. It’s much more floral. If you want a lavender and orange blossom mix, this might be the one for you. Not too complicated, but a nice wear.

Libre Intense is better, in my opinion. Not just because of the better performance, but also, I think it has more depth and better balance. I like that the lavender isn’t as heavy. The orchid is improved and the vanilla gets ramped up.

The formula is similar, naturally, but the balance of the notes themselves are just better overall. If you’re a fan of lavender in perfumes you can go with either of these for some good designer exposure to that note. 

It’s not a huge win for Intense, but it gets the nod.

Update: Coming back to these fragrances, I do still prefer Intense. Thus far, it’s my second favorite fragrance in the Libre line of perfumes. However, I think that Le Parfum is the top pick and the one I’d go with. 

Le Parfum is thicker and a bit different from the rest. But, it’s the best formulation and is more similar to these two releases during its dry down period.

Winner: Libre Intense

11 Best Smelling Yves Saint Laurent Perfumes for Women

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Yves Saint Laurent is one of my favorite fragrance houses there is. Two of the first bottle of cologne that I bought were Body Kouros and Opium Pour Homme. Both of these are among my favorites to wear on the cooler days and nights of fall and winter.

Needless to say, there are also many YSL scents on the women’s side of things that I also absolutely adore. For this list, I have selected what I feel to be the best offerings by Yves Saint Laurent for ladies.

Favorite YSL Perfumes for Her

Note: During this update, I was planning on pruning off some of the older and discontinued fragrances. One that I did remove was Cinema. Well, YSL re-released it this year.

So, that’s definitely one to try out. Not sure for how long it’ll be available. But, I’ve kept some of these picks on here, in case they do find their way back into production too. Also, I’ve added newer picks to expand things. 

belle d'opium review

The Better Black

Black Opium Le Parfum- The Black Opium series is pretty bland with a lot of their releases. Fine, for the most part, but nothing seemingly that good.

That was, until Le Parfum was released. To me, this is the best of the bunch as of now. I’ve smelled Over Red once, which I liked, but I can’t say it’s better than Black Opium Le Parfum.

Cinnamon, vanilla, coffee, and a touch of green mandarin. This one starts off sweet, but it’s got that spicy kick. Sort of starts like a warm coffee drink.

Jasmine and orange flower will emerge out of that and give it more balance. But, this one isn’t too complicated, vanilla and coffee with a light floral blend. But, the perfume is very attractive and does the Black Opium name a great service. Black Opium Le Parfum review

Floral Powdery Scent

Paris By Yves Saint Laurent For Women. Eau De Toilette Spray 4.2 Oz.
A wonderfully feminine perfume named after The City of Lights. It is a long-lasting fragrance that isn’t overpowering and includes notes of rose, amber, mimosa, moss, sandalwood, and orange flower.

This is a classic type of floral, with rose, violet, and iris leading the way. It can be quite powdery, so, if that’s not your thing maybe stay away from this.

However, I wouldn’t put that down as too much of a deterrent, because this fragrance is still beautiful in its vintage presentation.

paris

Top Mon Paris Fragrance

Yves Saint Laurent Mon Paris Intensement Women EDP Spray Floral 3 Ounce– The original Mon Paris release wasn’t bad. However, I think that Intensement is for sure the better smelling overall perfume.

It starts off with the same black currant and berry accord as the original. Though, Intensement tones down the use of datura, and has a more prominent rose note.

With the fruits and patchouli early on, Mon Paris Intensement has a fruit-chouli vibe, but the rose and peony will take over the composition.

The sillage and longevity are good here. In testing, this one got me 8-9 hours on the skin, and it wasn’t a weak skin scent for that duration. Read my Full Review

Favorite Libre Perfume

Libre Le Parfum– Le Parfum is my personal favorite from the YSL Libre series of perfumes. I wasn’t big on the original, Intense was better, and Platine is fine.

This, however, is a really fantastic release from the designer.

This is warm and cozy with a toned down lavender note, especially in the beginning. The citrus top notes are paired with ginger, saffron, honey, vanilla, and orange blossom. Yes, there’s a lot going on, but it’s well put together.

It will move toward being a honeyed vanilla and the lavender will really come into its own. Still, not as dominant as in the EDP for example.

Plenty of body with this one, it’s rich, with a great projection and lasts beyond ten hours on skin. Worth trying out for sure. Libre Le Parfum

Best Le Vestiaire des Parfums Scent

Trench by Yves Saint Laurent- Trench is my favorite Le Vestiaire des Parfums option from YSL, that leans toward women while being unisex. A lot of designers now have these higher priced niche perfumes, but most of them seem to be loaded with amber, oud, rose, etc.

Trench on the other hand, is a beautiful citrus floral with notes of iris, cedar, musk, and bergamot. What sets it apart is the infusion of fig and a nice tangerine. Yes, the iris is powdery, but it isn’t overly so despite it being the lead ingredient.

This one is a musky citrus floral up top, which dries down into a woody floral. The citrus notes are there but don’t come across as a super tart and juicy. Instead, they play the background and support the main structure.

Very subtle fragrance, so don’t expect a huge sillage. Though, the longevity is actually great in its understated elegance.

Best Winter Fragrance

OPIUM For Women By YVES SAINT LAURENT Eau de Toilette Spray 3 oz
An exotic classic that is spicy and oriental in its presentation. Mandarin, myrrh, jasmine, and bergamot. Opium is a sensually intriguing experience that drives the imagination to dream up distant lands.

Beautiful. Obviously, since the release in the 1970s, this perfume has undergone reformulations as just about everything has to.

However, the newer incarnation, is still a very nice fragrance. It still has its spicy, warm, and sweet notes with its underlying herbal and citrus tones that waft up throughout the wear. Opium has retained its charm and is actually a breathe of fresh air when compared to many newer releases.

Having access to the classic formula, would be great, but Opium is still a fantastic option for women; especially when compared with many other perfumes out there. Opium EDT review

Classic Yves Saint Laurent

Rive Gauche By Yves Saint Laurent For Women. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.3 Oz– A blast from the past, this 1970s fragrance is a sure fire classic.

Notes of sandalwood, oakmoss, honeysuckle, gardenia, and others form an intense, clean, and powdery scent. Unique, inspiring, and long-lasting.

Rive Gauche opens up with a icy shot of aldehydes, light crisp fruit notes, and a further dewy/greenish sort of aroma. Personally, I tend to pick up a peach note, as the main aspect of the fruit accord.

At least, with the latest decant I tried out, that’s what really came across early. Not massive, but it’s there.

It blends together as a powdery smell, but underneath you can pick out the floral notes such as rose and gardenia.

Plus, the fresh oak moss, vetiver, and other woody elements come together to create a clean and simply sophisticated perfume. Rive Gauche review

rivegauchew

Another Libre Scent

Yves Saint Laurent for Women Libre 1.6 oz Eau de Parfum Intense Spray– Libre Intense is the follow up to the popular YSL Libre. The thing is, Intense is the better perfume, due to its balance and deeper profile.

As I wrote earlier in this post, Le Parfum is now my favorite so far in the series.

Libre Intense begins as a sweeter fragrance and less of a complete lavender bomb. This allows Intense to not be as much of a soapy sort of scent and they really ramp up the vanilla and orchid notes in this version.

The performance is also fantastic. The original was no slouch, but Libre Intense will go for over 12 hours, and maintains a powerful stillage. If you do want the super lavender punch, go with the original. Intense is still better for most folks, however.

Soft and Sweet Vanilla

Yves Saint Laurent Manifesto Eau de Parfum Spray for Women, 3 Ounce
A discontinued YSL release which features notes of lily of the valley, black currant, bergamot, and other green notes.

Manifesto is a lovely and soft fragrance  that is both sweet and captivating.

It starts out with the black currant and bergamot, which are both sweet and tart together, and get paired with a creamy vanilla note.

Manifesto dries down to a green/woody floral, with vanilla and tonka bean sitting on top. This is an attractive daily wear fragrance, that isn’t too loud, but still smells wonderful.

I’m not sure how much this is around still. So, you might have to track Manifesto down online, if you’re interested in trying it out.

manifesto

Most Unique Fragrance

Belle D’Opium FOR WOMEN by Yves Saint Laurent – 1.6 oz EDP Spray– Belle D’Opium is now discontinued, so, if you want to get a bottle it’s pretty much online only. This take on the Opium name is laden with fruits like peach and mandarin.

However, it also features warm and smoky incense. Plus, floral notes like lily, rose, and gardenia.

It a deep and exciting blend, which hits many different aromas, and goes from sweet to spicy to floral to woody and everything in between. Oh, and let’s not forget to mention, the prime role that the tobacco note plays in the whole thing.

The tobacco is more of a sweet and cured note than an unprocessed green-ish type of fragrances. Blended with the smokiness, you get a sweet and woodsy fragrance, with a lot of depth. If you can find a bottle around, it is well worth a try. Belle d’Opium review

Most Popular YSL Perfume

Yves Saint Laurent Eau De Parfum Spray for Women, Black Opium, 3 Ounce– Black Opium has become a best seller in the women’s perfume space over the past few years. I think that it is good enough to include it on the list of the top YSL offerings, now.

Black Opium, would seemingly seem like it would be a darker fragrance, but it is actually quite sweet.

It is led by coffee and vanilla, as its main notes, along with warm pink pepper and cedar. This is warm, sweet, and powerful but not for everyone. Sure, it has mass appeal, but some think that the sweetness is too much and the perfume can become too enveloping.

I generally like Black Opium and I think that it has also spawned some fairly nice flanker scents, as well, such as Intense. Though, none of them are all that amazing, when compared to the original.

It’s pretty much a cold to moderate climate wear, so, it won’t get too much use in summer or if you live in a tropical area. Black Opium Review

Mon Paris Lumiere EDT by YSL

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Mon Paris Lumiere is another entry from the fairly long-running YSL series. This perfume was released in 2022. I got a sample of this a while ago, with another order of fragrances, so I tested it out for a full review. How does Lumiere smell? Does it last long? Is it worth a try?

What does Mon Paris Lumiere Smell Like?

Notes include: Isparta rose, lemon, jasmine, datura, white lotus, patchouli, musk

My Full Review

Here’s how YSL describes it: A chypre floral aquatic, as radiant and vertiginous as being loved under Parisian skies. The hypnotic fragrance of datura flower is embraced by the radiance of the white lotus flower and the elegance of the Isparta rose heart absolute. The scent of ecstatic love, a clash of light for an everlasting trail. 

Lumiere opens up bright, sweet, with an aquatic/ozonic accord underneath. It makes the floral notes seem like they’re floating in water.

Early, it’s notes of lemon, white lotus, and the datura. A few minutes in, I get some jasmine, but that never feels super powerful in this mix. At least on my skin.

It’s a tad odd, when I smell it sometimes, but I think Lumiere works. I do like the fresh and energizing aroma that this has, even if I’m not sold on the early lemon use.

Early, this does have some distinction from Mon Paris Intensment, which has a fruit-chouli aroma to it. That one joins a lighter datura note with black currant and rose in the early stages.

Here, we get the lighter and ozonic style that works better in the heat, but doesn’t have that same substantial feeling in the first half.

The next phase, is more floral and musky. Less of the ozonic aspect and the citrus will start to fade. It becomes more rosy, less lotus, and the jasmine is still involved. Not dominated by any of the floral notes here. Everything seems balanced for the duration.

Basically, Mon Paris Lumiere will end with it’s floral notes, freshness, patchouli, and musk. Not super deep or complex. More like the others in the series, in the second half of the wear.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

This is a lighter and fresher scent, but Mon Paris Lumiere isn’t one that is super airy or non-detectable. Actually, overall between it’s ability to leave a scent trail and just project more generally, is a bit above average. At least, for a couple of hours.

On my skin, this one will stick around for 6-6.5 hours. It’s nothing that’s going to be a beast performer. It’s just pretty much okay, across the board.

I thought that this might have a bit more to it, than what I actually got. I didn’t expect a completely massive scent, but I did think that I’d get more than six or so hours out of Lumiere.

Seasonally, Lumiere is a warm weather perfume that’s built for spring and summer. It’s not as heavy as others in the series, so, this YSL can be a good change of pace for those who like this formula and want a springtime variant.

It’s more of a daytime wear. It’s not very formal, but it’d work for most circumstances and can be worn by any age. There’s nothing here that is going to be off-putting for most people.

Overall Impressions of Lumiere

Overall, do I like Mon Paris Lumiere? It’s pretty good. It’s probably somewhere between the original and Mon Paris Intensement. I liked Intensement more than the first one. Lumiere isn’t doing anything wholly different or better than either, however.

The lemon and white lotus combination, in the early stages is nice enough. There’s nothing here that blows me away, but this is a likeable release from YSL.

It’s freshness and musk can be a nice pick me up on a warmer day. The rose and jasmine back half is fine, it’s been done a million times, we’re not breaking much new ground with this perfume.

Lumiere is pretty much a true flanker fragrance, not really going way off in the other direction versus others from the Mon Paris lineup.

Likeable at full price? Probably not. If another from the Mon Paris series is one of your signature scents, you’ll almost certainly like this one. If you didn’t care for one the others, this one isn’t likely to make you a new fan.

A pretty good perfume, with fairly average performance. Get it for a discount, if you can. Or, just skip it entirely.

Libre Le Parfum by YSL

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Libre Le Parfum was released as a flanker to the popular YSL original back in 2022. I received a few samples of it some months back and tested it out. It wasn’t one that I was particularly excited about trying, but actually came away pleasantly surprised by this perfume. How does it smell? How long does it last? Continue below for my full thoughts.

Libre Le Parfum Overview

Notes include: ginger, saffron, mandarin orange, bergamot, orange blossom, lavender, vanilla, honey, tonka bean, vetiver

Click here to try: Libre Le Parfum

My Full Review

One of the main things that I notice early on with Libre Le Parfum, is how quiet the lavender note is on my skin early. Now, come to find out that it will be more substantial later on, I do like the change of pace from others in the series.

The opening has a good dose of mandarin orange/bergamot, while not ever taking over the composition. It’s held in check by the ginger, saffron, honey, vanilla, and especially the orange blossom. That is the floral note (and note in general) that leads the way here.

Parfum is warm and cozy. The spice is potent, while we get a thick sweetness as well, in this opening act.

After a few minutes, the citrus will fade, as will some of the ginger. Here, I get a mix of saffron, and honey with the orange blossom. The other notes will be sitting underneath this as the main accord for a while.

The next phase for me is the lavender coming on strong at the expense of the orange blossom. It will be even for a little bit, but lavender quickly takes on the dominant role out of the floral notes.

With that, less saffron, ginger is pretty much gone, but you get the tonka bean in their place. So, it’s really a vanilla and honeyed aroma at this point. A sweet, honey-vanilla dipped floral fragrance.

The dry down is mostly lavender and vanilla with a touch of vetiver poking through. Not as thick, still somewhat sweet, but more of a cleaner aromatic smell at this point. Closer to what you get with Libre and Libre Intense.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Le Parfum is a heavy and thick fragrance with plenty of projection. It will leave a nice scent trail for a long time. On me, it felt a tad weaker than Libre Intense, but it is still close to being the strongest of the bunch so far.

The longevity here is fantastic. I get 10-11 hours at least, with Le Parfum sometimes venturing into the 12 hour range. I don’t think it’ll go beyond that on my skin, but this Libre flanker is no slouch.

Seasonally, due to its ingredients and how heavy of a scent it can be, this one is made for the autumn and winter months. I wouldn’t expect to be wearing this outside during the summer months or if you live in a particularly tropical climate.

Add to that, this is one that can really shine in the nightlife, during those colder months. That warmth, sweetness, and enveloping cozy aroma is great. Attractive and bold with what it brings to the table.

Maybe not the best for formal wear or work (depending on your office). Some of you will be able to pull it off in that environment. But, this is just a really nice gourmand version of Libre.

Overall Impressions of Le Parfum

Overall, do I like Libre Le Parfum? Yes, I think it is the best release of the series thus far. I used to think that was Libre Intense, but this surpasses it. Also, it is easily better than L’Absolu Platine which came out around the same timeframe.

It does everything well, so long as you enjoy this sort of heavier gourmand style. It won’t be for absolutely everyone, of course, but I think that most people would enjoy this YSL perfume.

I’d say that this one is a buy. It’s definitely one to try out and see how it works for you, at the very least.

Again, it’d be my number one pick from the Libre line. I wasn’t a big fan of the original, but this and Intense really carry the banner well.

One of the better designer releases in the past few years. It doesn’t seem to get the same attention as things like Burberry Goddess (this is better) or even the other Libre options.