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I was very pleased to be able to get a hold of a travel sprayer full of Jazz EDT by Yves Saint Laurent. This 1980s classic has gone off the market and back on, even being offered in a slightly different version, under a slightly different name. Nonetheless, I was excited to be able to get the original, and experience it once again. In this post, I will share my experiences with how it smells and performs, and whether I think it is still worth a try.
What does YSL Jazz Smell Like?
Notes include: lavender, coriander, nutmeg, artemisia, tobacco, geranium, jasmine, carnation, cardamom, basil, and more
Click here to try: Jazz by Yves Saint Laurent
Jazz by YSL: My Full Review
Jazz is a fragrance which dates back to the late 1980s and you definitely can tell from the very first spray. That’s not to say that it’s dated, but it just has a smell and style that newer releases simply do not. That can be good or bad, based on your tastes.
It opens up with a spicy freshness. The main spices here are the coriander and nutmeg. Anise also comes through. Initially, you can pick up on notes like basil and a slight cinnamon, but that is short-lived.
Underneath the spice, is the ever-present and strengthening lavender note, with other dry notes such as: oakmoss, tobacco, and a bit of leather. It’s a classic clean spice with dry woodsy undertones.
The floral notes other than lavender, do come in to support the main attraction. It’s really blended well and none of the notes stick out too much to me.
As it moves along, Jazz EDT, moves more into a floral clean and somewhat sweet arena. Artemisia, geranium, with some very light amber and tonka bean give it a smoother appeal.
This combined with the lavender, creates a very nice mix, with its more masculine features occupying the base.
The final result is a dry, fresh, green floral/spice blend, that is fairly barbershop in its essence. Jazz is a great fougere example, that is balanced, and still retains a mass appeal. There’s a nice mossy finish towards the end or at least the impression of moss, anyway.
Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility
The sillage is pretty strong at first, but it does become more moderate for the rest of the wear. It is noticeable, but not completely in your face, with its power.
Though not a powerhouse, the longevity, is actually very good on my skin. During testing, I was able to get 9-10 hours of wear from this YSL cologne, without any issue. I was actually surprised that a newer batch, could still bring it with the performance.
Seasonally, it works in any season but the height of summer. I would go with either autumn or spring, as it fits in well with the more moderate temperatures, versus either extreme.
This is best suited for men in their mid-20s and up. If you’re a younger guy and want something different, you could still pull it off. It can be worn casually, at the office, or for an evening out. It has a certain level of sexiness, but isn’t a club banger, by any means.
It’s versatile for many other situations, as it isn’t likely to offend or be obtrusive when wearing it. Very solid all around.
Overall Impression of Jazz by YSL
Do I like this fragrance? I do. That’s saying something, because this isn’t usually my style, but I can wear Jazz and like doing so. It’s not my favorite ever, or even favorite Yves Saint Laurent, but I do appreciate the scent.
It’s a great throwback to another era of colognes. There are others which smell, quite a bit like this one, but this is still a wonderful scent. I wish I could get a hold of Live Jazz, as I remember really liking that fragrance, possibly more so than the original.
This one has been reformulated over the years, so, it probably won’t exactly smell how it used to be. Not too much of a problem, if you’re new to it. Honestly, it still has plenty of life and I have to say that I find it pretty enjoyable.
If you want a lavender blend or something with that classic dry spiciness, Jazz is one to try out. Not going to be one if you’re looking for a super sweet or boozy kind of scent. The fragrance hits the spiciness, floral accords, and gives you a clean masculine finish.
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User Review
( votes)
Best Men’s Colognes started back in 2013, as a way to share my learning experiences with different fragrances, as I dove head first into the hobby. Since then, I have written hundreds of reviews and other pages about perfumes and colognes.
You’ve got to be kidding. They want $174.55 for 2.7 fluid ounces of Jazz on Amazon. I try to find the lowest price possible online for Estee Lauder’s White Linen perfume for me. Maybe you don’t consider that expensive, but we’re on a fixed income. I wish Tsar wasn’t discontinued. Everyone would stop my husband and ask him what he was wearing. He hasn’t found another cologne that he likes since we can’t get Tsar anymore, so he goes without wearing any.
I think Jazz just got discontinued, which is why people are selling old bottles for so much money. It used to be half that price or less. The Dua Brand has their version of Tsar, called Emperor’s Elixir, it’s supposed to be a clone. I haven’t tried that one, but it’s $60 for a 1 ounce Extrait de Parfum concentration. I don’t have to spray as much with my Dua fragrances that I own, so they last me as long as 2+ ounce bottles. They do a really good job at closely replicating other fragrances, so it might work for your husband. Here’s the link: https://theduabrand.com/products/emperor-s-elixir?_pos=1&_sid=eef5660da&_ss=r