I recently got a hold of a sample sprayer of L’Homme Libre by YSL. Now, I really enjoy Yves Saint Laurent fragrances for the most part and especially some of the other scents in the line of L’Homme titled colognes that they have put out.
So, I was quite excited to try out Libre for myself and see if it would take a top spot among YSL’s catalog of colognes. In this post, I want to take a closer look at Libre and give my opinion on whether or not it is worth checking out.
What does L’Homme Libre Smell Like?
Notes include: violet leaf, basil, leather, pink pepper, star anise
My Full Wear Review
Libre opens with a slightly sweet and mellowed spice aroma on top of a leather note. Immediately, it is dominated by basil, violet leaf, and the aforementioned leather. I can also detect the pink pepper which adds to the spiciness of the fragrance.
It really is a rather unique cologne in a sense, as it is an earthy/woodsy scent with a spice such as Burberry London, but has a sweetness to it like Opium Pour Homme also by YSL.
Again, Libre is wholly different from those fragrances, since the spice isn’t very sharp and it is a very fresh cologne. It sort of reminds my of Uomo by Zegna, if you replaced the heavy citrus notes.
The opening 10-15 minutes of this can seem kind of strong and may turn people away but I think that the fragrance really begins to shine in the drydown period.
The sweetness of Libre begins to take on a more prominent role, it’s a great fruit influence into the main heart of the scent. I really liked Libre at this point, it feels really masculine yet clean and unique from many other scents.
Libre becomes super smooth, refreshing, and the violet leaf note sits perfectly on the woodsy base. This is a very different animal from the other L’Homme fragrances in the lineup. Really, it doesn’t resemble any of the others, in my opinion.
There’s lots of basil and star anise, among other things, to give Libre a refreshing, but herbal green sort of spice. The warmth of the pink pepper is still there and there is also a bit of pachouli thrown in to rough the composition up a little.
Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility
Projection wise, I’d say it’s moderate bordering on heavy at first and then lightens up a bit as it transitions into the drydown.
The sillage overall is good and much better than what I’ve ever gotten with YSL L’Homme. It becomes this semi-sweet green fragrance highlighted by a pink pepper spice and leather.
Libre does also seem to last for a long time, as well. All work day in most situations shouldn’t be a problem. It is one of the better performing flankers from this Saint Laurent line of fragrances, somewhere in the 8-9 hour range
I would wear it on days with a moderate temperature, I think it would buckle in hot weather and might be somewhat out of place during the dead of winter.
Libre is sort of an odd duck in that way. I generally wore this stuff during the later spring months, but did throw it on at night, during the summer a few times.
Is it attractive? Yes, it is an attractive scent, with its own masculine sexiness. This is a good cologne for work and something non-intrusive to wear out at night. Would be a good date night fragrance or to a lounge type setting.
L’Homme Libre isn’t a night club monster or anything. It generally handles it business and fits in a lot of different scenarios without demanding anyone pay attention to it.
Overall Impressions of L’Homme Libre
Overall, is it a buy? I definitely like it a lot. Is it my favorite? No, but it is really enjoyable to me. I don’t think it’s an amazing cologne, rather, it is one that is very good overall.
It also might not be every guy’s cup of tea, especially if you don’t like earthy/green/woodsy scents with a spice to them.
Yves Saint Laurent makes some great colognes and I actually think some of the other scents in the L’Homme line are better than Libre. So, that fact may prevent me from purchasing a full bottle of Libre. But again, I do think it is a cologne worth wearing.
I know that it has been discontinued as of this 2021 update, so, if you want a bottle…better start grabbing them up. It’s gotten pretty expensive, but don’t overpay for this.
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. You can also follow me on: YouTube, Instagram, and Tiktok!
