ysl

MYSLF EDP by YSL

by

Myslfn is a new release from Yves Saint Laurent for 2023. After the endless Y and L’Homme flankers, I was excited to learn that they had come out with something different. I didn’t know anything about it before buying a sample online. How does this one smell? Does it last long? Is it worth a buy?

What does Myslf by YSL Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, orange blossom, woods, patchouli, ambrofix

Click here to try: Myslf by YSL

My Full Review

Here’s how YSL describes it: The first YSL Beauty woody floral for a contrasted trail of modernity.

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this YSL coming into testing it. I saw comparisons between it and the women’s perfume, Libre by YSL after I ordered my sample, and wasn’t too excited for the prospect.

The thing is, it’s not really like Libre. Maybe closer to Libre L’Absolu Platine, which I also have a sample of. Even then, you’d have to strip out the lavender and aldehydes, which are major players in that fragrance.

Myslf starts off with it’s ‘fresh accord’, which basically consists of bergamot citrus notes, sitting on top of a strong use of orange blossom. It’s actually very nice.

The first time I wore this, I went outside for a stroll around the neighborhood and was loving the opening act and its mix of freshness and creaminess from the white floral.

The orange blossom will take over much of what the bergamot controlled up top. Patchouli and wood also appear, providing a slight earthy and spicy quality, while Myslf still manages to feel fairly clean.

The dry down comes and there is less distinction between the notes. The usual ambroxan fare, with the woody base, and a general aromatic smell perched front and center.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The projection in that first hour is good. Not a heavy fragrance, but it leaves a scent trail, and you can easily smell it on yourself.

I like to test scents outside, when I go for a daily walk. This was fantastic in that 30 minute window, when I had it sprayed on my wrist only. The scent itself was lovely, along with how it hung around me. Not quite a thick cloud, but more than a mist.

On my skin, this one will go for 6-7 hours. However, those last 3-4 hours are skin scent level performance. The first hour is really good and the next couple after that are decent.

Not an amazing performer. At the price point that Myslf is at, this is a reasonably disappointing result.

Seasonally, Myslf works best in the spring through autumn. It could be a year round fragrance, for those in a warmer climate. But, I’d probably go with something else during winter, for everyone else.

It’s a versatile clean. Any age group can wear it. Myslf isn’t a formal, wear it with a tuxedo type of cologne, but it works as an office daily wear. At school, casually, semi-formal events, etc.

It’s a scent that will be well-liked by others. It’s not a sexy sort of fragrance or one that’ll be a nightlife beast, either. Just one that can fit in pretty much anywhere else.

Overall Impressions of Myslf

Overall, do I like this fragrance? I do like it. It’s not a must have for me, but I do especially enjoy the first half of the wear.

Myslf isn’t a super unique or complex cologne. Though, that fresh accord paring with the orange blossom is very nice and attractive. It’s an easy to wear scent, that is clean and super versatile with its uses.

I like the light spiciness that comes through and that touch of earthiness. It’d be cool with some more of that.

Is it going to be one for those who love niche fragrances? Probably not. However, for the average consumer, this is a legitimate option if you just want to smell pleasant.

My biggest problem with this YSL, is the performance relative to the price. Not insanely expensive, but I want more longevity and power if I’m paying retail. I saw the small bottle selling for just under $90, which is a lot more than I’m willing to give up.

Outside of that, I think this is a very solid release. So long as you don’t have sky high expectations about what it should be or what YSL might have released instead of this.

La Nuit De L’Homme L’Intense by Yves Saint Laurent

by

I had never smelled this particular Yves Saint Laurent fragrance going into this review and I had high hopes since it shares the name of La Nuit De L’Homme. How does L’Intense stack up against some of the other offerings by YSL? In this post, I want to explore how it smells, what’s in it, how it performs, and whether or not I think that it is worth a buy?

What does La Nuit de L’Homme L’Intense Smell Like?

Notes include: violet, sage, iris, patchouli, vanilla, tonka bean

Click here to try: Yves Saint Laurent La Nuit De L’homme L’intense Eau De Parfum Spray, 2.0 Ounce

My Full Review

I’m not always a huge fan of floral notes in my fragrances, in most cases and as the main attraction, anyways. I like iris a lot, but am not a fan of violet.

So, I was suspicious off the bat as to whether or not this cologne would be any good, but I usually really like Yves Saint Laurent fragrances.

The opening is a sweet and powdery floral experience, highlighted by the violet and iris notes. Actually, it wasn’t that bad and seemed pretty appealing to me, though,

I don’t really understand the connection with the original La Nuit De L’Homme. I guess it has a similar vibe, just not the actual smell.

I wish it were a more intense version of the original. Most of the same notes, just beefed up, because that is a pretty light sort of fragrance…especially the newer formulations.

L’Intense does smell quite feminine to me though, it’s sweet and soft, and while it does have some masculine elements…it reminds me of a ladies’ scent.

It really does just have this persistent powder-laden candy aroma for much of the first few hours of wear, that is at time appealing but also can feel like it’s too much at times.

Not too much because it’s an ‘intense’ fragrance, but because the sweetness and floral notes just get headache inducing, much like my experience with Lolita Lempicka. I think it’s pretty much due to violet, as I actually like the way iris smells.

So, at this point, it doesn’t smell like La Nuit De L’Homme in the slightest and it’s not really intense…I begin to wonder what the purpose of this EDP was. It does settle down into more of a patchouli and sage mixture after a while but the aroma is mostly the same throughout.

The early stages do give me plenty of the violet note, which isn’t great. Then, the iris will gain more control. Sage is the spice in Intense, in lieu of the cardamom of the original. But, it’s not too detectable past the opening 20 minutes or so.

After that, most of the wear is going to be heavier iris with a vanilla and tonka bean sweetness and the remaining violet swirling around.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it’s pretty moderate, not intense but I didn’t find it overly weak either. Probably on par with the original La Nuit, maybe a bit stronger than the newer bottles of that.

It’s longevity on the other hand, isn’t even moderate. I get about 3-4 hours out of this. Seriously, the performance is lousy. Since this one has many similarities with Dior Homme or Prada L’Homme, you’d think the performance could equal those. But, no.

It’d probably be best worn as a fall/winter cologne on casual occasions. The powdery feeling and underlying tonka bean are going to hold up best in the cold. This could be worn to work or casual to semi-formal occasions.

Overall Impressions

Overall, is L’Intense a buy? I don’t really see why. It’s not a terrible smell, but it’s also not as good as any of the other L’Homme fragrances that I’ve reviewed here.

I thought that I would like this one a lot more than I did. I’ve used full bottles of the original La Nuit off and on for years. This, was just disappointing. Even with the use of iris, vanilla, and tonka bean…all notes I enjoy.

Plus, it’s not really unique. Powdery floral fragrance led by iris? Go with Dior or Prada. Any of their releases along this line, are way better.

The original is better. Eau Electrique is better. L’Homme Parfum Intense, which I reviewed the other day, is much better than this one. The original Yves Saint Laurent L’Homme, is another option, but the longevity on that has gotten worse.

I don’t see where L’Intense even fits in or why anyone would choose it over anything else from YSL’s line, that has some amazing scents.

Update: I think this one has been discontinued, so, I guess a purchase won’t be a consideration for most out there.

L’Homme Ultime by YSL

by

It’s been a while since I’ve reviewed a Yves Saint Laurent cologne on this site. So, when I grabbed a sample vial of another L’Homme flanker fragrance, I was excited to see what it was all about. This is the subject of today’s review, L’Homme Ultime by YSL, which was released in 2016.

After wearing it around, I want to share: how it smells, what’s inside, when it should be worn, if it performs well, and if it’s worth a try. Note: I’m updating this page, years after the initial review.

What does L’Homme Ultime Smell Like?

Notes include: Damask rose, sage, vetiver, ginger, grapefruit, cardamom, cedar, geranium

Click here to try: Yves Saint Laurent L’homme Ultime Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 3.3 Ounce

My Full Review

Before we start into the review, let’s see how YSL describes Ultime: A woody aromatic with powerful elegance. The astonishing encounter of fresh Damask Rose with the raw sensuality of sage.

Upon opening, L’homme Ultime is very fresh, with a very nice clean spiciness to it. The main attractions at this point are grapefruit, ginger, and a rose which isn’t overbearing at all.

It strikes me as such a cold smelling fragrance, really cool crisp air, in my nostrils whenever I take a whiff of it. It’s bright and the citrus top is fairly sharp.

I feel that there’s a lot of similarities between this one and L’Homme Libre, which is another flanker fragrance from this line. Now, Libre is much spicier and has a different feel with the anise note, but these two struck me as being very close to one another. However, I like Ultime better between them.

As it dries down, the grapefruit fades, and the drier notes come out. Sage and cardamom gives it a spicier profile but not overboard. Meanwhile, cedar acts as a base and the vetiver is really noticeable to me at this stage.

When the vetiver is dominant, it reminds me of Creed Original Vetiver. The rose note also seems to fall off of a cliff after the opening act, which is a shame, because it was perfect in the top.

Ultime dries down further, into what it is for the rest of the way: ginger, cedar, vetiver, and grapefruit. It’s woody and outdoorsy fresh with a cold spice. It’s simple but very nice.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, the sillage of L’homme Ultime, is fairly moderate. The first 2-3 hours are solid, but it weakens quite a bit after that. I wish it could have stayed around that same level, but in its entirety, not bad strength.

Though, the overall longevity is somewhere in the 6-7 hours, the second half is just not as strong. It will stick around as more than a skin scent, before it is just a skin scent completely.

I did wish that this one had more of a punch to it and could stick around for a few hours longer. But, like other scents in this series, the performance is not a highlight. Although, Ultime is actually one of the better performers of the lot.

Seasonally, I could see myself wearing this year round. It’s cool, yet spicy and I like the way it hangs in the winter air. Then again, it would be great in the warmer months also. Ultime has a great ability to fit into a wide variety of climates and situations.

It can be worn casually, dressed up, at work, or for romantic wear. It’s got a certain sexiness to it and is a very versatile cologne, which is one of its main selling points.

Overall Impressions of L’Homme Ultime

Overall, do I like L’Homme Ultime? Yes, I think it’s a great addition to the Yves Saint Laurent lineup. It smells great, is versatile, and has an elegant charm through its simplicity. I’m not even a big fan of rose, but it works well here in its more limited role.

The performance is decent but not amazing, though, this fragrance makes up for it through the rest of its presentation.

For a fresh woodsy scent, this is an example of how it’s done right. This is a unique take on the L’Homme name and gives you something different from any of the more popular colognes out on the market today.

This and Libre were great flanker scents, that had a style of their own while staying somewhat true to the spirit of the L’Homme DNA (YSL l’homme review)

This is a very likeable fragrance, that’s sadly not around much anymore.

Update: This one has been discontinued for a long while now. If you want a bottle, you pretty much have to get it off of eBay nowadays. You could also try, The Dua Brand’s Ultimate Renezvous, which is inspired by this YSL. I haven’t tested, but they’re pretty good at coming close to matching smells.

Black Opium EDP by YSL

by

In addition to the recent men’s cologne samples that I’ve gotten a hold of as of late, I also managed to pick up a lot of ladies fragrances, to give my review of. Today, is an entry from Yves Saint Laurent and is a name inherited from the classic perfume Opium, Black Opium eau de parfum.

As always, I want to give my thoughts on how the fragrance smells, performs, when it should be worn, and whether or not it is worth a purchase. Note: I have come back to edit and update this page, a few years after the initial review.

What Does Black Opium EDP Smell Like?

black opium perfume review

Notes include: coffee, vanilla, patchouli, pink pepper, orange blossom, cedar, pear, jasmine, bitter almond

Click here to try: Yves Saint Laurent Eau De Parfum Spray for Women, Black Opium, 3 Ounce

My Full Review

The opening of Black Opium is somewhat of a jumbled mess, in my opinion. For the first 10 minutes or so, it feels like a very synthetic blend of vanilla, flowers, and a hint of cedar.

However, despite this poor start, once it settled down Black Opium was quite a lovely experience. I get more of the pear sparkle coming through, once some of the other notes have taken their place in the composition.

This stuff is sweet, so if that’s not your bag, don’t bother with this one. The coffee note begins to emerge after the start and forms a lovely duo with the vanilla. I happen to really like coffee and vanilla (both in fragrance and in beverage form), so Black Opium appealed to my sensibilities.

One thing that I definitely detect in this perfume is the pink pepper note, which reminds me of the men’s cologne, Guess Seductive Homme. It was a part of that messy opening act, but gets more breathing room within the composition, later in the wear.

This Yves Saint Laurent perfume, isn’t all that complex to my nose. The final dry down here, is the vanilla and coffee, with a jasmine background. At the base sits: pink pepper, patchouli, and a bit of fresh cedar.

I was surprised that the patchouli note wasn’t stronger on my skin. Also, that almond note barely shows up for me. I think it’s more apparent on other people, but for me, not really getting much.

It’s warm and sweet, with a slightly powdery quality to it. It isn’t baby powder or anything, just gives off that sort of aroma.

While this is another fragrance that uses the ‘Black’ title and isn’t all that dark in its presentation, I’ll give it a pass, since it seems to be a dark roast coffee at least. Black Opium is such a warm scent, that sort of envelopes you as you wear it, and the light floral notes in the background give it an added layer of complexity.

Sillage, Longevity, Seasonality, Versatility

Projection wise, Black Opium is some pretty strong stuff. Honestly, a few sprays would do it. It also has good longevity, as I could detect it all day on my wrist.

I also sprayed it and a few other ladies’ perfumes onto a sweatshirt a few days ago, and the Black Opium is still the strongest, whilst others have faded completely.

At least with this original formulation, the reach of the perfume could be detected from 8+ feet out, at its height. This is one of the more powerful designer scents, in its early stages, to my nose.

For me, it easily goes 8 hours, and can hit double digits. I wouldn’t call it an absolute beast with the sillage, but the strength/performance overall, is very good and has a time where it is close to being great.

This is more of a fall and winter type of scent. I would avoid wearing Black Opium in the heat or high humidity, as it will fall apart, and feel pretty gross. It could absolutely be an everyday wear during the winter, but also double as a date night kind of fragrance.

In an office or classroom type of environment, go easy with the sprays, 1-2 should suffice. This isn’t a formal sort of perfume, so, you probably don’t need to worry about it for those occasions.

It is actually quite sexy, and as a man, I can say that I would want to be closer to a woman who was wearing Black Opium. This perfume has a really cozy and enveloping scent, with its sweet gourmand aroma, being pretty appealing. It’s not something that drives me wild or anything, but I can say, it is enjoyable.

Overall Impression

Overall is it worth a buy? Maybe. While not the greatest thing I’ve ever smelled, Black Opium is still a very solid fragrance, that does smell very good. It’s not for everybody, especially not those who don’t enjoy sweet gourmand perfumes.

Plus, it is limited to the colder months of the year, and not for those living in certain warm climates.

I’ve tried a lot of the flanker fragrances that have been released since this original came out and this is still among my favorites of the line. See: Neon, Intense, Nuit Blanche

The coffee and vanilla dry down is where this one shines. Nice floral contributions from the jasmine and orange blossom. This is when Black Opium really achieves a balance in its composition and is at its most attractive.

Again, the performance is good and the price isn’t too bad. It’s a solid choice, I’d just caution those who want to avoid the super sweet stuff, because this can be that kind of perfume for much of the wear.

However, as a popular mass market option, Black Opium will do the trick and could be a signature scent for some ladies.

7 Fragrances Similar to Mon Paris

by

Mon Paris has been a fun and popular fragrance from YSL, with its blend of fruits and floral notes. A classic combination to be sure, but it’s sweetness and depth has made it a perfume with plenty of mass appeal. But, what if you’re looking for something similar, less expensive, or along the same lines as Mon Paris? This page will be dedicated to my running list of scents that are alike.

What Fragrances Smell Similar to Mon Paris by YSL?

She is Mine by La Rive– She is Mine comes within striking distance of the aroma of Mon Paris, at a much cheaper price point, but not exactly.

The berries, pear, and general fruitiness of the YSL is all there. However, this one doesn’t have the same floral or musk levels as found in our target. Plus, the vanilla note is pretty prominent here.

The sweetness is ramped up here it seems, just less depth, and overall staying power from this La Rive. Not exactly the same, but this one does a pretty good impression versus what you pay for it.

Ciao by Vince Camuto– Ciao isn’t among my personal favorite Camuto scents, but it does give us much of what we’re looking for in comparison to Mon Paris. Not to say that it’s a bad perfume, it certainly does have its charm.

This is another one that is in the same ballpark as Mon Paris, while for sure not being an exact match. Here, you get a mass of berries to kick things off. To me, the YSL has a mix of berries and pear up top, that is reminiscent of what you find here.

Ciao is sweet and jammy, more so than our target fragrance. Peony and rose are coming along to aid in the similarities, but in the early stages the lily and passionflower give the Camuto its real distinction.

It’s nice enough, solid performance, and a closely related to style to what we’re looking for. Worth a try, if you can get it for cheap.

212 Heroes Forever Young– The fruitiness is basically what you get with Mon Paris, the biggest difference will be in the floral accord. 212 Heroes Forever also lacks that pear note, that hits early in the YSL.

Forever moves away from the rose, peony, and datura found in Mon Paris. It does have the same jasmine note, just occupying a much bigger place in the composition than our target scent.

A fruity clean white floral fragrance with some added orange blossom and light woods. I like its freshness and while not a one to one match with Mon Paris, Forever gives you plenty to like with a similar style.

Pink Me Up by Atelier des Ors– Pink Me Up is a nice little fragrance, that has Mon Paris Intensement similarities.

However, the champagne note in Pink, sets it apart from either of the YSL perfumes. The notes are different, but the structure is very much alike. Here blackberry and champagne early on, with the rose (like Intensement) playing more of a role, as it dries down.

Towards the end, both fragrances are sweet, musky, rose-dominated floral blends. Not exactly the same, but liking one, will likely mean that the other would work for you as well. This is sweeter and more dynamic than Intensement.

Note that Pink is much more expensive and you pretty much need to order it online. So, not going to be one for those on a tighter budget.

Coach Coach New York, 1 Fl Oz– Coach EDP is one that has a very close fruity and floral profile similar to Mon Paris, but it also does things quite enough differently to be distinct.

This one features notes of pear and raspberry, going less floral, but still including notes such as rose.

The raspberry here is very dominant early, giving it a sweet aroma, with a smooth suede note included. In the dry down, it is a slightly fruity mix with a lot of clean-ish smelling flowers. At this stage, it is more about the pear with a bit of a powdery aroma from the floral notes.

Performance wise, Coach EDP is solid with 7-8 hours of wear and a good ability to project, without the sillage being too massive.

Valentina Pink by Valentino– Valentina Pink is another one using berries and roses to create a closely related style to Mon Paris. This one, goes with blackberry like some others on the list, but the strawberry will be the biggest factor in the mix.

The rose is heavier with this perfume, also. While it has the same peony and musk notes, they don’t seem to have the same level as Mon Paris. It’s sweeter (praline), has a more linear use of the floral notes, and a powdery quality to it.

Pink isn’t my favorite on the list, but it could also work quite well for someone who wants a perfume of this type, with nice performance.

Kate Spade New York– Kate Spade New York is highlighted early on by a strawberry note that is paired with a citrusy mix. It’s bright, fresh, and somewhat naturalistic fruity notes versus something that is synthetic sugary.

A bit sweet, a bit tart in the beginning stages. Then, some greenish notes and the rose essence will come through. The rose really isn’t heavy in this perfume, it’s there, just never punching you in the face with its presence.

The strawberry retains its hold for the duration, along with some cashmeran wood, floral notes, and the ambroxan note.

This isn’t one that’s an exact replica of the Mon Paris formula, but this perfume will give you a lot of the same style if you’re a fan of Mon Paris. Kate Spade New York review