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Y Le Parfum by YSL

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Y Le Parfum is the latest release from the Y line of men’s fragrances here in 2021. It follows four other scents that YSL has put out over the past few years under this banner. I got a decanted sample of this stuff recently and have been testing out over the past few days. How does it smell? How long does it last? When should it be worn? Is it even worth a try?

What does Y Le Parfum Smell Like?

Notes include: apple, grapefruit, ginger, aldehydes, lavender, sage, geranium, patchouli, tonka bean, and cedar

Click here to try: Y Le Parfum

My Full Review

The opening act of Le Parfum is pretty similar in many ways to both Y EDP and EDT. You get the apple and ginger combination up top, along with the sage and geranium already peaking through.

The difference is, Le Parfum isn’t nearly as bold, has more of a sweetness, while being greenish and somewhat dark. Yes, you do still get the citrus/fruity notes, it’s grapefruit here. Though, the addition of the aldehydes, gives this one a bright/sweet/slightly fresh aroma.

I’m not too enthused with the opening, but it’s still pretty nice overall.

Once I get past this initial phase, I really begin to enjoy Y Le Parfum. It becomes softer, with hints of sage still providing an edge, but with an attractive sweetness.

It’s sort of comparable to Legend Night or Versace Eros, at this stage. Apple, tonka bean, lavender, cedar, and geranium are running the show. A somewhat dark sweetness with a fresh woody base. It just doesn’t have the same density to my nose, as those others.

The final stage is lavender, tonka bean, and a mix of the remaining fruity and woody notes. There are plenty of other scents which have done this pairing, though, it’s really great here. I couldn’t stop smelling the amount that I applied to my wrist.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

After having used Y EDP for a while, I was expecting Le Parfum to have somewhere close to a similar sillage, it doesn’t. It is fairly noticeable at the start but hangs quite close to the skin for the rest of the wear.

I’d rate it as a moderate fragrance and not one that is going to take over a room. My favorite part of the wear, just happens to be when Y Le Parfum is at its weakest point.

Also, the longevity here isn’t great. I get 6-6.5 hours of wear from this one. Maybe it’s gotten to 7 a few times. Not horrendous, but for the price and the previous entries in this series, it’s disappointing.

Only slightly better than Eau Fraiche, which at least has the excuse of being a lighter summer wear. This just doesn’t have the YSL Y EDP performance level.

Even applying the fragrance to an old t-shirt didn’t yield much better results.

Seasonally, Le Parfum is a versatile cologne. I’d stay away from the extreme highs or lows in temperatures, but it wouldn’t feel out of place in autumn, spring, or the moderate days of the other two seasons.

This Y scent has a more mature and subtle profile than the others in the series. It doesn’t have that bold ‘punch you in the face’ power of EDP and it has a complexity that the others don’t. Suitable for many age ranges and occasions.

Overall Impressions of Y Le Parfum

Overall, do I like Y Le Parfum? Yes, particularly the dry down period. The opening isn’t amazing to me, as it feels like a muted EDP, but it distinguishes itself in the second act.

The problem for me is, I already own EDP and this doesn’t do enough in terms of performance, to separate itself.

The opening is the strongest point and it feels like a lesser than EDP. By the time it takes on that sweet and enjoyable dry down, the fragrance is pretty weak.

As of right now, this is my second favorite Y scent, after EDP. Some aspects of it, I actually like better, but it doesn’t take the top spot in its totality.

However, Le Parfum might be a good solution for those who think that EDP is too loud. It has gotten less likeable for me over time, though. Le Parfum doesn’t seem like a great deal, based on its starting price.

Though, once you can grab discounted bottles, it’s worth a try. Very nice fragrance, just not top tier, in my eyes.

Y Eau Fraiche by YSL

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Y Eau Fraiche is another flanker from the Y series that YSL seems to be cranking out. Not that I’m really complaining, since I like them well enough. Eau Fraiche came out in 2020, to complement the summer season, when the EDP and EDT aren’t really going to work. How does it smell? Does it last long? Is it worth a buy?

What does Y Eau Fraiche Smell Like?

Notes include: lemon, pepper, ginger, mint, juniper, lavender, geranium, and cedar

My Full Review

Y Eau Fraiche kicks off with that immediately recognizable Y blend of notes. Here, you get overlap with the EDT from lemon, ginger, and mint in particular. Gone are the sage, pineapple, and apple. Very much cleaner and brighter than the original, but with a spicier bite.

There is a black pepper note, which joins that mint, and ginger. Cold and refreshing like a lemonade on a hot day.

The second time that I wore Eau Fraiche, I was near the beach with sunscreen on my arms, and it just felt like a very natural pairing with this cologne. Really great in that environment.

Y Eau Fraiche isn’t an aquatic per se, quite aromatic, in fact. But, I do get the same summertime poolside sensation that I get with Light Blue Eau Intense (review). Citrus and juniper without the same ‘amberwood’ heavy formula as that D&G fragrance.

As it moves along in the wear, the pepper and ginger fade away from my skin, and I get more geranium and cedar. Eau Fraiche starts smelling a bit more like the EDT, with less of the cold lemony punch, that started us off.

That’s about it, in terms of development.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage with Eau Fraiche is light, but actually fairly good for this type of fragrance. A light summertime refresher, with plenty of lemon notes? It’s not too bad.

Expect it to radiate about 3-5 feet away from the skin, at its height, unless you’re going off with the sprays. From there, Y Eau Fraiche will stick close by and be fairly intimate.

While it’s not a powerhouse, the longevity was again good for this style of cologne. I can smell it on my skin hours into the wear and it seems to hit the 6-7 hour mark in total. Y Eau Fraiche at least makes the wear a worthwhile experience.

Seasonally, spring or summer, weighted heavily towards the latter. This is one you need to wear when it’s hot as hell out. Daytime, when the humidity has risen, and you have to venture around town for the day.

Eau Fraiche has a youthful energy to it, though, it could absolutely work for an older man.

Overall Impressions of Y Eau Fraiche

Overall, do I like Y Eau Fraiche? I do enjoy it. It does smell a lot like the other entries into the Y series, however. Which is good, but it doesn’t cover a lot of new ground, other than being a summer wear.

I have a full bottle of the EDP, so I probably wouldn’t get this, unless I got a heavy discount. Even then, I have other summer fragrances, that could make this the odd cologne out.

Conversely, I might use this as an alternative version of Y EDP for summer.

It’s clean and really does a great job in the heat, though. The citrus notes and cool fresh burst of notes like mint, ginger, and juniper make for a very easy wear.

Even though Eau Fraiche is much more limited in its uses, I actually like it better than EDT, even with the degree of similarity.

If you enjoy the Y series and you want a scent for those hot days, Eau Fraiche is worthy of a look.  Don’t expect it to be a jack of all trades, but it does well within its parameters.

La Nuit de L’Homme Eau Electrique by YSL

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On my way out of El Prat airport, I once again stopped into a duty free shop to explore the fragrance selection, and came across a newer offering from Yves Saint Laurent…La Nuit de L’Homme Eau Electrique. The blue color and the name caught my eye, so I figured that I would try this one out and wear it on the flight home. In this post, I am going to give my initial impressions and opinions about this cologne after a single wear.

What does La Nuit Eau Electrique Smell Like?

Notes include: cedar, vanilla, tonka bean, cashmere, vetiver, lavender, apple, geranium, bergamot

Click here to try: Yves Saint Laurent La Nuit De L’Homme Eau Electrique Eau De Toilette Spray 100ml/3.3oz

My Full Wear Review

OK, so, going into this test I had zero expectations or notions about Electrique. In fact, I’d never even heard of it. I think that’s the best way to do a review of this sort, since my mind won’t be clouded by what I ‘wanted’ the cologne to be, and can simply judge it based on merit.

I sprayed this one twice on my arm about an hour or so before my transatlantic flight back to the US from Spain. Update: I’ve since had a travel spray size of Eau Electrique and am updating my thoughts throughout this post.

It initially struck me as smooth with a creamy/powdery offering of tonka bean with a woody base and some fruit thrown in to boot. Electrique was really fresh and drew me in from the very jump and I could smell it on me as I walked to my boarding gate.

That’s a very simple test of whether or not I think something is worth my while, is it an enjoyable addition to the background of my everyday life? For Electrique, I vote that yes, it is.

Eau Electrique opens with a noticeable apple and some citrus notes. The apple, tonka, vanilla, and lavender are really present up top with the main tonka bean note. Really, apple and tonka bean.

Then, the second wave brings in geranium paired with that lavender sitting under a tonka/vanilla combo.

The notes in Electrique have some overlap with Versace Eros, but, I think they are two different fragrances and the similarities aren’t that noticeable.

Eros is a much louder and has more of a citrusy aroma than does Electrique, though, the tonka bean and apple notes are shared.

Update: I could also compare this to Montblanc’s Legend Night, but noticeably lacking the heavy cardamom note.

Electrique is understated and while it has some sweet elements, it never becomes overbearing. I think the prevalence of the cashmere was a nice touch and gives Electrique some more separation from the original La Nuit.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Electrique was good during my one off test. It was noticeable during the wear and even kind of heavy at first. It isn’t a complete beast or anything but it is getting close to crossing that line.

I got 7-8 hours of use out of it. The last few hours it was more of a skin scent. However, I can’t really say for certain how it will perform with just one wear but it seems legit enough. Update: Yep, 6-8 hours, consistently.

Electrique is more suited toward cold weather wear. It worked fine in an air conditioned environment but I’m not sure that’ll hold up in the heat. Update: Not great in high heat, but moderate springtime temperatures, it is fine.

It does seem to have some versatility as both a casual fragrance and one which will work as a date night type of cologne.

Overall Impressions of Eau Electrique

Overall, is La Nuit de L’Home Eau Electrique worth a buy? I actually really liked wearing this fragrance. It’s nothing Earth shattering; but it is very good. It gives good performance and has a very attractive scent with a tangential relation to the original La Nuit.

It’s a good bet as an Eros alternative, if you don’t like the lemon note there. Also, the geranium can come across a bit like mint. It’s not a dupe, but they do have a very similar style.

Eau Electrique has now been discontinued, so, grab a bottle while you still can for cheap.

Electrique is a smooth and fresh fragrance with a powdery finish and a woody heart. It’s not super outstanding or ‘special’ but it is really damn nice.

L’Homme Libre by Yves Saint Laurent

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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?

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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.

Top Long Lasting Perfumes for Women 2015

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There are plenty of high quality perfumes out there on the market. However, some of those amazing scents don’t last for more than fifteen minutes. That can be highly disappointing after dropping $60+ for a bottle and the fragrance evaporates before it has any impact or attractive power. It’s no fun investing in something with no return.  The following list of scents that I have put together are a variety of fragrances for laides that have a long lasting scent and are versatile from the workplace to the night life.  I have linked each out to its page on amazon.com for ease of purchase and for further info.

Also, check out: Sexiest Perfumes for Ladies, Perfumes Men Love, Moschino Top Scents

 

Angel by Thierry Mugler for Women – 1.7 Ounce EDP Spray
A best seller for over 20 years now, Angel is a delicious blend of citrus and other fruity notes combined with vanilla, sandalwood, and patchouli. It can start out a little intense for some but it mellows and goes all day.  Click here for the best Thierry Mugler fragrances!

angel

 

Vival La Juicy Couture Eau de Parfum Spray, 0.5 Ounce
A sweet perfume of fruits, florals, and gourmand ingredients such as caramel and vanilla. This perfume is sexy from the get go but is versatile enough to be worn at the office or for a night on the town. Add to the fact that it projects and lasts well into its life cycle and you’ve got a great fragrance on your hands. Top JC Perfumes

VIVALAJUICY

 

Flowerbomb by Viktor & Rolf for Women, Eau de Parfum, 3.4 Ounce Spray
This expressive and fairly pricey floral seduces with its light and airy scent. While it is a light fragrance, its complexity is remarkable and it does last for many hours, just subtly. Here is our list of the best Viktor & Rolf perfumes!

flowerbomb

 

Beyonce Beyonce Midnight Heat Women Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.4 Ounce
This celebrity scent features notes of plum, sandalwood, starfruit, and patchouli. It is a highly sensual fragrance that begs to be inhaled throughout the evening and will probably last until the next morning. Our list of Beyonce’s top fragrances.

midnight heat


Guilty by Gucci for Women, Eau de Toilette Spray, 2.5 Ounce
Peach, lilac, pink pepper, and mandarin team up to help make Gucci Guilty one sexy perfume. It isn’t overbearing in its presentation but it has an underlying energy which is wholly seductive.

guilty

OPIUM For Women By YVES SAINT LAURENT Eau de Toilette Spray 3 oz
A classic and exotic fragrance best served for more mature women. Coriander, florals, and mandarin. List of Best Yves Saint Laurent Perfumes

opium

 

Jean Paul Gaultier Classique By Jean Paul Gaultier For Women. Eau De Toilette Spray 1.6 Ounces
Has an oriental scent to it with notes of vanilla, wood, and spicy amber. This can be worn casually as well as out on the town for an evening.

jean paul women

 

Hypnotic Poison by Christian Dior for Women 3.4 oz Eau de Toilette Spray
Almond, woods, jasmine, vanilla, cedar, and amber are some of the notes which create this seducer in a bottle. It is just about everything you want in a romantic type of fragrance: it smells amazing, lasts a long time, and draws admirers to you…the name is entirely accurate. Top Christian Dior Ladies’ Fragrances

hypnotic poison

 

Cinema By Yves Saint Laurent For Women Eau De Parfum Spray, 90 ml, 3 Ounces
Another great long-lasting option from YSL. Cinema is a sweet perfume with many layers to it. Clementine gives it a sweet citrusy middle before it dries down into a vanilla/floral/powdery end that keeps on ticking. Absolutely lovely.

cinema