YSL Libre evokes memories of the summertime due its floral top notes, but the fragrance can be worn as an all-year-fragrance.
Yves Saint Laurent is a luxury fashion brand that also produces some of the most popular fragrances in the market today. One of their flagship fragrances is the YSL Libre eau de parfum, which has been touted as one of the best fragrances from the brand.
While it is fairly new compared to other staples that should be in any fragrance collection, there is still confusion as to whether the fragrance is meant for the summer or winter season.
But due to the popularity of the fragrance and despite its floral notes, which are reminiscent of a sunny day in the summertime, it has become an all-year fragrance.
What does YSL Libre smell similar to?
YSL Libre is continually compared to other popular fragrances that are amber fougère fragrances.
The most common comparison that the YSL Libre fragrance is usually said to have similar note profiles with is the Mon Guerlain Intense eau de parfum. Ironically, the fragrances were released just months apart in 2019.
However, the Mon Guerlain Intense is technically classified as an amber woody fragrance for women.
Interestingly, it seems that if the two were pitted against each other, a large majority of users would opt for the Intense rather than the Libre, due to a more balanced scent from the Intense.
Is YSL Libre a summer perfume?
When YSL Libre was released, the fragrance became an immediate hit with consumers as the rich gold fragrance was touted for having managed to strike the perfect balance between lavender and vanilla.
The fragrance’s ad campaign featured British singer and songwriter, Dua Lipa, as the official face of the fragrance.
As the name of the fragrance suggests, the perfume with main accords including white floral, citrus, lavender, and vanilla was touted as a “celebration of freedom.”
The nose behind the design of the fragrance is a collaboration between acclaimed perfumers, Anne Flipo and Carlos Benaim.
They endeavoured to create a fragrance that would embody an ideal day in the summertime, which is corroborated by the description of the mood the fragrance is meant to invoke, reading, “The burning sensuality of the orange blossom flowers from Morocco, twisted with the aromatic boldness of lavender from France.”
As a result, when it was initially released, the fragrance was touted as a summertime scent. However, due to the popularity and universal use of the fragrance, it has since become either a signature scent for some or an all-year round go-to for others.
Currently, Amazon has the Libre on discount, and the cheapest bottle you can purchase is the 50ml, which retails for $80.90. This is a 20 percent discount from the original price.
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| Buy it from Amazon |
What does YSL Libre smell like?
YSL Libre is an amber fougère fragrance for women. The sweet fragrance with lavender notes, which are normally used in fragrances for men, has note profiles which include:
| Top notes | Lavender, mandarin orange, black currant, and petitgrain |
| Middles notes | Lavender, orange blossom, and jasmine |
| Base notes | Madagascar vanilla, musk, cedar, and ambergris |
A key distinguishing factor between the YSL Libre and the YSL Libre Intense is their colours. YSL Libre is less intense in colour than the Intense. As such, Libre’s consistency gives it a soapy, slightly musky, and distinct creaminess to its scent.
The YSL Libre Intense is richer, with an initial sweeter scent and less of the lavender and musk soapiness of the original. This makes the Libre Intense a more playful and fun scent to wear than the Libre.
Who should wear YSL Libre?
While YSL Libre was promoted as an amber fougère fragrance for women, in light of the lavender notes which are associated mostly with fragrances for men, YSL Libre is now touted as a unisex fragrance.
Moreover, in light of the fragrance being touted as a light, fruity fragrance that supports breaking the rules and seeking freedom, it can also be a suitable fragrance for teenagers, which the company was seemingly hoping to capitalise on by making Dua Lipa the face of the fragrance, as she is popular with the youth and teenage demographic.
How different is the YSL Libre from the YSL Libre Intense?
If you had to make the decision between the YSL Libre and the YSL Libre Intense, the widespread preference is the Intense.
Introduced a year after the original, the Intense is touted as it is considered to have taken the criticism that the Libre received and improved based on them.
Therefore, it is richer in colour, has longevity properties of 12 hours, while the Libre reaches nine hours at best. While it may be more costly, you can purchase the 30ml bottle for $74.90 on Amazon.
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| Buy it from Amazon |