Yves Saint Laurent Y L’Elixir Review
YSL Y is a best-selling fragrance collection for men. It’s loved worldwide for its line-up of fresh, confidence-inducing aromas. It all started with the Eau de Parfum in 2018; now, the collection has five fragrances. The latest is Y L’Elixir, the most luxurious, richest Y yet, in YSL’s words. Here’s everything you need to know…
You Will Love Y L’Elixir If…
Y L’Elixir is a sensual fragrance that marries Y’s classic freshness with wood and oud notes. This juxtaposition makes for a fragrance that’s easy to wear and hard to ignore. If you’re already a fan of Y, you’ll smell its DNA in the opening of L’Elixir. This version offers something deeper and richer, which makes it an ideal choice for evenings or special occasions.
What Does It Smell Like:
Master Perfumer Dominique Ropion created Y L’Elixir as a haute couture version of the original Y; it’s more intense, woodier, and richer. It’s a sexier, oud-y version of the classic, fresh Y fragrance. The fragrance family is woody fougere.
Top notes are Bergamot essence, ginger essence, elemi essence, saffron accord.
Heart notes are Diva lavender heart, sage essence, juniper essence, living geranium.
Base notes are Fir Balsam absolu, Olibanum Essence, cypriol essence, patchouli essence, oud essence.
How’s L’Elixir Different from the Rest of the Range?
The Y range is inspired by the crispness of a clean white T-shirt and the power of a leather jacket; the entire collection exudes confidence and freshness. Each scent combines light and dark facets to uniquely offer a fragrance for every man and mood. Here’s an insight into how they smell, in order of intensity:
Y Eau de Toilette: clean, sophisticated, addictive.
Y Eau de Parfum: clean, vibrant, sensual.
Y Eau de Parfum Intense: spicy, intense, sophisticated.
Y Le Parfum: clean, intense, dark.
Y L’Elixir: deep, woody, spicy.
Y L’Elixir’s Longevity…
Of all YSL Y fragrances, L’Elixir is the most intense and, therefore, the most long-lasting. I sprayed it at the beginning of the day and could still smell it on my skin some 8-9 hours later. When sprayed on my clothing, I could still smell it days later on my jumper!
Who’s The Face of the Y L’Elixir Campaign?
Rock icon Lenny Kravitz is the face of Y L’Elixir. He said of the fragrance, “…it has an intensity, but at the same time, it’s very smooth while being bold. It has elements of nature that I like, such as the spiciness, and it’s very exotic. I love the wood and bourbon in it.”
Best Place and Time To Wear Y L’Elixir…
Because it’s a sensual, woody fragrance, I believe Y L’Elixir lends itself to being an evening/occasion fragrance. It’s a bold statement, so many may find it ‘too much’ for daytime wear, but others may love that about it – wear what you love when you want to!
Y L’Elixir’s Design and Aesthetic Is Special Because…
Each Y bottle is designed by British artist Suzanne Dalton. YSL describe the L’Elixir version as the most luxurious yet; it now has a translucent metallic blue hue that catches the light beautifully.
My Overall Experience
I put Y L’Elixir to the test in two ways: I wore it myself and asked my husband to wear it. Firstly, I loved smelling it on my husband— it offers the freshness I liked about Y but has a kick to it, making it sexier and more rugged. My husband isn’t usually into what he calls ‘heavy’ scents, but this walks the line between fresh and deep very well. He wore it in the evenings as he prefers fresher and lighter scents for daytime/work.
I also wore it myself. It’s not my usual choice, but I was pleasantly surprised. It has incredible projection—a few sprays, and it fills the room! If you’re growing tired of the usual very fresh, blue, fragrances for men, I think L’Elixir will be a welcomed addition to your collection – it’s traditional with a spicy twist.