Do you want to learn more about YSL colognes? We’ve got you covered. Read on to learn about this iconic brand.
The darling of the fashion world for many decades, Yves St. Laurent launched his fashion house with partner, Pierre Bergé in 1961 and together they created one of the world’s major haute couture houses. Y, his first fragrance for women, came out in, 1964, and was designed as a “lush, heavy, languid’ perfume.
Ten years later, Yves launched his first men’s fragrance, Pour Homme, posing nude himself for the publicity photos. As he said at the time, ‘fragrance is worn on the skin, so why hide the body?’ (Translated from French).
YSL fragrances were always based on modernity, audacity and bold-thinking creativity.
Quick Take
Here are our top three recommendations from the list:
Yves Saint Laurent Opium is smooth yet spicy, with a distinctly oriental scent. It is a masculine, sharp, woody fragrance. Recommended for the special night out.
Yves Saint Laurent Kouros is the fragrance to wear if you want to project boldness and power. Long lasting, heady, animalic, musky, Kouros is all these and more.
Yves Saint Laurent L'Homme Libre is light, fresh and very wearable on casual occasions. This is a great fragrance for Spring and early summer.
Read on for more info and the complete list…
8 Best Yves Saint Laurent Colognes
Here are some of our top picks:
Yves Saint Laurent Opium For Men
This is one of the several fragrances created by Yves Saint Laurent, which reflect his love for the colors and scents of Morocco, where he had a home. Opium For Men is smooth yet spicy, with a distinctly oriental scent.
Top notes are star anise and blackcurrant; middle notes are Chinese galanga and pepper; base notes – vanilla, tolu balm, and cedar.
When to Wear It
Opium For Men is sophisticated and heady, with a spicy opening leading to a vanilla finish. Wear it during winter or in the evenings for a special night out.
Yves Saint Laurent La Nuit De l’Homme
La Nuit De l’Homme has a sweet, musky, lavender fragrance. It is popular, well-priced and versatile.
Top notes are cardamom and bergamot; middle notes are lavender and cedarwood with base notes of amber, coumarin, and vetiver.
When to Wear It
“Nuit” of course, is the French word for night, and this is an excellent choice if you want to impress a first night date. Everyone loves the sweetness and seductiveness of this fragrance. Also, great to wear during the chilly weather.
Yves Saint Laurent Kouros
Kouros has a strong, distinctly herbal fragrance, with a floral opening, leading to civet. Should be used discreetly if you don’t want to overpower your nearest and dearest.
Top notes are coriander, bergamot, artemisia, and clary sage; middle notes are comprised of clove, jasmine, geranium, iris, carnation, and cinnamon, with base notes of incense, ambergris, oakmoss, patchouli, vetiver, honey, leather, musk, tonka, and civet.
When to Wear It
Wear this fragrance if you want to project boldness and power.
It is admittedly strong, so you would think it should only be worn on freezing winter nights, yet its herbal, floral notes also work well to complement the early days of Spring. It will last all day, so there’s no need to re-spritz. Heady, animalic, musky, Kouros is all these and more.
Yves Saint Laurent l’Homme
L’Homme has a distinctly woody, yet fresh fragrance, from a light citrus to deeper spice.
Top notes are bergamot, ginger, and lemon; middle notes are basil, iris, and white pepper and base notes are tonka bean, oakmoss, vetiver, and sandalwood.
When to Wear It
Wear this fragrance during the Spring and Fall. Its fresh, woody fragrance works well in less extreme, more temperate weather.
Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche
The men’s version of the famous women’s Rive Gauche fragrance, this has a lasting woodsy, yet clean aroma. It will also last for hours, making you smell amazing all day long.
Top notes are bergamot, star anise, and rosemary. The middle notes are lavender, geranium leaves, and cloves. The base notes are vetiver, guaiac wood, and patchouli.
When to Wear It
Rive Gauche is a classic, mature fragrance, perfect for the professional man at the office. Can be worn all day and into the night.
Yves Saint Laurent M7 Oud Absolu
The original M7 was created by the multi-talented, Tom Ford, during his stint at YSL. Why M7? It was the seventh man’s fragrance from Yves Saint Laurent.
M7 was a typical Tom Ford fragrance, with plenty of sophistication and depth. M7 Absolu came out in 2011 and is an evolution of the M7 original. Expect top notes of mandarin orange, middle notes of patchouli and base notes of oud, myrrh and French labdanum.
When To Wear It
This is a deep, rich, oud-based fragrance, so wear it during the winter and on cold nights.
Yves Saint Laurent l’Homme Libre
L’Homme Libre (meaning the free man) is a fresher version of the original Yves Saint Laurent l’Homme, using violet leaves to give it a slight note of sweetness.
Top notes are bergamot, nutmeg, and pink pepper; middle notes are violet leaf accord, basil, and star anise, and base notes are Indonesian patchouli, vetiver, and leather.
When to Wear It
This is a great fragrance for Spring and early summer. As it is a cleaner version of L’Homme, you can wear it to work without annoying your co-workers. It is light, fresh and very wearable on casual occasions.
Yves Saint Laurent Y
Y has a woody, fruity, spicy scent, which is sweet yet still fresh.
Top notes bergamot, and ginger; middle notes are sage, geranium, and violet leaves, and the base notes are ambergris, incense, fir balsam, cedarwood, and musk.
When To Wear It
Y’s fresh, sweet, aquatic vibe makes it a good choice to wear in the Spring and the Fall, when it is neither too hot nor too cold.
The YSL fragrance brand is still going strong despite Yves’s death in 2008 – and there are ample choices to get you smelling wonderful from day to night. YSL colognes are moderately priced, and are high quality, versatile fragrances you should add to your wardrobe.
Which Cologne Will You Choose?
As you can see, Yves Saint Laurent makes a lot of great colognes. Which one will you be adding to your fragrance collection?
Questions? Comments? Leave them below!
Why did they discontinue YSL Libre for Men? That was the best cologne ever,i wish they would bring it back, does anyone know if there is a way o could purchase some?
Surprised that L’homme Intense didn’t make the list. In my opinion, it is YSL’s best scent. I get compliments all the time when I wear it. A masculine, seductive scent for all seasons.