When we talk about women’s fragrances, YSL perfumes will top the list. In 1964, the chic fashion house launched its first perfume for women, collaborating with the renowned perfumer Jean Amic. It was an olfactory delight that expressed the inherent luxury of the haute couture. The fragrance came in a bottle cut to reflect the sophisticated silhouette of a woman’s head and shoulders, with the letter Y beautifully placed to represent her neckline.
In 1971, YSL launched its first-ever fragrance for women – Rive Gauche – attracting the free-spirited, independent woman with its elegantly sweet, fruity, and floral scents. The same year, Yves Saint Laurent introduced Pour Home fragrance for men. Saint Laurent marketed the perfume himself, posing nude, a symbol of comfort, modernity, and sophistication that his fashion house has always stood for. YSL was the first luxury house with its fragrance and cosmetics brand.
YSL has proved itself a legendary house of high-class fragrances through the years. It earned a sterling reputation in the beauty industry for its creativity and playfulness in developing scents for both men and women.
Top Perfumes For Women by Yves Saint Laurent
Black Opium
Known as the more scandalous sister of the original Opium, Black Opium delighted with its unique spicy and sparkling scent. While it is deeply reminiscent of its predecessor, Black Opium proves to be more decadent and fitting for women of all ages.
The profoundly sweet and addictive scent aims to intoxicate you and the people around you. It features the hypnotic notes of coffee, flowers, white musk, and vanilla mixed in a rich blend that excites the senses.
If you’re looking for a scent that will set the mood for you and your entourage, the YSL Black Opium is a practical choice. Its decadent notes linger, bringing you both comfort and confidence no matter the occasion.
Mon Paris
One of Yves Saint Laurent’s top-rated perfumes for women, the Mon Paris is the perfect example of the “fruitchouli” genre of perfumes with its outwardly beautiful scent that smells and stays beautifully on the skin for houses. Mon Paris was launched in 2016 and now has an Eau de Toilette version.
Mon Paris perfectly combined floral and citrusy notes that one can expect to find in a Paris-themed perfume. The grapefruit, pear, orange, and raspberry hints work well with musk and patchouli. It’s a sweet yet sexy fragrance that you can wear day or night. You will fall in love with the youthful image of Mon Paris.
Vintage Opium
If there was a fragrance that perfectly depicts seduction, temptation, and mystery, it’s Yves Saint Lauren’s Vintage Opium. The lovely and feisty fragrance of Opium is inarguably the benchmark of femininity. It showcases a precious scent that empowers and emboldens. Vintage Opium is the fragrance you wear if you’re looking to impress and attract attention.
The citrusy haze calls out to every woman’s innate sensuality. It was a straight-out scandal when it was first released as it carried the name of the drug that was taking the lives of many in the 1970s. But Yves Saint Laurent was an innovator. He knew the oriental fragrance of Opium would endure and become one of the best in the world of scents.
Libre
YSL has always promoted empowerment and freedom of self-expression, which translates into the potent fragrances House YSL concocts. Libre is a play on the fern-like category of fragrances, which were typically meant for men’s cologne. Libre was launched in 2019 as a women’s perfume with its head-turning sillage. YSL Libre features fresh, vibrant, and woody notes of lavender with hints of bergamot and geranium.
Underneath its fruity and floral scents is a warm base of cedarwood and vanilla. The emergence of these two notes is ethereal, creating a sweet feeling that smells smooth and luxurious.
Rive Gauche
Rive Gauche was the first independent fragrance concocted by House YSL in 1971. It was penned by esteemed perfumers Michael Hy from Paco Rabanne and Jacques Polge from Chanel. The scent was inspired by the avant-garde and unpredictable spirit of Paris. Rive Gauche features notes of bergamot, ylang-ylang, freesia, vetiver, oakmoss, base notes of musk, and the heart of rose and jasmine.
It was a wearable form of freedom and attitude rather than a personal fragrance that women could wear daily. Rive Gauche speaks of confidence and is described as boldness with shoulder pads. But unlike its contemporary scents, it showcases a hint of softness, elegance, and tailoring that YSL is known for.
Black Opium Nuit Blanche
A special edition of Black Opium, Nuit Blanche, is an invitation to live mysteriously and unexpectedly. It bursts a seductive white floral and coffee fragrance designed to deliver vibrant energy that lasts all night long. It’s a pleasurable scent that doesn’t fade quickly and can stand elegantly on its own.
Black Opium Nuit Blanche was introduced in 2014 as the perfect interpretation of the classic and elegantly dark side of House YSL. The fragrance is electrified with notes of pink pepper, white musk, and orange blossom, representing the audacity and femininity of women looking to take control of their destiny.
Yvresse
Intoxicating Yvresse was originally named Champagne during its initial release in 1993. The perfume was created by Sophia Grojsman, who embedded the feminine and the warm combination of peach and rose reminiscent of Lancome Tresor, YSL Paris, and Lagerfeld Sun Moon Stars. Yvresse features top notes of dazzling anise, mint, violet, nectarine, and cumin. Its base notes include patchouli, oakmoss, vanilla, and vetiver.
The wine nectarine scent blends perfectly with the complex blend of anise and mint that lingers for six hours or more. The scent becomes more and more exciting as the hours pass. Yvresse is light and joyful, representing exciting unpredictability.
Black Opium Eau de Parfum Baby Cat
YSL’s Black Opium Eau de Parfum Baby Cat is a sensual reinterpretation of the brand’s iconic scent, dressed in a bold and glittering pattern. Renowned perfumer Dominique Ropion created the sophisticated scent. She developed a potent, long-lasting trail that revisits the emblematic woody family with hints of warm suede and smooth vanilla.
Black Opium Eau de Parfum Baby Cat features additional notes of black pepper, pink pepper, saffron, and cedar. The lovely gourmand fragrance showcases a sexy twist of black coffee, white musk, and orange blossom, intensifying its beautiful trail.
In Love Again
Fall head over heels with In Love Again, a Limited Edition fragrance that Yves Saint Laurent commissioned to celebrate his retirement in the world of fashion and beauty in 1998. Perfumer Jean Claude Ellena developed a gorgeous scent with nature in mind. The irregular heart bottle is just as stunning as the fresh and mischievous scent it stores inside.
It features a fruity opening and sweet floral denouement perfect for women with colorful tastes and personalities. The delicate harmony of rose and peony plus its floral heart delivers an unpredictable thrill and positive sensation that uplifts the mood and feelings of its wearer.
Manifesto
YSL Manifesto is a fresh, sweet, and alluring fragrance brimming with charm and sex appeal for the modern woman. The feminine scent has an intensely passionate vibe that you can wear all day. Perfumers Flipo and Doc Long created House YSL’s first major feminine scent in 2009. Manifesto was refreshingly new, bold, and daring. It represents an attitude of positive femininity never seen before.
Manifesto’s floral heart is accentuated by its top green and cassis notes and a base blend of sandalwood, atlas cedar, vanilla, and tonka bean. The wearer experiences a rich impression of the fruit with its remarkable hints of juicy, bright, and tarty berries.
Paris
YSL Paris is known for its refined and elegant scent that works best in warmer weather. It was created to pay homage to lovely Parisienne with their innate elegance, romantic allure, and charm. Esteemed perfumer Sophia Grojsman developed the perfume; Paris displays a complex fragrance with top notes of bergamot, orange blossom, and violet. Its heart features hints of iris and May rose, while vetiver, vanilla, and sandalwood characterize its base notes.
The perfume is fruity and floral but changes like a chameleon as the hours pass, leaving a feminine and sophisticated aura. Its extra fluffy modern musk has an intense sillage, and its lasting power makes it the perfect scent for special occasions and date nights.
Le Vestiaire Des Parfums Babycat
Le Vestiaire Des Parfums Babycat is the latest fragrance from YSL released in 2022. It has an almost animalistic, subtly warm suede scent with a dash of sweet vanilla, resulting in a sophisticated scent. It displays the bold and timeless couture pattern of seduction that leaves a powerful, long-lasting trail. Le Vestiaire Des Parfums Babycat has top notes of pink pepper essence, elemi essence; heart notes of saffron accord, and base notes of vanilla and cedarwood. It’s the perfect tribute to the iconic styles of Yves Saint Laurence. It’s a unisex fragrance showcasing unique luxury ideal for those living at the edge of life.
Cinema
The perfume composition of Cinema is floral, enhanced with hints of almond and vanilla. Cinema was released in 2004 and was a sure blockbuster for women looking for personal glamor. Its top notes feature almond flowers and mandarin; its heart is peony, amaryllis, jasmine, and mimosa; and finally, base notes consist of benzoin, white musk, vanilla, and amber. When you want to stand out in a crown and shine the most, the magic of Cinema will make this a reality.
Elle
Elle’s strikingly fruity and berry scent is perfect for women who want to feel powerful and strong. It has a unique character and is both alluring and stunning. It’s not for the meek and mild woman but for those who want to command attention and affection.
Perfumers Olivier Cresp and Jacques Cavallier created a modern, urban, and feminine fragrance with a hint of masculinity. It perfectly matches more recent fashion trends. Elle is dark, dry, clean, and smooth with notes of patchouli and vetiver and a smidgeon of incense, making it more insanely intoxicating.
YSL Women Perfume FAQs
What is the original YSL perfume?
In 1964 the YSL Y was launched and showcased the perfect balance between flamboyance and chic. The scent hoped to inspire women to be more independent in their fashion choices.
Why are YSL perfumes so expensive?
The hard-to-harvest ingredients are the main factors that drive up the market value of YSL perfumes. Likewise, the reputation of perfumers that helped develop these perfumes adds to YSL perfumes’ value.
What is the most popular YSL perfume?
Opium is inarguably the most popular fragrance from House YSL. Launched in 1977 as a reflection of Saint Laurent’s affinity and fascination with the Orient, Opium’s sophisticated and opulent scent is just as addictive as its namesake.
What is the newest YSL perfume?
Le Vestiaire des Parfums Babycat launched in 2022 was created by perfumer Dominique Ropion. It displays YSL’s iconic couture pattern, showcasing woody notes with a long-lasting trail that helps the wearer make a statement when she enters a room.
What is the strongest YSL perfume for women?
The rock-and-roll vibe of Black Opium quickly made it one of the best scents from YSL. It’s a versatile fragrance that is best worn at night and during the cooler months.