Launched in 2019, YSL Libre pays homage to the fashion brand’s iconic garments. Envisaged by perfumers Anne Flipo and Carlos Benaim, Libre achieved its popularity for its stunning citrus freshness that feels warmly secure yet sensually free. It’s one of the YSL’s most popular scents due to its sweetness, casual appeal, and easy wearability. It mixes orange blossoms and lavender with just the right dose of florals and musk, making it popular for many women.
Libre opens with fruity and mildly sweet notes from lavender, mandarin, and cassis medley. Then, it dries down into a smoother, almost powdery fragrance. While Libre starts slightly masculine, the sweetness of orange blossoms makes the final effect ultra-feminine.
YSL Intense is a powerhouse. Released in 2020 and envisaged by Anne Flipo and Carlos Benaim, it is the original’s darker and edgier sister. It makes a sparkling first impression with its boss lady type of scent. Intense is playful, sexy, yet very soothing. The combination of lavender and vanilla inspires confidence and strength in its wearer. It’s a femme fatale fragrance with longevity and sillage worthy of its price point.
Libre starts with a sweet aroma from the upbeat notes of citrus and vanilla. Next, the well-balanced florals share the stage with lavender in the middle and finish with a dry and sweet skin scent, thanks to its ambergris, white floral, and vanilla notes.
YSL Libre vs Libre Intense
The main difference between YSL Libre and YSL Intense is the staying power of vanilla on the skin. For YSL Libre, lavender and musk are the dominant notes after drydown. For YSL Intense, it dries down with a toned-down lavender fragrance, with vanilla upholding its dominance for the rest of the wear.
| Parameter | Libre | Intense |
| Brand | YSL | YSL |
| Perfumer | Anne Flipo & Carlos Benaim | Anne Flipo & Carlos Benaim |
| Type | Eau de Parfum | Eau de Parfum |
| Year Released | 2019 | 2020 |
| Discontinued? | No | No |
| Gender | Women | Women |
| Accords | White flower and citrus | Vanilla and white floral |
| Longevity | High | High |
| Occasion | Daytime wear | Evening wear |
| Season | Year-round | Fall and winter |
Libre vs Libre Intense By Scent
| Notes | Libre | Intense |
| Top | Lavender, black currant, mandarin orange, and petitgrain | Lavender, bergamot mandarin orange |
| Middle | Lavender, orange blossom, and jasmine | Lavender, jasmine sambac, Tunisian orange, and orchid |
| Base | Madagascar vanilla, cedar, musk, and ambergris | Madagascar vanilla, ambergris, tonka bean, and vetiver |
Libre makes a delightful first impression with its sparkling citrus medley. The wonderful notes of lavender and jasmine quickly follow and intertwine beautifully with Moroccan orange blossom. Together, the florals and citrus create a warm, soothing sensation. The flowers melt seamlessly, creating an inoffensive petal pattern. Dreamy lavender adds an herbaceous element to Libre’s floral heart. The base notes consist of cedarwood and vanilla, adding elegant smoothness to its overall profile.
While Intense has all the qualities of the original EDP, it sets itself apart with the addition of orchid and tonka bean. It carries a full-bodied, grand floral fragrance boasting deep sensuality and romantic character. The orchid deepens its cozy vibe, pleasing floral and gourmand lovers alike. Intense maintains its floral qualities despite having a slightly masculine and earthy edge.
Scent-wise, Intense is a more concentrated, potent blend. Amber truly is the color of her energy. It smells expensive, delectable, and addicting, thanks to its long-lasting sweet and boozy composition. It is a compliment getter due to its unprecedented staying power and decent projection. Libre, on the other hand, is sweet, subtle, and yet captivating. It is more suitable for adults than for teenagers as it exudes a level of sophisticated maturity.
Libre vs Libre Intense By Gender
Both Libre and Intense are women’s fragrances. While they are formulated for women, the dirty lavender and creamy vanilla texture lend a tinge of masculinity to its overall profile. However, it has a well-balanced formulation perfect for daily wear. On the other hand, YSL Intense is lovely, rich, and ultra-feminine. As it dries down, the white flowers develop into a warm and sultry feminine scent on the skin.
Libre vs. Libre Intense By Longevity
Both scents are renowned for their excellent staying power. YSL Libre can stay up to 9 hours on the skin, perfect for a vast majority of occasions the perfume is usually worn, while other YSL perfumes have more impressive longevity, Intense packs a punch. It leaves a memorable impression in terms of sillage and projection. On the skin, it can last for twelve hours or longer.
Libre vs Libre Intense By Occasion
Intense exudes beautiful notes of night-blooming jasmine and orange blossoms. Its dark and creamy sensuality makes it the perfect scent to wear for dates and night outs. Moreover, it’s what women can wear for special evening occasions. On the other hand, Libre is more delicate; hence one can easily wear it during the daytime. Moreover, Libre is more flexible so one can wear it for work and in the evening for formal events.
Libre vs. Libre Intense By Season
The delicate composition of YSL Libre makes it a lovely fragrance to wear all year long. It is rich yet not overpowering. The vanilla and floral notes sit well on the skin during hot summer days. The vanilla, orchid, and tonka bean notes of Intense stand out beautifully in the fall and winter seasons. It’s a good signature scent all-year evening fragrance but performs at its best in cooler weather.
YSL Libre vs. Libre Intense: Which is Best for You?
Overall, both Libre and Intense deliver outstanding performance in terms of longevity, sillage, and projection. While they share similar ingredients, these classic perfumes from YSL have distinct qualities that make each stunning in their own rights.
YSL Libre smells modern and elegant but not screaming. The combination of vanilla, orange blossom, and lavender is well-balanced, resulting in a sweet fragrance that doesn’t overwhelm the senses. It is suitable for women who like florals with a hint of masculinity.
With its stunning amber color, YSL Intense has a bright and joyful fragrance that evokes comfort and warmth. Its combination of salty-sweet and slight smokiness is playful yet sophisticated. Intense is strong but not suffocating, lasting a good 12 hours or more.
Performance isn’t an issue for both perfumes. However, in terms of the attractiveness of blend, longevity, sillage, and mass appeal, Intense proves to be far superior to its predecessor.