Now Decanting: YSL Libre EDP

The scent of Libre is unmistakable, it is the feminine fougére of perfumes.

I'm sad to say I after judging the bottle at first sight - too cold/sterile - I overlooked it until last year in Bangkok. There was a YSL fragrance pop-up at one of the mega malls and at long last, I was introduced to Libre. 

History of YSL Libre

Although the original was launched in 2019, development began in 2011. Anne Flipo and Carlos Benaïm are the primary noses behind the fragrance. Working both separately and together, they created over 1500 prototypes of what was known as Boyish, Libre's working name, before arriving at the final iteration.  

This final creation was the perfect floral fougére. An intoxicating blend of orange blossom, fern, and lavender, described by Esteban Villaneuva as being "a series of dichotomies...that...create the perfect match." No truer words have been spoken, as one can find happy little contradictions from the noses all the way down to the bottle. 

Suzanne Dalton is the creator of the iconic Libre bottle. True to the brand, she too plays on the masculine/feminine dichotomy with the angular glass bottle and cap vs. delicate gold "necklace" around the cap. Each detail has been thoughtfully designed with the ultimate Libre woman in mind. 

Who is the Face of Libre?

Dua Lipa is the ambassador for Libre and has been since the 2019 launch. 

What Does YSL Libre Smell Like?

Refined, feminine, sparkling, and chic are all words that came to mind smelling the blotters. A bouquet of white florals wrapped in a cool, masculine base felt like an evening in Paris. While I find the orange blossom top notes almost overpowering, they do fade into a beautiful musky base, rounded out by my favourite, vanilla. Perfect for the sophisticate in your life.

Notes in Libre EDP

The notes that I notice the most: lavender, vanilla, orange blossom

According to Fragrantica the eau de parfum is composed of...

Top: Lavender, Mandarin, Petitgrain, Blackcurrant

Heart: Orange Blossom, Jasmine, Lavender

Base: Musk, Cedar, Madagascar Vanilla, Ambergris

Interestingly, both orange blossom and petitgrain come from the orange tree. 

Mandy Aftel states in The Museum of Scent (p.86) that lavender is available in 3 forms: concrete, essential oil, and absolue. Each form possesses its own unique qualities and aroma, which may be the reason it appears as both a top and heart note in this fragrance.

Is Libre Masculine or Feminine?

While it is based on the traditionally masculine fougére fragrances, I feel Libre leans more feminine. It could be worn as a unisex fragrance. I would be interested to smell Libre layered with a more masculine or musky base.

How Long Lasting is Libre?

Good lasting power; it tends to evolve overtime. Medium sillage, not office friendly.

Perfect for: Evening, Formal

Good for: Daytime