Yves Saint Laurent
EDP · Men's · 2018
Fresh-aromatic ambery crowd-pleaser, modern and versatile day-to-night
aromatic · fresh · woody · fresh spicy · amber · fruity
Top (first impression): Bergamot · Apple · Ginger · Sage
Heart (the character): Sage · Juniper Berries · Geranium
Base (the dry-down): Amberwood · Tonka Bean · Cedar · Vetiver
Season: spring, fall, winter, summer · Occasion: everyday, office, date night, night out
Longevity: long (8-10h) · Sillage: strong
Y was introduced by YSL as a men's pillar named after the brand's enduring 'Y' monogram, with the original Eau de Toilette arriving in 2017 and this fuller Eau de Parfum following in 2018. The EDP was composed by perfumer Dominique Ropion, who deepened the concept with sage, geranium and a prominent amberwood-tonka base relative to the lighter EDT. Positioned as a clean, contemporary signature for the modern man, it leaned into the fresh-aromatic 'blue' genre dominating the late-2010s market. It became one of YSL's best-selling masculines and a frequent comparison point against Bleu de Chanel and Sauvage. The line later expanded with Y Le Parfum and the Y Elixir. The EDP is generally praised for offering strong performance at a designer price.
A versatile fresh-aromatic with a sage-and-amberwood backbone that gives it more body and longevity than the lighter EDT. A modern, very wearable crowd-pleaser, though it sits firmly in the popular freshie lane and isn't especially distinctive.
Nose: Dominique Ropion
Dior Sauvage · Bleu de Chanel · Versace Dylan Blue · Montblanc Explorer