YSL Y Eau de Parfum 100ml

YSL Y Eau de Parfum was created by Dominique Ropion and launched in 2018. It is a fougère fragrance for men built around a fresh aromatic structure that transitions into a warm, resinous woody base. The composition is designed for versatility — accessible enough for daytime and office wear, with sufficient depth in the base to work for evening occasions. The bottle is the signature dark blue of the Y line, with a silver Y accent. Y EDP is the core fragrance in the YSL Y line, with subsequent flankers including Y Intense (2023) developing specific facets of the accord in different directions.

How the Scent Develops

Top: Bergamot, Ginger, Apple — a clean, bright and approachable opening. Bergamot provides the citrus freshness and lift that anchors the fougère structure from the first spray; ginger adds a dry, warm spice; apple contributes a light, crisp fruitiness that keeps the opening accessible without being sweet. Together the three top notes produce a fresh, energetic opening that is immediately wearable and broadly appealing.

Heart: Sage, Geranium, Juniper Berries — the aromatic core of the fougère. Sage here is the dominant herbal note — clean, slightly medicinal, green and aromatic; it provides the classic fougère mid-stage character. Geranium adds a rosy-green, slightly sharp and minty facet that gives the heart definition and edges. Juniper berries bridge the opening freshness into the heart with a cool, slightly resinous, piney quality. The three notes together are classic fougère construction executed cleanly.

Base: Cedarwood, Tonka Bean, Ambergris Accord, Olibanum — the base is where Y EDP distinguishes itself from lighter, more neutral men’s fragrances. Cedarwood provides dry, clean woody depth. Tonka bean (derived from the seed of Dipteryx odorata, a South American tree) is coumarin-rich, with a warm, slightly vanillic, creamy character and a faint bitter almond edge — it is the primary source of sweetness in the base without making the fragrance genuinely gourmand. Ambergris accord here is a synthetic construction replicating the warm, slightly salty, marine-animalic quality of natural ambergris (which is no longer used commercially). Olibanum — frankincense resin, derived from Boswellia trees — adds a dry, slightly smoky, resinous and balsamic quality that gives the base an incense-adjacent character. Together the four base materials produce a warm, resinous, softly sweet and slightly smoky drydown.

When to Wear It

Y EDP is one of the more genuinely versatile designer men’s fragrances — the fresh aromatic top and heart are calibrated for daytime and office wear, while the warm resinous base gives it enough depth to work in the evening. It performs across seasons, though the tonka and olibanum base may feel slightly heavy in very hot weather. For year-round everyday wear at EDP concentration this is a well-constructed and broadly appropriate choice.

Questions Customers Ask

What is olibanum and how does it affect the fragrance?
Olibanum is frankincense — the resin of Boswellia trees, used in perfumery for thousands of years. In fragrance it contributes a dry, slightly smoky, resinous and balsamic character with a clean, slightly green edge. In the Y EDP base it prevents the tonka bean from reading as purely sweet by adding a drier, more complex, slightly incense-like quality. The combination of tonka’s warmth with olibanum’s dryness is what gives the Y EDP base its distinctive character.

How does Y EDP compare to Y Intense?
Y EDP (2018) is the fresher, more versatile and more accessible fragrance in the line. The sage-geranium-juniper heart, the apple top and the tonka-olibanum base give it a clean warmth that works across occasions and seasons. Y Intense (2023) is darker and more complex — iris concrete in the heart, vetiver and patchouli in the base, grey amber accord replacing the warmer tonka-olibanum structure. Y Intense is better suited to evenings and cooler weather; Y EDP is the stronger everyday choice. Both are by Dominique Ropion.

Is it suitable for daily wear?
Yes — this is one of Y EDP’s strengths. The fresh aromatic top and heart are appropriate for office, daytime and casual settings; the warm base adds enough depth for evenings without tipping into heavy or occasion-only territory. At 100ml it’s well sized for regular use.

Is it a good gift?
Yes — the YSL name, the distinctive dark blue bottle and the versatile character make it a reliable gift choice for men who wear fragrance regularly. It suits birthdays, Christmas and occasion gifting across a wide range of ages and preferences.

What is the delivery policy?
We offer free standard UK & US delivery on orders over £50.

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