YSL · 2019 · Anne Flipo and Carlos Benaïm (IFF)
Libre
Premium$$$, 3 of 5
| 90 ml | $185 |
The houseFor womenWearers sayLeans feminine
Herbal lavender and mandarin opening onto lush orange blossom and jasmine, settling into warm vanilla and musk.
YSL says
You’ll smell lavender essence from France, Moroccan orange blossom, musk accord and vanilla.
More from YSL’s description
It also mentions Diva Lavender Heart from France, Orange blossom from Morocco, Vanilla Bourbon Pure Jungle Essence from Madagascar, Lavender, Bergamot, Orange blossom, Jasmine, Musk, Lavender from southern France, Vanilla from Madagascar, Ambergris, Neroli and Mandarin.
Wearers say
From 6 Reddit threads · Read what they say
How far it carries
An arm’s length
only 2 sources
How long it lasts
6 to 9 hours
When to wear it
All year
only 2 sources
Where to wear it
Office, every day
only 2 sources
Who it suits
Leans feminine · Any age
only 2 sources
Mass appeal
Crowd-pleaser
only 2 sources
Compliments
Compliment getter
only 2 sources
What’s inside it
What YSL names
What the label names
12 scent ingredients on the label, familiar names first.
A label must name certain ingredients, most of them ones that can cause allergies; some houses print more. It is never the whole recipe.
2 citrus1 herbs & lavender6 florals1 sweet1 spices1 powder
Herbs & lavender1
Sweet1
Spices1
Heart5
as it settles
8 more lines on the label, not there for the smell
Wearers say
Wearing it
YSL Libre EDP is a bold lavender-orange blossom floral that projects noticeably for six to nine hours. Wearers celebrate its confident professional vibe despite sharp lavender polarizing some blind buyers.
How far it carriesArm's length to moderate
Perfumers call it sillage.
Libre projects comfortably beyond the wearer's personal bubble during initial hours before settling into an arm's length radius.
“Libre has amazing performance for me, I can still smell 2 sprays after 5 hours and I live in a very hot and humid climate.”
Reddit comment, r/fragrance, 2021 · 10 votes
More from wearers · 1 theme, 1 quote
Some say
Some wearers find that Libre projects noticeably beyond an arm's length without becoming completely overwhelming.
“I feel like it's detectable outside of my personal bubble too in the first few hours.”
Reddit comment, r/fragrance, 2021 · 4 votes
How long it lasts6 to 9 hours
Most wearers report enduring staying power lasting through an entire workday on skin and clinging to clothes for days.
“The EDP lasts more than 6 hrs on me. I can still smell it on myself at the end of the day with just two sprays on my chest.”
Reddit comment, r/fragrance, 2021 · 4 votes
More from wearers · 1 theme, 1 quote
Some say
Some wearers observe that two sprays easily last through a full workday on skin.
“It is strong and lasts and lasts on me. My favorite part is the drydown which reminds me, suprisingly, of MFK Gentle Fluidity Gold.”
Reddit comment, r/fragrance, 2020
When and where to wear itProfessional office and all year
Wearers widely recommend Libre as an empowering workplace signature that transitions effortlessly across every season.
“I really like it. It's inoffensive enough for work, but not boring at all.”
Reddit comment, r/fragrance, 2020 · 4 votes
More from wearers · 1 theme, 1 quote
Some say
Some wearers consider Libre the quintessential professional scent for corporate and daily settings.
“Does give self made woman vibes though, I wear it for professional settings and it always seem to complement my outfits for work.”
Reddit comment, r/FemFragLab, 2024 · 3 votes
Who it suitsUnisex leaning with feminine polish
While targeted to women, Libre's aromatic fougere lavender backbone leads many wearers to classify it as comfortably unisex.
“You have to like a bright, slightly masculine floral to like this one!”
Reddit comment, r/FemFragLab, 2024 · 7 votes
More from wearers · 1 theme, 2 quotes
Some say
Some wearers emphasize that its prominent lavender gives it a sophisticated unisex or slight cologne lean.
“I'm 29(F) and think it's perfect and fairly unisex, which I love.”
Reddit comment, r/fragrance, 2020 · 6 votes
“This scent is powerful and it’s sexy in that it’s not a traditional feminine scent. I think this leans unisex or even a tad bit masculine.”
Reddit comment, r/FemFragLab, 2024 · 7 votes
Appeal and attractionHigh compliments and crowd appeal
Wearers frequently report receiving unsolicited compliments from friends and strangers alike when wearing Libre.
“I typically do not like designer scents but I really just fell for it and I get more compliments than with any other scent i've worn.”
Reddit comment, r/fragrance, 2020 · 8 votes
More from wearers · 1 theme, 1 quote
Some say
Some wearers find that it brings in more compliments than almost any other perfume in their rotation.
“It's something I could easily wear all year and I get a lot of compliments whenever I wear it”
Reddit comment, r/fragrance, 2020 · 5 votes
As a blind buyHigh risk blind buy
Sharp lavender notes and heavy white florals lead to intense regret for blind buyers whose skin chemistry amplifies harshness.
“i hate it so much. i gave it with no regrets lol it smelled so good on my coworker but it did not smell the same for me 🥲”
Reddit comment, r/FemFragLab, 2025 · 8 votes
More from wearers · 1 theme, 2 quotes
Some say
Some wearers strongly regret purchasing Libre unsmelled after finding the lavender screechy or nauseating on skin.
“I dead ass will😭😭😭 it needs to get out of my house asap”
Reddit comment, r/FemFragLab, 2025
“This was one of my recent purchases. (I bought it on r/fragranceswap ) I absolutely love it”
Reddit comment, r/fragrance, 2020 · 5 votes
LayeringBaccarat Rouge 540
Wearers pair Libre with sweet ambery fragrances like Baccarat Rouge 540 to soften its sharp aromatic lavender opening.
“I layered it with BR540 and I can only describe the combination as heavenly clean laundry. Try it if you can.”
Reddit comment, r/fragrance, 2020 · 5 votes
From 6 Reddit threads.
Wearers say
Smells like it
For less
“I literally saw a bottle of Leonie at my local Arab grocery store and my goodness, it is 95% an exact dupe for Libre.”
Reddit comment, r/FemFragLab, 2025
For about the same
Donna Born in RomaOn your shelfValentino · Some of its own wearers say it smells like Libre
My WayOn your shelfArmani · A few of its own wearers say it smells like Libre“To me, YSL Libre (especially the EDT) has some similarities with Armani My Way.”
Reddit comment, r/Perfumes
Shoppers call a cheaper stand-in a dupe.
What wearers say, set beside the price each house asks. Noses differ.
Our match of the notes
Shares its notes
LibreYSL · shares lavender, bitter orange (neroli, orange blossom, petitgrain), vanilla, bergamot and 3 more
AlthaïrParfums de Marly · shares bitter orange (neroli, orange blossom, petitgrain), cashmere knit, vanilla, bergamot and 2 moreMatched by the notes each house names. A shared note is not a promise they smell alike.