YSL · 2020 · Anne Flipo and Carlos Benaïm
Libre
Premium$$$, 3 of 5
| 90 ml | $190 |
The houseFor womenWearers sayUnisex
Lavender and orange blossom over deep vanilla and tonka, warmed by a boozy rum note.
YSL says
You’ll smell mandarin essence, bergamot essence, lavender (lavandine essence from france), Diva lavender heart, jasmine sambac absolute, living orchid accord, orange blossom flower absolute, vanilla extract Madagascar, vetiver essence, ambergris accord and tonka absolute from Venezuela.
More from YSL’s description
It also mentions Lavender from France, Orange blossom from Morocco, Blazing orchid accord, Lavender essence from France, Moroccan orange blossom, Glowing orchid, Warm vanilla, DIVA LAVENDER HEART FROM FRANCE, VANILLA BOURBON PURE JUNGLE ESSENCE FROM MADAGASCAR, INTENSE VANILLA BOURBON FROM MADAGASCAR, Liquorous captivating rhum accord, FRESH LIVING ORANGE FLOWER FROM MOROCCO, VIBRANT DIVA LAVENDER FROM FRANCE and Greedy vanilla from Madagascar.
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Wearers say
From Reddit · Read what they say
How far it carries
Across a room
How long it lasts
12 hours or more
When to wear it
Fall, winter
only 2 sources
Where to wear it
Office, every day
Who it suits
Unisex · Older wearers
only 1 source
Mass appeal
Divisive
Compliments
Compliment getter
only 2 sources
What’s inside it
What YSL names
What the label names
11 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 powder
Herbs & lavender1
Sweet1
Heart4
as it settles
8 more lines on the label, not there for the smell
Wearers say
Wearing it
Libre Intense projects hard and lasts 12 hours or more for some, four or five for others. Wearers split between compliments and calling it foul.
How far it carriesBeast mode projection
Perfumers call it sillage.
Wearers call it beast mode and a powerhouse; one says it dominated a fragrance aisle, another says go lighter in an office.
“YSL Libre intense is beast mode.”
Reddit comment, r/FemFragLab, 2025
More from wearers · 2 themes, 3 quotes
Many say
Many wearers call it beast mode, a powerhouse or a strong fragrance.
“Libre is a powerhouse in itself, just overspray it.”
Reddit comment, r/desifemfrag, 2025
Some say
Some wearers report that it carries into shared spaces such as an office or a fragrance aisle.
“In an office setting you may want to go lighter on the sprays because it does project.”
Reddit comment, r/fragrance, 2020
“as i walked through the fragrance isle, this perfume still managed to dominate my senses.”
Reddit post, r/DesiFragranceAddicts, 2024
How long it lastsOften 12 hours or more
Several wearers report 12 hours or more, while others get four or five hours and one says it barely lasts.
“The Real Flex: It lasts 12+ hours.”
Reddit post, r/desifemfrag, 2025 · 116 votes
More from wearers · 3 themes, 5 quotes
Some say
Some wearers report it lasting 12 hours or longer, and one calls it the best for longevity.
“YSL's performance was fire (14 hours) and Leonie was 10 hours but I think pretty good for the price.”
Reddit comment, r/desifemfrag, 2024
“YSL Libre Intense outperforms all of the other options for longevity.”
Reddit comment, r/FemFragLab, 2025
Some say
Some wearers report four to five hours of strong scent, with skin scent after.
“It doesn't last for more than 4-5 hours on me.”
Reddit comment, r/desifemfrag, 2025
“For longevity, I'd say 4-5 hours of solid projection, then closer to skin for another few hours.”
Reddit post, r/fragrance, 2025
A few say
A few wearers find it too light and say it barely lasts.
“The YSL Libre Intense is too light of a scent for me. It barely lasts”
Reddit comment, r/FemFragLab, 2023
When and where to wear itCold weather, day into night
Wearers call it perfect for fall and winter, too heavy for summer, and one says it moves from day to night.
“It's perfect for fall and winter, or any cold weather day really”
Reddit comment, r/FemFragLab, 2023
More from wearers · 3 themes, 4 quotes
Some say
Some wearers say it suits fall and winter and runs too heavy for summer days.
“This is super beast mode, a little too heavy for summer days.”
Reddit post, r/desifemfrag, 2026
A few say
A few wearers say it carries from day to night.
“Libre intense all the way for me 🌼🌼🌼 coz the perfume can transition from day to night.”
Reddit comment, r/desifemfrag, 2026
Some say
Some wearers worry about tiring of it or switch because someone else wears it.
“I've only smelled the intense and liked it a lot, but gas the potential to make me tired of it if worn too often.”
Reddit comment, r/fragrance, 2023
“I loved libre intense - the performance is amazing too but now I enjoy the scent of Valentino more bc another girl in my office wears libre”
Reddit comment, r/FemFragLab, 2025
Who it suitsUnisex, though one found it masculine
Wearers in one thread say a man could pull it off and lavender gives it a unisex vibe; another finds it too masculine.
“I think the lavender note gives it a more unisex vibe!”
Reddit comment, r/fragrance, 2023
More from wearers · 3 themes, 3 quotes
A few say
A few wearers say a man could wear it and lavender gives it a unisex vibe.
“As a woman I think a man could pull it off! I'd also recommend the intense version.”
Reddit comment, r/fragrance, 2023
A few say
A few wearers found it too masculine, one adding that it gave a headache.
“Libre gave me a headache and felt too masculine, Burberry Goddess was too spicy, and both Prada Paradoxe and Donna Born in Roma were too harsh and loud”
Reddit comment, r/FemFragLab, 2025
A few say
A few wearers say it recalls duty-free stores and the rich ladies at family gatherings.
“It reminds me of airport dutyfree stores and the rich ladies I'd see in family gatherings.”
Reddit post, r/DesiFragranceAddicts, 2024
Appeal and attractionDivisive, yet a compliment getter
Wearers report compliments and call it super sexy, yet others find it foul and one got a headache.
“One of my most complimented fragrances.”
Reddit comment, r/FemFragLab, 2025
More from wearers · 3 themes, 4 quotes
Some say
Some wearers report it as one of their most complimented fragrances.
“According to customers it's one of their most highly complimented perfumes too.”
Reddit comment, r/FemFragLab, 2025
A few say
A few wearers call it super sexy and say it makes people want to get closer to the wearer.
“I find it very unisex and has that thing that YSL fragrances make you want to get closer to the wearer.”
Reddit comment, r/fragrance, 2023
“Super sexy but I prefer the intense but they are all delicious.”
Reddit comment, r/fragrance, 2023
Some say
Some wearers find it unpleasant, one reporting a headache and another a sting in the nose.
“Nothing is ever a safe blind buy. When I tried YSL Libre, it felt like someone was poking me up the nose with twigs.”
Reddit comment, r/FemFragLab, 2025
As a blind buyNot safe to blind buy
Wearers in one thread call it not blind buy safe, one saying it is heavy and another finding it foul.
“I would say YSL is definitely not safe to blind buy, and I'm saying that as someone who has always loved lavender in basically anything”
Reddit comment, r/FemFragLab, 2025
More from wearers · 1 theme, 2 quotes
A few say
A few wearers say it is not safe to blind buy, even for those who love lavender.
“I would say no, but I hate Libre. imo, it's a heavy fragrance so I wouldn't say it's safe.”
Reddit comment, r/FemFragLab, 2025
“I love Tuxedo and Babycat, also love Black Opium Over Red. I've tried a few of the Libre's and find them foul. Would not consider them blind buy safe.”
Reddit comment, r/FemFragLab, 2025
LayeringLayers well; keep sprays few
Wearers layer it with vanilla scents, Black Opium La Parfum, Good Girl or Alien Goddess, keeping sprays few, while one never layers it.
“Layers beautifully with OG good girl (one spray each is plenty).”
Reddit comment, r/FemFragLab, 2025
More from wearers · 3 themes, 6 quotes
A few say
A few wearers layer it with vanilla scented lotions, mists and dupes.
“Layer it with Lattafa Tharwah Gold / Alhambra Libbra Intense / Lattafa Angham - any vanilla scented body lotion/ mists should do like Pinksmush pointed out.”
Reddit comment, r/desifemfrag, 2025
“plum smokin vanilla‼️‼️‼️ my signature. got a compliment from a stranger when i wore this combo.”
Reddit comment, r/desifemfrag, 2025
Some say
Some wearers layer it with other perfumes and limit the sprays.
“Mugler Alien Goddess and Goddess Intense also work for layering with this one, but best to limit the number of sprays.”
Reddit comment, r/desifemfrag, 2025
“I know someone who layers it with black opium la parfum and it smells wonderful.”
Reddit comment, r/desifemfrag, 2026
A few say
A few wearers never layer it because it is rich and strong on its own.
“Layering I've never done with this one coz the smell is just so rich and deep on its own.”
Reddit comment, r/desifemfrag, 2026
“Don't layer, wear it as is. It is such a strong fragrance.”
Reddit comment, r/desifemfrag, 2026
From Reddit.
Wearers say
Smells like it
For less
Leonie IntenseOn your shelfMaison Alhambra · Some wearers call it a cheaper copy“I will recommend libbra intense by maison alhambra, which is a good dupe 1:1.”
Reddit comment, r/fragrance, 2023
Tharwah GoldOn your shelfLattafa · Some wearers call it a cheaper copy“If you need a cheapie that goes well with it or for overspraying purpose, try Lattafa Angham( close enough, more vannilic) or Lattafa Tharwah Gold( Spot on dupe).”
Reddit comment, r/desifemfrag, 2025
AnghamOn your shelfLattafa · Some wearers call it a cheaper copy“If you need a cheapie that goes well with it or for overspraying purpose, try Lattafa Angham( close enough, more vannilic) or Lattafa Tharwah Gold( Spot on dupe).”
Reddit comment, r/desifemfrag, 2025
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 mandarin, bergamot, lavender, jasmine and 3 more
Como MoiselleMaison Alhambra · shares mandarin, bergamot, jasmine, bitter orange (neroli, orange blossom, petitgrain) and 3 more
Black OrchidTom Ford · shares mandarin, bergamot, jasmine, orchid and 3 more
Matched by the notes each house names. A shared note is not a promise they smell alike.