YSL | Libre and Libre Intense Perfume Review

In this video Beve reviews Libre by Yves Saint Laurent and compares it to its counterpart Libre Intense. Both of these perfumes are feminine fougère and come in an eau de parfum concentration. They have a stunning bottle design featuring the iconic YSL logo bent and wrapped around the glass and topped off by twisted golden cord and a black lacquered cap.

Libre

Libre is a feminine Amber Fougère perfume that was launched in 2019. The fragrance has top notes of lavender, mandarin orange, black currant and petitgrain, which creates a burst of fresh orange that is slightly sweet and refreshing. The middle notes are lavender, orange blossom and jasmine, which add a floral touch. The base notes are musk, cedar, ambergris and Madagascar vanilla, which give a soft finish that is less about orange and more about amber and musk. The projection is moderate and the longevity is moderate.

Beve found the fragrance to be linear and that it did not change much throughout its wear. She loves the brief vanilla note in the middle and wished it lasted longer. In the dry down she only noticed ambergris and musk on her skin. Beve enjoyed wearing it in the hot summer heat and found it to be a refined summer citrus that is refreshing and elegant.

Libre Intense

Libre Intense is also a feminine Amber Fougère perfume. It was launched in 2020 as a new intense version of Libre. It has the same bottle design as the original, but with darker coloured contents. The fragrance has top notes of lavender, mandarin orange and bergamot, which create a sparkling opening. The middle notes are orange blossom, jasmine sambac, lavender and orchid. The base notes are vanilla, tonka bean, ambergris and vetiver, which add warmth and amber, and leaving a musky finish. The projection is strong and the scent has very good longevity – lasting about eight hours on skin.

Beve found that the perfume went through different stages while she wore it and as it dried down. It started with a retro vibe that reminded her of vintage perfumes, then it became more floral with orange blossom and lavender notes, then it warmed up with amber notes before turning powdery and salty with a hint of ambergris, and finally ending with a musky note that lingered on the skin. Beve felt that Libre Intense is too strong for the heat and better suited for the fall and for evening.