Yves Saint Laurent · 2018 · Men
Y Eau de Parfum
Aromatic Fougere
Formulated by master perfumer Dominique Ropion in 2018, Y Eau de Parfum represents the drive of a modern generation of men who dare to follow their passions. The scent opens with a sharp, vibrant burst of crisp green apple, zesty ginger, and bright bergamot. The heart introduces a clean, herbal-aromatic bridge built around sage, crisp juniper berries, and fresh geranium. The dry-down features an intensely powerful, modern foundation of dark amberwood, sweet tonka bean, cedar, and resinous olibanum. Designed for high performance and exceptional crowd-pleasing appeal, it strikes an ideal balance between clean, shower-fresh brightness and rich, sweet, masculine sensuality.
Longevity
9-11 hours
Sillage
Strong and persistent
Notes documented
11
Season fit
Spring / Autumn / Summer
The pyramid
Read top to bottom as a timeline, not an ingredient list. Top notes typically flash off in 15-45 minutes, the heart carries hours two to four, and the base defines everything after.
How it wears
Documented longevity for Y Eau de Parfum sits at 9-11 hours, which places it in the Parfum band (20-40% aromatic compound). Sillage is described as strong and persistent, so plan application accordingly: 1-2 dabs or sprays on pulse points.
The base is built on Amberwood, Tonka Bean, Cedar. These are low-volatility materials, which is why the last third of the wear smells markedly different from the opening — and why a five-minute test at a counter tells you almost nothing about whether you will like it at hour six.
In cold, dry air expect the projection to read weaker and the wear to stretch longer; in hot, humid air expect the opposite. Use the season calculator to sanity-check a specific month and city.
When to wear it
Occasion tags here are editorial judgements derived from the composition's family, note structure and sillage — not brand marketing. A fragrance described as strong and persistent sillage should be applied more sparingly in shared air such as offices, lifts and aircraft cabins.
Context
Released in 2018, Y Eau de Parfum sits in the Aromatic Fougere family. This library documents 1 other fragrance in the same family, which makes it a useful reference point if you are mapping the category rather than shopping for one bottle.
Note that any composition older than a decade has almost certainly been reformulated: IFRA amendments have progressively restricted materials such as oakmoss (atranol), coumarin and birch tar, and supply constraints on sandalwood and natural oud have pushed houses toward reconstructions. A bottle bought today is not chemically identical to one bought at launch.
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Ranked by shared base and heart materials plus family proximity — fragrances sharing three or more base notes tend to feel related after the second hour.
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Guerlain
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Giorgio Armani
Acqua di Gio
Aromatic Aquatic · Men
Composed by master perfumer Alberto Morillas in 1996 and inspired by the pristine volcanic cliffs of Pantelleria island, Acqua di Gio revolutionized masculine fresh perfumery by establishing the benchmark for aquatic aromatics. The opening presents a sun-drenched collision of Mediterranean citrus fruits—crisp lime, lemon, and bergamot—immediately tempered by watery marine accords and synthetic calone that recreate the exact sensation of sea spray hitting warm skin. The intricate heart blends aromatic rosemary and crisp floral notes with green undertones, preventing the fragrance from becoming a simple aquatic clone. As time passes, the composition settles into a clean, unpretentious base of white musk, cedar, and subtle patchouli. It is an enduring classic praised for its effortless versatility, making it a reliable staple for warm weather wear without ever feeling intrusive or overly synthetic.