Y (2017) (Eau de Toilette) by Yves Saint Laurent
Bottle Design:
Suzanne Dalton
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Y 2017 Eau de Toilette

Version from 2017
6.5 / 10 444 Ratings
A perfume by Yves Saint Laurent for men, released in 2017. The scent is fresh-synthetic. It was last marketed by L'Oréal.
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Main accords

Fresh
Synthetic
Sweet
Spicy
Aquatic

Fragrance Notes

BergamotBergamot AldehydesAldehydes AmbergrisAmbergris CedarwoodCedarwood GingerGinger Balsam firBalsam fir Geranium absoluteGeranium absolute SageSage FrankincenseFrankincense

Perfumer

Videos
Ratings
Scent
6.5444 Ratings
Longevity
6.4384 Ratings
Sillage
6.2381 Ratings
Bottle
7.1399 Ratings
Value for money
6.6197 Ratings
Submitted by OPomone, last update on 11/23/2025.
Interesting Facts
The fragrance was awarded the "Fragrance of the Year – Men's Prestige" prize by the Fragrance Foundation in 2018. The faces of the advertising campaign are rapper Loyle Carner, sculptor David Alexander Flinn and artificial intelligence researcher Alexandre Robicquet.

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to
Y (Eau de Parfum) by Yves Saint Laurent
Y Eau de Parfum
Y (2022) (Eau de Toilette) by Yves Saint Laurent
Y (2022) Eau de Toilette
Y Le Parfum (2021) by Yves Saint Laurent
Y Le Parfum (2021)
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Éclat d'Arpège pour Homme by Lanvin
Éclat d'Arpège pour Homme
Invictus (Eau de Toilette) by Rabanne
Invictus Eau de Toilette

Reviews

29 in-depth fragrance descriptions
Elysium

898 Reviews
Elysium
Elysium
Helpful Review 4  
So Unpredictable Pure
We know Yves Saint Laurent in the world of perfumery for several masterpieces. When I approached the world of fragrances as a teenager, the trending perfumes of this brand were Opium (1977) Parfum, Paris Eau de Toilette, Kouros Eau de Toilette and Jazz (1988) Eau de Toilette. The first three were rare, super-powerful animals, while the last was already something more tamed and commercial. Many other fragrances came out on the market long before these, but the ones I mentioned were around at the time. Then came the unexpected, polarizing and disruptive "M7 (Eau de Toilette) | Yves Saint Laurent", followed by a plethora of L'Homme Eau de Toilette and La Nuit de L'Homme Eau de Toilette with their flankers. And so did Black Opium Eau de Parfum. Two new fragrances have recently arrived on the shelves, namely the feminine Libre Eau de Parfum and the masculine Y. As I've tried and reviewed some of the Y flankers, I thought it was time to look at the original, a free sample I received a while ago. A few good things have been said about EDT, but it was generic and forgettable. I like it now that I've had the chance to try it for myself. You may wonder what it is, so here's my take on it.

Firstly, I would classify it as a fresh, aromatic, modern fougére and semi-aquatic perfume with light woody notes. Y EDT opens with an energizing freshness from sparkling aldehydes and soapy citrus fruits, which give a luminous, joyful, and floral sensation. The aldehydes are distinct and give Y a solar arrangement, which is very refreshing and effervescent, like sparkling flavoured water. I feel powdery shades coming from the violet leaves, slightly watery and dusty. I let the booze vanish, and a creamy lemon comes to the fore along with the aromatic sage, which brings a herbaceous tone right from the start. Thanks to the blend of citrus, herbs and a warm, musky undertone that is clear from the first spritz, I get an atmosphere that belongs to the fougére family. Something immediately familiar to me reminds me of several famous men's fragrances out there, some edges in common with "Defy | Calvin Klein".

Y is a relatively straightforward scent, which doesn't undergo much development, and the next chord that hits my nose is a violet leaf with a hint of ginger that adds some spiciness. The violet leaf is very prominent, providing its familiar powdery aroma. The heart, formed mainly of green geranium and herbaceous sage, gives a touch to the aromatic and dry fragrance. In short, bitter puffs arise from the sage leaf. My nose is sensitive enough to sense this bitterness inherent in clary sage. If you know the aqueous accord, you too will capture the watery and dusty atmosphere of the violet leaf.

The base moves into a more decadent and more seductive territory, resting on soft notes of not too heavy but dry wood and a sort of dense amber. There is some cedarwood in there, a touch of balsamic fir and marine ambergris warming it. A powerful woody and balsamic base contrast with the sparkling freshness of the beginning. The balsamic tones stand out. I can feel them clearly if I bring my wrist to my nose. Deep, earthy, animal-like. Although Y has many other notes, it is the aromatic and salty ones that shine and dominate. Not bad, especially if you like amber types of fragrances rich in sage and violet. It retains its freshness on the bottom with a sweet and airy character and a solid woody base with a sprinkle of sage.

Head, heart and tail come together in a clean, easy-to-wear fragrance suitable for various casual and professional environments. Y feels lighter and brighter than other fragrances that other people often compare. My final word, I think Y EDT is a pleasant scent, so it's fun and non-polarizing. It is a rather versatile fragrance, but I would prefer to wear it during the day rather than at night, in the warm seasons, a good perfume suitable for the office because it is harmless. THIS WOULD BE A CONTENDER when I need to reach for a scent that smells good but subtly gives me a sense of cleanliness. The projection is average to good. I feel it, and those around me should get too. It smells like a fresh shower. It is very refreshing, with a hint of woodiness and musk. As for the projection, I'd say it's pretty moderate; Y EDT's sillage isn't enormous, and longevity is good, but not insane, on my skin. Makes it perfect for spring or summer, or an all-rounder if you're looking for a scent for the day but would look great in warm weather. Since it is so light, it is very versatile. You can wear it in just about any setting, from going to school, college or university, to work in the office or out for lunch.

I base the review on a decant I have owned since January 2022.

-Elysium
1 Comment
Jazzy76

320 Reviews
Jazzy76
Jazzy76
4  
A magic scent
Perhaps This scent is called Y simply because Y was the initial of the name of the great couturier Yves Saint Laurent, but this letter hides a whole world of ancient symbols : it's the choice between two ways, it's the magic stick, it's the second coordinate in the cartesian system, it's the masculine strength, it's the ambiguity and so on.
This scent is almost magic: I tested directly on my feminine skin for the first time just today and I fell in love with it.
The moment I sprayed it I immediately smelled a very particular scent of "old lipsticks", something powdery-aromatic which becomes warm after a few minutes without being too "masculine" and heavy.
Aldehydes and frankincense are very noticeable maybe covering a little the citrusy notes and the ginger, but what I love is the balsamic touch and the ambergris at the base.
In the edt version, this scent has a discrete sillage, quite soft and gentle, perfect for a woman too.
The simple and almost minimal bottle is refined and classy, just like the man who could wear this scent.
In this concentration it could be worn in the mid season and by day, at the office too for its particular discretion and its sense of "clean".
2 Comments
Arian112

11 Reviews
Arian112
Arian112
2  
When it does dry down further
My first impression upon smelling Y, is of just how incredibly fresh this fragrance is. Very cool, crisp, airy, and quite clean. I like it. The bergamot is light, but adds a great citrus juiciness to the center.

The aldehydes are distinct and give Y a bright and sunny disposition. Add to that, an ambergris note which isn’t too heavy but plays off of the other ingredients, much as it does in Creed fragrances. The opening is delightful.

The next layer to hit my nose, is a bit of violet leaf and ginger. The ginger brings forth a light spice and the violet leaf isn’t super prominent, but does provide its familiar aroma. Y is actually a pretty straightforward scent that doesn’t undergo too much development.
0 Comments
Buckyyy

8 Reviews
Buckyyy
Buckyyy
1  
Absolute Sleeper
I recently ran out of this fragrance and I am looking to buy a new one. This is a very good scent for daily use and it's hard not to love. It is a mainly fresh and little bit spicy fragrance. Whether you're going to school, the office or the gym it is an easy reach and will leave you satisfied every time. I would definitely recommend this to anyone especially someone looking to get into fragrances or someone who just wants something simple to smell good.
0 Comments
loewenherz

917 Reviews
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loewenherz
loewenherz
Top Review 57  
Jan-Hendrik
In the interview for his first internship, he mentioned that as a little boy he always wanted to be the bank in Monopoly - and how he then won the stock market game of his local savings bank in the U12 category with a self-developed system. After the McKinsey summer camp, he was immediately taken into the Young Talents program, and of course, he is also a scholarship holder of the Study Foundation. He uses two of his vacation days to hang up nesting boxes for owls - he doesn't really care about the owls, but: 'I haven't had any charity on my CV this quarter.' He actually means it that way.

In his first job, he quickly realized that unfortunately not all juniors can be promoted at the same time - and that it’s really not worth staying late on Wednesdays because the boss always has to leave right on time and therefore doesn’t see it anyway. Long before the company car eligibility is even within reach, he has the configuration ready in the drawer - smallest engine, but with a Bose sound system and of course not the uncool stock rims - and he still finds the 'Your poverty disgusts me' sticker somewhat amusing. He has never greeted the cleaning lady, who always vacuums loudly when he wants to make personal calls.

He has an eye for what the bosses wear - those who have something to say - the controlling team leader with the silver gaze, who comes in summer in a bus driver shirt, is totally irrelevant to him. But since the drinks for Saturday Tinder dates don’t pay for themselves, the Corneliani suits and John Lobb shoes are unfortunately still not really within reach. He did treat himself to a nice little fragrance recently, one that suits him: top performer, tough, present, and in the office supply and copy room, 'where getting things done is actually really too expensive for him,' as he recently said somewhat jokingly, still lingering for hours.

Conclusion: Yves Saint Laurent's Y - pronounced as a Frenchman would say 'I-grec', according to the French pronunciation of the letter Y - is a perfume for and like Jan-Hendrik (who could just as well be named Lars-Friedrich or Carl-Philipp, but double names - the first one syllabic, the second two syllables - are surprisingly common. And if anyone with one of the aforementioned names is reading this: You are of course not meant!). Ambitious. Hotshot. On the surface, quite performative. Almost no creative input, but thick-skinned. Pushy regarding visibility, but ultimately nothing original to offer. And not really likable.
15 Comments
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Statements

99 short views on the fragrance
6
Uninspired fresh-sweetish scent without recognition factor. Suitable for a boring office day.
0 Comments
3
A fresh and clean fragrance. a white tshirt in a summer day. Ginger, violets and sage envolved in an ambergris base. Nice dumb reach.
0 Comments
4 years ago
3
Ultra boring Big Brand scent. Nothing distinguishing it from any other supermarket scent. Extremely uninspired.
0 Comments
2
As a fresh, aromatic, semi-aquatic fragrance with woody and powdery notes, I would classify it as a modern fougère. Enjoyable.
0 Comments
2
Inspired to the most symbolic letter, it's a warm and aromatic scent with a particular note of "old lipsticks". Good for Her too!
0 Comments
2
I actually like this, gives off a slight citric/alcohol vibe, sorta like a tart gose or shandy! Not much projection, will have 2 try more
0 Comments
2 years ago
1
It is fresh and sweet. Perfect to take after the shower
0 Comments
1
Great summer scent, synthetic sweetness with a good amount of ambroxan and citrus notes. Would definitely recommend.
0 Comments
1
A bit different, but enhance everything that was great about this one. So, I would recommend getting the EDP vs. the EDT, unless you get som
0 Comments
1
This was my first ever fragrance and a consummate "starter" fragrance. Inoffensive, boring, safe, synthetic freshie. Not a bad smell at all
0 Comments
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