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 / 10 438 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
6.5438 Ratings
Longevity
6.4379 Ratings
Sillage
6.2377 Ratings
Bottle
7.1395 Ratings
Value for money
6.6193 Ratings
Submitted by OPomone, last update on 06/19/2025.
Interesting Facts
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)
Zara Men — Cities Collection: 01 London Saville Row Mayfair by Zara
Zara Men — Cities Collection: 01 London Saville Row Mayfair
Éclat d'Arpège pour Homme by Lanvin
Éclat d'Arpège pour Homme
Invictus (Eau de Toilette) by Rabanne
Invictus Eau de Toilette

Reviews

14 in-depth fragrance descriptions
6
Pricing
8
Bottle
5
Sillage
6
Longevity
8
Scent
Elysium

890 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
7
Bottle
7
Sillage
7
Longevity
8.5
Scent
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
8
Pricing
8
Bottle
6
Sillage
6
Longevity
7
Scent
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
8
Pricing
8
Bottle
7
Sillage
8
Longevity
8
Scent
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
7
Bottle
7
Sillage
7
Longevity
2.5
Scent
Mantus

204 Reviews
Translated Show original Show translation
Mantus
Mantus
16  
Eau de Intentional Bodily Harm
First of all, you can....forget that again very quickly - I'm not at home, but virtually in the foyer of Loréal! - And there I do' first so richtich Rabatz!
~
"Schön juten tach, ick hab da ma 'ne janz bescheidene Frage, so actually several; Wat hat sich ihr Computer eijentlich dabei jedacht, solch einen Duftmüll namens Y zu kreieren, wo 'Se sich nicht' ma' die Mühe jemacht haben, didd ooch nur nur annährend zu personalisieren"?

- "We had to create a fragrance quickly or we'd lose the buyers!"

"Oh, and that's why you guys rammed in the Opium pour Homme Eau de Parfum; just as an example, to introduce this synthetic, non-recycleable fragrance to buyers, you're not bloody serious, are you? -"Yes, I am!"

"Hear, hear! Then we will read the Erwin Schlottermann times the riot act!" - Because the fragrance gets this one point as a rating, because it smells like "something" and exactly because of nothing else!"

(Whether the responsible person is really called Erwin Schlottermann I do not know, because no Parfumeursangabe is recorded and me with this fragrance also not at all surprised).

As first I can with me personally after spraying a fine sunburn-like rash, including the heat pimples determine, but within 5 minutes disappears completely and take a nasty pungent citrusy herbaceous smell wahrnmehme, which I perceive as completely overdosed 'bergamot', but this does not seem overdosed at all, but its accompanying substances and here are Cascalone to name, which should convey a fresh, lively sea breeze-like fragrance and provide a full scratchy unsympathetic Erföffnung.

At the same time, the 'aldehydes', which WC duck lemon and candied orange peel syrup hide in themselves, give the fragrance an incredible radiance and thus make it seem even more distinctly unround and even more pungent and reveals a slight plastic - shaving cream note and seems to arise in interaction with the 'balsam fir'.

A little later joins this shaving foam note also the smell of freshly washed, bright powdery, slightly flowery laundry, although I must say that if I had to keep these two notes apart, the "fresh laundry" is quite successful, but this is unfortunately eaten by the synthetic - shaving foam downright and also overlaid and this thus too much suppressed and I perceive here something 'jasmine', instead of rose geranium - Absolue.
In the last 3 hours reconciles me but actually something the fragrance.

Fine bright resinous incense threads unite with a light woody nuances and the interplay with the 'Virginia cedar' and the 'incense' is to thank and now also finally this "abnormal" synthetics has withdrawn so that one could call this almost wearable.

What remains is a fine, balsamic ambrosia smell and because I'm not an asshole, I raise the score of the fragrance to 2.5!

Sage and ginger, unfortunately, I could not perceive, however, I can imagine very well that these components were used to "complete the fragrance disaster".

Incidentally, this is the first fragrance that I do not weiterrreichen, but have already disposed of in the trash; and I'm really one of the last to throw something away.

Overall, the fragrance lasts 7.5 hours on my skin.

The sillage is designed from the beginning 3.5 hours to a very clear whole perceptible whole arm's length, before it reduces in quiet steps until the fragrance fades.
12 Comments
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Statements

10 short views on the fragrance
HermeshHermesh 8 years ago
8
Bottle
7
Sillage
7
Longevity
5.5
Scent
Uninspired fresh-sweetish scent without recognition factor. Suitable for a boring office day.
0 Comments
HugoMontezHugoMontez 2 years ago
8
Bottle
6
Sillage
8
Longevity
7
Scent
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
KingPinKingPin 4 years ago
3.5
Scent
Ultra boring Big Brand scent. Nothing distinguishing it from any other supermarket scent. Extremely uninspired.
0 Comments
ElysiumElysium 4 years ago
8
Bottle
5
Sillage
6
Longevity
8
Scent
As a fresh, aromatic, semi-aquatic fragrance with woody and powdery notes, I would classify it as a modern fougère. Enjoyable.
0 Comments
Jazzy76Jazzy76 7 years ago
7
Bottle
7
Sillage
7
Longevity
8.5
Scent
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
HitchslapHitchslap 7 years ago
6
Sillage
8
Scent
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
JugSmellniceJugSmellnice 2 years ago
It is fresh and sweet. Perfect to take after the shower
0 Comments
ZackanthonyZackanthony 2 years ago
8
Bottle
8
Sillage
8
Longevity
7
Scent
Great summer scent, synthetic sweetness with a good amount of ambroxan and citrus notes. Would definitely recommend.
0 Comments
Arian112Arian112 4 months ago
8
Bottle
6
Sillage
6
Longevity
7
Scent
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
PsmellsnicePsmellsnice 1 year ago
6
Bottle
5
Sillage
5
Longevity
6.5
Scent
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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