Y Yves Saint Laurent 2018 Eau de Parfum
1
Scents and Sensibility: An Evaluation of the Y
Recently, a friend of mine gave me his leftover. This gesture, I chose to interpret as an invitation to write a review.
Bottle:
Better than the average designer type bottle. Fancy gradient glass with the metal Y. Simple and elegant, yet has details where it counts. I do especially like the cut-in bit in between the branches of the Y. The cap weights a little over 25 grams and it is plasticy and it's loose on my example. I have certainly seen better caps. Both the Y and the top of the cap are brushed aluminium, but the collar of the atomizer is chromed and it's somewhat upsetting. The atomizer has a solid, well weighted feel, that maybe loses some sturdiness at the end of the press.
Scent:
The fragrance greets you with an assertive blend of sage, apple, and ginger, complemented by a subtle whisper of bergamot. The mixture of these elements is distinctly pleasing, and carries the stamp of a well-crafted designer ethos. Simple and elegant. Noticing a theme here. After the initial havoc of these above mention aggressive notes clam down. Past the dry-down, we get to meet some geranium and a variety of base notes, which at this point are hard to tell apart. Concurrently, the sage begins a delicate dance with the juniper berry, turns into a softer, more emotional accord. At this point some might think that we are discussing the scent profile of an avant garde Head & Shoulders shampoo, but the fragrance is saved from such a comparisons by a well-balanced blend of sweet base notes. These include amberwood, frankincense and tonka bean blended so seamlessly that it becomes challenging to identify either one them. Nonetheless, the blend does not have the balmy quality often associated with these elements. A hour later, the scent is losing integrity, unfortunately, and unfolds into a less complex version of its former self. A hint of balsamic quality emerges, lending warmth to the remaining traces of sage and juniper berry.
Performance:
A tendency with the designer fragrance is scalability. As if by design it's impossible to use too much of it. Strikingly, irrespective of whether you spray 2 or 10, neither the sillage(as in distance) nor the longevity intensifies. Rather, the scent's potency within the sillage area is amplified, but less and less with every additional spray. This might sound like some abstract conspiracy theory, but the previous owner of this particular Y fragrance has sprayed no fewer than 10 times, yet the scent wasn't noticeably more potent or pervasive compared to my restrained application of two sprays.
Anyways, the performance is above average, it's a solid "good". A recommended, 4 sprays will accompany you for a span of 6+ hours. Keep keep in mind that the power drops a good 30% after the first hour.
Use Case:
The Y is a good all-rounder. It's versatile enough for you to wear it just about anywhere, whether you're at work or out with friends. The only time it might not hit hard enough is during the colder winter months, as its scent isn't as strong and warming as some of the heavier winter fragrances out there. For big events, especially those in the evening, you might want to pick something with a bit more punch. While the Y is a nice enough scent, those special occasions are a great opportunity to wear something a bit more unique and memorable.
Kol score:
6.9/10 - Not a bad frag, but as others pointed out it's just "Ok".
Bottle:
Better than the average designer type bottle. Fancy gradient glass with the metal Y. Simple and elegant, yet has details where it counts. I do especially like the cut-in bit in between the branches of the Y. The cap weights a little over 25 grams and it is plasticy and it's loose on my example. I have certainly seen better caps. Both the Y and the top of the cap are brushed aluminium, but the collar of the atomizer is chromed and it's somewhat upsetting. The atomizer has a solid, well weighted feel, that maybe loses some sturdiness at the end of the press.
Scent:
The fragrance greets you with an assertive blend of sage, apple, and ginger, complemented by a subtle whisper of bergamot. The mixture of these elements is distinctly pleasing, and carries the stamp of a well-crafted designer ethos. Simple and elegant. Noticing a theme here. After the initial havoc of these above mention aggressive notes clam down. Past the dry-down, we get to meet some geranium and a variety of base notes, which at this point are hard to tell apart. Concurrently, the sage begins a delicate dance with the juniper berry, turns into a softer, more emotional accord. At this point some might think that we are discussing the scent profile of an avant garde Head & Shoulders shampoo, but the fragrance is saved from such a comparisons by a well-balanced blend of sweet base notes. These include amberwood, frankincense and tonka bean blended so seamlessly that it becomes challenging to identify either one them. Nonetheless, the blend does not have the balmy quality often associated with these elements. A hour later, the scent is losing integrity, unfortunately, and unfolds into a less complex version of its former self. A hint of balsamic quality emerges, lending warmth to the remaining traces of sage and juniper berry.
Performance:
A tendency with the designer fragrance is scalability. As if by design it's impossible to use too much of it. Strikingly, irrespective of whether you spray 2 or 10, neither the sillage(as in distance) nor the longevity intensifies. Rather, the scent's potency within the sillage area is amplified, but less and less with every additional spray. This might sound like some abstract conspiracy theory, but the previous owner of this particular Y fragrance has sprayed no fewer than 10 times, yet the scent wasn't noticeably more potent or pervasive compared to my restrained application of two sprays.
Anyways, the performance is above average, it's a solid "good". A recommended, 4 sprays will accompany you for a span of 6+ hours. Keep keep in mind that the power drops a good 30% after the first hour.
Use Case:
The Y is a good all-rounder. It's versatile enough for you to wear it just about anywhere, whether you're at work or out with friends. The only time it might not hit hard enough is during the colder winter months, as its scent isn't as strong and warming as some of the heavier winter fragrances out there. For big events, especially those in the evening, you might want to pick something with a bit more punch. While the Y is a nice enough scent, those special occasions are a great opportunity to wear something a bit more unique and memorable.
Kol score:
6.9/10 - Not a bad frag, but as others pointed out it's just "Ok".
Kol
