Myslf L'Absolu Yves Saint Laurent 2025

I mentioned this in my Y Le Parfum (2025) review, but we really have to step back, look at the pricing of these designer, department-store fragrances, and hold brands like YSL accountable for this slop. Myslf L'Absolu costs over TWO HUNDRED dollars for a 100ml bottle at retail. Let's see what costs the same or less than this AT RETAIL:

Absolue d'Osmanthe Eau de Parfum - $200/100ml
Tabac Nomade - $210/100ml
Je Suis un Homme - $190/100ml
Bonne Chauffe - $180/100ml
Ambre 114 - $205/120ml

Let's stop pretending there is some big cost gap between designers that smell like a scratch-and-sniff on a magazine page and high-quality, well-executed niche fragrances. Or hell, high-quality, well-executed designer fragrances. Sauvage Elixir and Guilty Elixir de Parfum pour Homme run rings around this poor excuse for a perfume.

I first sniffed this on a tester strip, thought, "eh, more of the same" and gave it a 4 rating for being marginally pleasant, but completely unoriginal. I recently was sent a sample from an ad on social media. I've been dreading putting it on. For good reason. Putting it on skin I realized it isn't pleasant. At all.

The sweetness is overwhelming and annoying. One statement mentioned methyl anthranilate; while not familiar with the scent of that particular aromachem, I'm going to agree that this smells mostly like a really really synthetic grape scent, combined with an "orange blossom" that smells like you described the scent of orange blossom to an alien who has never seen a flower before, and they had to construct the accord. It stings the nostrils, in a really bad way. I keep wiping my nose like Slavoj Žižek.

An absolute scrubber. But this is worlds apart from other fragrances that I think are scrubbers that are trying to be unique, or interesting. If a new Gualtieri or ELDO is a scrubber I'd still give it a 3 or a 4. The uniqueness, the desire, the attempt at artistry is there. There is nothing redeeming about Myslf L'absolu. It tries to be an unoriginal, safe, mass-appealing fragrance and can't even do that.

Edit: Drydown is not too bad, reminiscent of "Myslf | Yves Saint Laurent". Raising my rating slightly

This one is wierd. When I tested it I did it totally blind, expecting some ambroxan-citrus fresh designer, kinda mass appealing, but it is not the case.
It opens with a bitter bergamot, not very fresh, more spicy, then almost immediatly turns sweet floreal, distinctly powdery. It's some kind of floral bouquet, but I can perceive violet over the rest of floral scent even if not listed in the notes (A trick of my nose?).
Someone mentioned down here methyl anthranilate, and yes, it is not only listed in the materials but it is what is responsable of the "orange blossom" declared in the notes (no idea why methyl anthranilate should be "maroccan" tho). This material brings with it some grapes sweet nuances, and they are present here too paired with some wierd chemichal-metallic note that comes and goes here and there (maybe to match the silver metallic bottle). All considered it smells wierd, like not well done, the bitter-sweet contrast is somehow offputting until finally it lays down in the drydown of general patchouli thing, not too fresh, not too earthy, not committing, sort of middle of the pack ordinary designer patchouli.

I must admit that this is disappointing. Yes you can signature this (but why in the hell someone should do something like this?) because it is not too aggressive and patchouli is four season but it is not a well done fragrance, it seems rushed to me, not refined, the bittersweet idea doesn't achieve anything in particular and is somehow offputting.
And the price... I didn't even wanted to talk about it, but I can't resist, what a stupid pricing for such low quality product. Best thing is probably the bottle.

Designers use a mixture of ingredients. It should not be surprising that YSL would do the same. This is a powerful blast of metallic and citrus. Is it real orange blossom? Doubt it, but I don't care, It gives me a dopamine rush. It smells like heavy metal and a bouquet of flowers. I know that's strange, but that is the vibe I get. I even smell some grape, why? I don't know.

The bottle design works, the brand name works (I am like 60/40 positive with my YSL ratings,) and it's marketed as being loud and strong. Heck, I go for BDC EDP; Green Irish Tweed, and even Sung Homme styles, these are not super sweet, but Absolu works for me. It scratches this soda sweet smelling itch, and I'm here for it. I love it.

8.5+ out of 10 for me.

Easily the best flanker in the excellent MYSLF line. It builds on the foundational MYSLF DNA solidly established with the EDP OG. So, if you like the EDP, you’ll love the Absolu. Although, for the price, it may not be enough of a difference to justify both in your collection until your other MYSLF runs out.

The opening does not mess around. The top and heart notes come straight through with a beautifully balanced blend of citrus, backed with a hint of cardamom, combined with the punch of ginger to deliver the freshness and brightness characteristic of MYSLF, with an imposing (but not overpowering) statement.

The dry down maintains the presence of citrus and ginger while gradually giving way to the lushness of the Indonesian patchouli to ground it and firmly establish the foundation for its lovely fresh staying power.

This fragrance is a compliment puller. It yells clean and fresh like no other and brings smiles to faces and confidence to the bearer. Worth every scent. Is it complex? No. Is it somewhat simple? Yes. But that’s its brilliance - it’s focus and pragmatism.

After a couple sprays of this, I get a mix of muted spice notes with a hint of smoky vanilla. The scent gets brighter by the minute and culminates in the introduction of a slight orange note. It's nice, but is only vaguely noticeable in comparison to the spicy-smoky vanilla. The fragrance as a whole gets a lot more subtle after 10 minutes. All of the notes blend together quite nicely after an hour or so, getting a teensy bit sweeter until dying down completely around the 6 hour mark.

Overall, this is a very nice scent that I'd describe as a feminine masculine fragrance due to its softer nature compared to other male fragrances I've tried. If you're willing to overlook it's subpar runtime, I'd say it'd perfect for someone who wants a subtle signature scent that's not super overpowering. I just didn't like how quickly it faded away given that it's a rather expensive parfum. I would easily consider raising my rating if it lasted 8-10+ hours.