Libre, Yves Saint Laurent

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Fresh in the Yves Saint Laurent fine fragrance portfolio, Libre is a new pillar born in 2019 and beautifully created in a collaboration between two master perfumers: Anne Flipo and Carlos Benaim.

Libre opens with a dazzling combination of citruses, blackcurrant, and lavandin. The citrus blends of sweet grapefruit, watery mandarin, and sparkling lemon create a juicy and exhilarating opening. Together, blackcurrant’s fruity and bright character contribute to elevating the citruses to be more daring and exciting. This grand opening is wrapped up perfectly by the presence of lavandin’s fresh-aromatic scent, which instantly gives finesse to the top notes.

The strength of Libre prevails in the heart. Created to embody the spirit of emancipation and feminity, Libre invented something beyond: feminization of fougere accord. It breaks the label that fougere is for men; in other words, freeing the accord to expose its main components’ diverse personalities. An elegant and audacious creation was born.

Libre’s fougere identity is enriched with floral sceneries of jasmine and orange blossom while preserving the sweet-aromatic lavender at the backbone. The scent smoothly becomes more ambery and balsamic–thanks to the vanilla bean absolute–showcasing the fragrance’s oriental silhouette. The beautiful union between sandalwood’s creamy facet and vetiver’s earthy profile serves as a bridge between the fougere and oriental dynamics, and the sweet and smoky cedarwood illuminates this precious wood blends. Silky musks rest underneath, elaborating the elegant harmony between the flowers, woods, and lavender.

From the top to the dry down, Libre manifests strength and integrity. The lavender and vanilla linger on each other’s forte, and velvety musks make the scent exist throughout the composition, letting each note breathe and thrive. This tenacious unison evolves into a warm and cozy scent on the skin, and it dramatically pronounces sophistication and class.

Libre carries YSL’s DNA just like its legendary predecessor, Black Opium, the bestselling perfume in the house since its first launch in 2014. Black Opium offers orange blossom and jasmine delight in an oriental gourmand background, not forget to mention its exciting coffee accord. The fragrance conveys an image of a young and sensual woman who is fearless and vibrant. Nevertheless, Libre too has this olfactory landscape but in a different setting, hence different persona. Libre is mature. It bears the image of someone who knows what they want, confident in pursuing anything they desire, and willing to go beyond.