Possibly the most hyped fragrance of the year, LIBRE Le Parfum by Yves Saint Laurent is giving women what they want – freedom. Master perfumers Anne Flipo and Carlos Benaim created the three variations of LIBRE, each with its own flair. The LIBRE EDT is a lighter version while LIBRE EDP exudes a floral and musky scent.
The LIBRE Intense, also known as the crowd-favourite, highlights diva lavender heart, giving a more intense and lasting fragrance. And whatever your choice of LIBRE Le Parfum may be, we’re going into what makes the fragrance a must-have in the first place.
Iconic bottle details
At first look, you’ll notice the deep crimson colour of the fragrance and the huge iconic logo, placed horizontally across the bottom of the bottle. The logo is bent to match the bottle’s sharp edges and is affixed to the glass. But the other stunning detail is the ‘V’ shape in the glass bottle that emphasises the Y’s décolletage, cutting deeply into the glass. The sleek golden chain wrapped around the bottle’s neck contrasts with the slanted black cap, adding a hint of haute asymmetry. The LIBRE Le Parfum proves that the house thinks beyond just the addictive scent.
The signature use of Ourika Saffron
Ourika Saffron accord is a spice turned fragrance, obtained through a cutting-edge technology called headspace. Through this technology, pure saffron stamens are extracted with liquid carbon dioxide and its molecules analysed by perfumers. They then reconstitute the scent with other ingredients to create a signature scent. The LIBRE Le Parfum is the first perfume to use the Ourika Saffron accord, grown in the brand’s own Ourika Community Gardens.
Complementing ingredients, made-to-measure
Bergamot heart
YSL Beauty knows that the best bergamot comes from Calabria in southern Italy and has been working with specialised farmers for years. For the best essence, bergamots are hand-harvested responsibly from November to February, when they are at their peak of development. The acquired essence exudes a sparkling freshness that you get in a single spritz of the LIBRE.
Diva Lavender heart
Diva Lavender is found in the low mountain regions of France, where the brand sustainably sources them from. This particular ingredient used in the fragrance, is part of a campaign to encourage the growth of lavender harvests in the country. Perfumers brilliantly remove the masculine aspects of the ingredient, retaining a lighter and more floral rendition which is found in the LIBRE.
Lavandin heart
LIBRE uses high-quality Lavandin, which is a mix of two wild lavender species. The brand sustainably sources this ingredient to help increase farmers’ income by securing a fair price. LIBRE only uses the flower head, which i steam-distilled and then broken down through molecular distillation to maintain freshness. This ingredient is also one that’s specifically designed for Yves Saint Laurent Beauty.
Vanilla bourbon premium infusion
The premium infusion, specially developed for YSL, is made using state-of-the-art extraction equipment which keeps the vanilla pod’s full and rich aroma. This infusion is strong and complex, capturing a distinct, newly ripened vanilla bean impression with balsamic tones. Through a community program, Vanilla Bourbon Premium Infusion is sourced responsibly in Madagascar.
Photos by @yslbeauty.