The YSL Scents That Are Worth Your Money, Ranked by Me

I rarely recommend that you shop for beauty products based on a brand name. In fact, I'd say it's almost impossible to find a brand that gets everything right all the time. For example, while I own countless Chanel lipsticks, I haven't yet turned to its skincare, and despite the fact I burn Byredo candles non-stop, I keep an edited selection of its perfumes

Having said that, there is one brand that seems to get fragrance right launch after launch—and that's Yves Saint Laurent. In fact, YSL perfumes have been considered cult staples among beauty lovers for decades. While the brand's iconic Opium was easily one of the most popular scents of the '80s, the latest addition to YSL's fragrance library, Libre, has become a mainstay on the Insta scene since it launched in 2019.

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(Image credit: @MICHELLEROSEDRUMM)

Whenever someone DMs me seeking fragrance advice for perfume newbies, I almost always point them towards a YSL counter. Whatever your perfume tastes, you're bound to find an all-round crowd pleaser in YSL's offering. And the best bit? They actually last. As a self-proclaimed scentopile, I've tried basically every perfume out there—and few brands know how to make a fragrance last on the skin quite like Yves Saint Laurent.

So, if you're not sure where to start, keep scrolling to get a run down of the 15 best YSL perfumes, as ranked by yours truly. 

15. Paris Eau de Parfum

14. Opium Eau de Parfum

13. Y Eau de Toilette

12. Mon Paris Eau de Parfum

11. Black Opium Eau de Parfum

10. Les Vestiaire Des Parfums Rouge Velours 

9. Elle Eau de Parfum

8. Les Vestiaire Des Parfums Grain de Poudre

7. Les Vestiaire Des Parfums Tuxedo

6. Les Vestiaire Des Parfums Jumpsuit

5. Rive Gauche Eau de Toilette

4. Le Vestiaire Des Parfums Supreme Bouquet

3. Les Vestiaire Des Parfums Caban

2. Libre Eau de Parfum

1. Le Vestiaire Des Parfums Blouse

Next up, everyone deserves at least one Chanel perfume—these are the five best.

Freelance Beauty Editor

Shannon Lawlor is a renowned beauty journalist and has contributed to Who What Wear’s beauty content since 2020. As a leading beauty editor, expert and brand consultant, she has over eight years of experience working for some of the industry’s most esteemed titles, including Who What Wear (of course), Glamour UK, Stylist, Refinery29 and Fabulous.

Having also worked behind the scenes with some of the industry’s biggest brands and retailers, Shannon has a unique insight into what people really want from their beauty routines. Understanding that beauty lovers seek honest, open and responsible advice, she has it made her mission to demystify the intimidating world of beauty, taking a no-frills approach to the most relatable topics.

While Shannon is the first to admit she doesn’t hold the answer to every beauty question out there, she is dedicated to sharing her expert insights in a bid to help. As a self-proclaimed lazy girl, Shannon has an affinity for easy-to-use, foolproof beauty products and has made it her mission to scope out the best of the best.

When she’s not working, Shannon is likely soaking in the bath or giving no-holds-barred beauty reviews on Instagram from her bathroom floor.