Women's Perfume Essens W172 — a Fragrance Inspired by Yves Saint Laurent Libre

A citrus-floral fragrance — sunny, delicate and free

🏛️ The Legend of Yves Saint Laurent Libre

Libre was launched in 2019 and instantly became a symbol of freedom in modern perfumery. The composition was created by perfumers Anne Flipo and Carlos Benaïm. The story of its creation is almost legendary, they worked on the fragrance for more than seven years, passing versions back and forth between Paris and New York, and made over 1,500 samples before settling on the final formula. For the industry this is a very long time, fragrances are usually composed in months.

🌸 The fragrance pyramid. Top notes are mandarin, black currant, petitgrain and French lavender. The heart is jasmine and orange blossom. The base is Madagascar vanilla, grey amber, musk and cedar. The main note of the fragrance is French lavender, it is exactly what gives that fougère backbone and the contrast with flowers and sweetness. Black currant in the start adds a green tartness that makes the fragrance sound bold and even slightly prickly in the first seconds. Orange blossom makes the heart honey-floral, while Madagascar vanilla with grey amber in the base gather the composition into a warm yet not cloying trail.

🖤 The concept of erasing boundaries. The idea of Libre is a rethinking of the fougère family for the modern woman. Lavender was historically considered a masculine note, used in colognes and barbershops, and YSL literally gave it to women, much as Yves Saint Laurent once gave women the tuxedo. For the formula, French lavender of a specific variety and Moroccan orange blossom were specifically used to emphasize the geographic scope and artisanal approach.

💎 The bottle. Thick transparent glass, one corner appears cut off, a reference to asymmetry and freedom from templates. The black lacquered cap is deliberately placed asymmetrically, looking almost architectural. Across the glass runs an embossed monogram by Cassandre, the signature YSL typeface, and over it gold chains that add boldness and reference the style of the house itself. Some volumes come with refills, so you can refresh the contents without throwing away the bottle, part of the sustainable YSL Beauty line. The design is not just elegant but a manifesto, a combination of the masculine fougère with lavender and clean lines and feminine floral luxury with vanilla, chains and gold.

🎬 The face of the campaign. The face of Libre in 2019 became singer and global ambassador Dua Lipa. She was not just a model for the shoot but the face of the fragrance on a global level. In the advertising campaign she performed a cover of The Rolling Stones song «Gimme Shelter», a track about freedom and shelter that fit the idea of Libre perfectly. The commercial was directed by Johan Renck, known for music videos and series, and the visual style emphasized contrast, strict silhouettes, dramatic lighting, a sense of strength and independence.

How it sounds and wears. «Sharp lavender with black currant settling on vanilla and amber» is a recognizable description. On skin the first 10–15 minutes sound sharp, lavender with black currant, then it softens and unfolds with flowers and vanilla. Concentration is Eau de Parfum. Longevity is high, 8–12 hours, noticeable sillage. It unfolds best in cool weather, in summer the lavender may sound too bright. Fragrantica rating is 4.11 out of 5 with 13,000+ votes.

🏆 Awards. In 2020 Libre received the Fragrance Foundation Award in the «Women’s Luxury» category, one of the most authoritative awards in perfumery. It is often called the main competitor of Lancôme Idôle of the same year, both fragrances were released in the second half of 2019 and long shared the headlines of perfume media.

⏳ The line. The success of Libre has spawned a whole series of versions, each with its own character. Libre Intense (2020, denser and sweeter, with orchid and vanilla, without the citrus start), Libre Eau de Toilette (2021, lighter, with white tea and more air), Libre Le Parfum (2022, spicy, with ginger, saffron and honey), Libre L’Absolu Platine (2023, cold and soapy-clean, with emphasis on white lavender), Libre Flowers & Flames (2024, desert lily and coconut palm flower accord). The 2019 original remains the reference point, it is in it that sharpness and softness, freedom and femininity are perfectly balanced.

📖 The Story of Four Notes

Mandarin — a sunny citrus note with soft sweetness. In the opening of W172 it gives the composition freshness and joy, making the start bright and sparkling.

Jasmine — a royal floral note with sweet depth. In the heart of the fragrance it adds femininity and elegance, and together with cedar it sounds especially noble.

Cedar — a noble woody note with a coniferous freshness. In the heart of the composition it creates a contrast with the flowers and adds character and depth to the fragrance.

Musk — a velvety note with sensual tenderness. In the base, together with powdery notes, it creates a soft, enveloping trail that stays with you for a long time.

👤 The Woman of W172

She is free and self-confident. She has nothing to prove to anyone — she simply lives the way she feels. Her charm is natural, and her gaze is full of warmth and independence.

Light and warm shades, airy fabrics, minimalist jewelry and natural makeup suit her. She loves travel, morning light and moments when she can be herself without looking back at others. Her style is freedom without challenge, tenderness without weakness.

Essens W172 stays with her all day: in the morning it opens with mandarin and orange; during the day it reveals a floral-woody heart with jasmine and cedar; in the evening it warms with musk and powdery notes. This is a companion fragrance for those who value a sunny yet elegant presentation.

⚖️ The Original and Essens W172 Side by Side

The only difference is the price and the bottle. The scent remains recognizable from the very first seconds.

✨ Women's perfume W172 by Essens is a citrus-floral fragrance that unfolds with sunny mandarin, orange and delicate jasmine. It captures the magic of the French perfume school — a precise analog of the legendary Yves Saint Laurent Libre. Every drop conveys the recognizable accord familiar to fans of the original and gives a feeling of freedom, lightness and modern femininity.

A versatile fragrance for any season and any occasion. Try it and see for yourself.