Libre by Yves Saint Laurent

If it lasted longer, I’d buy it instantly, but it fades within four hours.

Ugh, what a delight! It stays beautifully on my skin. With all this heat and humidity today, I applied it early and I can still smell it. It doesn’t smell masculine at all; it’s super feminine and fits that advertising image of a free, empowered woman perfectly. In enclosed spaces, it’s not cloying or nauseating; it smells fresh. I have the 30ml bottle and if it runs out, I’ll buy the larger one. I love it; I want it to be eternal. 💜 Datazo: I’m a Virgo; they say our essence is lavender, it suits me wonderfully and is very relaxing.

Absolutely dreadful and a class act; it smells synthetic. I can’t stand those plastic white flowers, and the vanilla tastes cheap, smelling like an annoying air freshener. I don’t know how anyone can like it. I rarely write negative reviews unless the perfume is truly dreadful.

You can feel the lavender at full strength. It’s a very sophisticated lavender, like a lavender floor cleaner (in a good way; it’s an expensive one), with lots of white florals and a hint of vanilla. I recommend it 👍🏻

I was at the gym when a girl two metres away took off her hoodie, and a rich wave hit me that reminded me of Myslf (the perfume I wear). I couldn’t resist the curiosity and asked what she was using; she said it was this one. Excellent for women, for all ages and for any occasion, in my opinion 👌🏼

I like it; it’s elegant. Not for everyday wear, but certainly for a special occasion or a gathering.

I like it and I don’t. It smells of mandarin and orange blossom, which I enjoy, but it has that old-fashioned, almost vintage feel, like a classic perfume that isn’t currently in vogue. It doesn’t evolve much; the opening is the same as the dry-down, just softened. It confuses me between the fresh citrus and that classic scent.

You can tell there’s lavender; it’s a mature, soft, and elegant aroma. It smells clean and well-balanced at the same time.

Sweet but not gourmand, it’s elegant. I see it for over-25s at formal events. It makes me think of a mature, determined woman. Sometimes I wear it and say it doesn’t fit the office vibe; it’s for something more.

Very long-lasting, it doesn’t betray you. If you like the opening, that’s what it will stay like, almost identical. A clean fragrance.

Smells luxurious and classy. At first spray it’s unisex, with a touch of lavender in the middle that balances it out. Once it dries down it becomes slightly sweet, but be warned: it’s not that cloying gourmand sweetness we’re all tired of. It’s not the most feminine option if that’s what you’re looking for. I love it for daytime, though it could work at night too. It’s super versatile, except in extreme heat, but for the rest of the year it’s a real treat.

It’s nice, but Zara’s Golden Decade smells the same and costs much less. I like the scent, but I won’t be buying it again.

Writing reviews on Fragrantica often brings nothing but thumbs down, especially for best-sellers. It shouldn’t be like that, and certainly not if the notes are well-argued and don’t sound like insults. Yet there are people who criticise their favourite perfume as if you’d stolen from an elderly lady or kicked their dog, filling comments with stars and donkeys until the review disappears. What can you do? Knowing this, I’ll be less than positive about the perfume voted best in 2024 here. I find Libre vulgar. That’s the gist. It tells me nothing; I’ve heard such fragrances in the supermarket, not in high perfumery. I have nothing against low-end scents; in fact, I love them and have classics like Eau Jeune or Herbíssimo Cedro in my daily routine. But what I dislike is being sold 30ml of a mediocre aroma for 50 euros. Don’t throw that bone to another dog. It’s industrial lavender coated in musky vanilla, perhaps to make it more ‘drinkable’. The white flowers are boring, orange blossom is the only standout, and the citrus notes are faded. It’s super versatile, for men, women, Martians… anyone can wear it, but it conveys nothing, it’s just a juice that smells nice and you forget it in five seconds. Why? Because Libre is banal and insipid. It doesn’t bother, it lasts long and is pleasant, but it has the personality of an air freshener. If selling this mediocrity is so profitable, the industry has little incentive to create something better.

Lavender, lavender and more lavender. I love it, but I agree it could pass as unisex. To me it seems a sophisticated floral and slightly sweet.

I went to try it and my boyfriend gave it a 7.25. He says the floral touch is very noticeable. To me it smells like an elegant woman, although I’m not sure if it’s entirely suitable for my age… I’m in my twenties.