Paris

Paris, inspired by Yves Saint Laurent Paris (1983)

Paris is about rose, and makes no secret of it. The opening is green and a little dry, with hyacinth, geranium and mimosa around the rose, before violet joins in the heart. Violet and iris together give what perfume writers call a lipstick accord, a cosmetic, powdery sweetness. The base stays on that powder with iris, heliotrope and sandalwood, rounded by amber and a little oakmoss.

About the original

Sophia Grojsman created Paris for Yves Saint Laurent in 1983, and YSL presents it as a tribute to the designer's love of the city. It was released as an eau de toilette and an eau de parfum, and the line has since spawned many flankers. YSL still sells the eau de parfum in the UK and France. Mon Paris (2016) and Parisienne (2009) carry similar names but are separate fragrances.

Our version

Ours is an independent eau de parfum made to evoke the same character. It is not Yves Saint Laurent stock, not an official relaunch and not the original formula.

Who it suits

Compared with most modern rose scents, Paris is fuller and more powdery, closer to a vanity table than to a garden. It is a rich, assertive floral rather than a sheer one. Anyone wary of cosmetic-smelling perfume should approach it with care, since that is its defining trait.

Related scents

• Yves Saint Laurent Mon Paris
• Yves Saint Laurent Parisienne

Notes of the original fragrance, as listed in fragrance references.

Top notes: Rose, Mimosa, Hyacinth, Geranium, Green Notes, Orange Blossom, Nasturtium, Bergamot, Hawthorn, Cassia

Heart notes: Rose, Violet, Lily, Linden Blossom, Ylang-ylang, Lily Of The Valley, Jasmine, Orris Root

Base notes: Iris, Heliotrope, Musk, Sandalwood, Oakmoss, Amber, Cedar

Rose arrives straight away with hyacinth, geranium, mimosa and a green, slightly thorny dryness, lifted by bergamot and orange blossom.

Violet then moves in beside the rose, with jasmine, ylang-ylang and lily of the valley, and orris begins to build the powder.

Iris and heliotrope dominate the drydown, over sandalwood, musk, amber, cedar and oakmoss.

Is this YSL Paris or Mon Paris?

The original Paris from 1983, a powdery rose. Mon Paris (2016) is a different fragrance, which we also offer.

Is YSL Paris still made?

Yes. Yves Saint Laurent still sells the eau de parfum; the eau de toilette is out of stock on YSL's Australian site and not shown on its UK or French sites.

How powdery is it?

Noticeably. Iris, violet and heliotrope give a cosmetic powder that runs from the heart to the end.

Inside the EU, delivery is free on orders of €49 or more. Below that it is a flat €4.99. In the EU you can also choose FedEx Express for €14.99. To the UK, Switzerland, Norway, the US and Canada, delivery is €5.99. To all other countries, it is €9.99. We send every order in 1 to 2 working days. It arrives in 3 to 7 days across the EU and in 7 to 14 days outside the EU. You have 14 days to return an unopened bottle.

Yves Saint Laurent and Paris are trademarks of their respective owners, and all rights remain with them. Parfumour is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or connected to Yves Saint Laurent in any way, and no business relationship of any kind is implied. Our product is an original interpretation created to evoke a similar scent profile, and the trademark names are used purely for honest, descriptive comparison, so that you can quickly identify the style and fragrance family you are looking for. We make no claim to sell the original product, and we do not use the same ingredients or formula. Any similarity lies in the overall impression of the scent as interpreted by our own perfumers, not in the source materials.