Ysatis

Ysatis has been one of my favorite perfumes since I discovered it. I go through phases where it will be in my collection and then I will wait awhile before ordering another bottle -- always missing it when it is gone. Catching a whiff of Ysatis is like passing a gorgeous elegant vase filled with a stylized bouquet. There are notes in this collection that are unique, making it more exotic than the typical variety of florals, but it is not moving into the extreme spicy range where a lot of the 1980's heavy hitter perfumes seem to orbit (Coco by Channel, Paloma Picasso, Fendi - or Youth Dew by Estee Lauder which was popular long before the 1980's). The tuberose and honey notes are more present in Ysatis and tuberose is one of the first notes mentioned in the middle notes. Ysatis's tuberose is more honeyed and tame compared to a lot of extreme tuberose perfumes. The pitch of Ysatis is not quite as bright and high as some other predominantly tuberose perfumes - such as Fracas, or Madonna's Truth or Dare...(these tuberose fragrances almost move from flute to piccolo, because the tuberose notes present rocket into the air giving it a lift and a certain level of crispness). Ysatis is an obvious floral which is slightly sweeter and more honeyed than Beautiful by Estee Lauder. Beautiful has some distinct grassy-grainy type notes in it where it smells more like a field of flowers. The reason that I compare these two is because they come in with the exact range of chord which I really like and prefer in a signature fragrance. Both are chords within the alto range and the two could be worn on different days to create a strong signature, with only slight variations between the two. Ysatis registers a couple of notes higher than Beautiful but is not ascending into the rafter range like some other soprano fragrances. 273 Rodeo Drive by Fred Hayman is in the same chord range but a couple of doses more towards tuberose, making a few notes in the chord go a bit higher octave than Ysatis or Beautiful. However, 273 has peach notes which ground the fragrance, with the tuberose lifting up more into a slight soprano range, but not so apparent that it would pull the full fragrance into a soprano chord. The most memorable thing about Ysatis are the compliments that I have received while wearing this. Once the first 30 minutes to an hour have passed, Ysatis moves into a heavenly floral zone. It is close to some of my favorites, but there is a unique signature expression with this that makes it thrilling to have within my collection. ----------------- Comparing Ysatis to Passion by Elizabeth Taylor - Several reviews compare Ysatis to Elizabeth Taylor's Passion. I didn't at first realize that this was such a close comparison until trying these side by side. Yes, they both resonate in the same type of alto chord...so if you really like one - you should try the other perfume too. Passion leans more towards a spicy deep cinnamon with a leather and a smokey incense quality. There is also the hint of a classic lotion type scent. The impression that I get is as if you walked in while a woman was preparing for a night out on the town, slathering lotion on her arms and legs while wearing a sexy slip before stepping into her formal or cocktail gown and zipping it up. The image that I see is Elizabeth Taylor when she played the part of Maggie in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof". Elizabeth Taylor's Passion seems slightly more naughty, there is something about it that has a sultry sexiness... so it really does represent Elizabeth Taylor extremely well, particularly in the role as Maggie. Ysatis is a little lighter and fresher (however, it still stays in the ranks of the 1980's depth). Ysatis is not a push over, it still has enough depth to have power, but has a softer floral scent that you notice first. Ysatis moves more into the "blonde" range - more like a Veronica Lake type pinup girl/actress motif. Ysatis begins to soften first while Passion comes across much stronger in the first 30 minutes of wear. Upon first spray, they both wear astonishingly similar. I'll have to see how this wears through the first hour and dry down to really know for sure. ----------------- Update: I think this would wear better perhaps without the civet notes. If they were going to modernize and update this fragrance, I would leave out the civet notes altogether. (I don't like the idea that an animal has suffered in any way for a perfume/fragrance). [Someone contacted me in a personal note and said that the civet in this is NOT from an animal; which makes me feel much better about it.] This perfume is really gorgeous. Yeah - the first hour is sometimes a bit tedious, but the dry down to this perfume is really worth the wait. It has a special air about it that goes really well with the holidays and Christmas! This is a great one!

YSATIS Whoo wee! I’ve tried A LOT of perfumes over the last 2 months. More than a dozen. I will say that most of them have a tough opening note. I eventually like the dry down on them, but that opener can be ROUGH. (Looking at you Paloma Picasso). But I actually like the opener of Ysatis. I don’t know if this is an Opium copycat but it’s dark and sexy like Opium is, right from the outset. there is a slight sting of civet but it’s counterbalanced by something darker. The amber? The cloves? It’s like the struggle of Dark vs Light contained in a bottle. I’ve never heard of Ysatis before I ordered a sample and I feel like I really should have. This should be up there with Opium and Coco Mademoiselle Intense. Hell I even find it strange that I’d heard of Aromatics Elixir long before I’d ever heard of Ysatis. In some ways I’m glad I don’t know it, but it’s still available. Because I would love for people to smell me and ask me what I’m wearing and be intrigued when I say, “Ysatis.” Like it’s some rare, oriental secret known only to a few people with good taste. I don’t know if I have good taste, but Ysatis makes me feel like I do. It’s not youthful or light and breezy in any way. Which is good. I’m 44 years old. I don’t want youthful. I want to smell like a mysterious sex bomb when I walk into every room. Good God! I just put some on for the first time five minutes ago and started writing this review and I cannot stop smelling it on my wrist. It’s addictive, like Opium. I just keep going back and every time I do I get a hint of something else. I’ve never had a perfume with ylang ylang in it and I’m anxious to try more to see if I can isolate it’s specific contribution. This going on my Top 10 list. Maybe even Top 5 so far. And I’m going to buy a full size bottle. So far the only full size bottles I have are Opium, Magie Noire, Byzance, J’ai Ose, and Aromatics Elixir. I only buy samples at first so I don’t get burned with a full $200 bottle of something I will never wear. But Ysatis has made it to the Top 5 and the Buy a Full Bottle list INSTANTLY. It hasn’t even dried down yet. I don’t care. I would buy this and just keep spraying for that dark, luscious opener. Have I found my signature scent? I think I have. I just snagged a vintage bottle on bay for comparison. It’ll be here in a week. Feels like too long. I’m wearing the new version and I love it. I can’t wait to compare it to the vintage in the skyscraper bottle. Update: so the skyscraper bottle came. Interestingly enough, the new reformulation of Ysatis is both stronger and more complex than the "vintage" bottle. No real reason that I can see for tracking down skyscraper bottles on eBay.

I scored a full mini bottle of this, another full mini of Givenchy Organza (both labelled "Parfum") and an almost full 50ml bottle of Miracle Forever edp by Lancôme, all in a little plastic Ziploc baggie marked for $5.00 at a value village (second hand store). For what they are all worth, I felt like I was robbing the place. I rushed out to the van before anyone could change their minds there, to check Fragrantica's notes and reviews and find that my guesses for their value were greatly underestimated. I had won the perfume lottery. This, being a Parfum, and not an edt nor edp, is so so rich and pure, I can not explain how powerful it is, but reading the reviews here of the original, I can only imagine it's a deeper, richer and more pure version of those. A better nose than mine would have a hay day with this. I wish you all could smell it. If you love this perfume in any form, try and get your hands on the Parfum mini. It will be too much for many, but absolute perfection for others. I chose to wear Miracle Forever last night to bring in the New Year at our fire, everyone commented how nice I smelled, and I told the story of how it came into my life. I rarely spray it as it is discontinued and way overpriced online to replace and now with only a 1/4 left in the bottle, it is rationed, only being sprayed a couple of times a year. This morning, I chose Ysatis Parfum as my 2nd... Tonight or tomorrow I'll wear the Organza. It's my way of thanking the Universe for these gems, and encourage the universe to draw more like this to me. That was a really special day for myself and my sister as we (in our 30s) got to finally meet an uncle that was being kept from us our whole lives, and my other uncle who we hadn't seen since we were kids actually paid for my purchase that day. He chose to end his life 2 years ago.. I remember his face in the van when I told him what that baggie was worth. His mind was blown, he was speechless and had to see the screen to believe it. The look on his face was priceless. You likely don't want to hear all this, but I'm wearing these into the New Year to honour my Uncles and encourage abundance from the Universe. Here's to the end of 2020.. and a welcomed greeting to 2021. 🥂 PS don't wear this in the dead beat of summer.. you could be charged with harrassment lol this feels like a deadly weapon, in the most beautiful of ways. This is NOT office safe. Cheers! Oh! And PPS I'd love to smell this on a man!! So, men... Find this and test it! Then come over here and walk by me... ;)

Exceptional !! (For the vintage version with the golden cap) It is a very flowery opening, very opulent almost oily / sticky accompanied by a sweetness (without excess .. on the contrary) and radiant, warm and inviting us to discover the rest There are a lot of flowers in this one, and it is quite difficult for me to find the singular notes of each one, on the one hand it looks like a very complex bouquet but it is of such harmony and that I would not like not separate them. The aldehydes give it for a very short time a note of insecticide that I have only smelled once. Then and this is the part that I prefer: comes the magical moment of the appearance of this honeyed note, as if you were this bee ready to return to the hive and as rich as Croesus with a thousand sampled flowers. When you smell this perfume it gives off such an olfactory radiance that you are not basking on a beach of flowers, you are the sun itself, above them. It is so pleasant to be able to feel such a mirage / miracle again in 2020 that it can only do good and unveil a smile on your face ... This civet and this oakmoss are so contrasted with the honey note and the floral bouquet but so harmonious together, that one is entitled to wonder the work it will have taken for such a compromise! It is obvious that it took a real love for his work as a perfumer to make it as I know it today. Many perfumers try to bring these notes (civet / oakmoss) up to date, but I do not know of any perfume capable of such a feat (of course I am not an expert, and I have only smelled a little so many perfumes there are on the market); Anyway for me this perfume is a miracle, and although I rarely wore it and at home, little by little it carried me away in its magic and this magic will not be confined anymore! It has a shiny and dark side: it is at the same time a ruined village in a field of flowers under the sun, a dark cathedral in which comes to pray a woman with assertive and assumed sensuality, a burst of bursting laughter from childhood in a bereaved family ... it's the risky bet to show the soft and the rough, to assemble the fire and the fragile, the beautiful and the dirty ... it seems to be an artistic mirage, it becomes a miracle olfactory Unisex or not, I don't care, it will suit me very well on the days and nights when I will want to wear it; it can in no way disfigure Man, it can only beautify and warm all those it touches!

Ysatis is a bold, aldehyde-heavy chypre, timeless yet evocative of its era. I don't have the original formulation, so presumably there is no civet, oakmoss or galbanum in mine. However, it retains the spirit of its era, and is a big, spicy, floral-woody aldehydic beast. I get the similarities to Elizabeth Taylor's White Diamonds - another loud woody/floral/aldehydic scent, but while current iterations of WD smell cheap (yet cheerful), Ysatis smells luxurious - of vintage opulence. As @gin42 says below, it smells like a lady who comes from old money. It is quite a mature scent; elegant, vintage yet timeless. As a fan of chypres - this is a pretty good chypre. Ysatis opens with a bright blast of No 5-esque aldehydes, with a hint of citrus and a tart green note giving freshness. It gives way to a delicious, well-rounded floral-woody accord that dominates this scent until its drydown. The white florals are rich, sweet and feminine, yet somehow manage to not overwhelm. Ylang-ylang, jasmine and tuberose stand out. The rose note creeps in a little later, and powdery iris emerges as it begins to dry down. The florals are complemented throughout by soft spicy notes. As it dries down, mossy, earthy green notes emerge. The base manages to be clean, unlike other patchouli-heavy chypres. There is also a subtle sweetness to the drydown, most likely thanks to the vanilla and honey notes. The vanilla in particular is soft, subtle and natural-smelling - notable for me, as synthetic vanillin seems to overpower many modern scents, including reformulations. The combination of these elements make for an unusual, intriguing twist in the tail of what could otherwise be a routine, if well-made, chypre. It fades to a musky, woody skin scent with a hint of ambery sweetness. An elegant, ladylike day scent (a rare thing for such a powerhouse), Ysatis should be an inescapable modern classic. Instead, it is a road less travelled. Made with high-quality ingredients, it is long-lasting with good sillage (as to be expected from an eighties-era scent). Best worn during autumn/winter. Givenchy as a fragrance house is quite underrated, as is Ysatis itself in comparison to its contemporaries. Beautiful. 4/5.

I recently received a vintage splash bottle from a friend's mother who was downsizing her house in preparation to move to a small apartment after her husband passed away. I, and her daughter (my friend), were cleaning out her bedroom closet and it was on a top shelf still in the box. She said to us, "If one of you girls wants that you can have it. I smelled it and didn't particularly care for it." My friend said she didn't want it as she's not a perfume girl, so she told me to take it. It looked like it had never been used and there was no evaporation. When I got home I put some on and didn't smell anything but tuberose. Not a heavy tuberose, like White Shoulders smells to me, but tuberose nonetheless. It smells nice, but that's all I smelled. I'm not getting any aldehydes, spices (it's not listed in the notes anyway but some people here claim they can smell it), honey, citrus, or anything else people say they can smell, and I am soooo disappointed in that lack. I definitely do not smell any oakmoss or wood either. Maybe this bottle went bad, though it doesn't smell bad. It smells like a sweet, soft, tuberose to me. After taking a shower last night I decided to give it another try and then forgot about it as I went about doing some tasks. When I slowed down I suddenly smelled this really beautiful scent and thought, wow, something smells really nice, only to realize it was me. It smelled like a pretty, soft, deep, high quality white floral fragrance with honey overtones. I don't find it loud at all. I find it very refined and elegant and appropriate for any time of the day, and any situation. I wouldn't equate this scent with any time period or era, big, small, or otherwise. It's a beautiful scent and one that has me appreciating heavy white flowers like tuberose a little bit more because the tuberose here isn't suffocating. Since smelling this now I want to seek out another bottle to see if it smells the same to me or if all the notes in this bottle have dissipated over time. If that's the case I'll update this review.

I've already reviewed this, but since I am wearing it right now, a few thoughts have sprung to mind. I wore and loved both Ysatis and Amarige back in the day. Ysatis was somewhat of a signature scent for me, until Amarige came along and Ysatis had to share the spotlight. Of course there were others I wore. I usually could only afford the smallest 1 oz bottles so I went through a bottle quickly and would purchase something I wanted to try before returning to my two beloved Givenchy stars. I knew what I loved, though I did not have the language to describe them in terms of what notes I was smelling, in any perfume, beyond such common notes as rose or citrus. So when I loved a perfume, it wasn't because I loved jasmine, or sandalwood, or civet. I loved the composition as a whole, an object in it's own right, not a series of notes with a beginning, a middle, and a dry down. To me, they brought to mind specific images of who I was or how I wanted to be perceived. A lot of words to start explaining to you about what Ysatis was, why I loved it, and what it meant to me. It smelled intoxicating and sexy, but mostly it smelled exotic to me, conjuring up images of ancient civilizations. Byzantine specifically, prior to experiencing Byzance which was another great love. I pictured old churches, candles, and icons - things that were sacred but mysterious. There is nothing of smoke or incense listed as a note and I now realize it's not there, but it was part of the experience for me, part of a persona I wanted to share with the world! Thank you for indulging me in my reverie! Happy to say that while wearing my vintage Ysatis this evening, the same image came flooding back, and I truly enjoyed the ride!

I deleted my review of Ysatis , a long time favorite . I had to delete it because there is really no Ysatis to purchase these days, just a CHEAP and vulgar imitation of a timeless classic . The vulgar imitation is in the same old bottle and the label is the same. But no perfume really is present inside the bottle. How long must perfume lovers endure having their favorite perfumes turned into garbage? And the perfumers have the audacity to call it the same name and hike the price up instead of down. Call me negative if you want . I am not here to be a cheerleader for sorry products . There seem to be fewer and fewer perfumes worth purchasing now. It is almost a miracle to find a perfume that lasts longer than two hours; even those who sell perfumes think the majority of the products on the counters are sorry performers . Ysatis was a GLORIOUS creation ! I would not pay $3 for the latest bottle being sold now. I will commit Ysatis to the graveyard of masterpieces that have been destroyed : Chanel Coco Chanel Allure Chanel #5 EL. Beautiful EL Cinnabar EL Youth Dew El Intuition EL Aliage Givenchy Organza Indecence EL Spellbound Paloma Picasso ... and a hundred others .... Every day it gets worse and the people who are supposed to be making perfume are making mostly cheap, boring, sugary, honeyed, fruity JOKES that do not last as long as the Calgon Body Sprays at the grocery store . NO KIDDING!! Do these fools think we can’t tell the difference between a masterpiece or a piece of CR@P ? How insulting to consumers .

This perfume has been on my list of fragrances I have been dying to try, for longer than I'd like to admit. Now that I have it, I have been unable to put it down for days. A quick obsession and completely fascinating liquid, I have fallen under her spell. Strangely sour at times, and at other times, so hauntingly tender. I feel as if I have stepped into a Grimm Brothers' fairy tale, meandering deep into the forest; walking low under boughs and branches, and frequently distracted by the menagerie displayed in technicolor all around me. Lost from view, both obscured and obscuring movements conjure concurring breaths of sweet flora, sweeping on the breeze, taunting the mossy earth with the pungency and dripping-sweet animalic notes of honey, jasmine and civet. Such a delightful journey, discovering after each turn the fresh evocations of gentle petals. Orange blossom and iris sway peacefully, while thunder-claps of tuberose and galbanum keep beat at a distance. A mesmerizing rhythm naturally placed, as if it had always been and would always be so. This world, encapsulated within a crystal sphere of aldehydes, contains at its center a core swathed with the emerald tones of herbaceous laurels and unmanicured oakmoss - left to grow wild. Occasionally I wander back to reality - aloof as I am; as if waking from a glorious slumber, still smiling. I reach again for the same amber concoction that transported me, for a moment, to utter paradise!

I remember of YSATIS, back in the 80 's. I smelled it for the first time in 86, on a classmate who used to wear it and even carried a big bottle of it in her backpack for school. OMG, when she re-applied it at school, such a bomb scent! I was only 15 at the time and only wore CACHAREL Anais Anais, more teenage appropriate. I remember how amazing my friend Natalia smelled, very strong, sexy, hypnotic and mysterious. The sillage she left was just stunning! Back then I was just an immature girl to even think about pulling out such a grown-up scent... Years later, maybe when I got 20, my boyfriend offered me a 50ml bottle of YSATIS ( the one with the gold cap )and I loved it !!! It was amazing and I already felt confident enough to rock it! :) It was LOUD like the '80s! Big shoulder pads, puffed hair, high waisted jeans, masculine oversized blazers, big earrings... YSATIS has that vibe :) I started at that time being crazy about perfumes until today... I can say that I am quite obsessed collecting them! I still wear it today, on very few occasions. I still have a small vintage bottle and recently repurchased a new re-formulation bottle to compare with the vintage one. The new YSATIS is more wearable, less intense, less animalic and intense. I guess they cut down on civet notes... A classic chypre floral perfume, very well blended, worth to have in any perfume collection! Well done Mr Ropion! Love your creations :)

Ysatis de Givenchy - even the name of this lovely fragrance is beautiful. Ysatis is a masterpiece of classic French perfume making. I love everything about it: the powerful opening notes of yellow flowers, the lasting power and sillage, the elegant flacon and stylish box. Givenchy did real good with this one. Ysatis is what great perfume used to be in the 80's and 90's. Bold and intense, opulent and luxurious, Y never goes unnoticed. It's the darker counterpoint of Eau de Givenchy, the epitome of early spring flowers. But where EdG is piercing and even a little sharp, Ysatis is honey smooth and velvety. Unapologetically powerful but never vulgar, this fragrance is one of a kind and has no equal. A little Ysatis is good, a lot is even better. Yes, it's an intense fragrance, esp. for those who prefer modern fruitchoulis and candy sweet scents. It may be a little too strong and not sufficiently fresh enough for younger consumers. There's no hint of unisex about it, this scent is absolutely and definitely feminine. Ysatis is of a different age and time, and yet it isn't dated. Some reviewers have stated that the reformulation is a poor shadow of the original. There's also a flanker available. Well, I will stick with the vintage original. Frankly, it seems impossible to improve on the beauty of Ysatis.

I loved this scent the moment I sniffed it on paper when it was first introduced. The tuberose-like note that roped me in; creamy and a little earthy. I am a sucker for tuberose! I love the mix of white flowers and spices in this one, and the musky dry-down is a pleasant surprise. A little loud, yes, but if you apply a light touch when you spray it or just use the lotion, it calms down quite a bit. Ysatis is especially effective in the winter, because of its boldness. When you walk into a fire-lit room wearing Ysatis and a winter gown, you'll certainly stand out in white flowers when everybody else is wearing deep, spicy chypre scents. I splurged and bought Ysatis when it first came out, even though I was on a very limited income at the time. But at times when I was especially short on disposable income, I would buy Quintessence Dare as a cheapo substitute or for Ysatis. My now-husband couldn't tell the difference between the two and liked them both. Sometimes I layered one on top of the other. On my skin, Dare has almost the same top and middle notes as Ysatis. The only thing missing in Dare is the deeper, musky dry-down of Ysatis. I'm surprised that nobody else has mentioned the similarity between the two fragrances, unless I've missed a post that notes it.

Suuuuper good! It's undoubtedly retro, so let's just get that out of the way first. To me, it smells pretty timeless. It's no where near as dated as say White Diamonds or No5. The opening blast of aldehydes and sweet/tangy citrus create an accord like orange soda. The honeyed aspect is also felt from the very beginning. Quickly a distinct spicy clove emerges, along with a wallop of tropical ylang and narcotic tuberose. There's also a greenness to Ysatis but not the earthy kind typical of most chypres. It's more of a smooth, bright, floral greenness. Perhaps it's the mentholated, wintergreen aspect of the tuberose coming through. There's definitely something like light, menthol cigarette smoke drifting through the heart of this fragrance. The overall texture of the fragrance is not powdery, but more like a creamy lotion. I must also say that I don't find this to be skanky at all. It gets compared to Passion and Diva, but those are 10x dirtier (especially Diva). It's much fresher as well. The note breakdown may seem intimidating, but this wears best in sunny, high heat. Lastly, I appreciate Ysatis for proving that it's possible to have a ylang/tuberose based fragrance without that dreaded, stank peach accord that was so ubiquitous in the 80s and 90s 🙌🏻.

Hello to all fragrantica friends from Decodawn, it's February 2022, I hope you are keeping well and safe. This is my review of vintage Givenchy Ysatis. Firstly may I just state you need to fully appreciate the outer packaging (box) and the bottle of a vintage I.e Gold Lid in art deco styled glass bottle to really experience and appreciate the real fragrance bomb of Ysatis. It was total love for me when this fragrance was first launched and I absolutely loved the magical quality. It really was quite groundbreaking at the time, completely unique. The entire package is sheer luxury, quality and perfection. Reminiscent of a by gone age. The 80s an amazing time to be an 18 year old girl with your whole life ahead of you. It was a fantastic time. The fashion, the music, the movies, the TV shows, everything was about excess, exuberance and fun. This fragrance is exciting, sexy, and romantic. Huge explosion of flowers, warm heart, then sensual dry down. I can honestly say I bet not one single man alive would not fall under the spell of Ysatis, sex in a bottle. Don't just try it buy it. I recommend only vintage bottles as I have described. Gold lid art deco shape glass rectangular bottle. One of my true favourites. Enjoy x ❤

Ysatis, Lauren, Chloe. I wore this in Junior High and thru high school. My eldest sister past away in 1984. Lauren was her signature fragrance and Chloe was second. Ysatis must have come out very early 1984 or maybe Xmas of 1983. It was the last new fragrance she purchased. As a 13 year old kiddo missing her sister I would sprits little amounts of Lauren on a pillow at night hoping to see her in my dreams. Back to Ysatis since the bottle was relatively new it did not hold a memory of my sister. I made it my own signature fragrance. It was such a grown up fragrance I used it more through high school parties and dates. The bottle was sooo elegant truly a piece of art. It was not a spray but ayou had to use the glass stopper to dab it on. I know this made this fragrance an extra elegant experience. It was a marvelously complex. Not too flowery, not too musky civet. Just a balance of womanly femininity. I still remember feeling so grown up. I wish I still had the bottle but I think it broke during the 1994 earthquake. I think Ysatis became the primer I would grade all perfume there after. There would be many hyped up perfumes but Ysatis would always stand out as truly perfume. Ysatis had a unique presence.

Ysatis is holy opulence, a high roller in a Rolls Royce wearing a sable. As a man wearing it? Do I feel like Liberace? No. Do I feel like I am wearing a costume? Nah. Do I feel feminine? No, but that shouldn't even matter anyhow. I just feel my olfactory receptors telling my brain "yum yum" and "me want more" like Cookie Monster. Or rather, Ylang Ylang monster. This ylang ylang is wearing one of those "dip me in honey and throw me to the lesbians" badges popular in the early 90s, wearing sunglasses from the total eclipse of the aldehydes. All the other flowers are just scuttling around at its coattails like crustaceans, the carnation being the most colorful maid in waiting. Ysatis you are pulling me closer to your heaving golden yellow bosom! You whisper "you sly dog" like Peppermint Matty to Charlie Brown. My best friends were often tomboys anyhow, but never ones that smoked cigarettes from a long cigarette holder, all Marlene Dietrich like. The key to this powerhouse is the civet (is it real or is it Memorex?), like Grace Jones making a cameo appearance on a Pee Wee Herman special. I think I need to straighten my little red bow tie. In a word: massive. Ysatis is one for the ages.

What a beauty. I ordered a tiny little sample vial as an add on to another purchase. When I first sniffed it, it was an immediate no, but I then tried it on just for the heck of it. It "blooms" beautifully with my personal body chemistry. Maybe it's designed specifically for older women? I can't imagine a 22 year old rocking this grand, baroque, and somewhat challenging scent. It reminds me of a softer, creamier Donna Karan Gold, it's got a warm, almost gourmand center that will have you "huffing" your wrist (if it works for you). It is a big 80s hug--cashmere sweaters and fur coats, big ornate jewelry and stiletto heels. It's perfume with a capital P in the way many modern scents aren't. It has what I think of as the "vintage base" a woody, lavender, spicy, medicinal "hope chest" scent that to me is the reddish amber wood of a cedar chest. If any of you all on the boards are fans of "Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab" this shares some DNA with their darker, smokier, more mature and complex scents. It's absolutely stunning. But it's not a safe blind buy and not for everyone.

My maternal grandparents owned and ran a small roadside flowershop in San Jose, CA before the silicone boom. Whenever I walk past a flower stand now, memories from being a kid helping out during the Valentine's/Easter/Mother's Day crush flood back to me. Ysatis is the only perfume that I've found that also taps those memories. It's an overload of flowers -- bruised yellow tulip petals, sticky lily stamens, pale pink peony buds, dark green rose leaves, laurel tree pollen blowing in the breeze, Oasis floral foam soaking in cold water, and a touch of sweet decay from last week's bouquet buckets. This is a love not only because it accesses precious memories for me. It's also so unique in today's fragrance landscape and feels niche with it's "vintage" sensibility, without being off-putting for everyday wear. I see many people rate this a fall/winter scent, which surprises me perhaps because I think of sunny San Jose when I smell this. I feel it could be worn as a signature fragrance year-round. So glad I have this affordable beauty in my collection!

There are plenty of vintages available for purchase so fortunately buyers aren't stuck having only a single option. I now have two bottles. I was given a bottle by a friend's mother which smells wonderful, and was even able to discriminate the civet note the more I wore it. Strange, but the civet in this scent didn't bother me as it does in other fragrances. I purchased a newer edition, though not the new reformulation, which also smells great. Best yet, the one I purchased was still relatively cheap in relation to many scents being sold today - especially when one considers the quality of the ingredients used to make it. If you don't like the scent return it. Manufacturers might get the message, though in fairness to them I don't think the downgrading of perfumes is entirely their fault. Manufactures have to work within the confines of the law and in Europe regulations have gutted the perfume industry and left them few options but to use the only ingredients that are available to them. They are stuck between a rock and a hard place.

I’m sampling from a Fragrantica members traveling box, and I admit that I have never heard of Ysatis before today. And until a few days ago I had also never heard of Scherrer 2 or 20 Carats, two other vintage Divas that have won me over. I’m thanking whichever Frag member put all three of these samples in my box, because Ysatis is also stunning. The only notes I can pick out are aldehydes, soap, musk and floral. The opening is in overdrive, and it takes over an hour to settle down, but once that happens, WOW. I understand the love. This is a perfume that announces your arrival, and lingers on your departure. It is the opposite of skin scent, and a contrast to the “natural” and lighter scents we wear today. Vintage Ysatis can be found for an exceptional deal on eBay. Having a large collection—and knowing full well I will never get through all of it in this lifetime— I’m contemplating a purchase. I can not imagine where I would wear this classy lady in public, but in private I would like to spend the day with her. Wonderful.