Elle

The lychee, citruses and florals whoosh by me so fast I don't really notice them at all. To me this is, straight from the nozzle and on my skin, patchouli with pepper and cedar. And I can't get enough of it. I still have only the little sample that I've nearly used up, but I ordered a full size today because this is what I have been missing in my fragrance wardrobe for a long time: a scent that grounds me. The patchouli is dry and medicinal, camphor tinged, my favourite kind. It reminds me so much of the patchouli in Shiseido Zen (the one in the square, yellow bottle). The patchouli is joined by spicy, equally dry, pink pepper, and further in the dry down the cedar is detectable. This scent is almost meditative, it centers me. It's not fussy, loud, sweet, or demanding. It has sillage, absolutely, but it's a calming one, not a brash one. This doesn't have a drop of vanilla or sugar or tonka or cupcake or whipped cream. It is dry, dry, dry, but in the best way possible. I can see this becoming a fragrance to wear when I need to focus on making art, instead of wasting endless hours on pinterest. A scent for turning inwards, but in a good way. Focusing on things that matter. This is definitely a unisex scent, and for all ages. This is for all who love it. I'm looking forward to my bottle and seeing if it smells any different to me. If it does, I'll update my review. Update: I received my full bottle and yes, it smells the same! I have hay fever at the moment so my sense of smell is a little impaired, but I think I'm picking up a touch more citrus/floral in the opening than in my sample, which is good because I didn't really get them earlier. And the main player, the glorious patchouli-rose, is definitely still there, and it doesn't take long for it to bloom. I have a feeling I'm going to use up this bottle in record time. Which reminds me. Like many, I was puzzled with the odd choice of bottle for Elle. Fuchsia? For *this* scent? I though it was mighty tacky (sorry YSL!) at worst, and bafflingly 'miscast' for its likely audience (hint: probably not teenagers) at best. But now, holding the bottle, I'm kind of digging it. It looks like a strange flawless block of precious stone. Gaudy with its gold ornaments? Hell yes. But at least it's not boring. Plus, I think it might hold an Infinity Stone inside. I still would have picked another colour had YSL asked my opinion (a girl can dream), but as long as the juice is deliriously good, who cares?

If you miss Midnight Poison (MP), and an original YSL Elle is still available to you (ensure you check authenticity) - this is the only thing that even compares slightly to MP. I own both MP and Elle, and have tested them side by side. This is not quite as nuclear in performance as MP, but it certainly creates a noticeable bubble of at least 1 foot around you. Which to me, is more than sufficient! If you do not like Patchouli - and I mean the unapologetically earthy, strong and very pungent patchouli mixed in with a deep and dark rose, reserved only for the dead of winter or rainy autumnal days, abstain. I see people below commenting rather ageist remarks of "old lady" smells. Be respectful of elderly persons. They wear such strong fragrances as with age, their sense of smell deteriorates, much like their sense of sight and hearing. Further, if you are not as experienced with older fragrances (I don't mean too old either as MP was a product of tail end of the 00's), this may shock you. But take your time with it - do not judge it harshly in the dead of summer *insert a very sarcastic and bitter eye roll*. Try it in the winter! This was recently hyped by Demi Rawling so it is very likely to garner fragrance newbies attention - given novices do tune into her channel. Do not disregard this beauty based on your initial impression and reduce it to just a spice rack or "old lady" fragrance - which I find terribly rude. How I missed wearing a beautifully deep and dark patchouli contrasted with a stunning rose!! I have been so very stingy to use my bottle of MP. But, I may use just one spray of MP and use Elle more liberally. All good things must come to an end. So I guess I will eventually use my bottle of MP and miss it. But for now, consider me satisfied and completely content with stunning little Elle!

Man do I love this stuff. After six months without it, I repurchased it at last. When I first ran out of it, I went on and bought Midnight Poison, which turned out to be the not reformulated version of it. As you May know, they were crafted by the same nose. But there is a deal breaker, my skin chemistry turns amber notes into bug spray. Therefore Midnight Poison always ends up smelling funny on my recently washed skin... I HAVE TO SWEAT TO MAKE MP WERK. There was something missing that Elle has, it's more peppery and the patchouli is less sweet in Elle... Because of the lack of Vanilla. Elle was my signature scent from 2009 to 2013, and about june of this year I finished my 90 ml bottle and ventured to other places... Searched for vintages and forgot about this truly underrated gem. While I adore Midnight Poison, I'll never be able to really put it over Elle. MP is louder, Elle is intensely more deep and complex. Right now I'm wearing each in different spots. They share the same dna, but MP Will never replace Elle in my wardrobe. While MP stays kind of linear after a While, you can sense the different facets coming from elle, from fresh, to fruity, to spicy to end in a woody patchouli and cedarwood drydown, giving it more body and, perhaps in my own crazy mind, depth and complexity. It's kind of sad that People think that this is forgettable and another one of the bunch. To me it was a gateway to patchouli goodness. P.S. This is the only perfume that isn't ruined by freesia in it's composition

Tried this for the first time yesterday, on first spray I hated it, it smelt of chemicals and cleaning products, however an hour or so later I could not stop sniffing my wrist. My god the dry down is literally to die for! This is a classy floral patchouli scent. This fragrance will never go out of style. It has that dewy woody scent feel similar to Alien which i was presently surprised by, but the added patchouli in this and peony make it more softer and feminine and more lady like than Alien in my opinion. To me this suits anyone from age 16 to 106- it is classy and it is timeless and it is softly feminine, demure, reserved and I find it a comforting and warming scent. To me it feels like home. I know a lot of people hate patchouli scents but in this the patchouli is so beautifully blended I would say this makes a safe gift for anyone! It is impossible to dislike this fragrance! It is now on my wish list and I will be purchasing it next pay day! If you want a cheaper but a little less sophisticated dupe of this try Avon unique rose- they smell rather similar to each other in my opinion but of course Elle smells slightly more complex and sophisticated, never the less unique rose is a really good dupe for this! To me this is a patchouli woody dewy berry scent with peony undertones- this is how I would sum the fragrance up. It is an autumn/winter scent- perfect for both day and night in the colder months! Scent= 8/10 Bottle=7/10 Longevity=6/10 Projection= 6.5/10

Hello from Decodawn. This is my review of Yves Saint Laurent Elle. There is quite a back story to be told about this fragrance. 10 years ago in 2007 Yves Saint Laurent launched Elle. In July 2007 Dior Launched Midnight Poison, YSL Elle was launched in October 2007. They were both created by Jacques Cavalier and Oliver Cresp and smell identical. I can remember being in Harrods in July 2007 and a shop assistant put a black ribbon with a rose on my wrist sprayed with Midnight Poison by Dior which I kept in my dressing table drawer. Eva Green from 'Golden Compass' movie and Vespa Lynd in 'Casino Royale' first James Bond movie starring Daniel Craig was the 'face' of 'Midnight Poison' Coco Rocha was the face of 'Elle' in the YSL Smoking Jacket adverts. I tested both fragrances and hey presto they were exactly the same fragrance. Incidentally the 'Noses' create a particular fragrance and it is sold to the highest bidder. Jacques Cavalier and Oliver Cresp obviously decided to play off YSL and Dior with the same fragrance and in the end YSL won and Midnight Poison was discontinued. A little bit of trivia for you Yves Saint Laurent originally worked for Christian Dior as Art Director and set up his own fashion house in 1962 after 10 years with Christian Dior. Elle is a Gorgeous fragrance patchouli, smouldering with passion. Absolutely fabulous. Try it you will love it.

I don't want to repeat what was said before... BUT... My search for my signature perfume started when I was 19 y.o. Young, fresh out of high school, I had a sample of Dior- Midnight Poison in my magazine. It was love at first sniff. But I felt like I was too young to be wearing this strong, sophisticated fragrance. That night, when I tried it on me, I went to the pub to see my friends. It was a hot, dark, starry night and I met one of my friends on a street. She asked me immediately: , What are you wearing?' And then she said: , This is you. This perfume smells like you.' Now, years have passed and no perfume could fill the void that I felt inside of me. I know that this is maybe pathetic, but I also know (thanks to Fragrantica), that I'm not the only fragrance junkie in this world :). I found this perfume similar to MP. I've read the comments and finally purchased one. After I sprayed it on my wrist: I had the ultimate emotional reaction: , This is it! This is me!' And I cried a little bit. Elle shares the DNA with MP. It is not the same perfume. Elle is much more fruity and feminine. But something about the rose with patchouli is magical in both of them. YSL Elle is beautiful from the opening to its core. I have found the one :). Thank you, masters perfumers <3.

You know how, when a scent is perfect, you're rendered speechless? This was love at first sniff. Warm florals with a bite, gloriously sexy and rich and delicious and laugh-out-loud creative. Sophistication with a wink. Art gallery, but nothing too serious. I have a hard time describing individual notes, it's just perfect and whole to me. Much better on my skin than in the bottle. The name is a bit misleading, I don't think this is for young girls. I'd say age 28 and up. I might be biased though. This was made by the same master perfumer (Cresp) who made my all-time signature scent Lacoste Pour Femme 4 years earlier. Pour Femme is a similar type of scent with some of the notes overlapping. More interesting than the notes it does contain are the notes it doesn't. Like the Lacoste, Elle contains no vanilla. Nor chocolate, coffee, benzoin, musk or amber for that matter. The great majority of frags for women these days have at least vanilla in the base. To find an evening scent without it is quite rare (or so it seems to me). If you love yourself a sweet gourmand then Elle probably won't float your boat. If you, like me, tend to barely tolerate the loud praline-and-vanilla scents passing for 'sexy' these days, you might want to give this a try. 9.5/10

i blind bought this, pretty sure I'd like it. i loved it immediately. it was exactly what i have been looking for. it reminds me of chanel chance, my first perfume before i knew anything about perfume. the patchouli and pink pepper certainly dominate as they do in chance. I've been drawn to sweet, spicy patchouli scents since i was a kid and had no idea what patchouli even was. i saw this and eyeballed it for a long time and decided to just roll the dice. what a thrill. i agree with the note pyramid here. a medicinal, slightly dirty patchouli and pink pepper with the fruity-perfumey sweetness of lychee. i also smell the vetiver, cedar, and lemon, similar to chance again. it projects and lasts well but is not loud or offensive, though i think some people might find it weird? i've been getting a ton of compliments from my coworkers. it definitely also reminds me a lot of midnight poison, but it's not a dupe. i find it a great alternative for the expensive, discontinued midnight poison. they are indeed quite similar. if you like woody but still sweet patchouli scents like coco mademoiselle, chance, miss dior cherie, midnight poison, you will likely enjoy this. try it! the bottle, by the way, is gorgeous and chic. i would buy this over and over.

Why is everyone saying they miss this perfume? Here in the UK it is available everywhere in shops plus online!? Am I missing something? Have I just bought a new formulation this December? A few months ago I splashed out and bought a bottle of Dior Midnight poison for a huge price increase. A scent I love. On the ratings on fragrantica I decided to purchase Elle. I would say they are a 95% match. There is a spicy, medicinal like note missing from the very opening of Elle which to me prevents it being a complete dupe. However after 5-10minutes with a spritz on each wrist they smell identical on my skin. On clothes that 5% difference remains. This is less spicy a hint more floral. Funny how skin and clothing can be so different!! To me this is a warm, softly sweet feminine scent. It’s not groundbreaking but there is something very comfortable about wearing it. Its not a typical floral because the vanilla and musk softens the flowery notes and transform it into more of an oriental flower than the woody chypre it is advertised as. (I would call Midnight poison Oriental woody thats the 5% difference!) I LOVE it. I love it for what it is seperate from MP and I can see I will repurchase. To me this is a winter day-night scent. Very cosy.

Oh no, Elle should really not be discontinued. Sure, there are many rose and patchouli fragrances out there, and to my nose, Elle is mainly one of those, but no other is quite like it. I think the lychee and the peony are the notes that set it apart from others in this category. They give Elle a light, juicy quality. This perfume is a middle ground between dark and heavy patchy roses and the still very enjoyable girly lychee-rose-peony blends that were popular a decade ago. I don‘t feel blasted with pink pepper in the opening like with some other fragrances, I rather feel its dry wood-like spiciness in the drydown, rounded out by patch and vetiver. Elle is slightly sparkly and very chic, like the olfactory equivalent of a black dress and red lipstick. It‘s a blend of cooler notes that have just enough warmth to not turn sour or scratchy on my skin, but not more. It could work day or night, it‘s subtly sexy, but not loud, and while I thought this would be ideal for milder weather in spring and autumn, I tested it on a summer day once and it worked almost better in a warm temperature. I‘m contemplating if I should get a bottle before it becomes too expensive.

Before it was a like, now i love Elle. I think it is very underrated fragrance. I love its lemony freshness. It creates an energetic rose smell, a little sweetlike with litchi, there is a woodsiness too and a bit spicy. For me it feels energetic, romantic, fun, earthy and sophisticated at the same time. I can wear it in all occasions and seasons, day and night. It is hard to find a fragrance that goes with everything and smells amazing at the same time. I also did not smell any rose fragrance like this one. Others are more on romantic side to me. That's why I think Elle is unique. Also, any age can wear this easily from 20 and over. Some mentioned it smells like old and dated. It does not smell like that to me at all. Actually, I feel the opposite way like it will never be dated. Ofcouse Elle is not in trend, because it is not a sweet gourmand, but it is definitely not "old lady like". All fashion trends even smells can change by the years pass. Maybe nobody will want to wear sweet gourmands in the future. Anyways... I love Elle and I think it has a unique combination and great smell which is long lasting.

After searching for Elle for quite some time, I finally found her and am totally in love with it! I keep hearing how it's similar to Midnight Poison from Dior, but I don't know how true that is. Still never had an opportunity to try it out. To be honest, Elle gives me a nostalgic feel, but I can't pinpoint what it is. Definitely not like today's mainstream perfumes. Perhaps that's a good thing, because I love old school scents! I'm not sure why, but it's giving me "Lacoste Vibes", for some unbeknownst reason. It's fresh, floral, woody, slightly spicy and overall a light fragrance - all at once! Not that I'm complaining. 🙂 In general, I opt for sweet fragrances, which tend to have a vanillic note in it; with Elle, though? She's an exception. This is one of the fewest fragrances that I can wear at any time of the year, without hesitation. It saddens me as to how YSL decided to discontinue such a gem. It seems like a crime to me! LADIES!!! If you'll have an opportunity to get a whiff of this before it disappears forever, take it! I'd happily repurchase it, without a doubt! 11/10

The more I wear Elle, the more I love it. The sweet fruits, the warm rose, the peppery sheer mentholated patchouli even--perfectly smooth, supremely feminine, and smells as good to others as it does to me. I am just baffled that this was discontinued--I think this is better than any Yves Saint Laurent being sold in Sephora or department stores at the moment. And other perfumes that smell similar are discontinued, besides Perles de Lalique, which is missing the gorgeous fruitiness, has less rose, it just isn't so very refined and feminine. Midnight Poison was more mentholated and patchouli-heavy, and also lacked the bright fruitiness. Out of newfound love for Elle, I even want to resample Midnight Poison, but what's the point when that one is discontinued too? Any parfumista wants to try it anyway, and I am a parfumista, so I will just treasure the little bit of Elle I have. If we get lucky it will be rereleased, or maybe a niche perfumer will make something that smells almost exactly the same without charging an arm and a leg for it...

I bought this because I wanted to compare it to Midnight Poison, which I own and have worn since it was released and it is still my holy grail perfume and signature scent. Sorry to disappoint anyone who is hoping for a dupe, but it's really not. It just doesn't compare. It could perhaps be a distant cousin to Midnight Poison for the patchouli, citrus, and rose, but the dry down is powdery and it isn't even close to the patchouli bomb that Midnight Poison is. It lacks the intensity, the enormous sillage, the sexy gothic mystique. Now, taking it for what it is without the comparison. I do really like this perfume because it ticks a lot of boxes for me: juicy lychee and zesty citrus, soft rosy florals, a good dose of patchouli, and the dry down is woody and powdery. It has moderate longevity and good sillage for the first couple of hours. I think it can work for both day and night but is more of an evening fragrance, not one for the office. It is sexy but less intimidating than Midnight Poison, more alluring than demanding attention.

Absolutely stunning!! At first I did pick up a bit of camphor, and was hoping it didn’t stick around. It didn’t! It settled into the most gorgeous, warm, cozy, sexy fragrance! I agree, it’s not that similar to midnight poison, which I find more vanillic. It is, however, similar to deep Euphoria, which I also swoon over in the cooler months! You get those rich florals but the woody notes and patchouli are really what make this fragrance so beautiful!! It’s done incredibly well! I can see that this may not be everyone’s tastes and some may not be able to pull it off. But this is my kind of fragrance! It is giving a strong woman vibe, no wall flowers here! This is a woman who is confident and comfortable in all situations. One who isn’t afraid to show her sexy side and has no problem being a woman in a man’s world. That said, it does lean a bit unisex. I adore a fragrance that has a touch of masculinity! It gives a little ying in my yang! I only have a smidge left and really wish this would come back ! It’s an absolute stunner!

This is modern glamour with an edge to it. Sharp,in the opening,yet the softness of peony and femininity of the flowers with the spice and body of pink pepper that dries down to a deep patchouli and woody complexity. I am always bowled over when I smell this, ans wearing it becomes part of my personality,as it is strong,yet soft,edgy,yet simplistic,classic,yet modern,confident,yet demure. A real head turner, I wear this day as well as night and have made this my signature go to when wanting to create an Impact because people WILL want to know what it is. I find this scent beguiling I think the patchouli with the woods make it linger, hat the litchi and flowers really make it ultra modern with the pink pepper. I think this is everything that I love in a fragrance,as it is not too spicy,not too musky,not too floral and not too fruity it has a perfect balance of all of those. It has great longevity,and the sillage is moderate and projects to those Perfectly around you. Sexy,modern femininity,what more could you ask for!!

My mom blind bought this one for me two Christmas ago. At first I thought Elle was more of a winter fragrance, with its cedar note and overall woodsy feel, so I saved it for colder times (I'm in the Southern Hemisphere). I tried it a couple of times during winter but it seemed too woodsy for my taste, almost masculine. I was sad, I wanted to like it. I forgot about it for a few months until I was putting my fragrances in order to include some new acquisitions when I bumped into Elle. I sprayed on a little of it on a whim and OH! the delight! I don't know if the fragrance has changed or that it suits warm weather better, whatever the case, I'm looooving it!! It's no longer masculine, the cedar is now warm, surrounded by beautiful sweet roses. It opens with some elegant pencil shavings due to the cedar that appears right away sweeten by some juicy and not at all sour lemon. The dry down is warm, inviting juicy rose and subdued cedar. I so totally LOVE it!!!

This was a blind buy and upon first sniff, I know I've smelt this plenty of times before. It is one of YSL's finer offerings. YSL tends to create my favorite designer-type fragrances and this is up there. It opens with a burst of pink peppery peony followed by a bit of litchi to add some non-syrupy sweetness. The floral heart isn't the most unique, but a solid, pleasant part of the blend. And the patchouli-centric base gives this fragrance some sexiness and prevents it -- thankfully-- from being demure. Elle is surprisingly versatile. I think this is great for all ages; for day or night; or for formal, party, or casual wear. Apply less, and you can probably wear it in the office, too. I am a little disappointed by the sillage and longevity. My experience doesn't align with a lot of other fragrantica users, which may be a perfume batch thing. I had to apply a lot before it finally stuck around and projected in any noticeable way.

I really like it and see why Elle is so popular. It’s a fresh peppery rose with patchouli and musk. I have Madness, but unfortunately it’s close, but not as sweet. Too bad because Madness is much cheaper and easier to find. I’m thinking layering Madness with a sweet, fresh rose like Angel Nova edt might produce a similar effect as Elle. Worth a try. Edit: I have tried a lot of rose perfumes over the years and especially over the last year. This one is my favorite. There is a slight powderiness, but more so I get a lip stick/makeup vibe. I do find JHAG Lady Vengeance and Nirvana Rose kind of similar to Elle, but comparing Elle to Lady side by side, Elle is less sharp, less vintage, and better blended. Lady has a dusty rose while E’s is more fresh and pretty. As soon as I finish one of my rose perfumes, I more than likely will buy a full bottle. In my opinion, it is worth the price and hype.

I am in love with this scent. I bought a huge 90ml bottle for £83 and it just keeps getting better and better for me. This scent fills a whole room very good projection. In my top 10 for silage. This scent changes on me too. I cannot really describe it but over the course of a few hours this scent changes and I like that, it does not bore me. It is in my top 5 favourite scents and I own over 100 fragrances. Sometimes I just have to sit in bed sniffing the bottle. It is a beautiful and intoxicating scent. A hidden gem! I am so glad I discovered this fragrance. One of the few high end designer fragrances that is worth the high price tag as the projection and complexity and sophistication of this scent is well and truly on point. This fragrance will never go out of style!

This is great. It does for me, have a Midnight Poison Vibe to it although it is not the same but if you like MP chances are you will like this too. It's a patchouli lovers scent, not dirty but warm patchouli sweetened (but not sweet) by the fruit and a little pepper spice, a punch of vertiver and some florals. After an hour I thought it had disappeared but as I got up to make a cup of tea I got a whiff of it. I have so far had it on for 5 hours and I get the scent when I move without having to sniff my wrist so I would say sillage is good and it's shaping up to have great longevity. It's a keeper. It was suggested to me by people on here when I posted a thread about patchouli and I blind bought it at their recommendations- thanks everyone!

Bought a bottle when it first came out and absolutely loved it. For me it is a very dry, dusty patchouli with sweet rose and litchi and spiciness from the pink pepper. Strong with a lot of character, Boss B*tch kind of scent that made me feel like I could conquer the world. Very confidence boosting and a perfect work scent to get me into the mindset of getting things done. Maybe a little mysterious too. Have never tried MP so not sure how close they are. My taste has changed since then but I recently got a 10 ml decant so I can smell it every once in a while for old times sake. This would make an amazing signature scent on the right person and dare I say it is better than 90% of designer releases we have today. Worth a test!

one of my all time favourite perfumes and very reminiscent of Gucci guilty absolute. the two dont smell alike really but are in the same vein, same family. cousin perfumes I have loved this since the first moment I smelled this wish it lasted longer on my skin though. I get a solid 5-6 hours and then its a skin scent. I like to overspray and its fun with this one. always sad that YSL discontinued this. this is absolutely iconic and a far more unique, memorable and gorgeous scent than anything else they've ever done including black opium, Libre and what have you. YSL please bring this back! sigh. pink pepper, rose and patchouli is what I get, with the other notes playing beautiful second fiddle. love love love love forever.

Something alluring here for sure. I wore Elle while visiting a wildlife park. The brown bear caught my scent and stood up against the fence and spend a good while sniffing the air. Luckily there was the fence between us! :-) And based on this experience I would not recommend this combo sweetness (does anyone else smell something like raspberries or blackberries here?) & patchouli if you go hiking in the wilderness areas. Stories aside: Elle is maybe girly, but also has edge and depth in her - as girls can! Resemblance to Midnight Poison is there, but to my nose Elle is a day-time wear whereas Midnight, as the name implies, is suitable poison only for evenings and nights. Forest fairy & wicked witch.

Elle really does remind me of Midnight Poison, but I wouldnt say it was exactly the same, maybe it has the same vibe.....and anyone missing MP would probably like this as an alternative... to me, Elle is slightly more floral, and in a good way, I think if someone adored MP, then this could be their safe daytime work/office scent, and the MP for evenings as it can be a little strong.....and I say this in a good way, as MP is my signature scent and I love it with all my heart.......I think Elle is MPs quieter sister, but gorgeous all the same...Do I prefer Elle to MP?....no, but I do love Elle, and it is a very welcome addition to my perfume collection, and it will definately be a re-purchase.

Disclaimer: I'm a very fickle person when it comes to perfume, so who knows, I may go off this the next time I test it but..... OH MY WORD this is A M A Z I N G !!!! Tested it at about 8.30am in-store before work, and can still smell it now at 4.00pm. I've felt confident, sassy and happy wearing this today.... It feels like the perfect blend of sweet and spicy; classic and modern; romantic and sexy; with great projection and longevity. My inner Goldilocks is fizzing with excitement - but I'm proud to say I'm containing her (i.e. resisting not buying it on sale right now) and have ordered a 2ml sample - in case love changes to "meh" (I know me too well...). So happy I tried this today! :)

This is a gorgeous feminine patchouli fragrance. It's so very sexy in my opinion and has sparks of glamour! It's great. Yes, this is a somewhat more feminine version of Midnight Poison to me. I do have to jump on that band wagon but ya know, dare I say, I think I may prefer this. Hmm... Heavy on the patchouli, smells like glamorous night time florals, just the right amount of spice and makes me think of deep purple. I have the EDP and this has some kick ass throw when you first spray it..whoa. It exudes pure feminine sexuality and I think it's a "take notice of me" perfume for sure. A head turner and a sex bomb. Gorgeous, one of my favourite YSL fragances.

This is my signature scent and the one my family associate with me. I've got a mid-size collection amassed over a few decades (around 75 FBs so far) and this is still the one I love the most. I did have to go to multiple US stores in 2013 to get a second bottle as it's discontinued. On me one spray is enough, it's such a gorgeous, confident and powerful scent. I get raspberry, dark patchouli, pink pepper and rose. Pair with bright red lippy! The comment that it's a woman who is a boardroom exec is right! It reminds me of that too. I used to wear it for meetings for that reason in my 20s. It's a lovely scent and I wish they'd bring it back.

I think i've reviewed this before no not reviewing it again but i want our voices heard - PLEASE BRING THIS BACK! Jacques Cavallier and Olivier Cresp need to release this type of scent again i don't care under what brand it is. the DNA is unique and i've never smelled anything like this before. they may be similar but they're not the same. i 100% agree with the comment below; this is iconic, unique, memorable and gorgeous scent than anything else YSL ever done before. in 2020 i did secure probably the last bottle from some nondescript store and it was actually an expired bottle. =( need this back in my life (together with kate moss kate)

I have the original and I can’t believe all the negative reviews about Elle. To me it’s a giant floral bouquet from the get go with a little spiciness to it. The jasmin is SO sexy in this, I remember this coming out when I was in high school and I was aching to become older so I can wear it. Now that I definitely can, this is the sexiest representation of an independent, confident woman who can deal a lot of damage. I remember Mugler Alien coming out around the same time, they both smelled a lot of jasmine, and I fell for that one at the same time, but in actuality, Elle is the bottle I have. Am I glad I didn’t buy Alien instead!

Elle YSL is Deliciously smooth, Patchouli roses and bit of spice, earthy noticeably like Dior's Midnight poison which I also happen to have but it's so pricey! Both are from the same perfumer and made the same year but YSL's Elle won! My hat off to you YSL Elle she's a Beaut, a keeper and a definite buy if you're looking for that patchouli rosey crisp earthy smoothness in Midnight poison. thank god the pink pepper is not loud cause I really don't like pink pepper in anything! Is best to rack up before they discontinue like every other masterpiece gone poof like smoke! Unisexual, Yay! ELLE'S THE SUN AND MIDNIGHT POISON'S THE MOON

Yay, YSL Elle is back in stock! I’m a bit cash-strapped at the moment, but I’ve added it to my small wish list; sooner or latter it’s gonna be mine. I disagree with reviewers below who claim that Elle is identical to Dior Midnight Poison. Yes, they are somewhat similar, but to my nose Midnight Poison is much sweeter. Elle is all about pink pepper, patchouli, rose and vetiver - somewhere between JHAG Lady Vengeance and Diptyque Volutes. The hotpink bottle may be quite misleading, because this is not a sugarbomb aimed at young girls. Instead, it’s a modern, fresh scent, bordering on the unisex - which is just the way I like ‘em.

I remember trying this out when I was 13 years old and thinking I was too young to wear it, and I planned on wearing it in my 20s. So, my late 20s arrived and the perfume got discontinued. However, I managed to find a full 90 ml bottle last week at a good price and received it today. My inner teenager is so happy 😅 This is an amazingly fruity floral patchouli. It's less powdery than Perles de Lalique and more wearable than Midnight Poison. The lychee and pink pepper give it the "tartness" that I really appreciate. An amazing perfume! Unfortunately, designers no longer produce anything similar to this.

one of my all time favourite perfumes sexy woody and deep, very gothic and gorgeous I wish they would bring it back! one of the first perfumes that became an addiction for me and I had to keep smelling it. I have only a little left in my bottle, I rarely use it! it has been over ten years since I first smelt this and I still love it today no surprise that Gucci guilty pour femme is one of my favourites today I wish I could smell midnight poison to compare them but yeah this is lovely and so deep. a halloween evening or a Tim Burton film in a bottle (both of which I love) amazing

Can't believe I'm reading that it's been discontinued, since this was an instant love for me, and I only just discovered it last weekend!! It went straight into my top five, and now I'm panic buying! Elle is an absolutely beautiful and sophisticated scent, which for me is in the sexy, evening category. Warm, woody and just sweet enough, it feels like it fits me very well. It's very patchouli-centric, a note that I can either love or totally despise, but I find this to be beautifully blended and well balanced. Will be using sparingly for fear of running out.

BOLD! intense, amazing, elegant, powerfull herbal-mint-patchouli, some floral-fruity notes to equilibrate and a woody base. Great sillage and lasting power! Happily, its not a common juice and has a masculine vibe, different from all the gourmands extremely sweet scents... Fits the winter time perfectly! i love when patchouli is medicinal-herbal-mint just like in elle, femme individuelle, gucci by gucci, midnight poison... maybe elle is my favorite parfum now! my dad gave it to me yesterday i cant believe it was discontinued... just like midnight poison :'(

I wanted to try it because of the sheer volume of positive reviews. It is a well-balanced feminine fruitchouli. It has the same creaminess of toned down patchouli and lightly peppery vetiver that you find in Perles de Lalique, but the rosy-type light floral notes are more prominent here, as well as the perfect citrus-lychee top notes that uplift this from feeling like a more serious unisex creation. This is a like rather than a love, fruitchoulis aren't normally my cup of tea, but I look forward to wearing it again to enjoy how different it is.

i bought this on a whim at the airport cuz i forgot to take perfume on christmas vacation. it was love at first sniff. i don't have many spicy scents as i typically go for gourmand or candy type perfumes. it's very peppery but has a dash of sweetness and i do detect a tiny note of jasmine. it's a perfect night scent, especially in the fall/winter. i wore this on a saturday night and on wednesday morning i still detect a whiff of it left on my coat (though i didn't even spray my coat on saturday). it's very long lasting which i really like

this was the perfume that started my love for fragrance, my mom bought it at the airport before we went on holiday when i was a kid and wore it every night to go out to dinner and whenever i smell it, it completely takes me back. its such a nostalgic, gorgous, rich, sexy and seductive scent, its one of my all time favorites. this is one of the only perfumes i dont care that i dont like the look of the bottle because the scent is just so good. im not sure if the scent is for everyone but to me its incredible i love ysl elle so much ♡♡

Truly such a stunning, gorgeous and sexy fragrance. To me, this smells very much like Midnight Poison, but a little bit more fruity, airy and feminine, while still maintaining a dark and mystical aura about itself. Midnight Poison is more gothic and citrusy (at least to me) but they both still share that intoxicatingly addictive DNA. Elle has quickly become a favourite and I adore this so much, it's perfect for when I want to save my MP and use this instead, however it doesn't last as long. The bottle is beautiful and unique too 💕

This perfumes ratio of sweet and spicy is perfection. It's extremely sophisticated yet...precious? If that makes sense. The sweetness is similar to a cotton candy type of sweet and the spicy is all business. The pink pepper and the patch render this a grown woman's scent. And by grown I mean a woman that knows her self worth and is perfectly fine being single or in love. IMO the perfume house of Yves rarely skips a beat on producing beautiful scents. If you love sweet and spicy perfumes, add this to your collection!

I love everything about Elle, right down to the incredibly chic bottle. I found this because I love midnight poison and I was looking for an alternative, I agree that they do smell very similar, but this is not as 'damp' or smooth as MP. They both have that medicinal, camphorous patchouli blast that I love. I also agree with whoever said this is a little like pencil shavings, but I still love it! Elle is modern, sexy and a little mysterious. The perfect night scent.

I’m not sure how to piece it together but I will try my best a patchouli floral fragrance that is incredible in quality and performance but when I wore it a couple of times I couldn’t shake the feeling of smelling something similar And when it hit me I was in awe I don’t think a lot of people can see it but I’m 100% sure that tuxedo by ysl was made as a masculine Elle with different tweaks I love tuxedo so naturally I will love this as well A must try at least

Not discontinued in U.K. and I presume Europe. Still available on the YSL U.K. website and reputable sellers like Boots and John Lewis. My bottle is barcoded Dec 2019 and no it doesn’t last as long, in particular the dry down has completely disappeared - I can only assume YSL have reformulated it, I wish they had just discontinued it instead as it is like a kick in the teeth when you have been a loyal customer and they sneak a change in.

This was a blind buy and love at first spray! I’m so glad I can still get this in the UK because it is BEAUTIFUL, a woodsy, rose, and patchouli heaven! Also love that little bit of citrus to stop it from being overbearing, it’s so sophisticated (slightly masculine leaning) and classy, reminds me of a lot of Chanel scents in that regard. Could be worn day or night but it’s definitely a night/special occasion scent for me. Adore it!

I have a bottle of Midnight Poison and I am testing these side by side. MP has a bit more patchouli and that's what makes it feel darker i think. When I layer Elle with Reminiscence Patchouli it smells a lot more like MP as Elle is a bit more floral on my skin. So I guess it depends on what is more prominent on your skin. But it's a lovely fragrance, I used to wear MP as a goth and I find this to be very fitting to that vibe.

لا اعلم سبب تجاهل الناس لهذا العطر هل هم يجهلونه حقاً ام انهم يحبون التغني بالماضي و العيش في حلمٍ زائف .. هل هم حقاً يعشقون رائحة مد نايت بويزن من ديور ام هم يعشقون المظاهر اكثر ..!! .. ايها العالم الغريب من انتم !! .. العطران بنفس التركيبة على يد نفس العطار لا يقلان جمالاً عن بعضها بل هم اشبه بتوأمان يتنافسان من هما الاجمل و النتيجة .. كلاهما واحد .. عطر اكثر من رائع بل هو ساحر .. فاين انتي يا سيدتي عن هذا ..!!

One of my favouriteeeee winter perfumes , I need to stock up before they ever decide to discontinue With all the hyped up , expensive perfumes I have , this has a special place in my heart , I just love love love her She reminds me of all my favourite years , the beginning of my it girl era My friends all used to say this perfume was just my scent all knew I’ve been around when they could smell it

I‘ve just blind bought this from a reputable online shop. Everything in the description above is what influenced my purchase. The initial spray is a red berry, pink pepper and girly patchouli. However the sweetness soon disappears, and within 2 hours all that is left is a skin scent of pink fuzz. Performance and silage is disappointing, but it is pretty and classy, and I'd say good for all ages.

What a surprise. Bought this blind based on reviews. What an underestimated gem. Lovely patchouli, sweet litchi, soft rose and peony on a woody base. Very well blended and irrisisteble. Feminine, sexy and seductive. Longevity is great and silage is moderate. This scent gives me a confident and grown up woman feel. A new grand favorite for me. Very close to Midnight Pioson from Dior.