Live Jazz

Mint, mint, minty mint. If you don't like the smell of mint I'm telling you right now, STAY AWAY. However, should you be someone who also feels uplifted and refreshed by the smell of fresh mint then by all means get on the wagon. Live Jazz opens with a sharp and vibrant blast of cool mint tinged with a great grapefruit and lemon note. Nothing 'toothpastey' about it. Though I cannot say that it smells like natural mint either, it definitely doesn't smell synthetic. Perhaps this is the other notes fuzzing it up. And fuzz it up in a good way they do. While sharp and quite powerful, Live Jazz never feels overwhelming. Strong but not thuggish in its persistence I never feel like its driving a nail in my head. However, I can imagine this being one that would really make you feel sick if you already had a headache. As Live Jazz dries down a floral quality begins to show. I understand no flowers are listed in its creation, but this is what I get. A subtle and slightly creamy rosy sort of accord. Maybe it's the rhubarb coming into play as I have no idea what rhubarb actually smells like. But I'd bet my money on the coriander as the doppleganger. All the while the mint plays on while vanilla harmonizes. Live Jazz seems to have excellent projection and decent longevity. No major quibbles there. But I'd say about 3 sprays max or you'll really be gassing people. The stuff is so invigorating and sharp that I really don't see any problem with using it in cooler weather either. It'll get noticed just fine. If you're looking for something very masculine, this probably isn't it. Very unisex. But if you enjoy mint do try. This is one of the most uplifting and fresh fragrances I've ever tried and retains character through and through unlike many that lose their initial charm after their topnotes fade away. Well blended and smelling of quality ingredients. Great stuff. Thumbs up!

One of my all time favourites. When I was a young professional this scent was one of my signatures. I had a bottle for 15 years that I just sprayed the last few drops now. Fortunately I recently secured another sealed bottle of all things from a close friend that was a result from my Facebook post about my Live Jazz coming to an end - a coincidental conversation - I meanwhile researched and found an amazingly close replacement - Bond No.9 Riverside Drive - one of very few occasions that it is close enough to keep my sensitive nose happy. None the less - the appeal was its natural uniqueness at the time. For me its not so much Grapefruit but more a not too sweet candied Lemon (not tart either) with fresh crushed coriander and a bit of mint over the top. The other notes help smooth it out and giving body and the nutmeg giving a tiny powdery feel and dryness. This is where Riverside drive is different - at a casual smell it is very close but nose to skin or a good linger reveals the coriander to be more like basil and the base is less dry, a tinge more floral, more moist from the pineapple and violet. Still a rare occasion where it will suffice as replacement. Either way - both top tier scents for me (when you see my collection it will put into perspective as to how much these scents are valued to me in their uniqueness - however if you can suggest an alternative please message me). Only Miller Harris Feuilles De Tabac, Histoire D'Parfums 1828 and Versace Green Jeans (also sadly discontinued) come close to the same green natural vibe. If I had know I would have bulk bought. Ah the memories...

We've had a few warm spring days here in England, so I thought it time to tear into the cellophane of my new bottle of YSL Live Jazz, seeing as my previous bottle is nearly empty from last year. And what immediately struck me when I applied the fresh bottle was the mint. I think this note had lost it's potency due to age in my last bottle, because now it bloomed, fresh and clean, along with the opening slightly bitter-sweet citrus notes. At first, it is oh-so close to being a chewing-gum mint, but this is just about saved by the lemon and grapefruit. Its when the coriander of the mid notes appear, quite soon after the opening, that the mint becomes more herbal and 'real', like crushing a mint leaf between your fingers. From therein the fragrance holds the minted coriander notes for several hours, slowly allowing the basenotes of mellow cedar and ambergris to seep in. What is interesting is the interplay between warmth and coolness in Live Jazz, due to the pairing of warm/cool notes through the whole composition. Certainly makes this interesting to wear. Not a sillage monster at all, Live Jazz is a refined, mellow, sunny day scent, well crafted and very enjoyable indeed.

I dont think its the greenest scent. Check the cK Truth Men for the greenest scent. This is cool and yet so warm. Versatile fragrance. A little green, a little sweet, a little woody, a little spicy, a little sour... Refreshing in summer, warming in winter. And I dont think it smells like the vegetables or a salad bar. Maybe the coriander faking the people which is the dominant note in Live Jazz. Longevity and sillage ok 4me. As its named its really so Jazzy, quite unique and different scent. Except the bottle has no similarities with the original. Opens up with lemon peel, grapefruit and cool mint. Very refreshing and cool, then very soon mid notes join to this carnival which give a subtle sweetness, spiceness and warmness, within 30-60 minutes base notes join also which add some woody notes and sweetness of amber and vanilla. Then all notes exist till end. Btw very natural, nothing smells synthetic to me in LJ, especially the lemon note is absolutely so natural.

Smells green , fresh and with a hint of the Jazz sweet/dirtyness. It is however much much lighter than Jazz and so much more summery. Very vibrant and very natural smelling. GREAT mint note. Really does feel like the feeling of a live jazz band , a little improvised , very much so alive. Great scent and not dated at all. I thought it was gonna be an old school mint fragrance that would be nice but not so wearable if you want to be more modern. But this is a great balance between classic and new. I could totally see some of the younger generations that look for something different wear this as this has a lot of charm and is very unique compared to modern Amberwood and sweet fragrances - im fairly young myself and can see this being a nice summer staple for a few of my peers. Kind of reminds me of the composition found in Cartier Pasha fraicheur menthe but it’s less mint forward and a lot more herbal/earthy. Very nice cilantro note too.