Yves Saint Laurent Pour Homme Haute Concentration

Dare I say - brilliant! YSL Pour Homme's original bottling came out in 1971 while this entirely different composition arrived in 1983, a full dozen years later. For fans of the genre, familiarity with the classic bottles is essential to understand this composition. It shrinks the note pyramid of YSL Pour Homme, and is not stronger (both are Eau de Toilette) - but it shows us how aromatic compounds can be deeper and more focused. A huge blast of lemon opens this scent but is immediately blended with petit grain. The depth of citrus here is phenomenal - it will last the entire wearing...up to 10+ hours and stay on clothing for several days! The carnation-clove in the top, while just a light nuance in the traditional YSL Pour Homme bottling is much more prevalent here. A key note that brings this together, which I believe is missing from the scent pyramid above is verbena (or lemon verbena) that blends brilliantly with the rosemary and sage to give us the herbal heart. I get a great earthiness in this from the deep, herbaceous patchouli - possibly the best use of patchouli in a citrus fragrance! The wood here is important, but blended well - cedar, sandalwood and a nice, slightly-dirty/bitter vetiver accord that is rounded out by the nutmeg offering a dustiness into the base notes. Rounded out by a nice damp and elegant moss in the base (not listed in the pyramid above). Treemoss (Evernia Furfuracea) and Oakmoss (Evernia Prunastri) are present - both listed ingredients on the back of the box. Not mentioned above, but one does get a nice note of warm moss in the base (quite noticeable and very good for a reformulated bottle after 2000/2001). Final point to note is a well-done, integrated note of musk. It has a radiance and slightly animalic tonality - bringing body chemistry into the wearing of this scent. It is exquisite. I love this overall texture...the depth is stunning and the composition is harmonious! Some people say this is a very strong scent. While it may awaken your olfactory senses - it is aromatically rich and a different scent than its older brother. This is, to me, one of the best Haute Concentrations of an Aromatic Citrus Chypre ever produced - because it does what many attempt to do, perfectly...it decreases the number of notes from the original and, yet, makes the composition deeper and richer (than 'standard' formulation). A modern classic - to be worn with swagger, confidence and honesty. This is a scent with confidence in just a light to moderate application. While I find myself torn on which is better, I reach for the YSL Pour Homme standard bottling to feel its warmth, coziness and natural beauty that feels so 'organic' - this is the one I wear when I want to be noticed. It is more refined & focused. Excellence in a bottle. YSL Pour Homme Haute Concentration is a scent that stays within the lines of the genre, yet goes at least one (or two) levels richer in olfactory depth - awesome. Profound and to be respected! Only for those who adore what an aromatic citrus can offer when it is turned up to full volume. This is much like feedback on a tube amplifier - loud & noisy to some; beautiful (and harmonically-perfect) to others. Cheers! Very near perfection.

The perfume called YSL Pour Homme was launched in 1971 and brought the brand's vision to what was necessary for the elegant and sophisticated man of the time. One of the main differentials was the choice of name since more classic fragrances used to carry the term Monsieur in their names. In 1983, an even more powerful version hit the market. YSL Pour Homme Haute Concentration was born. Its bottle has the same design as the original version, with the spray embedded in a black cover. But the first versions had an enlarged logo of the brand in the center of a black bottle. At that time there was no mention of flankers, but the composition of the fragrance seems to have cut its notes in half, focusing on the most interesting accords of the previous version. It has top notes of petitgrain, lemon and carnation, body notes of rosemary, tonka bean, herbal accord and patchouli, and base notes of nutmeg and woods. So, if before we had a very lemony fragrance, with a lot of citrus content and woody evolution, in YSL Pour Homme Haute Concentration we have a great variation, but more balanced. What do I mean? Well, the start continues with a strong citrus content, thanks to the presence of petitgrain and lemon notes. But removing the notes of lemon verbena and bergamot has drastically reduced the astringent aspect of before. In addition, the carnation also rose to the top, bringing a spicy-floral nuance that helps to mask the bitterness. This output opens the way to a more aromatic heart, unlike the floral one from before. Here, the rosemary reigns absolute and its herbal and camphorated aroma stands out in the face of the balsamic and almondy facet of tonka bean. But it exists and makes the link with the base notes, when the fragrance becomes denser and gains slightly mossy nuances. The cool thing is that the woods do not give a heavy and moist smell, but light. And the nutmeg has a sweet and burning odor, which results in a base with a leathery effect. YSL Pour Homme Haute Concentration is an exquisite example of classic men's perfumery, at a time when putting High Concentration on the bottle (or box) was not a mere commercial detail just to attract public attention. It was synonymous with potency when the production rules were clearer and the boundary between an EDT and an EDP was respected. Unfortunately, this type of fragrance has lost space over the years and has become synonymous with something dated, aged. Only lovers of perfumery, in the timeless aspect, can feel appreciation for this type of product. For me, YSL Pour Homme Haute Concentration remains beautiful. But for most of the new collectors and specialists, born on the verge of the new millennium, who have multiplied like Gremlins, but act like Mogwais on camera (LOL), it is the kind of fragrance that would only be praised if it were sold by one of these brands in the niche segment. I miss the 80's!

STUNNING! Just bought this blind because I like bright, sour, bitter and bit old fashioned fragrances and this totally delivers. Thanks to all the accurate posts in Fragrantica this was a totally successfull blind purchase, Thanks to All! This fragrance has a very distinct aura which is extravagant yet not as dated as you might think. It just radiates a sort of simple sophistication which puts you in a good, self assured mood. Theres a story I would like to share; actually back in 1990 we had the Italian national football team in the city (Budapest) playing against the hungarian team and I was a huge fan of the italians. We decided to follow them to the Hotel and to their training session in the stadium. I remember my idol, their ultra cool goalkeeper Walter Zenga exiting the Hotel and as I was approaching him for an autograph and an exchange of a few words, I could smell a bright, lemony, cool scent which he was wearing. Since then I often wondered what that could have been. It got stuck in my mind and senses ever since. I have searched to try to find it but never really got it close with any scent I tried (I own over a 100). But now, I think THIS could have been it. It has everything that I remember smelling which captivated me as a great scent 24 years ago. Again thanks to Fragrantica and all the Members commenting on this perfume which made it possible for me to find this treasure! YSL Pour Homme Haute Concentreé I salute you!

Better, deeper, stronger. This ysl pour homme haute concentration, an improved version of the original from the 70's. This a richer version of the og, very deep, very dense. You can have both in your collection without problems. If you like the old pour homme you will fall in love with this. Ysl p.h.h.c. has a good performance and you can easily use it all year around. It's not dated in a bad way, it's a timeless scent with elegance, class and..balls! I had a bottle from the sanofi period and im currently using one with BRI on the bottle: they are the same, fantastic smell! Grab it if you can, it's discontinued... Una versione megliore dell' originale pour homme, più densa, forte e raffinata. La versione concentrata ha un' ottima performance e può essere usata tutto l'anno. Se avete già l'originale non c'è problema, ci sono sottili differenze e la versione concentrata ha una migliore riuscita anche nelle stagioni fredde. Prendetelo assolutamente se potete, è molto raro adesso.. Scent-9 Longevity-8,5 Sillage-8,5 Versatility-8 Uniqueness-8 Presentation-7 Compliment factor-8 Backup bottle? Yes My vote-9 In one word- homme Alternative - ysl pour homme, Versace l' homme...

An oakmoss-rich, packed full of light herbs, citrus and luscious woods, YSL Pour Homme Haute Concentration is perhaps one of the longest-lasting designer scents of all time. It's been well over 30 years since this gem came out and in my opinion was way ahead of its time. Chanel had Pour Monsieur, Dior had Eau Sauvage, Givenchy had Monsieur de Givenchy, so the bar was set quite high for YSL to compete with. But they came out with this! Of all the 'homme' or 'monsieur' fragrances this one cuts above them all in my opinion. Fresh yet slightly dirty, smooth yet herbaceous, strong but not overpowering and very long lasting, Haute Concentration oozes quality and class. I have the first edition bottle, with the large YSL letters on the bottle and the box. But despair not! Vintage is not the only way to go these days. The regular YSL Pour Homme in the La Collection square bottles is remarkably similar to the vintage and now long-discontinued Haute Concentration. I'll never be without a bottle of this as it is just too classy to skip over. A thumbs up and an easy 5/5 for me.