LayerLab

Layering matches for

Yves Saint Laurent Libre

Every fragrance in the catalogue is evaluated against this one on its own merits. Each answer is a trajectory over a wear day, not a single score, because two sprays are two films on skin with different evaporation curves rather than one blend.

No fragrance here is a good partner for Yves Saint Laurent Libre.

Not one candidate cleared the bar for this goal. That is an answer, not a gap. A recommendation has to rest on something positive - a pair of materials that genuinely improve each other, both fragrances still audible hours in, and no material pushed past the dose where its character turns. Nothing here manages all three.

The closest attempts are below, with the reason each one fails.

Workable with care

These hold together, but something about them needs watching. The caveat is stated on each.

Chanel

Bleu de Chanel

Workable with care
  • amber-woods bury a citrus opening within the first hour, so the citrus is decoration rather than a layer
Spray first Yves Saint Laurent Libre
Spray second Chanel Bleu de Chanel

Ratio: 1 spray each. Neither is loud enough to need holding back.

How it moves over the day

  1. 10 minutes Both, roughly even

    Both openings are still present and roughly balanced.

    dry-amberwood (flipped) narcotic-floral vanillic-sweet skin-musk (flipped)
  2. 1 hour Both, roughly even

    Both openings are still present and roughly balanced.

    dry-amberwood (flipped) vanillic-sweet narcotic-floral skin-musk (flipped)
  3. 3 hours Both, roughly even

    Both are still contributing in similar measure.

    dry-amberwood (flipped) vanillic-sweet skin-musk (flipped) narcotic-floral
  4. 6 hours Both, roughly even

    Both are still contributing in similar measure.

    dry-amberwood (flipped) skin-musk (flipped) vanillic-sweet narcotic-floral

Dose thresholds crossed

  • ambroxan — made worse by layering. Combined load 0.7 against a threshold of 0.35. Above this it reads metallic salt-dry, throat-catching, flattens everything beside it.
  • galaxolide — caused by layering. Combined load 0.75 against a threshold of 0.65. Above this it reads laundry-detergent flatness that deadens the blend.

Shared materials: galaxolide, hedione, ambroxan.

Based on material values interpolated from material class. Treat as indicative.

Glossier

You

Workable with care
  • ambroxan is pushed past its usual dose here and starts to read metallic salt-dry, throat-catching, flattens everything beside it.
  • amber-woods bury a citrus opening within the first hour, so the citrus is decoration rather than a layer
Spray first Yves Saint Laurent Libre
Spray second Glossier You

Ratio: 1 spray each. Neither is loud enough to need holding back.

How it moves over the day

  1. 10 minutes Both, roughly even

    Both openings are still present and roughly balanced.

    skin-musk (flipped) dry-amberwood (flipped) narcotic-floral vanillic-sweet
  2. 1 hour Both, roughly even

    Both openings are still present and roughly balanced.

    skin-musk (flipped) dry-amberwood (flipped) vanillic-sweet narcotic-floral
  3. 3 hours Both, roughly even

    Both are still contributing in similar measure.

    skin-musk (flipped) dry-amberwood (flipped) vanillic-sweet narcotic-floral
  4. 6 hours Glossier You

    Glossier You is ahead but Yves Saint Laurent Libre is still readable.

    skin-musk (flipped) dry-amberwood (flipped) vanillic-sweet root-powder

Dose thresholds crossed

  • ambroxan — caused by layering. Combined load 0.55 against a threshold of 0.35. Above this it reads metallic salt-dry, throat-catching, flattens everything beside it.
  • galaxolide — caused by layering. Combined load 1.05 against a threshold of 0.65. Above this it reads laundry-detergent flatness that deadens the blend.

Shared materials: galaxolide, ambroxan, cashmeran.

Based on material values interpolated from material class. Treat as indicative.

Tom Ford

Oud Wood

Workable with care
  • ambroxan is pushed past its usual dose here and starts to read metallic salt-dry, throat-catching, flattens everything beside it.
  • amber-woods bury a citrus opening within the first hour, so the citrus is decoration rather than a layer
  • vanilla smothers herbal transparency rather than blending with it
Spray first Yves Saint Laurent Libre
Spray second Tom Ford Oud Wood

Ratio: 1 spray each. Neither is loud enough to need holding back.

How it moves over the day

  1. 10 minutes Both, roughly even

    Both openings are still present and roughly balanced.

    dry-amberwood (flipped) vanillic-sweet (flipped) narcotic-floral creamy-wood
  2. 1 hour Both, roughly even

    Both openings are still present and roughly balanced.

    dry-amberwood (flipped) vanillic-sweet (flipped) narcotic-floral creamy-wood
  3. 3 hours Both, roughly even

    Both are still contributing in similar measure.

    dry-amberwood (flipped) vanillic-sweet (flipped) creamy-wood narcotic-floral
  4. 6 hours Tom Ford Oud Wood

    Tom Ford Oud Wood is ahead but Yves Saint Laurent Libre is still readable.

    dry-amberwood (flipped) vanillic-sweet (flipped) creamy-wood resin-animalic

Dose thresholds crossed

  • ambroxan — caused by layering. Combined load 0.6 against a threshold of 0.35. Above this it reads metallic salt-dry, throat-catching, flattens everything beside it.
  • vanillin — caused by layering. Combined load 0.8 against a threshold of 0.6. Above this it reads flat plasticky sweetness that smothers what is under it.

Shared materials: vanillin, ambroxan.

Based on material values interpolated from material class. Treat as indicative.

Chanel

No. 5

Workable with care
  • indole is pushed past its usual dose here and starts to read fecal, mothball, animalic decay.
  • jasmine absolute is pushed past its usual dose here and starts to read overripe, indolic, airless.
  • amber-woods bury a citrus opening within the first hour, so the citrus is decoration rather than a layer
  • vanilla smothers herbal transparency rather than blending with it
Spray first Yves Saint Laurent Libre
Spray second Chanel No. 5

Ratio: 1 spray each. Neither is loud enough to need holding back.

How it moves over the day

  1. 10 minutes Chanel No. 5

    Chanel No. 5 is ahead but Yves Saint Laurent Libre is still readable.

    narcotic-floral (flipped) skin-musk (flipped) vanillic-sweet (flipped) soapy-lift
  2. 1 hour Both, roughly even

    Both openings are still present and roughly balanced.

    narcotic-floral (flipped) skin-musk (flipped) vanillic-sweet (flipped) rose-petal
  3. 3 hours Both, roughly even

    Both are still contributing in similar measure.

    skin-musk (flipped) narcotic-floral (flipped) vanillic-sweet (flipped) dry-amberwood
  4. 6 hours Both, roughly even

    Both are still contributing in similar measure.

    skin-musk (flipped) vanillic-sweet (flipped) narcotic-floral (flipped) dry-amberwood

Dose thresholds crossed

  • indole — made worse by layering. Combined load 0.3 against a threshold of 0.154. Above this it reads fecal, mothball, animalic decay. Threshold lowered here because indole reads dirtier over a dry amber base than it does over green or citrus.
  • jasmine absolute — made worse by layering. Combined load 0.95 against a threshold of 0.42. Above this it reads overripe, indolic, airless. Threshold lowered here because indole reads dirtier over a dry amber base than it does over green or citrus.
  • galaxolide — caused by layering. Combined load 0.85 against a threshold of 0.65. Above this it reads laundry-detergent flatness that deadens the blend.
  • vanillin — caused by layering. Combined load 0.7 against a threshold of 0.6. Above this it reads flat plasticky sweetness that smothers what is under it.

Shared materials: vanillin, galaxolide, jasmine absolute, indole.

Based on material values interpolated from material class. Treat as indicative.

Yves Saint Laurent

Black Opium

Workable with care
  • jasmine absolute is pushed past its usual dose here and starts to read overripe, indolic, airless.
  • ethyl vanillin is pushed past its usual dose here and starts to read synthetic candy-plastic.
  • amber-woods bury a citrus opening within the first hour, so the citrus is decoration rather than a layer
  • vanilla smothers herbal transparency rather than blending with it
  • caramelised sweetness flattens dry herbs
Spray first Yves Saint Laurent Libre
Spray second Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium

Ratio: 1 spray each. Neither is loud enough to need holding back.

How it moves over the day

  1. 10 minutes Both, roughly even

    Both openings are still present and roughly balanced.

    vanillic-sweet (flipped) narcotic-floral (flipped) roasted-bitter dry-amberwood
  2. 1 hour Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium

    Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium is ahead but Yves Saint Laurent Libre is still readable.

    vanillic-sweet (flipped) narcotic-floral (flipped) dry-amberwood skin-musk (flipped)
  3. 3 hours Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium

    Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium is ahead but Yves Saint Laurent Libre is still readable.

    vanillic-sweet (flipped) skin-musk (flipped) narcotic-floral (flipped) dry-amberwood
  4. 6 hours Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium

    Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium is ahead but Yves Saint Laurent Libre is still readable.

    vanillic-sweet (flipped) skin-musk (flipped) dry-amberwood narcotic-floral (flipped)

Dose thresholds crossed

  • jasmine absolute — caused by layering. Combined load 0.75 against a threshold of 0.42. Above this it reads overripe, indolic, airless. Threshold lowered here because indole reads dirtier over a dry amber base than it does over green or citrus.
  • ethyl vanillin — caused by layering. Combined load 0.6 against a threshold of 0.4. Above this it reads synthetic candy-plastic.
  • vanillin — made worse by layering. Combined load 1.2 against a threshold of 0.6. Above this it reads flat plasticky sweetness that smothers what is under it.
  • orange blossom absolute — made worse by layering. Combined load 0.9 against a threshold of 0.455. Above this it reads soapy-indolic, heavy. Threshold lowered here because indole reads dirtier over a dry amber base than it does over green or citrus.
  • galaxolide — caused by layering. Combined load 0.85 against a threshold of 0.65. Above this it reads laundry-detergent flatness that deadens the blend.

Shared materials: orange blossom absolute, vanillin, galaxolide, jasmine absolute, cashmeran, ethyl vanillin.

Based on material values interpolated from material class. Treat as indicative.

Maison Margiela

Jazz Club

Workable with care
  • vanilla smothers herbal transparency rather than blending with it
Spray first Yves Saint Laurent Libre
Spray second Maison Margiela Jazz Club

Ratio: 1 spray of Yves Saint Laurent Libre to 2 sprays of Maison Margiela Jazz Club.

How it moves over the day

  1. 10 minutes Yves Saint Laurent Libre

    Yves Saint Laurent Libre is ahead but Maison Margiela Jazz Club is still readable.

    vanillic-sweet (flipped) narcotic-floral dry-amberwood herbal-cool
  2. 1 hour Yves Saint Laurent Libre

    Yves Saint Laurent Libre is ahead but Maison Margiela Jazz Club is still readable.

    vanillic-sweet (flipped) narcotic-floral dry-amberwood skin-musk
  3. 3 hours Yves Saint Laurent Libre

    Yves Saint Laurent Libre is ahead but Maison Margiela Jazz Club is still readable.

    vanillic-sweet (flipped) dry-amberwood narcotic-floral skin-musk
  4. 6 hours Yves Saint Laurent Libre

    Yves Saint Laurent Libre is ahead but Maison Margiela Jazz Club is still readable.

    vanillic-sweet (flipped) dry-amberwood skin-musk narcotic-floral

Dose thresholds crossed

  • vanillin — caused by layering. Combined load 0.9 against a threshold of 0.6. Above this it reads flat plasticky sweetness that smothers what is under it.

Shared materials: vanillin.

Based on material values interpolated from material class. Treat as indicative.

Le Labo

Santal 33

Workable with care
  • ambroxan is pushed past its usual dose here and starts to read metallic salt-dry, throat-catching, flattens everything beside it.
  • amber-woods bury a citrus opening within the first hour, so the citrus is decoration rather than a layer
Spray first Yves Saint Laurent Libre
Spray second Le Labo Santal 33

Ratio: 1 spray each. Neither is loud enough to need holding back.

How it moves over the day

  1. 10 minutes Both, roughly even

    Both openings are still present and roughly balanced.

    dry-amberwood (flipped) narcotic-floral skin-musk (flipped) vanillic-sweet
  2. 1 hour Le Labo Santal 33

    Le Labo Santal 33 is ahead but Yves Saint Laurent Libre is still readable.

    dry-amberwood (flipped) skin-musk (flipped) vanillic-sweet narcotic-floral
  3. 3 hours Le Labo Santal 33

    Le Labo Santal 33 is ahead but Yves Saint Laurent Libre is still readable.

    dry-amberwood (flipped) skin-musk (flipped) vanillic-sweet creamy-wood
  4. 6 hours Le Labo Santal 33

    Le Labo Santal 33 is ahead but Yves Saint Laurent Libre is still readable.

    dry-amberwood (flipped) skin-musk (flipped) vanillic-sweet creamy-wood

Dose thresholds crossed

  • ambroxan — caused by layering. Combined load 0.65 against a threshold of 0.35. Above this it reads metallic salt-dry, throat-catching, flattens everything beside it.
  • galaxolide — caused by layering. Combined load 0.85 against a threshold of 0.65. Above this it reads laundry-detergent flatness that deadens the blend.

Shared materials: galaxolide, ambroxan.

Based on material values interpolated from material class. Treat as indicative.

Dior

Sauvage

Workable with care
  • amber-woods bury a citrus opening within the first hour, so the citrus is decoration rather than a layer
  • vanilla smothers herbal transparency rather than blending with it
Spray first Yves Saint Laurent Libre
Spray second Dior Sauvage

Ratio: 1 spray of Yves Saint Laurent Libre to 2 sprays of Dior Sauvage.

How it moves over the day

  1. 10 minutes Yves Saint Laurent Libre

    Yves Saint Laurent Libre is ahead but Dior Sauvage is still readable.

    dry-amberwood (flipped) narcotic-floral vanillic-sweet herbal-cool (flipped)
  2. 1 hour Yves Saint Laurent Libre

    Yves Saint Laurent Libre is ahead but Dior Sauvage is still readable.

    dry-amberwood (flipped) vanillic-sweet narcotic-floral skin-musk
  3. 3 hours Yves Saint Laurent Libre

    Yves Saint Laurent Libre is ahead but Dior Sauvage is still readable.

    dry-amberwood (flipped) vanillic-sweet skin-musk narcotic-floral
  4. 6 hours Yves Saint Laurent Libre

    Yves Saint Laurent Libre is ahead but Dior Sauvage is still readable.

    dry-amberwood (flipped) vanillic-sweet skin-musk narcotic-floral

Dose thresholds crossed

  • ambroxan — made worse by layering. Combined load 0.98 against a threshold of 0.35. Above this it reads metallic salt-dry, throat-catching, flattens everything beside it.
  • lavender oil — caused by layering. Combined load 0.84 against a threshold of 0.7. Above this it reads camphoraceous, medicinal-sharp.

Shared materials: lavender oil, galaxolide, ambroxan.

Based on material values interpolated from material class. Treat as indicative.

Maison Francis Kurkdjian

Baccarat Rouge 540

Workable with care
  • jasmine absolute is pushed past its usual dose here and starts to read overripe, indolic, airless.
  • amber-woods bury a citrus opening within the first hour, so the citrus is decoration rather than a layer
  • caramelised sweetness flattens dry herbs
Spray first Yves Saint Laurent Libre
Spray second Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540

Ratio: 1 spray of Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 to 2 sprays of Yves Saint Laurent Libre.

How it moves over the day

  1. 10 minutes Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540

    Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 is ahead but Yves Saint Laurent Libre is still readable.

    dry-amberwood (flipped) narcotic-floral (flipped) vanillic-sweet skin-musk (flipped)
  2. 1 hour Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540

    Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 is ahead but Yves Saint Laurent Libre is still readable.

    dry-amberwood (flipped) narcotic-floral (flipped) vanillic-sweet skin-musk (flipped)
  3. 3 hours Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540

    Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 is ahead but Yves Saint Laurent Libre is still readable.

    dry-amberwood (flipped) vanillic-sweet skin-musk (flipped) narcotic-floral (flipped)
  4. 6 hours Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540

    Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 is ahead but Yves Saint Laurent Libre is still readable.

    dry-amberwood (flipped) skin-musk (flipped) vanillic-sweet burnt-sugar

Dose thresholds crossed

  • jasmine absolute — caused by layering. Combined load 0.7 against a threshold of 0.42. Above this it reads overripe, indolic, airless. Threshold lowered here because indole reads dirtier over a dry amber base than it does over green or citrus.
  • ambroxan — made worse by layering. Combined load 0.8 against a threshold of 0.35. Above this it reads metallic salt-dry, throat-catching, flattens everything beside it.
  • galaxolide — caused by layering. Combined load 0.75 against a threshold of 0.65. Above this it reads laundry-detergent flatness that deadens the blend.

Shared materials: galaxolide, jasmine absolute, hedione, ambroxan.

Based on material values interpolated from material class. Treat as indicative.

Tom Ford

Tobacco Vanille

Workable with care
  • vanilla smothers herbal transparency rather than blending with it
  • caramelised sweetness flattens dry herbs
Spray first Yves Saint Laurent Libre
Spray second Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille

Ratio: 1 spray of Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille to 2 sprays of Yves Saint Laurent Libre.

How it moves over the day

  1. 10 minutes Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille

    Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille is ahead but Yves Saint Laurent Libre is still readable.

    vanillic-sweet (flipped) hay-almond narcotic-floral cured-leaf
  2. 1 hour Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille

    Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille is ahead but Yves Saint Laurent Libre is still readable.

    vanillic-sweet (flipped) hay-almond narcotic-floral amber-balsam
  3. 3 hours Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille

    Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille is ahead but Yves Saint Laurent Libre is still readable.

    vanillic-sweet (flipped) hay-almond amber-balsam dry-amberwood
  4. 6 hours Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille

    Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille is ahead but Yves Saint Laurent Libre is still readable.

    vanillic-sweet (flipped) hay-almond amber-balsam dry-amberwood

Dose thresholds crossed

  • vanillin — made worse by layering. Combined load 1.3 against a threshold of 0.6. Above this it reads flat plasticky sweetness that smothers what is under it.
  • ethyl vanillin — caused by layering. Combined load 0.55 against a threshold of 0.4. Above this it reads synthetic candy-plastic.

Shared materials: vanillin, ethyl vanillin.

Based on material values interpolated from material class. Treat as indicative.

Not recommended

Listed with the reason, because a rejection you cannot inspect is indistinguishable from a bug.