When you think of a classic masculine fragrance, chances are you imagine something woody, with touches of clean citrus and fragrant spices. It’s a formula which has been used for years, and continues to be an incredibly popular combo to this day.
That’s what first grabbed me when testing Yves Saint Laurent’s MYSLF L’Absolu. From the very first spritz, you’re hit with a beautifully concocted array of notes, which harmonise like a church choir.
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The top is refreshing, with spicy ginger giving depth and bergamot bringing a lighter, citrus touch. On my skin, it goes a step further, with a green note playing nicely in between. That has been especially nice to wear in the summer heat.
Once the top notes have had their moment, things fade down into a mix of floral notes and orange blossom. Those appear without totally giving way to the top notes, though, with a deep and rounded overall profile – there’s almost a cola scent with the earlier ginger, too.
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At the base you’ll find patchouli, which potentially explains the rogue green note I mentioned earlier. That offers a sweet, earthy and familiar woody base, which holds everything together nicely.
It’s actually a remarkably simple scent, all things considered, and that’s a big part of the charm. Recently, I’ve noticed a lot of bottles hitting the market with simpler profiles, allowing the carefully curated selection of notes to really shine.
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This definitely sits in that camp, and it does a remarkable job. There are lots of fine details to pick out if you pay enough attention, but the overall profile is also very pleasant. That combination makes it a solid pick for just about anyone, whether you’re going to pick over every detail with a fine-toothed comb, or simply want to smell nice without much thought.
Priced at $210 for a 100ml bottle, this one feels like a no brainer.
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Sam Cross
Sam Cross is an award-winning journalist and the current Editor of Recombu. Over the past decade, his work has been featured in publications as diverse as Metro, Oracle Time and Last Word on Sports, but the bulk of his career was spent at T3. He’s a lover of all things analog, including mechanical watches, film photography and cassette players. He also has a master’s degree in Magazine Journalism from Cardiff University.
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