Ysatis

It smells my mom 🥹🥰 It has been her signature scent since I was born. I consider it a MASTERPIECE regardless of my personal sentimental reasons. ✨💎✨ It has been reformulated, though... The OG was THE perfume!!!

my order arrived this morning. I got myself ysatis today out of curiosity and respect knowing that it is very first creation by Dominique Ropion. I really loved it. very unisex, clean, soft, elegant, timeless, confident. very signature worthy! I will wear ysatis all seasons day and night. today I took a long walk to test it. I really really enjoyed that walk. edit: I have worn ysatis for 3 consecutive days. loving it more. I really appreciate all the clean, soapy perfumes like blanche, acne studios, chanel no 5- 19 everything that comes to mind, but they always bother me meaning I can never wear them all day long. except Ysatis. I even adore the bitterness, too-muchness in the opening. I am so glad I blind bought it. now I will be on the look the vintage bottle with the golden cap lol. (mine is the exact bottle on this page)

a couple of weeks ago, for the first time since 1974 and so, in 50 years, I suddenly realized I could smell Aldehydes in Jean-Louis Scherrer (1979), in Hermès's Calèche (1961, 1990s exx) and suddenly I smelled a Bubbly, Buoying, Soapy, Fresh Laundry-like scent. for the first time I now know what all the other people are talking about. to me it imposes as a Perfume Note which escapes out of the flacon first, and with its' Dancing and Whirling at once form Hindrance as well as Reinforcement for the other Notes that are coming. I guess I always smelled them subconsciously, but it became suddenly ripped full into my consciousness, outside walking wearing Calèche. I find it an enhancement. and then now the same with Ysatis, a perfume which I 'denounced' in the 1980s comparing her to the Ultra Hookers of that time Giorgio, Poison, Obsession, Coco, Giorgio Beverly Hills Red, YSL Paris, Opium (1977), Knowing, Must de Cartier, Panthère (1986), Moschino Pdt et cetera. yet I also denounced Samsara and Amarige as finding them lovely perfumes but ... too light. I guess fourty years were needed for this water to stream under the bridge but I find all these perfumes Himmlisch, Heavenly, Célestiale. and I love Chypres as I do Ambers (since, still the best, Obsession). as the perfume also contains Civet and carry ánd Rose ánd Carnation at once, they are immediately (well not immediately) loved and bewilderdlely Longed for. then the perfumer is Dominique Ropion one of my, if not thé, favorite perfumers. I love excess. yet it stays true that in the first instance this perfume is very sophisticated and has a huge Portfolio of all these fabulous Flowers. Rose first with me. yet all the others I find also gorgeous. Ylang, Jasmine, Tuberose, Orange Flower, Carnation, Narcissus and Iris. with Oakmoss and Patchouli this becomes a Legendary Chypre. Galbanum lends that tatch bitterness but there is also Honey, Rum, Amber, Rosewood and Coconut. but all these notes are seamlessly blended also if this is a flacon from the 1990s-2000s. it is just this pleasure to have these perfumes within reach. I noted I hadn't yet reviewed this perfume then now some. with the utmost respect and the Soft Veils of Memory needed within these horrific times.

This perfume is the essence of a woman. It smells like woman. It is what i’d wear to go out to hunt me a toy-boy and give him the 100% milf experience.

Just like the review below, this was my mom's fragrance for dinner dates and party's when i was a younger teen. It smelled so rich and i loved it so much back then, associating it with good times and all matters fancy and festive. Unlike my dad, who is a one fragrance-for-life kind of person, my mom had several. But this one sticks out so much. Big love!!

My mother used to wear this for parties when I was a little girl in the eighties. Sooo nostalgic... So grown up, so ladylike, so full bodied. I managed to get my hands on a vintage bottle in perfect shape and I love it so much! Most notes are hard to detect because it's so well blended and complex. But beautifully floral on a rich and enveloping base. A tiny spray lasts all day. Unfortunately my dear husband dislikes the classics (I think oakmoss, carnation, ylang-ylang and aldehydes are what bothers him. In short, chypres), he prefers modern scents which I find boring and linear, for the most part. So I wear this for me and feel like a beautiful lady through and through.

A gloriously indolic, skanky white floral with civet and honey dripping all over it. Scratches all the right spots in the olfactory part of my brain and makes me sigh every time I wear it. It is much too much for every day use but when I’m craving that springtime orange blossoms thick in the air type of scent I will always reach for this.

@Marck Menke- bitterness is from laurels, not civet. And no, there aren't "many possibilities" of replacing Ysatis with something else. Simply because it's absolutely unique and far superior to "similar scents, just without civet".

This perfume is just phenomenal, and it's luxury.The vintage bottle with the glass dabber just smells amazing. I found this at a resale shop when I was dating this guy. And something about him giving me at we're getting at 4 me makes me think of a romantic time in my life cause I was very happy with him But then life happened and you know, stuff happens. People fall apart, but this fragrance. I will always have an emotional attachment to because it's just seromantic classy. I could imagine a big love back in the eighties, with this to be a gay man in the eighties and falling in love.That would be the story.I got this in 2023 vintage i'm thirty one now and every time I smell it.I fall in love with in 2026 I was 27 and in love

This is a rich, floral oriental composition with a pronounced vintage character. It is a scent from another era, yet not outdated but rather timeless, like a piece of jewellery inherited from a grandmother who knew exactly who she was. The opening strikes with an intense, almost suffocating bouquet of flowers, marked by a clear bitterness and a subtle sharpness. It hits you in the face without warning, bold, assertive and unapologetic. As the initial shock fades, the fragrance grows even denser. The florals here are neither innocent nor delicate; they are mature, heavy and honeyed. In the base, amber and musk, reinforced by woody accords, wrap tightly around your skin, giving the composition a dark depth. A subtle animalic shadow also emerges, which, combined with patchouli and vanilla, gives a dirty sweetness and earthy richness. Longevity is very good, and although the scent settles closer to the skin after about an hour, it remains intense in perception.

Bought and tried the new version today. I recognize her, but she does not feel exactly like when I was young. Not completely sure if this is because my taste in fragrances changed slightly or if the formula changed. And maybe she just has to age a bit. But stil nice.

Ysatis is yet another aldehydic and richly honeyed polyfloral, finely accented by greenery and spiced woods. ...Yes, the bitterness of civet is noticeable, but it has been kept fairly subdued and tame. Ysatis remains quite socially adept and wearable. However, if you seek something similar, but without any civet, ...consider Beautiful by Esteé Lauder, only one of many possibilities.

Boy, it’s sure been a while since I pulled this out. I remember it being a good scent for fall and winter so I decided to spritz some on today to remind myself what this smelled like. The opening is very Chypre-esque and also powdery. I used to love a chypre but I have to say, I’m not in a chypre era at the moment so now I understand why it’s been so long since I’ve reached for this! I also don’t really love a powdery scent. Yet, I kind of love this!! As it dries down, I’d actually say it’s more of a spring scent! It’s a powerful fragrance yet feels soft and feminine. I can really pick up the creamy ylang ylang which is one of my absolute favorite notes! It has amazing longevity, lasting almost until you wash it off. It is true classic for a reason! Update- I recently bought a vintage bottle. I’m yet to look up the batch code. I can tell it’s an older version due to the box being an older version. Oh boy! There is a distinct difference! You can tell they’re similar, but not the same. I like the one I had. But this far surpasses it’s beauty!! I recommend vintage if you can get your hands on it!

I have the new bottle with black cap. I bought it despite remembering the transparent skyscraper bottle as holding something very vintage, because Dominique Ropion is in my top 3 favourite noses and he can do no wrong. It is strong. Might be overwhelming at first. I feel a blast of ylang ylang and tuberose with aldehydic shine. It even made my stomach turn for a short time probably because of civet. It might be a good idea to spray it in the air and walk into the mist. Civet and oak moss are also strong, together with galbanum lending it a soft, bitter edge that reminds me of Chanel 19. It is retro in the style of Chanel 5 and Boucheron. The intense avalanche of flowers reminds me of Poeme as well. It mellows soon enough and wears well. I no longer perceive it as too strong after an hour. Soapiness appears, in a noble bar soap way - this phase is similar to Versace Emerald Crystal, so it is back in fashion. Rosewood anchors it well. It sparkles on the skin and is clean. I think it can be worn all year as daywear. Just a wrist test.

Now, I’m old enough to remember not liking this mature floral fragrance as a child of the 80s. Today in my own maturity and where I am with sampling all proper Ropion classics, I bought a travel spray thinking it would be way too many mls (because this isn’t “my” profile on paper) and of course, I’d have no idea what formulation I was sent. In other words: I prepared for the worst! First spray: love. Creamy, tropically-infused glamour. Recognizably 80s but gorgeous in 2025. Back here to re-read comments then straight to the resale market for a gold cap “skyscraper” bottle. The confusing thing is while the vintage juice is even deeper, warmer, not knowing any better I love both the presumably new formulation of the decant AND the original! Lucky me. Maybe it’s worth buying either, at least to sample, then complimenting it with a side bottle if you love it. What a treat!

this is what i imagine when i smell this tall ceiling windows with layered sheer white curtains, early morning with the sun barely showing herself, cold enough for it to snow but instead its dry and arid outside, heirlooms scattered about the house, this is an old house but its not haunted, its blessed . ok now to the scent: this is one you might not get it the first time, theres a touch of soapiness but it also hints at the scent of hops flower . its so complex i find it hard to pin down everything, but i certainly feel ylang, ALDEHYDES, narcissus, tuberose, and civet . its so beautiful i get slightly emotional, this isnt angelic by todays standards but thats the image i get, flutes trumpets and white feathers . very contradictory to my male friend who wears this and introduced me to this perfume, who is a rugged suave masculine type who drinks beer . maybe that speaks to the multifaceted nature of this hedonistic carnal beauty .

Ysatis has a Bay Rum note, not Rum. It also contains castoreum in the base, and peach in the top notes. I'm going by a Givenchy pamphlet from the 80's. Ysatis is one of my favorite fragrances. I have used it since I was a teenager and I never got complaints. I love the combination of ylang, orange blossom and sandalwood/patchouli. There's a fluffy wintergreen tinged vanilla in the background that reminds me of the white sweethearts. I love how they combined salicylate (methyl and ethyl) and white florals in the old days. It gave them a refreshing richness. All in all Ysatis always reminded me of honey. The drydown of the vintage (which I have hoards of) is sublime. Whoever put White Diamonds is funny. Nothing else smelled like this at the time. Only Divine and Byzance (old formula) came close. Ysatis is a masterclass in French perfumery.

Testing Ysatis for the first time, from a square bottle with a black cap, most likely the latest formulation, so my opinion might differ from others about it! An aldehyde forward ylang ylang bomb with woody, animalic, sweet, powdery, honeyed white florals. Big, loud, daring and super complex scent. Can tell it’s a formulation of the past, because like Amarige, which is a favourite of mine, it has that complexity and charm that don’t belong to the 2020’s. As a huge fan of anything ylang ylang, I find this current variation of Ysatis very appealing. Don’t know yet if I would splurge on a 100 ml bottle, because it’s the only size that they had in store, but I find myself very tempted by it. It’s a vintage ylang ylang unlike anything I’ve in my collection with this exotic flower.

Has anyone found a difference between the one in the original bottle with the crystal cap and the new bottle with the black cap? curious...

GOD the vintage is SO GOOD. It's spiced and honeyed and rich, with a bit of green and white flowers and aldehydes to lighten. It's extraordinary. Even a bottle from the early '00s doesn't really measure up, because by then it seems like they took out those deep animalic or oakmoss (or both?) notes. I feel like I'm going to become an expert in dating Givenchy bottles eventually because of how good the '80s-early '90s formulation is. Can't get enough of this!

This perfume is like putting on a vest of bright sweet flowers; it's a celebration of fragrance unabashed in its bold sweetness and cheeky sharpness. As it dries down, its character switches a little and it becomes less bright but more sensual, with a character of roses and carnations, and eventually the honey-musky note emerges giving everything a seductive warmth. I'm not a big fan of musk in general, which can smell sweaty and dirty (many modern women's scents overdo the musk note I think), but in this case it's well used. This one is special for me because the moment I tried it it instantly brought me back to my mom's embrace. My mom is not a big perfume person but she did wear this one for a while decades ago and it always made an impression with me as a child. The prominent jasmine notes also reminded me of my grandma, who loved jasmine and had big jasmine plants everywhere she lived. I believe she also loved this particular scent as well.

I recently acquired a 30ml bottle of the original formulation, and I am wearing it today. Prior to buying lots of vintage minis online, I tested many modern formulations in-store, including Ysatis. ...While the modern formula smells fine, the original formulation is much more full and pretty. The ylang-ylang has almost a creamsicle quality to it, when combined with the cloves and real moss, it's gorgeous. One of Ropion's best. I wish Givenchy would restore Ysatis to its former decadent glory.

I love it. I think it's one of the greatest ever created. I only have experience with the gold lid version, which my collection consists solely of. This was the first fragrance that ever stood out to me as a youngster. This is a truly seamless fragrance. No edges whatsoever. I've hoarded enough for my lifetime. It's Dominique Ropion at his finest! Exquisite!

Smells like nail polish at the very front, then soap, and the scent spray you'll find in the bathroom at older people's homes. In fact it's really really making me feel like I'm in the bathroom at the house of an older person I don't know very well. Not a love for me.

Suuuuper good! It's undoubtedly retro, so let's just get that out of the way first. To me, it smells pretty timeless. It's no where near as dated as say White Diamonds or No5. The opening blast of aldehydes and sweet/tangy citrus create an accord like orange soda. The honeyed aspect is also felt from the very beginning. Quickly a distinct spicy clove emerges, along with a wallop of tropical ylang and narcotic tuberose. There's also a greenness to Ysatis but not the earthy kind typical of most chypres. It's more of a smooth, bright, floral greenness. Perhaps it's the mentholated, wintergreen aspect of the tuberose coming through. There's definitely something like light, menthol cigarette smoke drifting through the heart of this fragrance. The overall texture of the fragrance is not powdery, but more like a creamy lotion. I must also say that I don't find this to be skanky at all. It gets compared to Passion and Diva, but those are 10x dirtier (especially Diva). It's much fresher as well. The note breakdown may seem intimidating, but this wears best in sunny, high heat. Lastly, I appreciate Ysatis for proving that it's possible to have a ylang/tuberose based fragrance without that dreaded, stank peach accord that was so ubiquitous in the 80s and 90s 🙌🏻.

I passed her over time and time again for Amarige. My nose was craving rose today so I finally gave Ysatis a fair chance. Every single note listed above, she's got it and you can definitely find each and every note through the day. Such a powerful feminine fragrance. And the rose is DEFINITELY there. My bottles are originals from the 80's. I have a feeling today's bottles are similar but less of a punch to the nose. Which is perfectly okay but keep that in mind when deciding whether or not to try either version.

Why on earth did they change this gorgeous bottle??

My maternal grandparents owned and ran a small roadside flowershop in San Jose, CA before the silicone boom. Whenever I walk past a flower stand now, memories from being a kid helping out during the Valentine's/Easter/Mother's Day crush flood back to me. Ysatis is the only perfume that I've found that also taps those memories. It's an overload of flowers -- bruised yellow tulip petals, sticky lily stamens, pale pink peony buds, dark green rose leaves, laurel tree pollen blowing in the breeze, Oasis floral foam soaking in cold water, and a touch of sweet decay from last week's bouquet buckets. This is a love not only because it accesses precious memories for me. It's also so unique in today's fragrance landscape and feels niche with it's "vintage" sensibility, without being off-putting for everyday wear. I see many people rate this a fall/winter scent, which surprises me perhaps because I think of sunny San Jose when I smell this. I feel it could be worn as a signature fragrance year-round. So glad I have this affordable beauty in my collection!

I have the vintage skyscraper bottle. I deleted my previous review which was not a very positive one (I smelled urine on my skin). Not sure what happened since then but now I’m obsessed. So glad I gave this another chance! I knew I’d love this one :) it’s everything I hoped it would be: sexy yet elegant, floral, perfectly musky, ahhhh so good Definitely reminds me of my beloved Passion!

Upon first contact with my skin, this opens up flowers, flowers, AND MORE FLOWERS!! I felt like I was burying my face in a bouquet of gorgeous flowers—the kinds which I only get to see on special days like someone’s wedding. There also was a hint of band-aid/rubber-ish scent beneath the flowers, which sounds weird, but somehow makes the whole perfume profile very intriguing and complex. The dry down is the most pleasant part for me since it develops into a bar of fancy soap in a luxurious hotel, mixed with the scent of my favorite memory; my mom and my grandma’s hands. Since I am not a keen floral wearer, I thought I wouldn’t like this as much as other things from the same designer, but this one is a perfect example of a complex, gorgeous, unique and comforting scent! A powerhouse that lasts me 10hrs or so with just a droplet on my wrists.