YSL Myself L’Absolu & Myself EDP, A Quick Comparison
YSL MYSELF L’Absolu and the original MYSELF EDP have been sitting on my desk for months, ever since L’Absolu launched, to be exact. I just never got around to shooting or reviewing them. At this point, I’m clearly late to the party. So instead of a standard review, I decided to do a comparison. Looking at both versions together makes more sense. It should also help if you’re trying to decide which one to buy, whether for yourself or as a gift.
It’s common for designer brands to release multiple flankers of a successful fragrance. Over time, this turns one scent into an entire series built around the same DNA. Sometimes these releases are different enough for each version to have its own personality. Other times, the differences are so small that owning just one is more than enough. So where does MYSLF fall on that spectrum? You can probably guess just by looking at the note breakdown. Here I’ll note that I am aware of the third fragrance in the series and will update this post when I get the opportunity to try the missing (in my collection) YSL Myself Le Parfum on a later time.
YSL Myself EDP
First in the series is the original YSL MYSLF Eau de Parfum, packaged in a sleek black monolith. It’s a very masculine scent. Sharp and assertive, with a powerful opening and strong projection. Although Ambrofix is listed in the base, it’s present for me right from the start. For the first few hours it remains sharp, ambery, and lightly spiced on my skin. The florals don’t really emerge until it fully settles down.
Key Notes
TOP: Calabrian Bergamot, Bergamot
Middle: Tunisian Orange Blossom
Base: Ambrofix, Pitchouli
YSL Myself L’Absolu
The third and newest release in the line is YSL MYSLF L’Absolu. It comes in a reflective silver glass bottle, which makes it tricky to photograph but really nice to have on the vanity. It’s very close to the original, just pushed a bit in a different direction. The opening has more spice, mainly from ginger and cardamom, which makes it feel sharper right away. It’s also a touch sweeter, but nothing excessive. Like the original, the florals take their time to show up. When they finally do, they come across slightly richer and more rounded.
Key Notes
Top: Ginger, Bergamot, cardamom
Middle: Orange Blossom, Floral Notes
Base: Patchouli
Both versions have strong projection and impressive longevity. These days, a lot of men’s fragrances lean unisex, but this line feels clearly and confidently masculine. As for why I keep mentioning how they wear on my skin. It’s simply how I test everything. I wear each fragrance myself and take notes over time. Most of the men in my life aren’t much help beyond “it’s good” or “it’s not,” with no real details in between.
Coming back to the comparison, the florals in the dry down feel more rounded in L’Absolu, and that’s the version I personally prefer. Which one you go for really comes down to taste. If you like a spicier opening, L’Absolu is the pick. If you prefer a more ambery, warm profile, stick with the original EDP. That said, I don’t feel the differences are big enough to justify buying both. My advice? Visit a store and try them on your skin, ideally one on each wrist. This way you can see for yourself how similar or different they feel and decide which one you actually like.
