Ysatis Givenchy for women

My Mother-in-law introduced me to the world of fragrance when I was still quite young :) I do believe this was one of my 1st stocking stuffers - I was instantly hooked by this elegant scent.

One of my first perfumes...my favorite uncle gave it to me (I know...it's a big girl perfume, but that's why I loved it). I loved it back then as I still love it today. Very feminine, elegant and classy.

Ysatis is a scent I disliked for many years. I tested it today and wow, I have finally grown up to match Ysatis. Now I can detect woodsy notes,Ylang-Ylang, airy adult flowers, some aldehydes, civet and vanilla. Really great. Less is more when it comes to Ysatis - spray carefully and you will smell wonderful for several hours, spray a little to much and this will be a punch on the nose to others.

Ysatis är en doft som jag inte tyckt om alls. Jag provade den idag och wow jag har äntligen växt ikapp den. På min hud känner jag träiga noter,Ylang-Ylang, vuxna blomdofter (inte sockersöta), lite aldehyder och civet,o vanlij.Jättehärlig. Lite är lagom av Ysatis, spreja för mycket och den blir en rumsdödare direkt.

It's quite nice with sweet Ylang Ylang scent dominance. I can smell amber once in a while.
It's a loud perfume, kind of sillage monster on my skin.
I would have liked it more if it hadn't had aldehyde. My body can't tolerate this composition.

Love love love it! Just as I remember it the same sweet, feminine,lovely fragrance as before! This is my re-signature fragrance. All I would wear in the late 80's and early 90's. I have tried so many over the years,french,italian, american,some really beautiful ones, floral,chypre, woody, amber,vanilla.Dior, chanel,D and G,givenchy,gucci,bvlgari,chloe,robert piquet,bill blass,either they had a base that wasnot pretty enough for the floral heart or did not last long enough,or too loud and too long. For me this is best blend of floal for me since I stopped wearing it before. Why did I stop?tsk tsk tsk,I repent now! I just got too consumed with all the new ones coming in and they didn't even have what I really desired in a fragrance.For die hard romantics this is it!LOVELY, the fire is rekindled!!!

Well, well, well I just put on this yummy floral that i used to wear in the late eighties and it was my sig. scent I bought this online from macy's with a gift card,since they don't carry it anymore and thought it was the original black box (b/c of advertising)and when it arrived, whoa! i got the purple box thinking oh no this can't be right,so for all the original Ysatis lovers in the world, it's not all bad, it opens with a little duller spark than the o.g but the drydown is as nice as ever, don't know what they did or what they took out but i think i can wear it out of the house without shame, it's actually getting prettier as it wears so i won't fuss and complain, but i agree with one who said "if it ain't broke don't fix it." I will still get it from a vintage dealer to compare and record my findings. SO LIVE ON AND LIVE STRONG WITH YOUR SCENTS!!!

This is, for me, one of the best perfumes ever made and, contrarily to other reformulations, in this one the reformulation improved an already marvellous perfume. It is now stronger, sillage and lasting power are much better and it is more sensual and animal, thanks to the now much more pronounced musk and amber base. It is a very complex fragrance, although on top of all notes is ylang-ylang. But one can smell lots of notes, including coconut, which can be really vulgar in other perfumes. Here it is just marvellous. And the amber and the musk in the base are equally magnificent. It is a pity that although no longer common in pefume shops, it is still expensive on the internet. When the price comes down I will buy 1 liter.

Given to me by my father when I was 13,beautiful,woody and sweet;and yet still my favorite!!

I'm still on the lookout for a Givenchy I like. Up until now I don't like any of them enough to get to like the house.

I am not one of those, who bash an 80s frag alone for being from the 80s. I still appreciate some frags of the 80s, although they surely are for my nose all quite overpowering. Ysatis is no exception. Too much 80s here for me; on the other hand I don't find it too unique. There is nothing in Ysatis, that only Ysatis can give me.

They in fact could make better chypres in the 80s than Ysatis: Think about Le Temps D`Aimer or La Nuit. In the 20s-70s chypres were even better than that, imho.

I have a special connection with this fragrance because it is my mom's favorite and I always think of her when I get a whiff. It's classic, sexy, and timeless. It is definitely on the pricey side, but worth every penny.

Ysatis is exchangable with the word identity for me. She and I are old loves. I got her when I was very young when she first came out, and wore her as a signature for 20 years. I still have an original bottle and it smells....like me. I don't wear her much anymore.... but when I do.....I wear her well.

She's not for everyone, and she's of a generally more complex era. A powerhouse 1980's perfume. A time when you would get into an elevator and it was a wonder you made it out alive. The smell of competing perfumes was common and they made a lot of olfactory noise. They were BIG!!!!

For me she's like slipping into a sweet kiss from the one you've loved forever though. She's familiar and exciting all at once. I can smell the galbanum which always intimidates the atmosphere a bit. It's tempered however by the warmth of ylang and jasmine. The oakmoss is classic and does what oakmoss does perfectly. This is such a complex perfume that to go through all the stages would take forever and this review is already long. Suffice it to say that she's sexy, powerful,and not for the shy.I can't imagine ever not having a small bottle of the original formula. I'm kicking myself for trading the body creme. It's the most perfect, luscious rendition of this fragrance made I believe. Ysatis, I love you.

This is a like for me. It is a little loud for my tastes but given the right situation this could be quite something!

Tipico profumo pesante e rétro, dove ylang ylang ed aldeidi si avvertono in maniera esagerata. Assolutamente non nelle mie corde

Definitely not for me, I like jolielady's review, she describes it well, intimidating is just the right word. There's a strong dusty/greenish/chemical note right on top that is very offputting to me and doesn't go away, I don't really like the powdery thing it has going on either, it seems a little cold and stern. It is distinctive though, and sophisticated, just not my style. But beware, a little goes a LONG way!

"Ysatis" is a fabulous perfume!
It is an 80's creation with a character and finesse that goes beyond the "decorative" facet of todays perfumes. Underneath its complexity lies an adventurous and young spirit with a strong but friendly attitude.
The scent takes form with the discreet contribution of carefully selected notes which literally discuss about a subject posed by the coconut note. How very ingenious indeed!
At its drydown it acquires a soapy clean quality that doesn't lack luxury at all. Lovely!

This is my mothers signature scent! She have tried so many other perfumes but always goes back to this one. For me this perfume is sweet and cosy. Maybe because it is my mothers signature scent and she have use it as long as i remember. Ysatis is also elegant and very feminine.

yikes! It's a little too strong for me... Maybe if I were a little older, or more used to such scents, I wld love it much more. As it is, I can only tolerate it if I smell it from afar, because a full sniff could almost knock me out. Haha. I should have known that I would have some trouble liking it, since I don't like very musky smells...

It's a scent for a sophisticated woman indeed, more of a night-time scent than a daytime scent I think... Makes you imagine secret, mysterious paths in the forest, with the moonlight shining down and drawing out the intoxicating scents of the flowers that bloom everywhere.

I have a feeling the strong musky/heady smell comes from the substantial amount of galbanum in it... Some reviewers said the new scent isn't as good as the original, maybe that accounts for my ambivalence as well... Oh well, maybe my mum will like it :P

The original goddess in a bottle. She was demure, sexy and ethereal. She had the unmistakable Givenchy stamp upon her-that sweet,luscious otherworldly quality that no other house seemed to capture. A rich honey sweetness unmatched. It was as fleeting and as rare as a snowflake.

The current batch, produced by the house formerly know as Givenchy is a total imposter! A cheap flanker. It has been said before and I will say it again-if its not broken, dont fix it!!!

I wore this in the late 80's when I was in my late teens and loved it! In recent years I've sniffed it many times in department stores and thought it was horrible. How could I ever have worn this?

Then I discovered that there's been a reformulation and I've obviously worn the original version. I managed to source a half-bottle of vintage on eBay and it arrived today!

Oh, it's lovely! Just how I remember it! Very heavy opening, in tradition with 80's shoulder pads and big hair, and the most amazing warm honey dry down. I put a tiny spray on my wrist 5 hrs ago now and it still smells amazing. I've fallen in love with it all over again.

I wear this all the time for years now and in a wonderful way it smells different every day. Can't do without it.
Dilemma is that my husband doesn't really like it. Specially when I've just put it on and I kiss him goodbye in the morning. And he is right, sometimes it initially gives a hint of cat's pee.

Ahh, I was about 16 when I sniffed this one first time. I loved its pure and powdery nature. Was not ready for Ysatis on those times. But now.. I absolutely LOVE THIS. Still my initial feelings comes with Ysatis with nature of pure scent, perfect florals, some romance in it, makes You Dream ! Yesss, that is what this scent does. Dream work. This is sunny as well, like a sun rays playing with flowers on suummer field. Huge LOVELY scent.

I think of this as Amarige's more reserved cousin. Ysatis lacks Amarige's intensity and manic energy and "look at me!" quality. Although both have the same structure(fruits/warm white flowers/vanilla and sandalwood)Ysatis is a chypre. It is cooler, softer, and more sophisticated. It is not for the life-of-the-party gal who can dance on tables all night. It is for that woman we see so often in the movies: shy, quiet, ladylike. But when she takes off her glasses and shakes out her old lady school teacher bun watch out! She knows she smoulders inside and doesn't have to show it off.

This perfume is so 80's ... (in a good way )
You can easily imagine it worn by a Dallas or Dynasty character : the strong woman , with big hair , big shoulders, big gold jewelry and big make up !
It's very sophisticated and feminine , smells expensive .
A true 80's chypré masterpiece !
I like it, but i'm not sure whever i want it or not , i believe it's not for me , or maybe i'm just nor ready for it. Maybe within a few years ...

I received this back in the late 80's from my boss one christmas, its a nice scent though cant say its my favorite but yes, its nice and a very feminine scent.I think what I had was the original scent, in the red and black box..but with the same shaped cap.

Have to agree with jena6867 on this one...
Treasured the one I'd bought around '91 or so!
Light and unobtrusive; classy and elegant; uber sophisticated.
Purchased a small bottle at a major department store a few months back and was sooo disappointed.
It smelled very watered down from the classic I remember so well and didn't even stay on my skin for 2 hours. WTH, Givenchy?
Will still remember the original formulation with fondness though. :D

every time i wear it male and female,going nuts!is a fantastic charming scent,never pic coconut...a lot of jasmine and vetiver.very fresh and flowery,stay on my skin 10h¡!

I had always wondered why I loved this i the 80's and did not like it in the 2000's! Now I know it was reformulated, why spoil something and try to make people like something else?

How do I know which version is the original old one?

Well, thanks to a swap with the lovely Nopasho, I have a vintage bottle to review.
Wow. The difference between this version (EDT) and the modern reformulation is absolutely evident, this is like seeing a photo of a star before the disastrous plastic surgery that ruined her looks! Plush, soft, refined and slightly dirty with that lovely Civet in the base, this is a million miles away from the sharp transparency of the reformulated version which I tried to love but just simply found it too lacking in the unique qualities that this version has. I'm worried now about using it up.....

Agree with elgab89. Nice but I always liked it on other people. I liked Amarige better for myself so I turned to that insteadcback in the day from the Givenchy line. I also liked saying the cool name Ysatis.

I used to wear this one when I was 18 thought it was soooo sophisticated back in the early 1990's !!! now I just don't think is smells the same, I wouldn't wear this one now way too strong on me

I just got this and mine has a clear lid not the gold lid. Does that mean I have the new formula or the old one. It does not last on me at all. I like it but it just lasts 5 minutes then gone. I purchased it from a reputable place. The box was the purple and pink one? If anyone could shed some light on this I would appreciate it.

I wore this parfume in college and many complements always! It melded with me pefectly. My daughter wears it sometimes. Oldie to me but still a goodie! :o)

I don't get this one AT ALL. Waste of packaging. (Plus it's really ugly packaging) It's just nasty. Horrible chemical smell. Hint of some garden bush? One of the few fragrances I really don't like at all at any point. Like the inside of your gran's handbag just before someone notices she can't cope any more and needs to go into a nursing home.

Another Givenchy great, which lasts very long on the skin...just very enjoyable to smell, but please use a spare hand. This can be overdone SO easily and in that case it can cause a headache. I like to spray on a q-tip and put behind ears. I don't like the term "old lady", but it is a more mature scent I would say, but very lovely when applied correctly.

Loved this one in the late teens, until a co-worker started wearing it as well. Suddenly I realized it gave me massive headaches! It was beautiful for a time, but yes, very loud.

Back in the mid-1980's, I used to regularly go to a massage therapist and body-worker who did deep tissue massage and this was the perfume she wore. She used to use rose geranium oil on me, so I used to leave, blissed out, with a combination of those two fragrances lingering on my skin.

Oh Dear!!!

The one and only perfume to give me a massive headache as yet sadly!

That is a big nono for me despite the nice addicting chypre scent smell.

I wish I could smell Ysatis with the nose of someone born after the '80s. For me it is inextricably linked to memories of pushy, big-haired, shoulder-padded department store matrons!

Pity...it's such a warm, luxurious, snuggly scent, with just the right amount of fruit and powder, and the ylang-ylang is absolutely exquisite. Maybe if I wear it enough, it will attach itself to some happier memories...

wow ysatis what a blast from the past! i started wearing this when i was 22 & finally stopped wearing it at 31, everyone i knew liked it i got lots of comments from men on this scent! its a real "romantic" smelling scent, & very strong! one squirt lasts all day! however, once i hit my 30s this fragrance just reminded me of "night clubs, pubs, that kinda nauseating smell when you wake up from a hangover! im 40 now & look back at fondness for wearing this! but alas i can now only tolerate "subtle" smells, however its still a great scent! i catch a smell of it every now & now on others & it always makes me smile !

This is a typical 80s perfume. Lasts forever. And has one penetrating airfreshener chemical note that people at the other side of the room will pick up! Its in the same class as Arpege,Tweed,First.

Its headmistressy. If you want to be intimidating and bossy, wear this! A Miss Jean Brodie perfume.

I love the original version of Ysatis! It is magical! I find it to be very floral and feminine and the dry down is soft and pretty. I have 3 bottles of it and it is definitely one of my favorites. Pretty much can't go wrong with any perfume made by Givenchy.

I accept only the original version of this fragrance! I bought recently new formulation and it was awful. I use it now as a air freshener in my bathroom.
What made this scent classic is now gone! Gone all the richness and power!
It was loud indeed but i think is very suitable for a business lady. Or an evening in theater or opera. Very aristocratic!
I feel some notes and similar to Organza, but where Organza goes oriental and sweet Ysatis stays sharp.
Lasting power is amazing for the edt!!!
Sadly it gives me a headache since it smells completly different on me that on someone else, so i sold it to my neighbour. On her is doesn´t smell so agressive and loud like on me (but Organza on her, for example has the same effect as Ysatis on me). So i guess i just will sniff it on her and like it, because i don´t like it anymore on myself.

mmmmm Ysatis how I love you! I recently bought a small bottle of edt after not having used any for about 10 years. one small squirt and I was instantly taken back in time. It's just so lovely. it is quite heavy and heady, so I recommend edt and using a light hand. it's a fantastic warm floral bouquet with great lasting power.

Turin says it's missing it's citrus top notes and maybe it is, but the dry down smells just the same to me. I'm just surprised I went without a bottle for so long...

Was given this by a friend who thinks I like EVERY perfume, but she's wrong I'm very picky. Or my nose and my stomach are, anyway, as I come across so many that make me feel sick. HOWEVER she struck gold with Ysatis. It reeks of luxury; you can tell from the very top that no expense was spared in its creation. No cheap pong! It is simply beautiful (with the evidence on SIMPLY). There are many ingredients listed, which is surprising, but they all blend together and nothing screams out at you. That is so rare. Powdery, maybe a bit of vanilla? but I can't pick out a single overpowering ingredient and that, to me, is what I like. It makes me feel very feminine indeed.

I feel that Elizabeth Taylor's White Diamonds copied this fragrances and Ysatis does it better.

I just received my bottle of ysatis edt. i was so excited because i ran out quite awhile back.I happily opened the pretty package,sprayed some all over myself and it just wasn't right.somethings missing! just not the same amazing smell. it's still nice,but not how it was when I was unable to stop smelling my wrists and sighing"
"ahhh." we should keep emailing, writing,&calling givenchy and mabey we could make a difference.

Really nice woodsy scent! Thank you Nyoka for endowing me with such a wonderful sample! All of Givenchy scents are very unique and this is no exception, different but in a very lady like way.

Update:
Not sure if it's the perfume or my nose but I put this on today and all I can smell is soap, soap and more soap.
It hasn't mellowed or softened and it's been 2 hours.
I'm actually starting to get a headache...
So sad...

8 hours later: Finally!! There's the beautiful scent I thought I knew!!

Does anyone know if Aldehydes get stronger with age?

This indeed speaks of richnes,money and furs! A very expensive smelling scent for sure.It conjurs up images of a blond lady with a scarf on riding in a Mercedes convertable.She drives faster and lets the scarf go,then shakes out her hair.She is on her way to the country club where every man is in awe of her and that magical smell.A slight kiss of coconut,a warm hug of sweet jasmine and woody iris completed with a moan of pleasure from the woods,vanilla and animal muskiness.A long lasting,uplifting,(DAMN I feel pretty )FUME!

I was 18 in 1985 and was in Toronto at the Eatons Center On my way out this Lady came up to me and asked me if I wanted a bottle ( free ) of this new perfume Ysatis ... I said sure and thanked her and dropped it into my purse ... not being one to wear perfume ( almost always got headaches ) I didnt really bother with it for a few months . Then the day my life changed forever .. ( I know a little dramatic ) but seriously this perfume has become a part of who I am!!! From the first ime I wore it and almost every single person I went near commenting on how wonderfull I smell ... I fell in love with this scent !!I cant even begin to tell you how I adore this scent !!! To this day 25 yrs later it still garners daily comments ... One day I was at my sisters and after I left my 5 yr old niece awoke and when she went out to the kitchen were we were sitting she said to my sister ...I think aunty was here mommy I can smell her !! lol All I can say is I dont know what id do if tthey stopped making this fragrance ...This is NOT an old lady fragrance ...this is classic timeless and ageless !!! Not to mention the countless number of friends and strangers who have purchased it after smelling it on me ... so many strangers have asked me over the yrs what my perfume is called as they would like to buy some for thier loved one !! that speaks volumes about this fragrance !! I love it!!

Yesterday I smelled my so much beloved Ysatis again and it instantly transported me to BYZANCE! Another ALLTIME favorite of mine!

I thought, how can this be, I loved them both forever and only NOW do I see the similarity? I thought I must be mistaken.
Then later I read Turin and yes, they said it too! So, I am actually very glad, since Byzance has become a hard to get all of a sudden! This is an excellent sister!!
:-)

The excess of the 80s done in a haute couture refined style! ;-) Upon reading the notes and reviews here I expected something massive and over the top. I even told my mother when she asked about it, "Oh you won't like that...", boy was I wrong!

This review is for the EDT strength:
Upon depressing the sprayer my nose was greeted with an aldehyde cloud containing so many notes. Fascinated, I just let it drift around me, utterly enchanted by the beautiful and superb mix of tuberose, galbanum, a rather 'dirty jasmine', juicy citruses in a coconut lather, and some divine wood. Quite a first impression! This scent is not what I imagined and I can see now why it took the perfumer 18 months of blending and combining all the notes to get it just right. As the initial burst softens I perceive more of the florals, such as ylang-ylang, carnation and is that daffodils? A heavy green sweetness clings but never overpowers the gorgeous floral heart. I sense some bay or cypriol,perhaps and cloves. Utterly delicious! In the ultimate dry down this is honey sweet, resiny with amber and thick with vanilla, yet the stunning moss note reigns supreme. Patchouli is heavy in this but adds to the grandeur as opposed to dirtying it up. Alongside the very animalic musk and civet(castoreum?) I can detect vetiver and sandalwood which give it a masculine strength while remaining completely feminine. The 80s weren't all bad...

This perfume is the epitome of French and Elegance to me and though it may be strong, it is not brutal and it has an overall very ladylike maturity to it but is by no means a "Gramma" fragrance. This is a woman of the world, one who knows what she wants and lets nothing stand in her way. Those who know her love her and those who don't wish they did...and if you hate her? Well-Shame on you, you're probably just jealous...

Sillage: fantastic
Longevity: excellent
Overall: 4.75/5

My mother is very thankful to all you members for your wonderful reviews! This is the first fragrance she purchased solely on the strength of Fragrantican reviews...and she is in Perfume Heaven! This juice is truly a product of an age few remember (or care to) today. I, on the other hand, remember that decade quite fondly and now Ysatis is with us to keep the spirit of that memory alive...

yes it is lovely perfume and i find it attractive too

This is my all time favorite fragrance. I find that it doesn't change scent from when it's first sprayed. It smells like an oriental to me.

It's not you, late 80s Givenchy; it's me. Ysatis was released two years before I was, and it became the smell perpetually associated to my bratty Gen Y nose with female relatives and towns where people collect Thomas Kincade paintings and point at airplanes.

However, this keen little aldehydic morass is the signature scent for a lot of people far more distinguished than I'll ever be. Want my bottle?

speaking of bottles... the main image for ysatis on Fragrantica reminds me of late 80s pyramid-of-power skyscrapers that were built in major North American cities, where you could just imagine Sigourney Weaver giving the death stare in those magnificent shoulderpads.

I'm surprised that jasmine is not in the fragrance card i can smell pervasive amounts of it.
to the skin it brings out a soapish scent with an opening of aldehydes the civet i think makes it heavy and oily
i do notice a bit of coconut which suble but nicely done. the drying down
turns into an warm reisen of galbanum
with dry brazilian rosewood.
the heart is hard to detect but i can smell a bit of an honey note the drydown
is prodominly of sweet amber that is cloyish and strong amount of vanilla
and also a wisp of black liqcorice.

Love it, I have been wearing it for years, everyone ask what I am wearing even though I don't smell it...I can't handle strong smells, this is light.

Is it possible I've been wearing Ysatis for over 25 years? Where did the time go? My husband associates our love with this scent -- we actually tried to find a new perfume together and even Chanel didn't work. Ysatis is simply perfect...sexy and elegant.

I am wearing this perfume my whole life and for 25 years ow and I can`t get enough of it. I hope Givenchy will never stop producing it !!!!

I had a bottle of this in the 80's. It was given to me by a married man who wanted to be my lover. It gave me a searing headache.

I tried to wear it occasionally and it would always give me a headache a couple of hours in. It got to the point I didn't even want to look at the bottle. I don't know what it was because I actually did like the opening notes. I'm thinking it may have been the patchouli and the civet.

Needless to say, the man never became my lover.

Another one of my all time favourites - when ever I come back to it, I always am so glad that I did... a little gem and classic beauty of mystery. Real class.

It is a nice scent but somehow I can't bear coconuts.

a beautiful creation, lovely fragrance to wear in the autumn time, can still smell it on my scarf, givenchys best frag in my opinion

Wore this one in my teens definitely not a scent for a young girl. I think back and say to myself wow what was I thinking? It was my mom's perfume and I borrowed it from her. I think this is a classic, it's bold and it makes a statement. It is a scent for a mature woman.

Ysatis is fascinating. Powdery, elegant, beautiful and classical.

I had really expected something extremely outdated, strong and aldehydic, however this is no Chanel No.5, Ysatis is different.

The fragrance opens with soft aldehydic notes, creamy coconut and refreshing citrus, balanced out by subtle spiciness. The scent throughout has a likable powdery-incense quality that is both unique and sensual.

A previous reviewer mentioned the prominent honey note which adds a sense of happiness, which I certainly agree with. The honey, vanilla, coconut and ylang-ylang does create a delicate sweetness, however the galbanum, patchouli, cloves, civet and oakmoss, give Ysatis a damp greeness which can be bitter at times. Animalistic yet refined really sums up this fragrance well.

I don't get much in the way of white florals here, it's more powdery and fresh than anything else to my nose. The lasting power is truly worth the price as its richness lingers on the skin for days. Ysatis is strong and powerful with a lot of character. I recommend.

I tested this perfume this past weekend and I found it quite putrid... Its very loud and green and the aldehydes seem to be in very high concentration... Not for me, but for sum1 who uses it in moderation(1 spray max) the drydown might be bearable or even pleasant...

I had a bottle of this in the 90s and loved it. It's the only perfume where I was stopped in the street by men wanting to know what it was because it smelled so lovely! I stopped wearing it because I started to associate it with a bad time in my life but I liked it so much I think I might get another bottle and start wearing it again. It's very warm, rich, sweet, sensual and very recommendable!

this is kind of loud but,in a good way.it blooms into some lovely expensive wood that has been doused with citrus.just a touch of aldehydes to bring it together.then opens further with glorious tuberose.as the bloom closes for the day or night,patouli(JUST A TOUCH)mingles in with a dab of civet and sensous amber.i love it.doesnt smell the least bit old lady.very romantic.

My first overtly sexy perfume that I wore while in college in the 80's...Well, I was just about graduating from college and was evolving from my bottles of Lauren and White Linen...turning to Fracas and this powerhouse. I guess that's the direction I was going in at the time! I really just fell in love with the fact that this perfume had civet in it and the men in my life seemed to absolutely adore it. Being the fickle girl that I was and still am...I left it suddenly after inhaling a whiff of Amerige at a Depeche Mode concert.

Aah, my first ever 'grown up' perfume. I had this for my 16th birthday a couple of years after it came out-i was strictly a white musk(body shop oil) and patchouli oil girl 'till i found this. It was beautiful in 1988, really distinctive and refined; I don't know what they've done to the formulation but it's a slightly different version now with a special plushness missing that made it unique. However, I have ordered a bottle because the memories I associate with it are wonderful and it really is elegant and striking at any time of day or place.
Well, I have my bottle and am wearing it now. It's a transparent chypre/oriental to me similar to Safari or even a mix between Estee Lauder Private Collection and Boucheron. It's very 80's in its scale and complexity, but remains undated and like saying Hi to an old friend who is welcome back! I still remember it as slightly lusher than this, maybe I wore the EDP at the time. I must try it! Sillage is good for maybe an hour longevity is quite poor, I'm afraid to say.

Thanks Persephone for the sample!

I've wanted to test Ysatis forever and had very high hopes for it. When I first (cautiously) put it on, I thought we were going to be lovers. The opening smelled similar to Sublime, but better. Sublime's opening is greener, sharper, harsher, and more characteristically chypre than Ysatis. The top nots of Ysatis, on the other hand, temper the woody citruses with a good dose of neroli/orange blossom. The coconut lends a litte smoothness, but is not easily noticeable.

The heart notes is where my relationship with Ysatis starts to get a little bumpy. The florals stay smooth, but they become greasy and animalistic to the point of staleness. It reminds me very much of Alfred Sung Sung! It's better than Sung, of course, but under the neroli petals something dark, animalistic, and decaying lies. This bothers me very much.

But just as I'm about to write Ysatis off as a scrubber, the luxurious mossy base peeks through and saves the day. Honeyed ambery moss and patchouli are the stars of the chypre dry-down and persist until the yucky beasty florals of the heart whither away. After a point, I love Ysatis again.

Make no doubt, Ysatis is complex and Mature. I feel like I've only scratched the surface, and I'll need to spend some more time with it before arriving at a final conclusion.

Ysatis starts with lots of orange, ylang ylang and resin on me, very strong and very heavy, with just a hint of powder in there.

The middle notes are so incredibly pretty! This is the first time I've been able to distinguish iris notes in a perfume, and I love it! Woody and powdery and earthy, like leaves and violet flowers with dry, dusty dirt on them. Wonderful!

The base is warm and animalistic, but the iris leaves a cool and powdery floral note in there, too. There's a crispness to it as well- maybe from the laurels and vetvier. Dried down, it's both spicy and woody green. I love it.

What an interesting transformation, and a gorgeous perfume for evening wear or a special occasion.

Really love this perfume...
never forget it's smell... the perfect fragance for me.. ^^

I tried it several times in EDP concentration and ran like hell. A good friend of mine, an "older sister", that wore Ysatis half of her life, told me that I never tries anything yet if I did not try it in pure perfume concentration,

When I acquired Ysatis in a pure perfume version, I saw what she meant. Ysatis is a child of it`s time indeed and those who don`t like the straightforwardness of the perfumes of the 80s will not be able to tell one from another - at first, its too much, as with all the older scents.You have to simply wait for the miracle.
For me it is jasmine - ylang ylang - coconut - civet (not vert powerful though) - sandalwood and oakmoss. In this order.
Despite of many animalistic notes that are usually associated with sex appeal in scents, I feel that Ysatis was not born to seduce. It is a scent for an priestess.... of the 80s:)

There is something achingly nostalgic about this scent that I can't out my finger on. Maybe somebody, somewhere wore this around me when I was young. I swapped for it recently and my heart actually skipped a beat in recognition when I spritzed it. As for the scent itself, what I chiefly get is jasmine and lots of it in a lovely warm base. My husband who doesn't usually comment on my fragrances thinks is amazing too. I wish I could get my hands on the EDP a the EDT doesn't seem to last very long, hence four stars instead of five. I love wearing this on winter nights in dressy, glimmery clothes with a glass of red wine in my hand. Ahhhhhh

I'm well aware that Audrey Hepburn wore L'Interdit made especially for her by Francis Fabron in 1957 and stayed true to the campaign in "Breakfast at Tiffany's (while in the novella itself she sprinkles her neck with 4711, meant to be Le Dix by Capote but changed when the book was published) and Ysatis is a 1980's child, but every time I re-watch that movie I always imagine that Ysatis is the perfume Holly Golightly sneaks out of her mail box and makes a few quick sprays before she goes out on her futile rich man hunt. Rich lemon woody custard, it is indeed a sister of original Byzance. Perfect for a high society imposture. I wear it pure parfum and prefer this version for its expressive richness.

i have a small bottle of this now, but back in the 80's it was my favorite, i would wear it all the time. however, it seems to me that the one i have now smells somewhat different....maybe it's just me...but i still wear it every now and again and i think of high school!

This scent I gave to my grandmother. She loves it. It is classic, and in moderation is strong and magnetic, but is certainly not for everyone. It is strongly floral, but not at all sweet. I would not choose it for myself, but I prefer a sweet floral.

Hm... what can I say that won't sound too negative? It smelled fabulous in the shop, the sweet notes are lovely, but when I wear it I find the sandlewood overpowering. It adds an intrusive sourness that spoils it for me.

Ysatis, as I remember, was something different. I remember that it was among the stronger scent, but now is too sharp, probably the formula is not the same. Aldehydes, which normally I love in top notes are too strong, the smell became strange, even base notes are not so pleasant. Not at all soft on my skin even after several hours, or have I changed? It is just not the same fragrance,correct me if I'm wrong.

I wore this one today and it confirms my aldehyde addiction and love of chypres. Simply wonderful. The notes blend into a luxurious fruit opening with a hint of floral softening to sweet woods and vanilla which lingers on the skin and assures your feminitiy. What else could you want?

Mmm, mmm, mmm. Call of the wild (yet sophisticated) in a bottle. I love it.

uno dei migliori profumi tra i chiprèe,molto raffinato,peccato sia quasi introvabile in italia

This is what a rich woman should smell!!
At night.

Classic, beautiful, undated. A bit strong for a warm day but spicy delicious for a cooler evening. Not for youngsters being more suitable to women of elegance. Basically, it is a quartet of woody, floral, fruity and spicy scents - a dangerous liaison indeed. A little goes a long way and you will be knocked out when the base notes kick in - delicious!

There is something going on with the chypre-self confidence that everybody seems to agree on.This is a lucky charm for me that every evening I had it sprayed on turned out to be a special one.
Ysatis is warm,woodsy,intoxicating and yet balanced because of the tangerine on the top.Just the right amount of aldehydes.Laurel will make you feel wise like the priestess of an ancient temple.
This is not a "sleepy" oriental.
It is empowering.

I love this spicy oriental perfume, complex and exotique; a lovely blend of flowers and aromatic woods.
If you want to feel like a goddess. this is for you.

I love this scent; it's not dated at all - it's a classic. It's the only scent I've ever worn that I consistently get compliments on every time I wear it. It makes me feel sexy and confident.

Oh! a special favourite with lovely memories. I went through the late 80's absolutely adoring this scent. I currently don't wear it, but still remember how much I used to love it.

it's oriental and strong , i don't like strong perfumes but this one remains on skin very nice ...elegant

This is a romantic, feminine, spicy oriental scent, recommended for evening wear.

I was really open to smell one of the best perfumes I've ever smelled according to your nice reviews.but what can I say...
I didn't like it.just classic like so many other ones.the worst part about it is the middle notes.don't call me foul,but it smells like piss!
I should confess the long lasting power is very good.maybe the only thing that is good in this fragrance.

What a heady, lush and ladylike chypre scent! It is definitely okay for special occasions, but not for casual wear. I also think that it is more a mature woman's appeal. (Though there is a 'light' version in existence, called Ysatis Iris.)
It is very much memorable just like most Givenchy fragrances. You are bound to make an impression with this one!

Here is the smell of a true woman!

This fragrance is so well made. The Jasmine, and the woods blend so well ,that become one.I also love the coconut at the top notes (which lasts a lot on me). Very clean and spicy smell, suitable for almost any age, for almost any circumstance.

A marvelous self confidence booster.

I suspect it's my body chemistry, but the base smacks of that old lady house scent sans mothballs. The top note is very alluring, unfortunately it doesn't last long enough. It would be a keeper otherwise.

So very 80's to me. I wanted to yell 'time-out!', but instead I got knocked-out (ha, sorry for pun:). It's strong and heavy flowery scent that feels so very concentrated that it almost rubs my nose. not my type

Years ago I've thought Ysatis is the worst parfum I've ever smelt, but now it is my favourite floral one. Very special, not for every day or case.

This is my most favorite scent in the world. I have been using it for 20 years, I still try others, but I can't stop wearing this. It makes me feel like a princess. Some people hate it, but I like the way I feel when I spray this. It makes me feel rich and beautiful. There are so many combos in this perfume, I can't smell them all, but it dies down to a nice soft combination of vanilla, Oakmoss and vetiver. I just have never found anything that could take it's place.

Very intense, elegant.
One type of femininity calm and strong. Deep notes of sandalwood. Unforgettable scent
For a distinguished woman
At damp afternoons and fresh nights it shows and increases its potential up

Loved this wore it for years!Need to get it again! Sweeter than most but very sexy and has depth warmth!

I'm not that much into spicy oriental fragrances but Ysatis is an exception to the rule. It was one of my favourites at the end of the 80's, and I still like it. There's something very unique and elegant in it.

Best fragrance ever, love it from the beginning and it is stil everyday awesome!

This is my favorite perfume. It smells as close to my perception of a true Princess would smell like. I first smelled this perfume when I was 20. A woman sprayed it on and I had to know what it was. I have been using it for 20 years now. I LOVE it. It may be overpowering on some, so on hot summer days I spray it in the air and walk through the mist.

This parfume has so many things going on, it's rich, spicy, oriental, floral, do I say it's rich :)? And it's beautiful and womanly in a proud way. Eighties at it's best.

I do have this one in pure parfume form, and it's even more rich and soft in it's busy way than a edt or edp. Highly suitable for special events or nights you just feel like a queen, and want to be treated like queens do.

Richly animalic oriental chypre, almost too full of wonderfullness! I'd compare it to Dioressence in this respect, the latter being maybe a little less plush and thus more elegant.

I`ve got Ysatis today! It`s so wonderful I remember it from 1994, when my friend`s mother bring it from foreign countries (a little sample). Today it seems to me oriental, sweet very feminine and sexy. I smell ylang - ylang and honey in it! It makes me happy today!

Absolutely love, love, love this perfume!!

My mother in law brought some back from Paris as a gift to me back around 1985 before it was available in the States...I have been wearing it ever since--almost exclusively! It is my signature scent. I always have to buy it online however these days, Macy's does not carry it in the stores, but they do carry other Givenchy fragrances.

Don't get me wrong , I love Givenchy! This one, a little bit loud. At least, not for me...