Top 5 Perfumes Similar To YSL Elle [Best Picks in 2024]

Elle is a beautiful perfume by the house of Yves Saint Laurent, which many women around the world love.

But sometimes, you just want something more affordable or wanna try something new with a similar style.

Hence, I’ve tried a lot of fragrances in the market and found the ones that smell closest to YSL Elle.

So, if that’s what you are looking for, stay put with this write-up!

What Does YSL Elle Smell Like?

Launched in 2007, YSL Elle is one of the best-smelling Yves Saint Laurent perfumes till now. This vibrant and classy perfume gained massive popularity shortly after its release.

And the noses behind this classy perfume are Jacques Cavallier and Olivier Cresp.

However, before talking about the smell-alikes of YSL Elle, it’s important that I break down its notes profile so that you can easily compare it later on.

Top Notes: Litchi, Peony, and Amalfi Lemon

Middle Notes: Pink Pepper, Jasmine, Rose, and Freesia

Base Notes: Patchouli, Cedar, Vetiver, and Ambrette (Musk Mallow)

The perfume opens beautifully with a pleasant floral scent and an interesting fruity touch of litchi.

The refreshing, vibrant, and sweet undertone of Amalfi Lemon brings joy to the opening aroma.

Jasmine, Freesia, and rose blend effortlessly at the heart, creating a floral aroma that’s not too strong but sweet and elegant.

And the pink pepper just gives the spiciness needed to make the fragrance more youthful and engaging.

The base notes reveal a woody musky aroma with a green and spicy touch of patchouli. Finally, the vetiver and cedar knot everything down, giving it a luxurious and plush feel.

Overall, the perfume has all that you need in a masterpiece fragrance.

The charisma of this fragrance holds onto the skin moderately.

It lasts for 4-6 hours with a close-to-skin sillage after the first spray.

What Perfumes Smell Similar To YSL Elle?

YSL Elle has a remarkable fragrance that can flatter you in any weather or setting. That’s why it is my signature scent.

However, it broke my heart when YSL discontinued this perfume recently.

So, I decided to find some alternatives to this beautiful fragrance which captured its scent quite well.

And here’s the list of the best 5 fragrances that smell very similar to YSL Elle:

1. Midnight Poison Dior

If you like the smell of Elle but want something more sophisticated and unique accords, Midnight Poison by Dior will be perfect for you.

Just like the YSL Elle, this perfume was designed by Jacques Cavallier and Olivier Cresp.

So, the style and blending of this one are very close to our Elle. But the perfume has a mysterious twist of its own.

Mystery of Midnight Poison starts with citrusy and aromatic nuances of bergamot and orange. The dark, musky patchouli is the most prominent in this fragrance which you can smell right from the start.

However, it has a much deeper opening and lacks the fruity floral smell of Elle.

It becomes smoother and softer when the heart is revealed.

The floral heart accord of this perfume is almost identical to Elle, but it has a sweet full-bodied rosy smell that makes it much richer.

And the dry down is full of sweet and dark patchouli aroma. While amber and vanilla add a musky, woody and creamy character to it.

Overall, Midnight Poison is a sensory masterpiece. And I just love how sophisticated and sensual it smells.

Yet, the best part is its remarkable performance. It has a longevity of more than 12 hours. And the fragrance projects well for the first 2-3 hours.

So, definitely, it has the ability to turn heads when you enter the room.

When To Wear

Its sensual and mysterious dark scent is perfect for date nights or late-night winter or spring parties.

However, you can wear it as your signature scent all year round. But I would also suggest you not wear this opulent fragrance on scorching summer days.

Why Should You Buy

2. Perles De Lalique Lalique

Perles De Lalique is another perfume that smells similar to YSL Elle, especially in the dry down.

This Chypre Floral fragrance was designed by Nathalie Lorson.

This fragrance opens up with a rich sweet and intoxicating aroma of Bulgarian rose, which lasts till the end.

At heart, it has a woody and powdery iris accord embraced by spicy pepper, giving the composition a sensual and modern touch.

The base is quite elegant and refined with a similar musky, woody aroma of patchouli and vetiver. While the woodsy Oakmoss and Cashmirwood add more depth to it.

Overall, Perles De Lalique has a dreamy and calming fragrance that performs pretty much the same as Elle.

You won’t believe how good the fragrance stays on your skin despite its low price.

Even after 12 hours of the first spray, I could smell it on my skin, and it was so alluring.

When To Wear

You can wear this classy fragrance throughout the year. However, it’s more suitable for warm days in spring or fall.

It goes well with any sort of occasion, whether it’s casual or formal. It is great for daytime or outdoor events where you wanna smell great and stand out from the crowd.

Why Should You Buy

3. Elle Intense Eau de Parfum Yves Saint Laurent

Elle Intense Eau de Parfum by Yves Saint Laurent is a flanker but a better version of the original. It has a stronger and more intense fragrance.

In the opening, you will be greeted by a delicate fruity scent of litchi and raspberry notes.

At the heart, it brings sweetness to the fragrance, and pink berries give it an intense sensual finish.

In the dry-down, woodsy-ambery base notes make the fragrance irresistible.

The longevity and sillage of this intense perfume are unbelievable. You can smell mysterious and youthful for more than 12 hours with just 2-3 splashes of it.

When To Wear

This fragrance is best for special occasions such as date nights, parties, and weddings, where you need to smell nice and alluring.

You can wear it to work as well.

It goes perfectly in any weather but is especially good for fall or winter nights.

Why Should You Buy

4. La Belle de Russie Nouvelle Etoile

Launched in 1980, La Belle de Russie has a similar woody floral smell as YSL Elle, but it’s softer, primer, and cleaner.

Just like the Elle, this perfume opens beautifully with a bright floral aroma of carnation and lotus. The tangy black currant adds a refreshing minty vibe to it.

After a while, fruity apricot brings sweetness to the floral accords, and musk gives a woody kick to it.

The scent is most prominent in the base, where the woodsy notes are well-developed, along with the sweetness and earthiness of patchouli.

The closing of this fragrance is very warm and musky, with a powdery undertone creating a mystique experience.

I love how strong its sillage is.

It stays on your skin for a pretty long time. And trust me, your partner will definitely notice how nice you are smelling.

When To Wear

Such a light and sweet floral fragrance can set the mood just right in any season, especially in the warm months.

You can wear this gorgeous fragrance in casual meetups, picnics, or any semi-formal events.

Why Should You Buy

5. Nuits Mauves Paris Elysees

The next dupe of YSL Elle is Nuits Mauves by Paris Elysees.

Its floral, woody, and tangy fragrance is very close to Elle, although it misses out on the sweet litchi tone.

A well-balanced floral and sweet citrusy aroma of top notes brings a bright and vibrant opening to the fragrance.

While spicy, pungent ginger cuts through the sweetness, adding a bit of mysterious and sensual punch to it.

The floral notes become more prominent in the heart, along with the youthful red berries.

The floral notes become mild in the dry down, and you will get a subtle warmth of patchouli. Musk completes the fragrance giving it a powdery character.

Overall, it is a loud floral fragrance with good longevity and projection.

It is affordable and performs quite well considering the price. So, if you need something similar to Elle but with more warmth and floral, just give it a try.

When To Wear

This flirtatious musky fragrance is perfect for first dates or night outs. As it’s very warm and heavy, you can wear it on winter or fall nights.

Why Should You Buy

Final Words

It is kinda challenging to find alternatives to classy YSL Elle fragrance. But there’s nothing to worry about!

Because all the perfumes I’ve listed here have a similar style and smell to Elle.

You’ll get everything here whether you want something stronger, lighter, or cheaper. So, go ahead and find out the best-suited fragrance for you.

And if you have more queries, just drop a comment below!