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The concentration edit

Which YSL
Y
lasts longest?

Five versions of Y. A tie at the top. Compare wear time, projection and scent trail, then choose between the fresh aromatics, fuller woods and darker Elixir character.

Find your version

The longevity ranking

The hours, compared.

ON SKIN
  1. EDPLONGEST LASTING10 hours
  2. ElixirLONGEST LASTING10 hours
  3. EDP Intense9–10 hours
  4. Le Parfum9 hours
  5. EDT5–6 hours

Editorial wear estimates. Brighter segments show ranges.

The quick answer

Y EDP and Y Elixir last the longest on our skin, at 10 hours each. EDP Intense follows at 9–10 hours, Le Parfum at 9 and EDT at 5–6. All five have moderate projection here; Elixir stands apart for its strong sillage. Start with EDP for everyday balance or Elixir if you want a stronger scent trail.

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Everyday & joint longestEDP

10 hours with moderate projection and moderate sillage.

Strongest scent trailElixir

10 hours, moderate projection and strong sillage.

Lighter trailEDT

5–6 hours, with moderate projection and light sillage.

Three different measures

Lasting longer isn’t the whole story.

Longevity
How long you can still detect the scent.
Projection
How far the scent radiates around you.
Sillage
The scent trail you leave as you move.

Bars use the same scale for every bottle. Projection and trail are qualitative ratings from light to heavy; they don’t describe hours at full strength.

EDT vs EDP vs EDP Intense vs Le Parfum vs Elixir

Find your kind of Y.

Compare the performance. Explore the notes. Choose the scent you want to live with.

01 / Eau de Toilette

#5 for longevity
Yves Saint Laurent Y Eau de Toilette Eau de Toilette bottle

Y Eau de Toilette

Fresh aromatics · Geranium · Woody incense

A shorter wear time. A lighter trail.

EDT is our starting point when you want the fresher aromatic side of Y without a strong lingering trail. Lavender, geranium and woody-incense details shape its character. We get 5–6 hours with moderate projection and light sillage, making it the lighter-trail option in this comparison.

Choose it for Daytime wear and occasions when a lighter scent trail suits you.

Consider: It has the shortest wear time here. EDP offers a substantial step up in longevity if one application needs to carry you further.

View fragrance profile

The performance

Longevity
5–6 hours
Projection
Moderate
Sillage / scent trail
Light

Editorial estimates. Skin, weather and application affect wear.

The scent, from top to base

Fragrance notes

Explore the scent from opening to drydown. Tap a note to find more fragrances with it. Sources ↓

Find your bottle

Shop EDT.

02 / Eau de Parfum

Joint #1 for longevity
Yves Saint Laurent Y Eau de Parfum Eau de Parfum bottle

Y Eau de Parfum

Fresh aromatics · Sage · Woody warmth

The everyday pick that ties for longest.

EDP is our first stop for an everyday Y. Fresh aromatics and a fuller woody finish give it a versatile feel, with sage and geranium at the center of the signature. Its 10 hours match Elixir on our skin, while moderate projection and moderate sillage keep its presence more measured.

Choose it for A regular signature with long wear and a moderate scent trail.

Consider: Elixir leaves the stronger trail in this comparison. Choose EDP for its character and balance rather than assuming the most concentrated bottle must last longer.

View fragrance profile

The performance

Longevity
10 hours
Projection
Moderate
Sillage / scent trail
Moderate

Editorial estimates. Skin, weather and application affect wear.

The scent, from top to base

Fragrance notes

Explore the scent from opening to drydown. Tap a note to find more fragrances with it. Sources ↓

Find your bottle

Shop EDP.

03 / Eau de Parfum

#3 for longevity
Yves Saint Laurent Y Eau de Parfum Intense Eau de Parfum bottle

Y Eau de Parfum Intense

Juniper berries · Lavender · Patchouli

More woody depth. Similar presence.

EDP Intense moves toward juniper, lavender and deeper patchouli woods. We would try it for that more woody aromatic direction rather than expecting the name to promise extra hours. It lasts 9–10 hours on our skin, with moderate projection and moderate sillage.

Choose it for Buyers who enjoy the Y signature and want to explore a more woody, patchouli-focused variation.

Consider: Its 9–10 hour range does not beat EDP’s 10 hours here. The reason to choose it is the scent itself, especially the juniper and deeper woods.

View fragrance profile

The performance

Longevity
9–10 hours
Projection
Moderate
Sillage / scent trail
Moderate

Editorial estimates. Skin, weather and application affect wear.

The scent, from top to base

Fragrance notes

Explore the scent from opening to drydown. Tap a note to find more fragrances with it. Sources ↓

Find your bottle

Shop EDP Intense.

04 / Parfum

#3 for longevity
Yves Saint Laurent Y Le Parfum (2025) Parfum bottle

Y Le Parfum (2025)

Pine · Geranium · Fir balsam & patchouli

Pine freshness. Resinous woody warmth.

The 2025 Le Parfum puts pine and fresh geranium against resinous fir balsam and patchouli. We get 9 hours with moderate projection and moderate sillage. Try it when that fresh, forest-like woody direction appeals more than the extra hour offered by EDP or Elixir.

Choose it for Buyers drawn to pine freshness, resinous woods and moderate presence.

Consider: This is the newer 2025 release, distinct from the original 2021 black-bottle Le Parfum. Confirm the version when shopping; its 9 hours do not beat EDP or Elixir here.

View fragrance profile

The performance

Longevity
9 hours
Projection
Moderate
Sillage / scent trail
Moderate

Editorial estimates. Skin, weather and application affect wear.

The scent, from top to base

Fragrance notes

Explore the scent from opening to drydown. Tap a note to find more fragrances with it. Sources ↓

Find your bottle

Shop Le Parfum.

05 / Elixir

Joint #1 for longevity
Yves Saint Laurent Y L’Elixir Elixir bottle

Y L’Elixir

Lavender · Geranium · Incense & oud

Joint longest wear. The strongest trail.

Elixir ties EDP at 10 hours on our skin, with moderate projection and the strongest sillage here. Lavender and geranium meet incense and oud for a darker woody-spicy character. Start here if you want that richer direction and a stronger trail as you move.

Choose it for A darker take on Y and a stronger scent trail, especially for evening plans.

Consider: It does not outlast EDP in these estimates. Its stronger sillage and darker character are the distinctions to sample before paying for an upgrade.

View fragrance profile

The performance

Longevity
10 hours
Projection
Moderate
Sillage / scent trail
Strong

Editorial estimates. Skin, weather and application affect wear.

The scent, from top to base

Fragrance notes

Explore the scent from opening to drydown. Tap a note to find more fragrances with it. Sources ↓

Find your bottle

Shop Elixir.

Before you choose an offer

Same name.
Different bottle.

Choose the exact version before comparing bottle sizes and offers. EDP Intense, Le Parfum and Elixir have different scent profiles. The Le Parfum here is the pine-focused 2025 release, distinct from the original 2021 bottle. Search links are marked as searches; matching catalog offers supply prices when available.

This guide contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you.

The final pick

Choose the scent.
Then compare the offers.

EDP and Elixir share the longest wear at 10 hours. Choose EDP for a balanced daily signature and Elixir for darker woods with a stronger scent trail. EDP Intense offers 9–10 hours, the 2025 Le Parfum 9, and EDT 5–6. Sample the character you enjoy rather than buying by concentration alone.

Explore the longest lasting pick

A little more clarity

Y, answered.

Which YSL Y lasts the longest?

Y EDP and Y Elixir tie for longest on our skin, at 10 hours each. EDP Intense lasts 9–10 hours, the 2025 Le Parfum 9 hours, and EDT 5–6 hours.

Does Y Elixir last longer than Y EDP?

No, they tie at 10 hours in our wear estimates. Both have moderate projection, but Elixir has strong sillage while EDP has moderate sillage. The stronger trail does not mean extra wear time here.

Is Y EDP Intense stronger than the original EDP?

We rate both moderate for projection and sillage. EDP Intense lasts 9–10 hours, versus 10 for EDP. Try Intense for its juniper, lavender and patchouli character rather than assuming the name guarantees longer wear.

Which YSL Y has the strongest sillage?

Elixir has strong sillage, the highest rating in this comparison. EDP, EDP Intense and Le Parfum are moderate; EDT is light. Sillage is the trail left as you move, while projection is how far the scent radiates around you.

Which Y Le Parfum is included here?

The newer, pine-focused 2025 Le Parfum. Its rating is 9 hours with moderate projection and moderate sillage. It features pine, geranium, fir balsam and patchouli; the original 2021 black-bottle version is a separate release.

Which YSL Y should I buy for everyday wear?

EDP is our starting point: it ties for longest at 10 hours while keeping projection and sillage moderate. EDT suits someone who prefers a lighter trail and shorter wear time. Choose by the scent you enjoy as well as the performance.

Are these YSL Y longevity figures guaranteed?

These are our wear estimates. Skin, weather, application and perception affect how a fragrance wears. The hours describe overall detectability, not time spent projecting at full strength.

Where can I compare prices for the different YSL Y versions?

Use the shopping options alongside each version. Matching catalog offers supply prices when available, while other listings use a check-price button or a clearly labeled retailer search. Confirm the edition and bottle size you want.

How to read this comparison

Longevity, projection and sillage are our editorial wear estimates, supplied for this comparison. Longevity bars share a 0–10 hour scale. Projection and sillage use Light, Moderate, Strong and Heavy as qualitative ratings. EDP and Elixir tie at 10 hours; a 9–10 hour range is shown as a range rather than promoted to a guaranteed 10. Note pyramids use catalog detail where available and selected scent highlights elsewhere; they illustrate the overall character rather than a formula. Le Parfum refers to the pine-focused 2025 release; its pyramid arranges selected catalog and brand scent highlights rather than a complete manufacturer breakdown. Prices come from matching catalog offers when available.

Sources & fragrance details

Chaos Fragrances is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Yves Saint Laurent or L’Oréal. Product and brand names belong to their respective owners.

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