LitchiOpens with
Pink PepperHeart
PatchouliDries down to
Also asEau de Toilette · 2012 →
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Yves Saint Laurent · Sold as feminine
Elle
The subtle interplay of light and shadow in a sunlit conservatory, where the scent of flowers mingles with warm earth and wood.
Full bottle: Premium tier, typically $100–250. Links open each seller's own page. We may earn a commission; it never changes the order.
EllePremium · $100–250
48%Similar accords, often for lessChivalry · AjmalBudget tier, under $40 · shares 6 of its 12 notes8 matches →How it wears
From community votes · bars are each option's shareComposition & Character
Notes Pyramid
TopOpening
HeartThe Soul
BaseFoundation
Main Accords
When to Wear
Who Wears It
The story behind the bottle.
Launched in 2007 by Yves Saint Laurent, Elle is a Floral Woody Musk fragrance that was created by the master perfumers Jacques Cavallier Belletrud and Olivier Cresp. This composition opens with bright litchi and Amalfi lemon before diving into a heart of peony, rose, jasmine, and freesia. The base notes of patchouli, vetiver, cedar, and ambrette create a warm and earthy foundation that grounds the floral elements.
Elle quickly developed a devoted cult following after its discontinuation, with enthusiasts expressing regret over its removal from YSL's lineup and considering it superior to more recent mainstream releases. The fragrance was eventually relaunched due to fan demand, meeting with renewed enthusiasm from longtime wearers.
One or two sprays to the pulse points will suffice — Elle's patchouli and vetiver base notes allow it to develop gradually over time. The litchi and lemon top notes are bright but fleeting, so aim for a closer-to-skin application for the best experience.
Fig. 01 — Elle, Yves Saint Laurent
Where to buy.
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Jacques Cavallier-Belletrud
Louis Vuitton's master perfumerJacques Cavallier Belletrud is the master perfumer at Louis Vuitton and one of the most accomplished noses in the industry.
“It was like a game, but it helped me, step by step, learn the language of perfume.”
Jacques Cavallier-Belletrud · Thames & Hudson / Sharp Magazine profiles
Co-created with Olivier Cresp
The Elle line
8 fragrances, compared side by side
Designer Yves Saint Laurent
More from the house · founded 1961 · France
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Chosen from what wearers say it smells like, what its fans also love, and its notes
Love it, not the $100–250 price?
Matched by accords and notes. Sample first, then decide.
The originalElleYves Saint Laurent · Premium · $100–250Ajmal · 2018ChivalryShares 6 of its 12 notesunder $40★ 3.91 (67)47%Match
Salvatore Ferragamo · 2016Signorina In RossoShares 5 of its 8 notes$40–100★ 3.93 (43)48%Match
Salvatore Ferragamo · 2020Signorina Fashion Edition 2020Shares 5 of its 8 notes$40–100★ 4.00 (15)
With Yves Saint Laurent Opium Extrait de Parfum 40th Anniversary Edition
Adds amber, white floral and citrus; shares jasmine and patchouli.
Suggested from accords and notes · not yet tried by wearers
What people
are saying.
Well loved by wearers: loved by 40%, disliked or hated by 14%.