Black TeaOpens with
Orris RootHeart
VanillaDries down to
Carlos BenaïmThe nose · 189 fragrances · also made Spicebomb Extreme (2015)Portrait →Will you like it? Mark a few fragrances you own or love and we'll tell you.
Yves Saint Laurent · Sold as unisex
Velours
A cozy library where the scent of warm spices and rich woods interplay with soft florals, creating a sense of understated luxury.
Full bottle: Premium tier, typically $100–250. Links open each seller's own page. We may earn a commission; it never changes the order.
VeloursPremium · $100–250
48%Similar accords, often for lessFlower by Kenzo Essentielle · KenzoMid-range tier, $40–100 · shares 5 of its 8 notes8 matches →How it wears
From community votes · bars are each option's shareComposition & Character
Notes Pyramid
TopOpening
HeartThe Soul
Main Accords
When to Wear
Who Wears It
The story behind the bottle.
Launched in 2016 by Yves Saint Laurent and crafted by Carlos Benaïm, Velours is an Oriental fragrance that balances warmth with freshness. The composition opens with black tea and pink pepper, adding a subtle spiciness that cuts through the richness of orris root and olibanum. As it settles into its woody base, vanilla and amberwood create a comforting embrace, while musk adds depth without heaviness.
Apply two sprays to your pulse points — the spicy top notes are fleeting but essential for setting the stage. The woody base takes an hour to bloom fully, so give it time before reapplying. It works best in cooler settings where its warmth feels most welcome.
Fig. 01 — Velours, Yves Saint Laurent
Where to buy.
Wear it for a week first
A decant costs a fraction of a bottle and tells you how it lasts on your skin.
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Carlos Benaïm
The quiet geniusCarlos Benaïm is a master perfumer at IFF whose name may not be widely recognized outside the industry, yet his creations have shaped the olfactory landscape of the past four decades.
“Perfumers always strive to create a scent that will have long lasting appeal but we never fully know in advance.”
Carlos Benaïm · The Candy Perfume Boy, April 2015
The Velours line
2 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 originalVeloursYves Saint Laurent · Premium · $100–250Kenzo · 2009Flower by Kenzo EssentielleShares 5 of its 8 notes$40–100★ 3.89 (636)45%Match
Nina Ricci · 2017L'Extase Rose AbsolueShares 4 of its 8 notes$40–100★ 4.25 (1,050)45%Match
PARIS CORNER · 2023RifaaqatShares 4 of its 7 notesunder $40★ 4.23 (4,259)54%Match
Swiss Arabian · 2023PASSION OF VENICEShares 6 of its 10 notesunder $40★ 4.31
With Yves Saint Laurent Opium Extrait de Parfum 40th Anniversary Edition
Adds floral, white floral and citrus; shares jasmine.
Suggested from accords and notes · not yet tried by wearers
What people
are saying.
Well loved by wearers: loved by 48%, disliked or hated by 9%.