Match #13 · Brotherhood Of Scent

Match #13

Match #13 in my 40-fragrance tournament is a true blue-on-blue showdown: Bleu de Chanel Eau de Parfum versus YSL Y Le Parfum (2025). These are two fragrances I'd happily wear any day of the year, so this was one of the toughest decisions so far.

Bleu de Chanel Eau de Parfum (2014, created by Jacques Polge) is the definition of understated sophistication. Its blend of grapefruit, incense, ginger, cedar, and sandalwood is smooth, versatile, and effortlessly elegant.

YSL Y Le Parfum (reformulated in 2025, created by Dominique Ropion) takes the familiar Y DNA and adds a beautiful fir tree note alongside apple, sage, patchouli, and woods. It feels a little bolder than the Chanel, with stronger projection while maintaining excellent versatility.

According to Fragrantica, these two are fairly similar in longevity, but that's not what happens on my skin. Bleu de Chanel fades much sooner than it seems to for most people, while Y Le Parfum just keeps going. In the end, this matchup came down to the dry-down, and that's where the YSL pulled ahead.

I know I'm probably committing fragrance heresy here, but if I had never smelled either of these before and tested them blind, I'd pick the YSL. So that's my winner today. Y Le Parfum advances, while Bleu de Chanel heads to the loser's bracket.

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Match #13