Yves Saint Laurent
3 fragrances are widely sold as cheaper versions of this. Ranked strongest match first.
Like a bright bergamot spritz with Tunisian orange blossom and a clean patchouli-wood finish
Main accords: citrus, white floral, patchouli, fresh spicy, woody, sweet. 2023 · Eau de Parfum
Widely agreedArmaf
Dubai Nights Midnight
As close as anyone has got — 91 to 97 percent depending on your nose, and it drew equal or better reactions than the original in testing. Sweeter and berry-tinged where the original is rounder orange blossom and musk.
Often citedZimaya
Itqan Noir
About 90 percent for the first fifteen or twenty minutes, then it drifts — it swaps the powdery detergent florals for a Baccarat Rouge style saffron note and finishes flatter. Plasticky until it has macerated.
Sometimes citedMaison Asrar
Rey
More of a spiced reading than a copy — think the original with vanilla, amber and warm spices added, and the orange blossom smoothed rather than animalic. High quality, and the candied character of the original does come through, but the cinnamon and spice make it stand out next to closer clones.
Ranking combines how widely wearers agree a fragrance is a dupe with how closely its notes and accords line up. “Strong match” means both signals agree; “loose match” means it is in the same family but noticeably different on skin.
Armaf Dubai Nights Midnight is widely sold as a dupe of Yves Saint Laurent Myslf. As close as anyone has got — 91 to 97 percent depending on your nose, and it drew equal or better reactions than the original in testing. Sweeter and berry-tinged where the original is rounder orange blossom and musk.
Zimaya Itqan Noir is widely sold as a dupe of Yves Saint Laurent Myslf. About 90 percent for the first fifteen or twenty minutes, then it drifts — it swaps the powdery detergent florals for a Baccarat Rouge style saffron note and finishes flatter. Plasticky until it has macerated.
Maison Asrar Rey is widely sold as a dupe of Yves Saint Laurent Myslf. More of a spiced reading than a copy — think the original with vanilla, amber and warm spices added, and the orange blossom smoothed rather than animalic. High quality, and the candied character of the original does come through, but the cinnamon and spice make it stand out next to closer clones.
Armaf Dubai Nights Midnight is the closest we have on record. It is the one wearers name most consistently. As close as anyone has got — 91 to 97 percent depending on your nose, and it drew equal or better reactions than the original in testing. Sweeter and berry-tinged where the original is rounder orange blossom and musk.
Yes — 3 of them, including Armaf Dubai Nights Midnight, Zimaya Itqan Noir, Maison Asrar Rey. Each is listed above with what it gets right and where it falls short.
No. A dupe is built to the same idea, not the same formula, and cheaper materials usually show in the opening and in how long it lasts. That is why every entry here says how it differs instead of giving a percentage. Of Armaf Dubai Nights Midnight, for instance: As close as anyone has got — 91 to 97 percent depending on your nose, and it drew equal or better reactions than the original in testing. Sweeter and berry-tinged where the original is rounder orange blossom and musk.
Like a bright bergamot spritz with Tunisian orange blossom and a clean patchouli-wood finish It opens on Calabrian Bergamot, Bergamot.
MYSLF is Yves Saint Laurent's most personal masculine fragrance in years, a modern aromatic floral that centers on Tunisian orange blossom as its beating heart — a note traditionally associated with feminine perfumery, recontextualized here as the foundation of a new kind of masculinity. Released in 2023, it represents the house's answer to the growing demand for softer, more emotionally expressive men's fragrances.
The opening is clean, bright, and immediately engaging. Calabrian bergamot — specifically sourced, as YSL emphasizes the provenance of their ingredients — provides a classic citrus freshness that is both familiar and refined. The bergamot here is generous and sunny, establishing an optimistic mood before the heart note takes over. Unlike many masculine openings that rely on synthetic freshness or aquatic notes, MYSLF's citrus introduction feels natural and unforced, like peeling a bergamot in warm sunlight.
The heart reveals the fragrance's soul: Tunisian orange blossom absolute. This is not a light, transparent orange blossom but the full absolute — rich, creamy, honeyed, and slightly indolic, with the waxy, narcotic quality that distinguishes absolute from essential oil. It arrives within ten minutes of the opening and proceeds to dominate the next three to five hours of the fragrance's development, becoming increasingly powdery and creamy as time passes. The orange blossom is supported by a constellation of aromatic notes listed among the general accords: Brazilian rosewood adds a sweet, slightly floral woody quality, clary sage contributes dry, herbal warmth, marjoram provides a green, slightly sweet herbaceousness, carnation adds spicy clove-like depth, and rosemary introduces a clean, camphoraceous brightness that keeps the floral heart from becoming too soft.
The base is grounded and contemporary. Patchouli provides dark, earthy depth that anchors the airy floral heart with substance and masculinity. Ambrofix — the sustainable, synthetic alternative to ambergris — contributes a warm, woody-amber quality with the slightly salty, skin-like character that has made it ubiquitous in modern perfumery. Together, they create a drydown that is warm and intimate without being heavy, settling into a close-to-skin musky warmth that feels like freshly cleaned skin rather than an applied fragrance.
The dominant citrus and white floral accords, with moderate patchouli, fresh spicy, woody, and sweet notes, create a fragrance that is meticulously balanced between freshness and warmth. MYSLF does not shout or demand attention — it projects at a polite, conversational volume that invites closeness rather than commanding space.
The name MYSLF and the concept behind it — the idea of a fragrance that reflects the authentic, multifaceted modern man — is more than marketing. The composition genuinely embodies this philosophy: the traditionally feminine orange blossom wrapped in traditionally masculine bergamot, herbs, and patchouli creates something that transcends both categories.
As an Eau de Parfum with moderate longevity and moderate sillage, MYSLF is designed for versatility rather than drama. It works beautifully in any season, from spring mornings to winter evenings, and suits virtually any occasion — office wear, casual outings, dates, and social events. It is the everyday signature scent for the man who values quiet confidence over loud statements, emotional intelligence over aggressive posturing.