Yves Saint Laurent Young Sexy Lovely Couture Collection 2009
Vivir Report: YSL Young Sexy Lovely Couture Collection 2009 Review
A Collector's Look at a Discontinued Fruity-Floral Gem
By James Whitmore··Updated
James Whitmore is a British journalist who has covered luxury goods and consumer products for over 15 years. He holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Edinburgh and cut his teeth at The Times Style section before moving to Which? magazine, where he learned the value of rigorous, consume
In 2009, Yves Saint Laurent released a Couture Collection that dressed some of its most beloved feminine fragrances in limited-edition bottles inspired by the house’s haute couture legacy. Among them was Young Sexy Lovely, a scent originally launched in 2007 that had already charmed its way into the hearts of a younger audience. The Couture edition elevated the presentation with a sleek, faceted glass flacon adorned with a golden YSL logo and a tassel, making it a collector’s item that still surfaces on resale platforms today.
Young Sexy Lovely was conceived as a fresh, fruity-floral that embodies the Parisian insouciance of a girl who is discovering her own allure. It’s not a complex, brooding masterpiece but a simple, happy fragrance that leans into the trend of the mid-2000s for sweet, playful scents. With its pear and cherry blossom heart, it aimed to be the olfactory equivalent of a pastel macaron—pretty, unpretentious, and instantly likeable.
This review revisits the fragrance inside the Couture bottle (the juice remained unchanged) to see how it holds up today. We’ll break down its composition, performance, and the kind of wearer who might still fall for its youthful charm.
The Nose Behind the Scent
The original Young Sexy Lovely (2007) was created by the renowned perfumer Sophie Labbé. While the perfumer for this specific 2009 limited edition flanker is not officially credited, it is widely assumed to be an adaptation of Labbé's original structure, likely developed by the in-house team at YSL Beauté. Labbé is a master perfumer at IFF known for her work on iconic fragrances such as Bvlgari Jasmin Noir, Calvin Klein Beauty, and Givenchy Organza.
4.2Overall
Longevity
0.0
Projection
0.0
Sillage
0.0
$80–$250 (depending on condition and seller)
🌸Spring☀️Summer🍂Fall❄️Winter
Accords
fruityfloralsweetmuskypowderywoody
Notes Pyramid
Top
PearMandarin OrangeBergamot
Heart
Cherry BlossomMagnoliaLily-of-the-Valley
Base
MuskCedarwoodAmberSandalwood
Performance Dashboard
⏱️ Longevity
3-5 hours
📢 Projection
Soft to moderate; polite and close to the skin after the first hour.
💨 Sillage
Moderate; leaves a pleasant, detectable trail without overwhelming a room.
When to Wear
🌸SpringBest
☀️SummerBest
🍂FallOK
❄️WinterAvoid
📌 Casual daytime outings📌 Brunch with friends📌 College or early career settings📌 Picnics and outdoor events
Community Verdict
⭐ Overall
4.2
⏱️ Longevity
4.0
💨 Sillage
3.8
💰 Value
4.1
💌 Compliment Factor0.0/5
7/10. It garners friendly, “you smell nice” comments, especially in close quarters, but isn’t a head-turner. Its charm lies in its likeability rather than seduction.
Pros & Cons
✅ Delightfully juicy and uplifting opening
✅ Inoffensive and easy to wear
✅ Beautiful collector’s bottle design
✅ Excellent for warm weather and casual days
❌ Short-lived on many skin types
❌ Lacks complexity and depth
❌ Can feel too juvenile for some tastes
❌ Limited availability and inflated resale prices
Price & Value
$80–$250 (depending on condition and seller)
“As a discontinued collector’s item, the Couture bottle commands a premium. The scent itself is a simple pleasure, so value depends on your nostalgia or love for the presentation.”
📜 Reformulation History
No significant batch variations reported; the fragrance formula remained consistent through its production run.
Layer with a pure musk oil to extend longevity and add a sensual skin effect.
Pair with a light vanilla body lotion to amplify the sweet, creamy facets.
🏆 Final Verdict
Yves Saint Laurent Young Sexy Lovely Couture Collection 2009 remains a charming time capsule of 2000s fruity-floral trends. It won’t challenge your senses or last all day, but its cheerful pear-and-cherry-blossom personality still brings a smile. If you can find the Couture bottle at a fair price, it’s a lovely addition for collectors and fans of effortless, youthful scents.
