Yves Saint Laurent's MYSLF (often searched as "YSL Myself") has become one of the house's most talked-about modern men's releases, prized for its clean, radiant take on orange blossom and a bergamot opening that reads fresh without tipping into generic "clean cologne" territory. A 60ml bottle of the original typically retails from around £80.99 in the UK, which puts it firmly in premium designer territory and out of easy reach for anyone wanting to wear it daily without rationing sprays.
What does MYSLF actually smell like?
According to Fragrantica's official breakdown, YSL MYSLF Eau de Parfum is built around a fairly simple but well-balanced structure:
- Top notes: Calabrian bergamot
- Heart notes: Tunisian orange blossom
- Base notes: Ambrofix and patchouli
The result is a citrusy opening that softens into a warm, slightly powdery orange blossom heart, before settling into a woody-amber patchouli base that gives it decent staying power for a modern designer scent.
Why people look for a MYSLF dupe
At £80+ for 60ml, MYSLF isn't a fragrance most people reach for casually. A lot of fans discover they love the orange blossom and bergamot combination but don't want to commit that much money to a bottle they might only wear a few times a week. That's the gap "inspired by" alternatives are built for: capturing the general mood and note direction of a popular scent at a price where you can actually use it generously, layer it, or gift it without a second thought.
Introducing Essence — Insp by YSL Myself
Our Essence, priced at £14.99, is D&E's own composition inspired by the same bergamot-and-orange-blossom family that MYSLF helped popularise. It leans into that fresh citrus opening and a soft floral heart, making it an easy option for daily wear, office settings, or anywhere you want something clean and modern without overpowering a room. At this price point, it's realistic to keep a bottle at your desk and another by the door without thinking twice.
Being upfront about the comparison
We want to be honest here: Essence is not an exact clone or replica of YSL MYSLF, and no "inspired by" fragrance from any brand — including ours — should be marketed as identical to the original. Perfume houses use proprietary ingredients (like YSL's Ambrofix) and complex formulations that independent brands simply cannot and do not reproduce. What we aim for is capturing the same general scent family and mood at a fraction of the cost, not a molecule-for-molecule copy.
Longevity and projection
As with most fragrances in this price bracket, expect moderate longevity — typically in the region of 4-6 hours on skin — with softer projection than you'd get from a premium eau de parfum concentration. A couple of sprays on pulse points (wrists, neck) after moisturised skin will help it last longer. It's realistic to treat it as a fragrance you might reapply once during a full working day rather than a true all-day scent, which is common for this style and price of "inspired by" fragrance.
The verdict
If you like the idea of MYSLF's bergamot and orange blossom pairing but don't want to spend £80+ to find out whether it suits you, Essence is a low-risk way to try that scent family. It won't fool a perfumer, but for everyday wear at £14.99, it does a solid job of capturing the mood.
Shop Essence — Insp by YSL Myself
Yves Saint Laurent and MYSLF (MYSLF/Myself) are registered trademarks of Yves Saint Laurent / L'Oréal Group. D&E Fragrances is an independent UK fragrance brand and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Yves Saint Laurent. "Essence" is our own original composition, inspired by the popular fragrance family that MYSLF helped define.