Index: /llms.txt

# YSL Babycat Review: Notes, Longevity and Who It Suits

https://www.scento.com/blog/ysl-babycat-review

November 3, 2026

YSL Babycat is a unisex vanilla and suede Eau de Parfum by perfumer Dominique Ropion[1], launched in 2022[2]. It opens with sharp pepper and incense, then settles into a warm vanilla that is not dessert-sweet and, Essence reports, lasts through the day[3]. YSL France lists the 75 ml bottle at €230[4].

- Notes: pink pepper, black pepper and elemi, then olibanum and saffron, then vanilla, cedarwood and a suede accord[1].
- Wear: the opening is intense for the first five to ten minutes, and Essence says the scent lasts easily through the day[3].
- Best for: autumn and winter, and evenings[3][1].
- Trying it first: Scento sells Babycat as a 2 ml decant for €22.90.

Babycat in figures

**2022**

Launch year in Le Vestiaire des Parfums

Fragrantica [2]

**€230**

75 ml Babycat Eau de Parfum at YSL France, read 4 November 2026

YSL Beauté France [4]

**5–10 min**

How long Essence found the peppery opening "almost overwhelming in the best way possible"

Essence [3]

**76%**

Share of Scento's paid decant units sold as 2 ml, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026

Scento Fragrance Index

## Babycat at a glance

| Detail | Babycat |
| --- | --- |
| House | Yves Saint Laurent [1] |
| Collection | Le Vestiaire des Parfums [1] |
| Perfumer | Dominique Ropion [1] |
| Launch | 2022 [2] |
| Concentration | Eau de Parfum [1][2] |
| Accords | Sweet, smoky, spicy, resinous, leathery [5] |
| Top notes | Pink pepper, black pepper, elemi [1] |
| Heart notes | Olibanum, saffron accord [1] |
| Base notes | Vanilla, cedarwood, suede accord [1] |
| Official price | €230 for 75 ml at YSL France [4] |
| At Scento | 2 ml €22.90 · 5 ml €40.95 · 8 ml €62.90 |
| Best season | Autumn and winter [3] |

## What YSL Babycat smells like

YSL lists pink pepper, black pepper and elemi at the top, olibanum and a saffron accord in the heart, and vanilla, cedarwood and a suede accord at the base[1]. In plain terms, that is a spicy, resinous opening over a warm, leathery vanilla. If you like the idea of vanilla but not of sugar, the [suede](https://www.scento.com/note/suede) and [olibanum](https://www.scento.com/note/olibanum) are what keep this one dry and smoky.

Ropion describes the idea himself: "I wanted to emphasize the leathery nuance naturally found in vanilla and to work the perfume around the contrast between this aspect and the gourmand character of the ingredient with its creamy, warm, sensual facets"[1]. YSL calls the suede accord "a sensual, enveloping suede accord combining exotic spices and sizzling resins"[1].

Parfumo summarises the scent as sweet-smoky, with sweet, smoky, spicy, resinous and leathery as its main accords[5]. Essence agrees on the sweetness: "the vanilla here is sophisticated rather than dessert-like"[3].

The cap is textured like grain de poudre, the fabric of Saint Laurent's tuxedo[2].

The name comes from YSL's leopard print. According to the launch text quoted by Now Smell This, it "was first sighted in the couturier's collections on a silk dress in 1968"[6].

## How it wears: opening, heart and drydown

### The opening

The first minutes are the divisive part. Essence describes "an intense blast of pink and black pepper paired with incense notes that are honestly quite sharp", and says it is "almost overwhelming in the best way possible" for the first five to ten minutes[3]. Its verdict: "While that opening might not be for everyone, the payoff is absolutely worth it"[3].

### The heart

As the pepper softens, the listed heart of olibanum and a saffron accord comes forward[1]. This is the resinous, incense-like stage. If that is a family you enjoy, our guide to the [best incense perfumes](https://www.scento.com/blog/best-incense-perfumes) covers it in more depth.

### The drydown

The vanilla then arrives. Essence writes that it "emerges warm and enveloping, wrapped in this gorgeous suede accord"[3]. Cedarwood sits underneath[1]. For readers who want to compare other vanilla styles, see the [best vanilla perfumes](https://www.scento.com/blog/best-vanilla-perfumes) guide, and for suede and leather the [best leather perfumes](https://www.scento.com/blog/best-leather-perfumes).

## Longevity and projection

Three sources point the same way. Essence says "the projection and longevity on this are impressive. You only need a few sprays, and it lasts easily through the day with good sillage"[3]. Parfumo's summary reads "Projection and longevity are above-average"[5]. YSL itself promises "an exceptionally potent trail"[1].

One Parfumo reviewer gives hours: "Projects like a maniac for 4 hours or more .. then up to 8 hours stays like a skin scent"[5]. That is one person's skin, so treat it as a guide, not a promise.

YSL's own application tip is "Apply on pulse points: wrist, inner elbow and neck"[7]. Given how strongly it projects, start with a small number of sprays.

## Who Babycat suits, and when to wear it

YSL lists Babycat as a "Unisex Fragrance"[1], and Parfumo lists it for women and men[5]. It suits three kinds of wearer in particular:

- People who like vanilla but find most of it too sweet, since Essence calls this one sophisticated rather than dessert-like[3].
- Fans of incense and leather, who will recognise the olibanum heart and suede base[1].
- Anyone looking for an evening scent. YSL says "Think intimate dinners, dimly lit bars, and late-night rendezvous"[1].

For season, Essence calls it "perfect for autumn and winter weather"[3]. Anyone who dislikes a sharp, peppery-incense start may find it is not for them, as Essence puts it ("that opening might not be for everyone")[3], which is a good reason to test it on skin before buying a bottle.

## Babycat and Babycat Raw Bourbon

You may see Babycat sold as "Babycat Eau de Parfum Raw Bourbon". YSL Beauty Canada lists it with the same notes and the same Dominique Ropion text as the standard page, under the same product code[8]. Fragrantica lists Babycat Raw Bourbon as a 2025 launch by Ropion, with black and pink pepper, olibanum, saffron and resins, and vanilla, suede and cedarwood[9].

So the newer bottles carry the Raw Bourbon name with the same listed notes. This article covers the Babycat Eau de Parfum as YSL lists it. At launch in 2022 it was sold as a 125 ml Eau de Parfum[2].

## Where Babycat sits in Le Vestiaire des Parfums

Babycat belongs to Le Vestiaire des Parfums, YSL's collection that also includes Muse, Tuxedo, Cuir, Gold and others[10]. Scento stocks three of its sister fragrances. Each shares at least one material with Babycat, which is a useful way to see how the collection fits together. They are different perfumes, not versions of Babycat.

| Perfume | Key notes | Shared with Babycat | Scento 2 ml |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Cuir](https://www.scento.com/perfumes/cuir-yves-saint-laurent) | Mandarin, cardamom, violet leaf, clove, oud, suede accord, patchouli, cedarwood, Bourbon vanilla, sandalwood [11] | Suede accord, Bourbon vanilla | €22.90 |
| [Tuxedo](https://www.scento.com/perfumes/tuxedo-yves-saint-laurent) | Violet leaf, bergamot, coriander, rose, lily of the valley, black pepper, ambergris accord, patchouli, Bourbon vanilla [12] | Black pepper, Bourbon vanilla | €19.90 |
| [Muse](https://www.scento.com/perfumes/muse-by-yves-saint-laurent) | Incense, lavender, clary sage, orris concrete, ambrette, Bourbon vanilla absolute, ink accord, ambery woods [13] | Incense, Bourbon vanilla | €9.90 |

For the wider house, see our [Yves Saint Laurent page](https://www.scento.com/brand/yves-saint-laurent) and the guide to the [best Yves Saint Laurent perfumes](https://www.scento.com/blog/best-yves-saint-laurent-perfumes-designer-picks-compared).

## Babycat price per ml and trying it first

YSL France sells 75 ml for €230, which is about €3.07 per ml[4]. YSL itself prints €306.67 per 100 ml[4]. That is a serious commitment for a perfume with a divisive opening.

A 2 ml decant costs more per ml than the bottle, so it is not a saving. It is a way to find out whether the first ten minutes work on your skin before you spend €230. By our analysis of YSL's French list price, a 2 ml decant at €22.90 costs about a tenth of the bottle price. Scento's [Babycat decants](https://www.scento.com/perfumes/babycat-by-yves-saint-laurent) come in 2 ml (€22.90), 5 ml (€40.95) and 8 ml (€62.90). Across Scento's paid decant units from October 2025 to September 2026, 76% were 2 ml, 11% were 5 ml and 9.5% were 8 ml (Scento Fragrance Index, Europe).

Essence's conclusion is that the payoff is worth the opening[3]. If you want to find out for yourself, wear it for a full day.

## How we compiled this

Notes, perfumer and occasion come from YSL Beauty's own pages. The price was read from YSL Beauté France on 4 November 2026. Performance comes from named published sources, each attributed in the text. Decant prices are Scento's retail prices, and the size mix is a share of paid decant units in Europe from October 2025 to September 2026.

## Sources

1. [Babycat Eau de Parfum](https://www.yslbeauty.com/int/fragrance/unisex-fragrances/babycat-eau-de-parfum/WW-51376YSL.html), YSL Beauty International, read 4 November 2026.
2. [Yves Saint Laurent Babycat - New in Le Vestiaire des Parfums](https://www.fragrantica.com/news/Yves-Saint-Laurent-The-Babycat-Perfume-Locker-Room-16318.html), Fragrantica, Sanja Pekić, 31 March 2022.
3. [ESScent Of The Week: The YSL Babycat Hype Is Real (And Here's Why)](https://www.essence.com/beauty/esscent-ysl-babycat-review/), Essence, Kimberly Wilson, 24 October 2025.
4. [Babycat Eau de Parfum](https://www.yslbeauty.fr/parfums/le-vestiaire-des-parfums/babycat--eau-de-parfum/WW-51376YSL.html), YSL Beauté France, read 4 November 2026.
5. [Babycat by Yves Saint Laurent](https://www.parfumo.com/Perfumes/Yves_Saint_Laurent/babycat), Parfumo, read 4 November 2026.
6. [Yves Saint Laurent Babycat ~ new fragrance](https://nstperfume.com/2022/04/07/yves-saint-laurent-babycat-new-fragrance/), Now Smell This, Robin, 7 April 2022.
7. [Babycat - Le Vestiaire des Parfums](https://www.yslbeautyus.com/fragrance/le-vestiaire-des-parfums/the-signature-collection/babycat---le-vestiaire-des-parfums/WW-50920YSL.html), YSL Beauty US, read 4 November 2026.
8. [Babycat Eau de Parfum Raw Bourbon](https://www.yslbeauty.ca/en_CA/le-vestiaire-des-parfums/essentielle-collection/babycat-eau-de-parfum-raw-bourbon/WW-51376YSL.html), YSL Beauty Canada, read 4 November 2026.
9. [Babycat Raw Bourbon](https://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Yves-Saint-Laurent/Babycat-Raw-Bourbon-104191.html), Fragrantica, read 4 November 2026.
10. [Explore Le Vestiaire des Parfums with Master Perfumers](https://www.yslbeauty.com/int/the-perfumers.html), YSL Beauty, read 4 November 2026.
11. [Cuir Eau de Parfum](https://www.yslbeauty.com/int/fragrance/unisex-fragrances/cuir-eau-de-parfum/WW-51377YSL.html), YSL Beauty International, read 4 November 2026.
12. [Tuxedo Eau de Parfum](https://www.yslbeauty.com/int/fragrance/unisex-fragrances/tuxedo-eau-de-parfum/WW-51373YSL.html), YSL Beauty International, read 4 November 2026.
13. [Muse Eau de Parfum](https://www.yslbeauty.com/int/fragrance/unisex-fragrances/muse-eau-de-parfum/WW-51372YSL.html), YSL Beauty International, read 4 November 2026.

## Your questions

### What does YSL Babycat smell like?

YSL lists pink pepper, black pepper and elemi at the top, olibanum and a saffron accord in the heart, and vanilla, cedarwood and a suede accord at the base. In practice it is peppery and resinous first, then warm vanilla. Essence says the vanilla is sophisticated rather than dessert-like.

### How long does Babycat last?

Essence says it lasts easily through the day with good sillage, and Parfumo's summary calls projection and longevity above-average. One Parfumo reviewer reports strong projection for 4 hours or more, then a skin scent for up to 8 hours. YSL promises an exceptionally potent trail.

### Is Babycat unisex?

Yes. YSL lists Babycat on its official page as a Unisex Fragrance, and Parfumo describes it as a perfume for women and men. YSL's own occasion text, about intimate dinners and late-night rendezvous, does not tie the scent to one gender, so the choice comes down to whether you enjoy a peppery, resinous vanilla.

### What season and occasion suit Babycat?

Essence calls Babycat perfect for autumn and winter weather. YSL's own wording for the occasion is intimate dinners, dimly lit bars and late-night rendezvous, so it suits evenings best. Anyone who dislikes a sharp, peppery-incense start may want to test it on skin first.

### Who made Babycat, and when?

Perfumer Dominique Ropion created Babycat for YSL's Le Vestiaire des Parfums collection. Fragrantica reported it as new on 31 March 2022, available as a 125 ml Eau de Parfum, and Now Smell This covered the launch on 7 April 2022.

### Is Babycat Raw Bourbon the same as Babycat?

YSL Beauty Canada sells Babycat Eau de Parfum Raw Bourbon with the same listed notes and the same Dominique Ropion text as the standard Babycat page, under the same product code. Fragrantica lists Raw Bourbon as a 2025 launch. The newer bottles carry the Raw Bourbon name.

### How much is Babycat?

YSL France lists the 75 ml Babycat Eau de Parfum at €230, read on 4 November 2026, which is about €3.07 per ml. Scento sells Babycat decants at €22.90 for 2 ml, €40.95 for 5 ml and €62.90 for 8 ml, a way to try it before buying a bottle.

### Why is it called Babycat?

The name comes from YSL's leopard print. According to the launch text quoted by Now Smell This on 7 April 2022, the print was first sighted in the couturier's collections on a silk dress in 1968. The same launch coverage credits perfumer Dominique Ropion with developing the fragrance.