Is YSL Y Eau de Parfum healthy?

YSL Y Eau de Parfum scores 15/100 on Scout's independent analysis of ingredients, additives, and lab results — one of the lower scores in Scout's catalog. YSL Y Eau de Parfum scores 15/100.

How does YSL Y Eau de Parfum compare to other fragrances?

YSL Y Eau de Parfum ranks #17 of 44 fragrances in Scout's independent rankings. The current top score in the category is Rosy & Earnest Be Earnest Eau de Parfum at 85/100.

Which ingredients drive YSL Y Eau de Parfum's score?

In Scout's ingredient-by-ingredient analysis, Parfum (Fragrance), Limonene, Linalool are flagged as ingredients of concern. The full breakdown, with why each one matters, is in the Key ingredients section on this page.

YSL Y Eau de Parfum

Poor

At a glance

Beneficial ingredients 0

Harmful ingredients 12

Category Fragrances

Summary

YSL Y Eau de Parfum scores 15/100. A men's fougère designer fragrance from L'Oréal-owned YSL Beauty. Issues: (1) an undisclosed 'Parfum' trade-secret blend that legally hides dozens of aromachemicals — almost certainly including synthetic polycyclic musks (Galaxolide/Tonalide) that are endocrine disruptors and bioaccumulate in human fat and breast milk; (2) eight IFRA / EU-declared dermal sensitizers (limonene, linalool, citral, citronellol, alpha-isomethyl ionone, geraniol, coumarin) at concentrations above 0.001% (which is why they're required to be labeled); (3) three coal-tar synthetic dyes (Ext. Violet 2, Yellow 6, Blue 1) added purely for the dark-blue bottle aesthetic. Avobenzone is added to stabilize bottle color. No banned ingredients (no Lilial, no HICC, no oxybenzone). One of the cleaner designer men's fragrances on the market — but still far behind disclosed-formula clean alternatives (Phlur, DedCool, Skylar) that omit synthetic musks, dyes, and undisclosed parfum.

Key ingredients 14

Parfum (Fragrance)

Very Bad

Trade-secret blanket term that legally conceals dozens to hundreds of individual aromachemicals. Designer fragrance blends almost always contain synthetic polycyclic musks (Galaxolide, Tonalide) — endocrine disruptors that bioaccumulate in human fat tissue, breast milk, and wastewater — alongside Ambroxan, Iso E Super, and historically DEP phthalate solvents. No disclosure obligation in the US.

See more about Parfum (Fragrance) →

Limonene

Bad

IFRA / EU-declared fragrance allergen. Oxidizes on skin and in the bottle into stronger sensitizers; one of the top causes of fragrance contact dermatitis. Required label disclosure means it is present above 0.001% in this leave-on product.

See more about Limonene →

Linalool

Bad

IFRA / EU-declared fragrance allergen. Air-oxidized linalool hydroperoxides are confirmed contact sensitizers — exposure is high in spray-on fragrance.

See more about Linalool →

Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane (Avobenzone)

Bad

Chemical UV filter added to prevent fragrance discoloration in clear bottles. Documented photoallergen; mild estrogenic activity in cell and animal studies. Unnecessary in a product that isn't a sunscreen.

See more about Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane (Avobenzone) →

Citral

Bad

IFRA / EU-declared fragrance allergen with strong sensitizing potential — IFRA restricts maximum use levels in leave-on products specifically because of its high contact-allergy rate.

See more about Citral →

Citronellol

Bad

IFRA / EU-declared fragrance allergen. Recognized dermal sensitizer; one of the most frequently cited fragrance allergens in patch-test studies.

See more about Citronellol →

Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone

Bad

IFRA / EU-declared fragrance allergen; recognized dermal sensitizer with cumulative-exposure concerns.

See more about Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone →

Geraniol

Bad

IFRA / EU-declared fragrance allergen with rose-like odor. Documented skin sensitizer; oxidation products are even more reactive.

See more about Geraniol →

Coumarin

Bad

IFRA / EU-declared fragrance allergen. Category 2 skin sensitizer; the EU SCCS has flagged it for cumulative exposure risk across multiple fragranced products.

See more about Coumarin →

CI 60730 (Ext. Violet 2)

Bad

Coal-tar-derived violet dye (Ext. Violet 2) added purely for bottle aesthetics. Provides zero functional benefit on a leave-on spray product. Documented skin sensitizer in EU SCCS reports.

See more about CI 60730 (Ext. Violet 2) →

CI 15985 (FD&C Yellow 6)

Bad

Coal-tar azo dye added for bottle color. Frequent contact-sensitizer in topical products; aesthetic-only addition with no consumer benefit.

See more about CI 15985 (FD&C Yellow 6) →

CI 42090 (FD&C Blue 1)

Bad

Coal-tar triphenylmethane dye added for bottle color. Documented dermal absorption in topical use; aesthetic-only addition with no consumer benefit.

See more about CI 42090 (FD&C Blue 1) →

Alcohol

Neutral

Ethanol-based solvent carrier (~80% of formula). Drying to skin but otherwise inert.