My first encounter with Ysatis
During college, I had a girl in my study group who wore this perfume day in day out. It so captivated me to the point of not being able to concentrate on the work to be done. Reason being not because it stank but because it smelled so good. Downside to it though, was that she obviously did not know how much to spray of the stuff and it got out of hand. Daily. Not discouraged by the lack of measure this girl employed, I asked the name of the perfume. She could not pronounce it, but showed me the box. I too had to write down the name, since prononciation left a lot to be desired, which is why I included the prononciation in this review.

The aroma
Givenchy Perfumes introduced Ysatis (pronounced ?ee-sah-tees?) in 1985. Dominique Ropion mixed the fragrance for Givenchy. It is a floral fragrance, with a hint of exotic. Semi-oriental accords have been used and intermingle in the top, middle and base note. The ingredients predominantly used are:
1. Top notes: mandarin, bergamot, ylang-ylang, galbanum, orange blossom, coconut, rosewood, greens, and aldehydes.
2. Middle notes: rose, jasmine, polianthes, iris, tuberose, ylang-ylang, carnation, narcissus.
3. End notes: bay rum, vetiver, patchouli, oak moss, sandalwood, clove, vanilla, amber, musk, honey, civet, and castoreum.
I assume a little explanation is required: each perfume is composed of a so-called top note (notes of the head), which is the volatile, refreshing odour you receive immediately upon taking a whiff of the perfume. Milder notes, called notes of the heart or middle notes provide the body or character of the perfume, whereas the note of depth (also known as basic or end note), is the persistent smell that surfaces after a good 10-15 minutes.
Perfumes are classified consistent with one or more particular prevailing scents. The floral collection blends such odors as jasmine, rose, lily of the valley, and gardenia. The spicy blends feature such

aromas as ca
rnation, clove, cinnamon, and nutmeg. The woody group is distinguished by such odors as vetiver, sandalwood, and cedar wood. An aroma of oak moss dominates the mossy family. The group known as the Orientals combines woody, mossy, and spicy notes with such sweet aromas as vanilla or balsam and is typically accentuated by such animal odors as musk or civet. The herbal group is portrayed by such smells as clover and sweet grass. The leather-tobacco group features the aromas of leather, tobacco, and the smokiness of birch tar. Aldehydic scents are dominated by odors of aldehydes, usually having a fruity character. Fragrances designed for men are generally classified as citrus, spice, leather, lavender, fern, or woody.

The package
Pierre Dinand was inspired by the Art Deco style when designing the bottle. It is shaped like a skyscraper of that period. It reminds me of the Empire State Building in New York. The flask is made of clear glass, with a golden ?roof? as bottle cap. As for the box, I don?t know who the designer is but the chief color is purple (deep, dark) with a bias of yellow and fuchsia. The name Ysatis is written in gold.

Wear when?
Ysatis, due to its warm, floral scent, is suitable for casual and daywear. Yet, the woody basic notes gives this perfume the ideal character for evenings and special occasions as well. I would recommend teenagers to stay away from this fragrance. The body of the perfume makes this scent rich, a no-no for young, fresh ladies. I recommend you do not buy the full range of Ysatis products, the perfume EDT is sufficient. This rich scent tends to smell overwhelming when used in combination with a shower gel or body lotion. The body lotion has a slightly different smell, but that could be purely subjective.

Price
As you may well know price depends on whether you buy parfum, eau de parfum or eau de toilette or other.
EDT 25 ml: £ 26,75
EDT 50 ml: £ 38,00
EDT 100
ml: £ 52,00

The difference in price depends on the level of perfume-oils concentration: perfume (30%); eau de perfume (15%); eau de toilette (8%); cologne (5%); and cologne splash (3%). As far as I know Ysatis can only be bought in eau de toilette and not in eau de parfum or
parfum. I assume t
hat is because the scent is very rich, so the eau de toilette would suffice.

Other Ysatis products
For those of you who wish to have more than perfume? there is:
Givenchy Ysatis Delicate Bath Gel 200 ml ? about £ 16,00
Givenchy Ysatis Generous Body Cream 200 ml ? about £ 35,00
Givenchy Ysatis Perfumed Deodorant Spray 100 ml -- £ 19,00
Givenchy Ysatis Silk Body Veil 200 ml -- about £ 19,00
Givenchy Ysatis Exfoliating Gel -- £ 9,95