Vice Versa
Created for fragrance collectors and lovers of vintage late-nineties perfumery, Yves Saint Laurent Vice Versa delivers a spirited, feel-good vibe that stands apart from standard sweet florals. The playful mix of tart raspberry, savory tomato, and lush tuberose creates an upbeat mood that feels vibrant and refreshing. It suits anyone who wants a charming spring signature or a nostalgic summer day scent that feels fun, stylish, and full of personality. With its gentle cedar and powdery iris base, it wears effortlessly to weekend brunches, garden parties, casual outdoor dates, and relaxed office settings.
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Performance Metrics
1,135 VOTESOpen Performance Breakdown 1 TAKE
Expect 4 to 6 hours of wear on skin and up to 8 hours on clothing, with a friendly 2 to 3 foot projection bubble that gently softens into an intimate skin scent after the two-hour mark.
Notes Pyramid
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Vice Versa blends a savory, crisp tomato leaf opening with tart red raspberry and sweet blueberry, layered over a radiant heart of creamy tuberose, orange blossom, and dewy peony before resting on clean musk and cedar.
Main Accords
10 MAPPEDThe dominant white floral and fruity accords open with an energetic green snap from the tomato vine before blooming into velvety tuberose and juicy peach, finishing with a soft powdery iris and cedar texture.
Community Data
663 TOTAL VOTESCOMMUNITY SENTIMENT
OWNERSHIP STATS
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REVIEW SENTIMENT
When to Wear
TAP TO VOTETIME OF DAY · TAP TO VOTE
OCCASIONS · TAP TO VOTE
It looks easiest to wear in spring and summer.
Pros & Cons
Quick take before you sampleWHY PEOPLE MAY LIKE IT
Crisp tomato leaf opening provides a unique sweet and savory twist
Bright red raspberry and blueberry notes feel juicy and natural
Dewy tuberose and orange blossom create a cheerful floral heart
Light and refreshing character makes it ideal for warm spring days
Polite, moderate projection that is completely office-safe
Beautiful and nostalgic heart-shaped collectors bottle design
Clean cedar and powdery iris dry-down sits smoothly on skin
Versatile pick for casual daytime outings and garden lunches
Never feels syrupy, heavy, or cloying in humid weather
Distinctive personality that stands out from modern sugary florals
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR
Discontinued release that is difficult and costly to source today
Moderate longevity of 4 to 6 hours may require mid-day reapplication
Vegetal tomato leaf note may not appeal to lovers of pure sugary gourmands
Sillage becomes an intimate skin scent relatively quickly
Vintage bottles can occasionally suffer from evaporated top notes
Not suited for cold winter nights or formal black-tie galas
Fruity-green profile may feel too playful for strict business wear
Secondary market prices can be high due to limited edition rarity
Lacks heavy projection for wearers who prefer strong room-filling trail
Melon and peach heart notes may smell too light for lovers of dark florals
Fragranxe Review
EDITORIAL“Yves Saint Laurent Vice Versa Review: The Quirky Nineties Sweet Green Floral”
Spraying Yves Saint Laurent Vice Versa is like stepping straight into a sunlit Mediterranean garden in early summer. The initial blast greets you with a distinct, savory aroma of crushed tomato leaves and sweet cherry tomato, instantly brightened by sparkling mandarin orange. Within seconds, a joyful splash of ripe raspberry and tart blueberry cuts through the green edge, giving the fragrance a juicy, invigorating quality that grabs your attention without feeling syrupy or artificial.
As the initial burst settles after fifteen minutes, the scent transitions into a lush floral bouquet. Creamy tuberose and African orange flower take center stage, softened by gentle petals of peony, freesia, bellflower, and sweet jasmine. Sliced white peach and watery melon weave through the blossoms, keeping the heart dewy and light rather than heavy. When it reaches the deep dry-down after a few hours, the profile rests comfortably on clean white musk, powdery iris, light amber, warm vanilla, and dry Virginia cedar wood.
On warm skin, the interplay between green herbal crispness and sweet red fruit is what makes this composition truly memorable. Rather than melting into a generic fruit salad, the savory tomato facet grounds the sugary berries and prevents the white florals from becoming cloying. The creamy tuberose behaves in a fresh, airy manner, backed by the subtle powdery softness of Florentine iris that gives the trail a polished, clean finish throughout the middle hours.
Performance aligns with a classic warm-weather eau de toilette. On bare skin, you can expect between 4 and 6 hours of longevity, while a light spray on linen shirts or cotton dresses can stretch to 8 hours. The projection is moderate, radiating roughly 2 to 3 feet during the first hour before pulling inward to a polite personal scent bubble. This restrained sillage makes it fantastic for office days, garden parties, casual weekend farmers markets, and warm spring vacations where heavy gourmands feel overwhelming.
This perfume appeals to anyone who enjoys uplifting fruity florals with an unconventional twist. If you adore nineties perfume history, nostalgic YSL releases, or unique green-fruity notes like tomato vine and blackcurrant bud, Vice Versa will feel like an absolute treasure. It leans traditionally feminine due to its floral heart, though anyone who appreciates fresh botanical compositions can easily rock its breezy charm.
Yves Saint Laurent Vice Versa remains a delightful reminder of late-nineties creative perfumery. While its discontinued status and secondary market prices mean you should seek out decants or samples before chasing a full bottle, the memorable mix of tangy garden greens, red berries, and luminous white florals makes it a joy to wear whenever the sun comes out.
FAQs
What does the opening of Yves Saint Laurent Vice Versa smell like?+
The fragrance opens with an unconventional splash of crushed green tomato leaves, crisp garden tomato, and sweet mandarin orange. Within moments, tart raspberry and juicy blueberry join in, creating a lively contrast between herbal greenery and fresh fruit that feels bright and energizing.
How does Vice Versa transition from the top notes into the dry-down?+
After about fifteen minutes, the green tomato sharpness softens into a bouquet of creamy tuberose, orange blossom, jasmine, freesia, and peony, sweetened by melon and peach. By the fourth hour, it dries down to clean white musk, powdery iris, light amber, and cedar wood.
How long does Yves Saint Laurent Vice Versa last on skin and clothes?+
On bare skin, you can expect between 4 and 6 hours of longevity before it fades into a gentle musk aura. When sprayed on cotton clothing, scarves, or linen shirts, the floral berry notes can linger for up to 8 hours.
What kind of projection and sillage does Vice Versa produce?+
During the first hour, Vice Versa projects around 2 to 3 feet, creating an upbeat, pleasant scent bubble around you. After two hours, the projection pulls closer to the skin, leaving a light, inoffensive trail that will not overwhelm nearby colleagues.
Which season is best for wearing Yves Saint Laurent Vice Versa?+
Spring and summer are the ideal seasons for Vice Versa. The crisp tomato greenness, juicy berries, and airy white florals thrive in mild to warm temperatures between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit, feeling refreshing and clean in humid weather.
What occasions and settings are best suited for Vice Versa?+
Vice Versa is built for casual daytime wear. It works wonderfully for weekend brunches, garden parties, casual office days, outdoor walks, and warm vacation mornings where you want an uplifting, friendly scent that stays fresh and approachable.
Is Yves Saint Laurent Vice Versa feminine or unisex?+
While marketed originally to women due to its lush tuberose, orange blossom, and berry heart, its crisp tomato leaf and cedar notes give it a botanical freshness that any fan of green fruity fragrances can confidently wear.
How does Vice Versa compare to YSL In Love Again?+
In Love Again, released the year prior, highlights tart grapefruit, blackberry, and cassia with a sharper citrus bite. Vice Versa is creamier and more floral, substituting sharp citrus with savory tomato vine, tuberose, and soft melon for a smoother finish.
What is the concentration and price value of Vice Versa?+
Vice Versa was released as an eau de toilette (EDT) in a 100ml heart-shaped bottle. Because it was a 1999 limited edition, prices on secondary collector markets are high, making it a specialty vintage find rather than a low-cost daily staple.
What other fragrance types can you layer with Vice Versa?+
Vice Versa layers nicely with simple woody cedar scents, sparkling citrus colognes, or minimalist musk oils. Layering an amber or cedar base helps boost longevity, while a light lemon or bergamot spray enhances the bright opening notes.
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For a similar vibrant green-fruity spirit, try Diptyque L'Ombre Dans L'Eau for blackcurrant foliage, Hermes Un Jardin Sur Le Nil for vegetal citrus brightness, or YSL In Love Again for tangy berry sparkle.
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