Fragrantica – Elena Vosnaki
‘The collaboration of two people who take a while to come up with a concept pays off. Usually, the Puredistance fragrances, and Lie fragrance creations overall, focus on an aesthetic take, not just harnessing a market trend. The aesthetic focus married to a concept is what differentiates true niche brands, after all. In a world where niche companies exceedingly and increasingly emulate designer brands to capture the short attention span of consumers, it is appreciated.
The fragrant composition of Ysayo takes the best of both worlds and merges them in a fragrance that is verdant in the kind of bitterish way that recalls the best retro effects forever etched in memory through masterpieces like Azzaro pour Homme and Chanel Antaeus.’
Plezuromag
‘What stands out in this perfume is its quality – though from this house, you wouldn’t expect anything less. Ysayo is very well blended, rich, and detailed, exactly what Puredistance is known for. It also feels like a very personal creation – the result of a strong connection between Jan Ewoud Vos, the founder of Puredistance, and Antoine Lie. It doesn’t smell like anything else on the market.’
Cafleurebon
‘YSAYO has a beautiful calm feel, it reminds me of being up a mountain in Norway in the spring, fresh new grasses and greens dancing in the fresh breeze. Chamomile’s natural meditative side does this quiet magic. Greens of all shades weave through earthy undertones giving a contrast of dark and light tones making the feel of YSAYO one that’s incredibly evocative.
YSAYO it’s a stunning refined raw expression of nature, letting vetiver stand out in ways I’ve not experienced before. Stunning!’
Scent Advice
‘The quality is here and if anything, it has a more vintage, retro quality to it that is rarely seen anno 2025. However whereas Divanche feels like a traditional feminine marketed, softer easy-going scent, Ysayo offers a wear more rugged and traditionally masculine leaning. The first things that came to mind were castoreum or birch tar and a greener side. This is not an in-your-face green, but a dried, warmed, charred one. After a few minutes I was reminded of hay and a rooty vetiver mostly.’
On Instagram
@Leaving_sillage
‘On my skin, it smells green, herbaceous, hay-like, earthy, and slightly leathery with a very subtle hues of floral sweetness. Perhaps I’m influenced by the YSAYO mood film, but when I smell the fragrance, I truly see a vast valley of endless vibrant green hills, marked with dark earthy browns, their peaks gently wrapped in a delicate morning haze. It’s tranquil yet alive… a landscape full of power…’
@the_v_scentt
‘YSAYO is not a loud or ornamental perfume; it is a fragrance that rewards attention and reveals itself layer by layer. It embodies the quiet strength of refinement, the beauty of restraint and the sophistication that comes only from true craftsmanship. As a new chapter in the Puredistance universe, it feels both modern and timeless — a green composition elevated to the level of high art.’
@YouNoseIt
‘Galbanum, thyme, blue chamomile and white artemisia give the opening a weirdly toasted and piercing green sensation which I’d normally, probably, actively avoid, but here, perversely, I can’t get enough. It’s a little bit peanutty, kind of astringent and severe with its floralcy but it also has this slight black tea/smoked apple nuance (that’s cleverly highlighted with geranium).
Eventually the perfume peels down into a sumptuous leather and vetiver dry down, delivering a less dominant, but just as delightful a shade of leather as Lie did with MV2Q. The brand calls it a “green samurai”, one assumes because it fuses earthen roots, heavy greens and very ‘natural’ smelling materials with that raspy chamomile and the intensity of the leather note.
I just call it another big win for Antoine.’
@Despinavnt
‘Although it may echo memories of vintage, masculine-marketed scents, YSAYO doesn’t scream machismo. Its potent, dynamic character is balanced with a meditative, almost spiritual aura which, for me, is owed to its noble natural ingredients and the perfumer’s skill.
YSAYO’s grounding, life-affirming vitality feels directly derived from the Earth. And, as such, it can empower and delight anyone who seeks this kind of energy.’
@Antoine Lie
‘For this perfume created in close collaboration with Jan Ewoud Vos, founder of Puredistance, I revisited the depths and emotions of my early years, a moment in time when creation came purely from instinct. I allowed myself to compose with complete freedom, letting passion take over without restraint or intellectual filter.
YSAYO opens with a radiant touch of saffron and a blue chamomile overdose, leading into a vibrant heart where jasmine and thyme intertwine with a green, aromatic tension. The base reveals a textured blend of leather, cistus and vetiver deep, instinctive, and unapologetically free. A journey through intuition and raw emotion, a perfume born from the soul rather than the mind.’
@Perfumecurator
‘Ysayo is a fresh, green, captivating perfume that captures the serenity of nature at its most peaceful moments.
Geranium brings a bright, green clarity, while vetiver adds an earthy elegance that grounds the composition. Jasmine weaves in a soft floral glow, beautifully balanced by a subtle, intriguing leather nuance. The result is a vibrant yet calming scent that feels revitalizing even on the coldest days.
Perfect for those seeking freshness, balance, and a touch of understated mystery in their daily wear!’
The writings shared in these reviews are from bloggers and journalists, of whom some have received a complimentary sample of our perfume. Their opinions are independent, and the receipt of the product does not guarantee a positive review. We value transparency and appreciate diverse perspectives that contribute to our brand conversation.
