La Nuit de L‘Homme by Yves Saint Laurent has become an iconic men‘s fragrance since its launch in 2009. With its sweet cardamom and cedar notes contrasted by subtle spicy and woody accents, it evoked sensuality and mystery. The original eau de toilette was an instant hit and multiple flankers followed in subsequent years.
But which La Nuit de L‘Homme version comes out on top today? As a fragrance expert who has tested them all, I break down the key differences and provide my honest take on the best formula.
Understanding The Allure of the Original La Nuit de L‘Homme
When La Nuit de L‘Homme first appeared over a decade ago, it stood out from the usual fresh and sporty men‘s scents popular at the time. The genius of perfumers Jacques Cavallier-Belletrud and Pierre Wargnye was creating a lavish gourmand oriental revolving around the iconic Yves Saint Laurent DNA of cardamom, bergamot, cedar, and coumarin.
The bittersweet accord had an almost edible quality with spices enveloped in sweet fruits. There was an innocent playfulness to it that captured the imagination. Yet as it dried down, an alluring trail of woods, ambergris, and vetiver gave it sensual depth. It seemed to whisk you away to an exotic saffron-scented Moroccan night.
Perhaps this ability to be uplifting yet quietly seductive explains why it rapidly won a loyal following. For many, La Nuit de L‘Homme embodied effortless French elegance – stylish and hedonistic in equal parts. Its signature was so recognizable that it influenced several mass appealing ‘night-themed‘ releases.
However, as striking as the original EDT concentration was, it did get critiqued for its fairly weak longevity and projection once on skin. This sets the stage for several reworkings over the years aiming to enhance performance while retaining that beloved gourmand signature.
Key Differences Between Each Version of La Nuit de L‘Homme
With so many renditions of LNDL available now, it helps to first decode the core elements changed in each one:
La Nuit de L‘Homme Eau de Toilette (2009)
- Top notes: Cardamom, Lavender, Bergamot
- Heart notes: Vetiver, Cedar, Coumarin, Lavender
- Base notes: Tonka bean, Sandalwood, Ambergris, Vanilla
La Nuit de L‘Homme Eau Électrique Eau de Toilette (2016)
- Top notes: Elemi resin, Pink pepper, Citron
- Heart notes: Vetiver, Geranium, Cedar, Coumarin
- Base notes: Labdanum, Tonka bean, Sandalwood, Ambergris
La Nuit de L‘Homme Le Parfum (2017)
- Top notes: Cardamom, Bergamot, Lavender
- Heart notes: Iris, Cedar, Coumarin
- Base notes: Vanilla, Tonka bean, Sandalwood
La Nuit de L‘Homme Eau de Parfum (2021)
- Top notes: Mandarin, Cardamom, Lavender
- Heart notes: Nutmeg, Cedar, Geranium
- Base notes: Tonka bean, Sandalwood, Vanilla
As you‘ll notice, the newer offerings rework the original formula to varying degrees – lowering sweet tones, adding spices and resins, or emphasizing different wood notes. Performance is also boosted in the extrait and EDP forms.
But are these changes for the better? Let‘s analyze how they stack up.
La Nuit de L‘Homme EDT – The Sentimental Favorite
The original eau de toilette will always hold nostalgic value, transporting loyalists back to when La Nuit first enticed their senses.
Its addictive gourmand aroma sparkles with zesty cardamom before settling into creamy lavender, coumarin-laced tonka, cedar, and vanilla. Everything about it feels young, playful and full of joyful abandon.
On skin, it radiates brightly for 2 hours before becoming a subtle skin scent for another 4 hours. So while alluring, its projection is quite intimate.
For date nights and cooler evenings out, the EDT remains an excellent choice if you don‘t mind reapplying every few hours. It‘s hard to match the immediacy of its sweet, spicy, and ambery delights.
Overall rating: 8/10
Best for: Romantic rendezvous and sentimental appeal
La Nuit de L‘Homme Le Parfum – Rich Intensity
With a high 15-25% perfume oil concentration, Le Parfum packs quite a punch. Bergamot and cardamom still lead the charge before quickly segueing into the pointed sweetness of iris and tonka.
The amplifying effect gives it a dense, almost overwhelming aura at first. This accord can feel aggressively loud and screechy if sprayed too heavily.
However, once settled after 30 minutes, the dry down is sublime. Creamy woods interplay beautifully with tempered vanilla and a hint of powdery iris. Occasional whiffs of cardamom add vibrancy over the next 10 hours.
Performance is exceptional – easily detected in an arm‘s length radius for 6-8 hours. Le Parfum makes a commanding evening statement while retaining a familiar LNDL signature. Just go lighter on trigger for best results.
Overall rating: 9/10
Best for: Maximizing longevity and projection in cold weather
La Nuit de L‘Homme EDP – Crowd-Pleasing Favorite
The newest EDP iteration from 2021 bridges older and newer formulations skillfully.
It opens with the recognizable cardamom-bergamot accord of the original EDT amped up by nutmeg and mandarin. The result is brighter and more effervescent. As it evolves, the roasted profile of Eau Électrique appears via vetiver, cedar, and hints of olibanum resin.
These enhancements give it complexity while soft coumarinic vanilla and sandalwood ensure familiar sweet creaminess during the dry down. Well-blended and versatile for day or night, it seems to capture the best of all worlds for a contemporary crowd-pleaser.
Longevity is 8 to 10 hours with projection suitable for office or casual environments. Inoffensive, engaging and consistent throughout – the EDP satisfies expectations admirably.
Overall rating: 9/10
Best for: Office wear, cooler daytime settings, and relaxed evenings out
La Nuit de L‘Homme Eau Électrique – Unique Statement Scent
Eau Électrique diverges most radically from the YSL template with its roasted cardamom, resinous citrus blasts, and savory vetiver-geranium heart.
The opening feels almost sour and challenging like a strong black coffee. Smoky labdanum and nutty coumarin provide a roasted, tobacco-like vibe. Yet a creamy sandalwood base prevents it from ever smelling too bitter or harsh.
Performance is excellent with 8 to 12 hours longevity and moderately strong projection for 4 hours. As bold as Eau Électrique is, a recognizable LNDL DNA persists, like a warped reflection of the original viewed through smoked glass.
Fans note it requires a certain taste and mindset to appreciate its cerebral, non-conformist appeal. Confidently unique rather than traditionally sexy, Eau Électrique affirms artistic vision over marketability.
Give it time to unfold its multi-layered personality and you may just fall under its unconventional spell.
Overall rating: 8.5/10
Best for: Standing out from the crowd; cooler weather Statement scent
My Take on the Best La Nuit de L‘Homme Version
While the original EDT holds nostalgic value, I find myself reaching most for the well-balanced EDP rendition nowadays. It retains familiar LNDL elements I love while amping up projection moderately for increased versatility.
For those seeking a bigger, bolder La Nuit experience, Le Parfum takes top prize. And Eau Électrique deserves acclaim for daring to interpret LNDL from a totally different perspective.
At the end of the day, determining your ‘best‘ La Nuit depends on wearing context and stylistic priorities. But the good news is there‘s an elevated version for every preference now.
Where To Buy La Nuit de L‘Homme Fragrances
La Nuit de L‘Homme flankers get discontinued frequently so snap them up quickly once located.
La Nuit de L‘Homme EDP is widely available at Sephora, Ulta, and department stores for roughly $120 for a 3.3oz bottle.
Le Parfum can still be found at some Nordstrom locations and online discounters like FragranceNet for approximately $160 for a 2.5oz bottle.
With Eau Électrique now out of production, you‘ll have to search sites like eBay where remaining stock sells for $200+ for a 3.3oz bottle.
Trying samples first is wise given the variations. But for the sensual mystery and intrigue only La Nuit de L‘Homme provides, it pays to add one to your rotation soon.