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Yves Saint LaurentEau de Toilette · EST. 2009

La Nuit de l'Homme

A smooth, sensual spicy-woody scent built on cardamom, lavender and cedar. A perennial date-night favourite prized for its refined, slightly sweet, intimate character.

NOSE: Anne Flipo, Pierre Wargnye, Dominique RopionRELEASED: 2009RETAIL: $60 - $100
The Quick Answer

La Nuit de l'Homme opens on Cardamom and Bergamot, moves through Lavender and Cedar, and dries down to Tonka Bean and Vetiver. At $60 - $100 it is which sits at fair mid-range value, with moderate (5h - 7h) on skin. A relatively safe blind buy for most wardrobes.

ADEGBE ANALYSIS SCORES

6.9
Expert
5.8
Longevity
5.2
Sillage
9.2
Versatility
7.4
Value

Scores are AdeGbe's editorial analysis based on composition, concentration and community-reported performance — not a single personal wear test.

Approx. $0.60/mlBased on the lowest street price ($60) over an assumed 100ml bottle for this concentration.

OLFACTORY PYRAMID BREAKDOWN

TOP NOTESFirst impression · 15–30 min
  • Cardamom
  • Bergamot
HEART NOTESCore character · 2–4 hours
  • Lavender
  • Cedar
  • Virginia Cedar
BASE NOTESDry-down · 6–24+ hours
  • Tonka Bean
  • Vetiver
  • Caraway

EXPERT ANALYSIS — COMPOSITION & PERFORMANCE

AG
AdeGbe Fragrance Research Team Data-Driven Analysis
Olfactory composition & performance assessment
Updated Autumn 2026Eau de ToiletteMethodology: note-pyramid analysis + community performance data + AdeGbe scoring model

La Nuit de l'Homme is Yves Saint Laurent's 2009 eau de toilette from perfumer Anne Flipo, Pierre Wargnye, Dominique Ropion. Our analysis examines its three-phase structure, its longevity and projection profile, and the occasions it serves best.

The Opening

From the first spray, Cardamom, Bergamot establish a bright citrus and warm spice character that defines the top of the composition.

The Heart

As the top notes settle, the heart turns aromatic herb and dry woods, built around Lavender, Cedar, Virginia Cedar. This is where the fragrance reveals its true personality, roughly two to four hours in.

The Dry-Down

The dry-down anchors on a dry woods and sweet gourmand base of Tonka Bean, Vetiver, Caraway, the phase that clings closest to skin and lasts longest.

Projected Performance Timeline
Hour 1
Cardamom and Bergamot opening. Moderate, arm's-length projection.
Hour 4
Lavender and Cedar heart fully developed. Settling closer to the skin.
Hour 8
Tonka Bean and Vetiver base emerges. Becoming a skin scent.
Hour 8
Soft base notes still detectable close to skin.
Longevity
5.8/10
Sillage
5.2/10
Blind Buy
LOW RISK
Final Score
8.4/10

Who Should Buy La Nuit de l'Homme

La Nuit de l'Homme leans masculine but is wearable by anyone who enjoys the style. Its season vector points strongest to autumn, and its day/night balance makes it best suited to versatile day-to-night wear. If you gravitate toward bright citrus and warm spice compositions and want a more moderate, easy-going wear, it belongs on your shortlist.

One Honest Warning

No major red flags in the composition, but fragrance is personal — skin chemistry can shift the balance of notes, so a sample wear is always wiser than a blind purchase at this price.

Analysis based on composition, community-aggregated performance data, and the AdeGbe scoring model.A human skin-test review is added as our team tests each fragrance.

PERFORMANCE INDEX & SUITABILITY VECTORS

LONGEVITY FACTORModerate (5h - 7h)
Weak (1h)Moderate (4-6h)Beast (24h+)
SILLAGE / PROJECTIONModerate Projection
IntimateModerateEnormous
DAY · NIGHT SUITABILITY
DAY
40%
NIGHT
60%
GENDER INDEXMasculine
FEMININEUNISEXMASCULINE
SEASON SUITABILITY VECTOR
SPRING 🌸25%
SUMMER ☀️20%
AUTUMN 🍂30%
WINTER ❄️25%

PROJECTED PERFORMANCE TIMELINE

Projected from this fragrance's concentration, note structure and reported longevity — an analysis, not a single personal wear test.

Hour 1
Top burst

Cardamom and Bergamot lead the opening before the volatile top notes burn off.

Projection: Strong
Hour 4
Heart in bloom

Lavender and Cedar take over as the core character of the fragrance.

Projection: Moderate
Hour 8
Early dry-down

Tonka Bean and Vetiver anchor the scent close to the skin.

Projection: Skin-close
Hour 12
Base residue

A skin-scent of Tonka Bean and Vetiver is what typically remains by now.

Projection: Skin-close

Wear It

  • Autumn / Fall (30% seasonal fit)
  • Spring (25% seasonal fit)
  • Winter (25% seasonal fit)
  • Evenings, dinners and going out

Skip It

  • Few hard limits — a fairly easy all-rounder

Blind-Buy Risk

5/100SAFE
Risk factors
  • Fresh, broadly-likeable profile lowers the risk of disappointment
In its favour
  • Clean citrus/fresh structures are widely accepted and rarely offend.
  • Moderate projection makes it forgiving and easy to wear day to day.

INGREDIENT SAFETY SNAPSHOT

Linalool / Limonene

Common EU-declarable allergens; can oxidise and irritate sensitive skin.

Coumarin

IFRA-restricted; coumarin sources carry a general pregnancy-caution flag.

Benzyl Benzoate (fixative)

Generally well-tolerated base/fixative materials with low sensitiser risk.

This snapshot is based on the published note list, not a full INCI ingredient breakdown. Always check the box for the official allergen declaration and patch-test if you have sensitive skin. See full ingredient-safety guides →

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why is La Nuit de l'Homme so popular for dates?
Its smooth, slightly sweet cardamom-and-cedar profile is widely considered seductive and flattering, and its close-to-skin warmth suits intimate settings.
Does La Nuit de l'Homme project strongly?
No — it is known as a relatively soft, skin-close scent with moderate projection, so some wearers reapply through the evening.
Is La Nuit de l'Homme worth buying?
For the money, La Nuit de l'Homme ($60 - $100) is a fair buy. It projects at a moderate projection level and lasts in the range of moderate (5h - 7h), which puts its performance below average — manage expectations. It is worth it if you connect with its Cardamom and Bergamot character; if you want an all-occasion safe blind buy, sample first because it leans toward evening wear.
Can I wear La Nuit de l'Homme to the office?
Yes, within reason. La Nuit de l'Homme sits at a moderate moderate projection projection, which is generally office-friendly with one to two sprays. Apply before you leave home rather than at your desk, and you should stay within polite, non-intrusive range through the working day.
Is La Nuit de l'Homme good for summer?
Not really. La Nuit de l'Homme scores only 20% for summer — heat tends to amplify its Tonka Bean and Vetiver base and push it toward cloying. It performs far better in autumn, so save it for cooler months and reach for something lighter when it is hot.
How many sprays of La Nuit de l'Homme should I use?
Two to four sprays suits most people. La Nuit de l'Homme has moderate projection projection, so you can apply a little more generously than a beast-mode scent without crowding others. Spread sprays across pulse points and let it settle; its moderate (5h - 7h) longevity means you rarely need to reapply.
Is La Nuit de l'Homme safe for sensitive skin?
La Nuit de l'Homme is an alcohol-based eau de toilette and its note list includes materials such as Cardamom, Bergamot and Lavender, some of which fall under EU-declarable allergen rules (for example linalool, limonene or coumarin depending on the notes). That does not make it unsafe — most wearers have no reaction — but if your skin is reactive, spray onto clothing or patch-test on the inner arm first. This guidance is based on the published note list, not a full INCI breakdown.

INTERACTIVE FRAGRANCE TOOLS

Personalised calculators and scanners specific to La Nuit de l'Homme.

INTERACTIVE FRAGRANCE TOOLS

Personalised calculators and scanners specific to La Nuit de l'Homme.

TOP DUPES & AFFORDABLE ALTERNATIVES

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ADEGBEDRAFTING 3D PERSPECTIVE...
N° ENC-2009La Nuit de l'HommeANTI-GRAVITY CONTAINER VISUAL
4.9 RATED