Another niche house with a strange name. Maybe I’m getting tired, maybe I need another vacation, but I didn’t feel very motivated to get to know yet another new line. Enough already! was my feeling.
But a dear friend brought me samples and eventually, I tried them. And I’m glad I did.
Ys Uzac is a swiss line (many good things come from Switzerland when it comes to perfume!) created by Vincent Micotti, a musician turned perfumer. The line comprises four perfumes, Monodie, Pohadka, Lalé and Métaboles.
Let’s start with the sprightliest, happiest, lightest one – Monodie.
Monodie was created by Vincent Micotti and includes notes of pink grapefruit, mirabelle, red mandarin, galbanum, plum, rhubarb, cyclamen, freesia, rose, caramel, white musks and sandalwood.
“Dionysian drama? Simply rock’n’roll? A melody from the brink of light, an unique spell to light up the dark blue evening sky. An intoxicating, extravagant vivace play with an ultra feminine mood. A spontaneous modern take on minimalism interpreted by sweet and radiant Eau de Vie de Mirabelle, crisp rhubarb and handsome green galbanum. An alcoholic melody to dazzle the star of the night.“
– from the press release
Monodie (a “solo voice singing a melodic part, usually with considerable ornamentation, over a rhythmically independent bass line” according to Wikipedia) is a breath of fresh air, a fruity floral of the good kind, a statement of happiness and good cheer spreading laughter and lightheartedness. It is positioned as a feminine, but I can see it just as well on men. Sillage and wear time are about average.
Opening with a bracing grapefruit note (reminiscent of Pamplelune), Monodie sweetens over time, becoming more floral and fruity. Rose and rhubarb (think Hermessence Rose Ikebana), plum and galbanum provide a lovely balance between sweet and tart, fruity and green. The drydown is soft and caramel sweet, but retains a hit of green as to never overwhelm. Another perfume I am reminded of is Guerlain London 04.
On paper, Monodie sounds like every mainstream fruity floral out there, but it smells like every mainstream fruity floral out there would like to. High quality ingredients and a love for detail are apparent in Monodie and make this a delight to wear whenever you need a little mood lift.
Monodie sings of happy things, sings of joy and laughter. You might as well join in.
Olfactoria's Travels 
I love this range but so dumb I thought it was from somewhere in Asia. Not just the name, the soft, with your skin scent perfumes rather than walking over it. The beautiful packaging and sample set all said Asia. Thanks for giving me the right of it,
Portia xx
Now that you mention it, it has a bit of an Asian vibe, but no, It’s Swiss like Andy Tauer and Vero Kern. 🙂
It’s too early in the morning for me to be inspired by a new range, I think I will file this away but await with interest the next three…
Lovely pic of Kenneth Branagh – now that did make me grin! x
I love that pic, I love the movie and I’m a huge Kenneth Branagh fan.
Never too early for that! 😉
I just bought myself a sample of this one – and I love it! The whole range looks interesting to me, but Monodie is at the top of my wishlist. Tank you for a lovely review. I am looking forward to reading what you think of the rest of the line.
Hi Julie,
I’m glad you like it too, such a happy scent!
And I like their sample set, very classy.
I have all the samples too, Monodie just was a bit too much for me. I put it in the “Like” but not love section.
Too much? I find it rather quiet…
It’s in my like, but not love category as well. 🙂
Well, I tried it a long time ago, but the peach was too much. It sort of lingered like candy and wouldn’t go. It didn’t develop much on my skin either, there were no florals for me.
I found the whole line just “likable” (except the tomato mint one, which, just NO).
I think niche house fatigue is very common! At least this one has only 4 perfumes in the line. I think it’s a great distinction to say that Monodie rather than being like other fruity florals, is actually how other fruity florals would like to be. I agree that they have the potential to be such mood lifters if done right.
Only four – what a relief indeed! 😉
Since Ouris (and possibly Liaisons Dangereuses) I have a whole new respect for well done fruity florals, they can be glorious. Monodie is lovely in that vein too.
I just can’t keep up any longer. Maybe I’ve reached a burn out stage, especially since I’ve worn the same four fragrances for the last week and a half. Perhaps I just need some cooler weather to reinvigorate my interest.
I totally understand Tatiana! We all go through such phases. It is great to enjoy your perfumes without trying something new all the time.
On vacation, I was perfectly happy with one single perfume for an entire week.
YU makes surprisingly good (albeit expensive) fragrances. Their Pohadka is on my full bottle wish list.
They are all expensive these days, aren’t they? 150€ is the new cheap apparently. 😉