Glossier You is probably one of the most raved-about perfumes of our generation. Available in a spray, roller, and solid form, it’s known for being “the ultimate personal fragrance” because it smells slightly different on everyone's skin. The brand describes it as a “skin-smell enhancer” that melts in your skin and creates a scent that is uniquely you.
Despite the ambiguity of the scent, You is categorized as a Floral Woody scent. What makes it even more interesting is that it’s only composed of base notes. Made up of iris, pink pepper, ambrette, and ambroxan, many would describe the scent as fresh, powdery, and slightly musky. There are no top and middle notes, which allows your natural scent to come into play with the fragrance creating that "your skin but better" smell.
You has built quite the cult following over the years since its release in 2017. However, many users of the fragrance are noticing a difference between the earlier bottles of You and its newer releases, saying that there’s a possibility the scent has been reformulated—and some fans aren’t happy.
Here’s What We Know So Far About Glossier You’s Rumored Reformulation
FYI, Glossier hasn’t made a formal announcement on whether or not You has been reformulated. But if you take a look at their website and the fragrance's full ingredients list, they include a note that says: "Please be aware that as we continue to evolve our product portfolio, ingredient lists may change or vary. Please refer to the ingredient list on the product package you receive for the most up to date list of ingredients, and reach out to gteam@glossier.com with any questions."
Some fans of the “OG” You fragrance have also pointed out a significant difference in how the newer bottles smell and insist that the perfume has been reformulated.
“The staying power is not the same,” Tiktok user @gaborilla said. “I also find the scent is a bit different as it wears down. It’s not the same as the original formulation. I’m honestly super disappointed because this was literally my signature scent,” she continued.
User @cherryskunk, who hasn’t tried the "original" Glossier did a review of the “new” formula of You saying, “When I tried this, it really did not last long, it smelled for the first hour or so and then kind of dissipated and I didn’t smell it at all really. Also when you first spray it has a very strong alcohol smell.”
Among all the reformulation allegations, Joanna Spicer, another Tiktok content creator, uploaded a video about Glossier You and how she didn’t notice a difference. “This is the same perfume to me. Like I’ve maybe gone through six or seven bottles of this over the course of five years, and this smells and performs exactly the same to me,” she said.
"Now I do know that there was technically a reformulation of some sort. I don't know what the scent of it was but there was an ingredient in it that was banned in Europe that they had to take out because they wanted to continue being able to sell it in Europe," Joanna continued to explain.
Users have also commented on these content creators’ videos and have mixed reactions. Some agree and disagree that the reformulation happened, and then there are those who only recently bought You and still enjoy the scent despite the alleged reformulation.
At this point, it all boils down to personal preference. If you’re looking for a similar scent to Glossier You though, here are some alternatives you can try.
SHOP: 5 Alternatives to the Glossier You Perfume
1. Diptyque Fleur de Peau
Among all the fragrances in this list, Diptyque's Fleur de Peau has the most similar blend of notes as You with top notes containing pink pepper, a powdery iris sitting at the heart, and notes of ambrette and ambergris at the base. While You tends to be more linear, Fleur de Peau, has a much more complex and mature feel to it.
Fleur de Peau, P10,950, DIPTYQUE, Rustan's
2. Juliette Has a Gun Not a Perfume
Juliette Has a Gun's Not a Perfume contains only two notes: ambroxan, which is also found in You's ingredient list, and cetalox, a creamy musk scent. To be frank, this doesn't smell like You, but it has that same "your skin but better" effect, making it a great alternative if you're looking for another skin-smell enhancing fragrance to add to your collection.
Not a Perfume, P5500 to P7600, JULIETTE HAS A GUN, artofscent.com
3. Le Labo Another 13
Another skin-scent, Le Labo's Another 13 is composed of refreshing top notes of pear, apple and citruses; middle notes are ambrette, amyl salicylate, moss and jasmine; base notes are Iso E Super, cetalox, ambrettolide and helvetolide. You isn't known for being the best performing scent, so if you're looking for a skin-like fragrance that has better longevity, try Another 13.
Another 13, €235.54 (approx. P14,340), LE LABO, lelabofragrances.com
4. Byredo Blanche
Byredo's Blanche was meant to emulate the scent of bodies slipping under laundered sheets. It's soft, clean and sexy. Blending rose, pink pepper, violet, sandalwood, and musk, it isn't the closest match when it comes to scent, but it shares the same aura as You .
Blanche, €220 (approx. P13,400), BYREDO, byredo.com
5. The Body Shop White Musk
A more affordable alternative to Glossier's You. The Body Shop White Musk has a light muskiness similar to that of You but with more prominent notes of white florals, including lily, ylang-ylang, and jasmine.
White Musk, P1095, THE BODY SHOP, Shopee
Hey, Preview readers! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Tiktok, and Twitter to stay up to speed on all things trendy and creative. We’ll curate the most stylish feed for you!
