Glossier You Review: Unpacking the Hype
Glossier You Review: The Most Hyped Perfume On the Internet
Because apparently, convincing people to pay $28-$98 to smell “like you” is actually really good marketing. Since its launch, Glossier You has garnered significant attention and love, often praised for its skin-like, warm, and creamy scent. You is “formulated to let more of you. shine through”—according to Glossier, making the wearer smell like the best version of themselves. You comes in various forms, from rollerballs to a cute little solid.
The buzz around this scent is undeniable, and while die-hard fans are deeply disappointed over the reformulation, there's still something to love about the new Glossier You.
The Details: Scent, Lasting Power, and Packaging
Scent Profile With key notes of Pink Pepper, Iris, and base notes Musk, Ambrox, and Ambrette, Glossier You is more of a “scent enhancer” than a traditional fragrance. Very obviously inspired by classics like Original Musk by Kiehls.
Top Notes: At first spritz, you’ll be smelling the freshness of Pink Pepper—spicy but not overwhelming.
Heart Notes: As it dries down, you’ll smell the earthy floral root of Iris.
Base Notes: The scent's foundation lies in a trio of Musk, Ambrox, and Ambrette, giving it its creamy, warm, and skin-like finish.
Glossier You’s Lasting Power There’s a lot of talk about the reformulated Glossier You not lasting as long as the OG. As someone who has owned both versions, I have to admit that I believe there’s some truth to this. More on the comparison of the reformulated version versus the new and why Glossier made that choice later.
How long does the new Glossier You last? Although not as powerful as before, the new version doesn’t exactly struggle to linger in my opinion. We often go nose-blind to scents we’ve been exposed to for long periods, and the reformulated Glossier You is undoubtedly more subtle, but not gone after around 5 hours.
Packaging There’s not much to say here; the glass bottle comes in the classic Glossier pink with a bright red cap. It’s exactly what it should be for a Glossier product: minimalistic, youthful, and chic…in a way that I can’t help but find corny.
Glossier You’s “Glow-Up”: The Reformulation
The talk of the Glossier You reformulation from die-hard fans has been hard to ignore. Why would Glossier reformulate on of their most beloved products? The answer is pretty boring: regulations. The exact ingredient hasn’t been disclosed, but fans have their theories. What stands out the most, is the divergence in the brand’s positioning on the new formulation and the fan’s perceptions: Glossier has stated that the reformulation shouldn't affect the overall scent. Fans across social media disagree. Loudly.
Based on discussions I’ve had with other creators, most people think the key differences lie in the new Glossier You’s lasting power, top notes, and overall “muskiness”. A friend expressed that she used to love the pink pepper opening, but doesn’t get much of it at all with the new version. Another fan messaged me her opinion: the scent overall is less warm and sultry than before, now it’s light and bright, where before it was warm and cozy. One unanimous consensus? The scent simply doesn't have the lasting power it once did.
My opinion? The scent is largely the same. I smell the pink pepper opening, I think it’s just as warm and cozy as before. The key difference that I think is the culprit behind everyone’s complaints is: the lasting power. When it comes to fragrances, all notes are experienced in a sequential order, from top to bottom. Generally, top notes fade quickly, and mid and base notes are what you smell all day long. When the overall cycle of a fragrance is shorter, say 5 hours instead of 18, the entire experience of the notes at each stage will be different.
So, what does that mean exactly? It means that everyone is correct, in a way. Glossier probably hasn’t actually messed with the composition beyond removing a banned ingredient. Wearers are definitely feeling the effects of the longevity on their perception of the scent throughout its cycle.
For the record, I’m still a big fan of the new Glossier You.
Solid or Liquid? Breaking Down Glossier You's Two Forms
I’m usually a big fan of solid perfumes and I wanted to love the Glossier You solid, but I just don’t. Everything about it should work: the scent is great, the packaging is adorable and refillable, but the presence of the scent just isn’t there. If you were concerned about the lasting power of the liquid Glossier You, forget about the solid.
Overall, the Solid just doesn’t live up to what it could have been. If you’re interested in a travel-friendly version of Glossier You, I suggest the Rollerball, priced at $28 versus the Solid’s $30 cost.
Dupes for Glossier You
I already know when I post this, the first question I’m getting in my DMs is if I know of a dupe. The answer is: it depends. As far as a 1:1, I’m not sure you’re going to find it, but if you’re looking for a long-lasting, musky scent with that natural “skin-like” quality, I know and love a few:
Milk by Dedcool: A personal favorite of mine, Milk by Dedcool is actually a "layering perfume” which the brand describes as smelling “familiar, like warm, clean skin. Feels like you’ve owned it for your whole life.” Sound familiar? The notes, in order from top to bottom are: Bergamot, (vegan) White Musk, and Amber. This isn’t as sweet as you, but it definitely nails the warm, cozy musk vibe that You has.
Original Musk by Kiehls: The OG! And actually the cheapest/oz on this list. A classic musk with top notes of Bergamot and Orange Blossom. It’s a great option if you want the floral top notes found in You, although it’s not quite the same.
Fleur De Blonde by Urban Outfitters: Let me clear, this one came up in my croud-sourcing efforts. I have never tried this, but at least four people mentioned to me that it’s almost an exact dupe. For $25, it might be worth a sniff the next time you’re in Urban.
Is Glossier You Worth the Spritz? My Final Thoughts
Although I share most people’s disappointment with the reformulation, the new Glossier You still has a place in my perfume collection.
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