Katrina Rosales
Opium is a women's perfume by Yves Saint Laurent, created by perfumers Jean Amic and Jean-Louis Sieuzac. It was introduced to the market in 1977 and has since become a best-selling product. Opium is an oriental-spicy fragrance with a mix of fruit and spice top notes, floral middle notes, and a sweet woody base. The perfume is available in a 1.6-ounce eau de parfum spray and a 3.3-ounce large container spray. It can be purchased at major department stores and online retailers, with prices ranging from over $100 to discounted rates of up to 80% off. Customer reviews are generally positive, praising the scent's longevity and uniqueness, but some critics argue that it is expensive and not worth the price.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Brand | Yves Saint Laurent |
| Perfumers | Jean Amic and Jean-Louis Sieuzac |
| Introduced to the market | 1977 |
| Advertising campaign | Photographed by Steven Meisel and featured English model Sophie Dahl |
| Top notes | Mandarin orange, plum, clove, coriander, pepper, bay leaf |
| Middle notes | Jasmine, rose, lily of the valley, carnation, cinnamon, peach, orris root |
| Base notes | Sandalwood, cedarwood, myrrh, opopanax, labdanum, benzoin resin, castoreum, amber, musk, patchouli, tolu balsam, vetiver |
| Bottle size | 1.6 Oz, 3 Oz, 3.3 Oz |
| Price | Over $100 |
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What You'll Learn
Opium by Yves Saint Laurent: price and reviews
Opium by Yves Saint Laurent is a women's Oriental-spicy perfume created by perfumers Jean Amic and Jean-Louis Sieuzac. Introduced in 1977, the fragrance features a mix of fruit and spice top notes, floral middle notes, and a woody base. The scent has been described as "heavenly" and "captivating", with a unique intensity.
Opium has received mostly positive reviews, with an average of 4.8 out of 5 stars from over 21,000 reviews on Walmart.com. Many customers praise the scent, describing it as "luxurious", "warm and inviting", and "sexy hippie". The longevity of the perfume is also mentioned in several reviews, with some noting that it lasts all day. One review mentions that the scent is strong, but not overpowering, and another states that it is good value for money, with the bottle lasting a long time. However, there are a few reviews that mention the perfume is expensive and not worth the price. Some customers have also expressed that the scent is not the same as the original Opium, and that it doesn't last as long as previous purchases.
The price of Opium by Yves Saint Laurent varies depending on the retailer and the size of the bottle. On Amazon, the 1.6-ounce Eau De Parfum spray is available for $100, while on Walmart, the 1-ounce Black Opium Eau De Parfum is offered at a similar price point.
The Opium advertising campaigns have been controversial, with some finding them too sexually suggestive or degrading to women. Despite this, the fragrance has become a best-selling product, with the press coverage of the campaigns increasing sales.
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Where to buy Opium perfume
Opium by Yves Saint Laurent is available at a number of online and in-store retailers.
Amazon
Opium by Yves Saint Laurent Eau De Parfum Spray, 1.6oz, is available on Amazon.com. Customer reviews are mixed, with some people praising the scent and longevity of the product, while others have complained about the quality and price.
Macy's
Macy's offers the Yves Saint Laurent Opium Eau de Parfum in a 3oz bottle. Customer reviews are generally positive, with some negative comments about a potential change in formula.
Walmart
Walmart also sells Opium fragrance, although it is unclear which size or type of the product is available.
Other Options
It may also be possible to find Opium perfume at other major beauty or department stores, either in-store or online. It is worth checking the websites of such stores, or visiting their locations, to see if they stock the product.
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Opium's scent and notes
Opium by Yves Saint Laurent is an oriental-spicy perfume for women with a unique fragrance. Its top notes are a mixture of fruits and spices, including mandarin orange, plum, clove, coriander, pepper, and bay leaf. The heart of the perfume features floral notes of jasmine, rose, and lily of the valley, blended with carnation, cinnamon, peach, and orris root. The base of the fragrance is a sweet woody accord of sandalwood, cedarwood, myrrh, opopanax, labdanum, benzoin resin, and castoreum, rounded out by amber, musk, patchouli, tolu balsam, and vetiver.
The scent of Opium is described as heavenly, spicy, and intense, with a strong projection that lingers for hours. It is a bold and seductive fragrance, ideal for evenings out, romantic dinners, or any occasion where one wants to make a lasting impression. The deep and rich composition of Opium also suits cooler weather, providing a comforting and enveloping scent.
The Black Opium variation by Yves Saint Laurent offers a unique and bold scent experience that intrigues and excites. Its top notes feature a blend of pear, pink pepper, and orange blossom, creating a spicy and fruity opening. The middle notes reveal an enticing mix of coffee, jasmine, bitter almond, and licorice, adding warmth and complexity to the fragrance. The base notes of vanilla, patchouli, cashmere wood, and cedar provide a smooth and sensual finish, making Black Opium a captivating and addictive perfume.
The original Opium perfume generated controversy upon its release in 1977 due to its name, which some considered insensitive and offensive, particularly to Chinese Americans. However, the press coverage surrounding the controversy contributed to increased sales, and Opium soon became a best-selling product. The advertising campaigns for Opium, featuring English model Sophie Dahl, also sparked mixed reactions, with some finding them too sexually suggestive and degrading to women. Despite the controversies, Opium has endured as a iconic and distinctive fragrance.
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Opium's advertising and controversy
Opium is an Oriental-spicy women's perfume created for the French fashion house Yves Saint Laurent by perfumers Jean Amic and Jean-Louis Sieuzac. Introduced in 1977, Opium quickly generated publicity with its controversial name, which some said condoned drug use. In the United States, a group of Chinese Americans demanded a name change and a public apology from Saint Laurent for "his insensitivity to Chinese history and Chinese American concerns". They formed a committee called the American Coalition Against Opium and Drug Abuse, expressing outrage at the choice of name, which represented "a menace that destroyed many lives in China". The press coverage, however, increased sales, with the perfume soon becoming a best-selling product.
In 2000, an advertising campaign for the product featured English model Sophie Dahl, whose nudity and bodily expressions in the advertisement were met with mixed reactions internationally. Photographed by Steven Meisel, the campaign featured Dahl lying on her back naked except for a necklace, a bracelet, and a pair of stiletto heels, with her eyes closed, seemingly in ecstasy, and her legs spread apart as she covered one of her nipples with her hand, leaving the other exposed. It won an award in Spain but was met with negative reactions in some places, particularly in the United Kingdom. The British Advertising Standards Authority received over 700 complaints from the public, and ordered the posters to be withdrawn on the grounds that they were too sexually suggestive, degrading to women, and likely to cause "serious or widespread offence". American journalist Susan Faludi argued that certain perfume advertising campaigns pushed "idealization of weak yielding women" to the extreme, citing the Opium advertisement as an example.
In 2011, another ad for Yves Saint Laurent's Opium perfume was banned by the Advertising Standards Authority over 'simulated drug use'. The campaign for Belle d'Opium featured a woman who ran her finger along the inside of her forearm and in a second scene, her "body seized upwards while lying on the floor". The Advertising Standards Authority received complaints from 13 viewers that the ad was irresponsible and offensive because the woman's actions simulated drug use.
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Opium's history
Opium is an oriental-spicy women's perfume created for the French fashion house Yves Saint Laurent by perfumers Jean Amic and Jean-Louis Sieuzac. It was launched in 1977 to coincide with Yves Saint Laurent's Autumn-Winter 1977 collection, which was inspired by China. The perfume's name and advertising campaigns have caused controversy over the years.
Before the fragrance's official launch in 1978, YSL faced widespread criticism from the American Coalition Against Opium and Drug Abuse, a committee that argued that the name displayed "insensitivity to Chinese history and Chinese American concerns". They expressed outrage at the choice of a name representing "a menace that destroyed many lives in China". However, the press coverage of this controversy helped increase sales, with the perfume soon becoming a best-selling product.
The promotional US launch party in 1978 featured the German ship Peking, named after the Chinese city of Beijing, rented from the South Street Seaport Museum and draped with colourful banners. The well-known American novelist Truman Capote was also in attendance. The ship, along with a 1,000-pound bronze statue of the Buddha decorated with white cattleya orchids, displayed the supposed Eastern theme of the perfume.
In 2000, an advertising campaign for the perfume, photographed by Steven Meisel, caused controversy in several countries. It featured English model Sophie Dahl naked except for jewellery and stilettos, with her legs spread apart and her hand covering one of her nipples. The campaign was deemed too sexually suggestive, degrading to women, and likely to cause "serious or widespread offence". It received over 700 complaints and was ordered to be removed from billboards, although it was allowed to remain in "appropriate magazines".
Opium pour Homme, the male complement to Opium, was launched in 1995 and created by Jacques Cavallier of Firmenich. Its main note is vanilla, with black currant, galangal, star anise, ginger, and pepper, and base notes of cedar and Tolu balsam.
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Frequently asked questions
The price of Opium perfume varies depending on the retailer and the size of the bottle. On Amazon, a 1.6-ounce bottle of the Eau De Parfum spray is available for purchase. Macy's offers a 3-ounce bottle of the Eau De Parfum. FragranceX sells a large 3.3-ounce spray bottle, as well as smaller sizes.
Opium perfume by Yves Saint Laurent can be purchased at major department stores and certain online retailers, such as Amazon, Macy's, and FragranceX.
Opium is an Oriental-spicy perfume for women, first introduced by Yves Saint Laurent in 1977. It has top notes of fruits and spices, floral middle notes, and a sweet woody base. Opium pour Homme, a male complement, was launched in 1995, featuring vanilla and black currant notes.
