Anisha Riggs
Opium, the Oriental-spicy women's perfume created for Yves Saint Laurent, has been described as having a unique scent like no other fragrance. However, some similar fragrances have been noted, including Euphorisme d’Opium, Estee Lauder Cinnabar, Lolita Lempicka Le Parfum, and Taylor Swift Wonderstruck Enchanted. Yves Saint Laurent's Black Opium, a younger scent with notes of coffee, vanilla, and florals, has also been likened to Opium. While these fragrances may bear some resemblance to Opium, it has been said that nothing can replicate the precise beauty of the original.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Opium |
| Brand | Yves Saint Laurent |
| Perfumers | Jean Amic and Jean-Louis Sieuzac |
| Year of Launch | 1977 |
| Fragrance Type | Oriental-spicy, Woody, Warm, Sweet |
| 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 |
| Similar Fragrances | Euphorisme d’Opium, Estee Lauder Cinnabar, Lolita Lempicka Le Parfum, Taylor Swift Wonderstruck Enchanted |
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What You'll Learn
Black Opium by Yves Saint Laurent
The top notes of Black Opium feature a strong, dark, and bitter black coffee accord, providing an initial burst of adrenaline. At its heart, the fragrance blooms with soft, feminine, luminescent white flowers, including orange blossom. The base notes are warm and sensual, with vanilla and cedarwood patchouli, leaving a long-lasting trail.
The Black Opium bottle is a black diamond in the rough, with a glittering finish that electrifies the intense black lacquer. The packaging is also notable, with FSC™ MIX Certified cardboard that supports sustainable forest management. The recyclable box is manufactured in a factory in France powered by 100% renewable energy, reflecting YSL Beauty's commitment to sustainability and respect for people and nature.
Black Opium plays with the tension between light and dark, femininity and boldness, creating a seductive and addictive fragrance. It captivates the senses, evoking the thrill of that first shot of caffeine. With its mix of coffee, floral, and vanilla notes, Black Opium by Yves Saint Laurent offers a unique and memorable olfactory experience.
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Euphorisme d’Opium
Euphorisme d'Opium is a fragrance that resembles the original Opium perfume by Yves Saint Laurent, which was introduced to the market in 1977. While it is not a 100% dupe, Euphorisme d'Opium is closer to the original than the reformulated Opium from 2010.
Euphorisme d'Opium has a softer, more intimate fragrance than the original Opium. It has a rich, deep, and potent scent when smelled up close, but its sillage drops an inch after 30 minutes, and it continues to decrease over the next hour.
The fragrance has a spicy floral heart sweetened by a raw, sensual honey. The dry-down is warm and smoky, with incense and resins. It also includes civet, which adds depth.
Euphorisme d'Opium has a dusty quality, with notes of spices and incense, including black frankincense and myrrh. It also has fruity notes, including mandarin orange, plum, and bergamot. The top notes of the original Opium also included spices such as clove, coriander, pepper, and bay leaf.
Euphorisme d'Opium is smoother and sheerer than the original Opium, making it more approachable to a modern audience.
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Lolita Lempicka Le Parfum
The opening of Lolita Lempicka is a sweet licorice accord, reminiscent of aniseed or anisette cotton candy. This initial impression softens but lingers, creating a mysterious and irresistible aura. As the fragrance evolves, it reveals a creamy yet lightweight blend, with hints of chocolate, lavender, powder, and vanilla. The dry-down is where the scent truly shines, with a prominent musk note that lasts for hours, complemented by subtle traces of patchouli, ivy, anise, and sugar.
One of the most fascinating aspects of Lolita Lempicka is its ability to evoke a dark fairytale-like narrative. The composition is herbal and earthy, with a transparent clarity that adds to its enigmatic charm. The perfume has an almost magical quality, transporting wearers to a fantastical realm. Its unique character has earned it a place as a signature scent for many, becoming an integral part of their personal stories.
Lolita Lempicka has also released several variations, including Lolita Lempicka Au Masculin and Lolita Lempicka Lolitaland. Lolitaland, in particular, has received acclaim for its orange creamsicle cake-like scent, with a prominent vanilla note that oxidizes and turns dark over time. The fragrance is described as juicy, fruity, and sweet, without being overpowering, making it a perfect summer scent.
Overall, Lolita Lempicka Le Parfum is a sophisticated and captivating fragrance. Its ability to blend sweetness with a subtle edge creates a memorable and addictive scent experience. The perfume continues to captivate new generations of fragrance enthusiasts, becoming a timeless classic in the world of perfumery.
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Taylor Swift Wonderstruck Enchanted
Wonderstruck Enchanted by Taylor Swift is an Amber Vanilla fragrance for women that was launched in 2012. It was created by Loc Dong and Jean-Marc Chaillan as the second fragrance from the singer. Wonderstruck Enchanted has a profile of sweet, vanilla, fruity, woody, floral, powdery, fresh, tropical, and musk accords. The top notes are wild berries, passion fruit, and poppy; the middle notes are sugar, champaca, peony, and freesia; and the base notes are vanilla, woody notes, and white musk. The fragrance has been described as reminiscent of fall, with a spiced apple-like scent, and has also been compared to the smell of cinnamon-vanilla apple pie.
The original Wonderstruck perfume by Taylor Swift was launched in September 2011 and was a huge success. This led to the creation of Wonderstruck Enchanted, which Taylor described as "the next chapter in the story of my Wonderstruck fragrance." She went on to say that "Wonderstruck is about that moment when you instantly feel a connection to someone, but then there’s that feeling of being completely enamored — enchanted — when you know a little bit more about them and still feel that strong connection."
The bottle of Wonderstruck Enchanted is designed in the color of a spiced red apple, which complements the fragrance's fall-like scent. The perfume has been described as light and soft, with a warm and cozy vanilla base. It is a safe and pretty scent for the office, and its nostalgic feel makes it a favorite for many during the Christmas season.
Wonderstruck Enchanted has received positive reviews, with some noting that it is a lovely warm, musky vanilla with sweet berries. It has more mature vibes than some other fragrances, and its projection is good. The scent has also been described as unique, delicious, and pretty, with a blend of champaca flowers, sugary berries, and creamy vanilla.
Unfortunately, Wonderstruck Enchanted has been discontinued, and the price has increased. A 50ml bottle now sells for over $70 AUD on eBay, and samples are available for purchase from fragrance websites.
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Estee Lauder Cinnabar
Estée Lauder Cinnabar is a fragrance for women that was launched in 1978 and created by Bernard Chant and Josephine Catapano, two legendary perfumers of the 1960s and 1970s. It has been described as a warm, mysterious, and endlessly appealing spicy scent with top notes of tangerine, jasmine, and orange blossom, middle notes of cloves, lily, and lily-of-the-valley, and base notes of olibanum, sandalwood, and patchouli.
The fragrance has been compared to other oriental spicy fragrances such as Youth-Dew and Opium, with its rich cinnamon-incense and vintage amber-woody scent. It is said to have excellent performance and a similar vintage amber-spicy vibe to Opium, although Cinnabar is slightly less wild and raw, with a more forward cinnamon warm-spicy accord and a 70s vibe.
Cinnabar is said to have its own character, with a subtle green quality and a beautifully spicy, green, and woody dry-down. It is a powerful cinnamon-incense accord, true to its name, with jasmine, orange, and orange blossom adding a faint orange tilt. The sandalwood in the base notes is reminiscent of Organza Indécence Givenchy.
The original 1978 version of Cinnabar is described as more vintage, with a louder and more intense scent. The 2015 version is said to smell very similar, although slightly less vintage, with the absence of tolu balsam. The 2015 version is also described as having a more forward cinnamon warm-spicy accord and a 70s vibe.
Overall, Estée Lauder Cinnabar is a well-loved fragrance that has stood the test of time, with its warm, spicy, and mysterious scent, reminiscent of the vintage era.
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Frequently asked questions
While there is nothing that can replicate the beauty of vintage Opium, some alternatives that smell similar include Euphorisme d’Opium, Estee Lauder Cinnabar, and Black Opium by Yves Saint Laurent.
Black Opium is a warm, deep, and sweet fragrance with notes of coffee, vanilla, and florals.
Opium is an Oriental-spicy perfume for women with a mixture of fruits and spices, with mandarin orange, plum, clove, coriander, and pepper, as well as bay leaf. Its floral middle notes consist of jasmine, rose, and lily of the valley, in addition to carnation, cinnamon, peach, and orris root. It has a sweet woody base note containing sandalwood, cedarwood, myrrh, opopanax, labdanum, benzoin resin, and castoreum.
