Heidi Norton
Opium by Yves Saint Laurent is a women's perfume with top notes of mandarin orange, plum, clove, coriander, and pepper, as well as bay leaf. Its floral middle notes include jasmine, rose, lily of the valley, carnation, cinnamon, peach, and orris root. The base notes are sweet and woody, with sandalwood, cedarwood, myrrh, opoponax, labdanum, benzoin resin, and castoreum, as well as amber, musk, patchouli, tolu balsam, and vetiver. Opium caused a stir with its controversial name, bringing accusations that Yves Saint Laurent was condoning drug use. While the original formula has been reformulated, there are still many perfumes on the market that smell similar to Opium. One such example is Euphorisme d’Opium, which is based on the original Opium formula but with added notes of orange and pimento. Another similar fragrance is Perfect Scents Fragrances by Instyle Products LLC, which is inspired by Opium but is not associated with the original fragrance. Black Opium by YSL Beauty is another perfume inspired by Opium, with notes of coffee, white flowers, and vanilla.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Brand | Yves Saint Laurent |
| Perfumers | Jean Amic and Jean-Louis Sieuzac |
| Year Introduced | 1977 |
| 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, Opoponax, Labdanum, Benzoin Resin, Castoreum, Amber, Musk, Patchouli, Tolu Balsam, Vetiver |
| Type | Oriental-Spicy |
| Gender | Women |
| Longevity | 3-8 hours |
| Similar Perfumes | Euphorisme d’Opium, Black Opium, Perfect Scents Fragrances |
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What You'll Learn
Euphorisme d’Opium
Euphorisme d'Opium is a fragrance that is based on the original Opium perfume by Yves Saint Laurent, but with a modern twist. It opens with a spicy, bitter citrus and aldehydes over fresh florals, including carnation, rose and lilies. There is also a creamy peach note that adds a freshness to this spicy floral opening. Euphorisme d'Opium also has a cloud of spices, including pink pepper, clove and cinnamon. The heart of the fragrance is a spicy floral sweetened by a raw, sensual honey. The dry-down is warm and smoky, with incense and resins.
Euphorisme d'Opium is an intoxicating fragrance that is smoother and sheerer than the original Opium, making it more approachable for modern audiences. It does not have the same instant impression of fiery red and brown, nor the sense of viscosity that blankets the wearer in a thick, primordial ooze. Instead, it verges on the gauzy at times, with higher levels of black pepper and rose.
While Euphorisme d'Opium is not a 100% dupe of the original Opium, it is the closest fragrance that fans of the original will find. Opium was an Oriental-spicy perfume for women, created for the French fashion house Yves Saint Laurent by perfumers Jean Amic and Jean-Louis Sieuzac. It was introduced to the market in 1977 and quickly generated publicity with its controversial name. Opium caused a stir, with accusations that the brand designer Yves Saint Laurent was condoning drug use. However, the press coverage helped to increase sales, with the perfume soon becoming a best-selling product.
Opium's top notes were a mixture of fruits and spices, including mandarin orange, plum, clove, coriander and pepper, as well as bay leaf. Its floral middle notes consisted predominantly of jasmine, rose and lily of the valley, in addition to carnation, cinnamon, peach and orris root. The base note was a sweet woody scent containing sandalwood, cedarwood, myrrh, opopanax, labdanum, benzoin resin and castoreum, as well as amber, musk, patchouli, tolu balsam and vetiver.
There are other perfumes inspired by Opium, including a copy by Perfect Scents Fragrances, which has received mixed reviews. Black Opium by YSL is another variation, which features notes of coffee, vanilla and white flowers.
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Yves Saint Laurent's Opium
The top notes of Opium are a mixture of fruits and spices, including mandarin orange, plum, clove, coriander, pepper, and bay leaf. Its floral middle notes consist predominantly of jasmine, rose, lily of the valley, carnation, cinnamon, peach, and orris root. The base notes are woody, containing sandalwood, cedarwood, myrrh, opopanax, labdanum, benzoin resin, and castoreum, with additional notes of amber, musk, patchouli, tolu balsam, and vetiver.
Euphorisme d’Opium is a fragrance that is based on the original Opium formula, but it is not a 100% dupe. It opens as a spicy bitter citrus and aldehydes over fresh florals, with carnation, rose, and lilies. There is also a creamy peach that adds freshness to the spicy floral heart. The dry-down is warm and smoky, with incense and resins.
YSL also offers Black Opium, a seductively intoxicating women's fragrance. This scent is darker and slightly bitter, with an earthy texture. It features notes of adrenaline-rich coffee and sweet vanilla, with a burst of floral at its heart.
There are also inspired fragrances on the market, such as Perfect Scents Fragrances, which are paraben-free, cruelty-free, and affordable. However, reviews are mixed, with some customers loving the scent and others finding it horrible, with longevity also receiving varied feedback.
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$29.44 $31.9
Black Opium
The top notes of Black Opium are pear, pink pepper, and orange blossom, creating a burst of soft blossoms and light, airy pear. The middle notes are coffee, jasmine, bitter almond, and licorice, providing a warm, floral heart with a sweet vanilla base. The base notes are vanilla, patchouli, cashmere wood, and cedar, adding a sensual appeal to the fragrance. The overall scent is described as sweet, warm, and floral, with a strong scent of coffee and a burst of floral at its heart.
The bottle design stays true to the last editions of the Opium collection, with a dark and glamorous look, decorated with sequins. The campaign for the perfume featured British model Edie Campbell, shot by Daniel Wolfe.
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Opium pour Homme
The scent profile of Opium pour Homme is sharp, oriental, and woody. Its main note is vanilla, with additional top notes of black currant, galangal, star anise, ginger, and pepper. The fragrance is underlined by base notes of cedar and Tolu balsam.
While some people suggest that men could wear the original Opium fragrance, others argue that Opium pour Homme has a more masculine scent profile. Some alternative perfumes that are said to smell similar to Opium include JHL by Aramis, Jaipur for Men, and Auric Blends Black Opium, which is described as bolder and perhaps more masculine.
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Opium's floral notes
Opium, the Oriental-spicy women's perfume, was created for the French fashion house Yves Saint Laurent by perfumers Jean Amic and Jean-Louis Sieuzac. Introduced in 1977, Opium's floral middle notes consist predominantly of jasmine, rose, and lily of the valley, in addition to carnation, cinnamon, peach, and orris root.
The carnation note is extremely prominent in the opening phase, smelling both floral and a little like cloves. Euphorisme d’Opium, a later version of the perfume, has a cloud of spices – pink pepper, clove, and cinnamon. The heart is a spicy floral sweetened by a raw, sensual honey. The dry-down is warm and smoky incense and resins.
The original Opium's floral notes are complemented by top notes of mandarin orange, plum, clove, coriander, and pepper, as well as bay leaf. The base notes are sweet and woody, containing sandalwood, cedarwood, myrrh, opopanax, labdanum, benzoin resin, and castoreum, in addition to amber, musk, patchouli, tolu balsam, and vetiver.
Opium caused a stir with its controversial name, with accusations that the brand designer Yves Saint Laurent was condoning drug use. However, the ensuing press coverage helped increase sales, with the perfume soon becoming a best-selling product.
Black Opium, a later version of the perfume, features notes of coffee, vanilla, woods, and some florals. It opens with juicy fruity notes and orange blossom. It has a brightness that projects the florals and an amaretto-like scent from the almond.
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Frequently asked questions
There is no perfume that smells exactly like Opium by Yves Saint Laurent. However, Euphorisme d’Opium is said to be close to the original. Another similar scent is Perfect Scents Fragrances, a paraben-free and cruelty-free perfume inspired by Opium.
Euphorisme d’Opium has top notes of spicy bitter citrus, aldehydes, carnation, rose, lilies, and creamy peach. It has a spicy floral heart and a warm, smoky incense and resins dry-down.
Opium is an Oriental-spicy perfume with top notes of mandarin orange, plum, clove, coriander, pepper, bay leaf, and fruits and spices. Its middle notes are floral, including jasmine, rose, lily of the valley, carnation, cinnamon, peach, and orris root. Its base notes are sweet and woody, including sandalwood, cedarwood, myrrh, opopanax, labdanum, benzoin resin, and castoreum, as well as amber, musk, patchouli, tolu balsam, and vetiver.
