Black Opium Illicit Green

Black Opium Illicit Green, inspired by Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Eau de Parfum Illicit Green (2022)

Illicit Green opens on a cool, leafy accord of fig leaf and green mandarin, with pear rounding off the edges. Within minutes the fig itself comes through, milky and green, alongside orange blossom and jasmine. Underneath, the familiar Black Opium coffee accord builds slowly with bourbon vanilla and a little patchouli. The result is still sweet, but the green top keeps the first stage from feeling heavy.

About the original

YSL launched Illicit Green in 2022 as a flanker of Black Opium (2014), presenting it as a fresher take on the original inspired by cocktail making. It keeps the coffee and white flower structure that defines the line and swaps the opening for fig and green mandarin. Black Opium Le Parfum and Black Opium Extreme are separate flankers, not versions of this one. Illicit Green is no longer listed on YSL's official sites in France, Germany, Italy, the UK or the US, although some retailers still have stock.

Our version

Ours is an independent eau de parfum made to evoke the same character. It is not Yves Saint Laurent stock, not an official relaunch and not the original formula.

Who it suits

Black Opium wearers who find the original too dense in warm weather are the obvious audience. Once the green top fades, coffee and vanilla sweetness take over, so it remains a gourmand at heart.

Related scents

• YSL Black Opium
• YSL Black Opium Le Parfum
• YSL Black Opium Extreme

Notes of the original fragrance, as given in the launch information.

Top notes: Pear Accord, Green Mandarin, Fig Leaf Accord

Heart notes: Orange Blossom Absolute, Jasmine Grandiflorum, Fig

Base notes: Coffee Accord, Bourbon Vanilla, Patchouli, Cedar

Green mandarin and a fig leaf accord set a cool, leafy tone, with a pear accord taking the edge off.

Fig moves to the centre in the heart, joined by orange blossom absolute and jasmine grandiflorum.

The base is pure Black Opium: a coffee accord with bourbon vanilla, patchouli and cedar.

How is Illicit Green different from the original Black Opium?

It shares the coffee, white flower and vanilla structure, but the opening is green and fruity, and fig runs through the heart. It ends on the same coffee and vanilla base.

Is Black Opium Illicit Green discontinued?

It no longer appears in YSL's range in France, Germany, Italy, the UK or the US. Some retailers still sell remaining stock.

Does it still smell of coffee?

Yes, once the green top settles. The coffee accord sits in the base with bourbon vanilla and patchouli.

Is Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Illicit Green coming back?

So far, we have found no announcement from Yves Saint Laurent that it will return. Our version is an eau de parfum in 50 ml or 100 ml.

Inside the EU, delivery is free on orders of €49 or more. Below that it is a flat €4.99. Outside the EU, delivery is a flat €4.99 on every order. We send every order in 1 to 2 working days. It arrives in 3 to 7 days across the EU and in 7 to 14 days outside the EU. You have 14 days to return an unopened bottle.

Black Opium and Yves Saint Laurent are registered trademarks of their respective owners. Parfumour is not affiliated with, associated with, or endorsed by Yves Saint Laurent. Our fragrance is an independent interpretation inspired by the original, created to evoke a similar scent experience. All trademark names are used for descriptive and comparison purposes only.