Black Opium

Black Opium, inspired by Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium (2014)

Coffee is the hook. It comes through in the heart, roasted and slightly bitter, and sets the tone for the rest. Pear and pink pepper make the first minutes livelier, while orange blossom adds a white-floral glow. Jasmine keeps a floral line through the heart, and the base settles into vanilla over patchouli and cedar, denser than the opening.

About the original

Yves Saint Laurent Beauté, part of L'Oréal, launched Black Opium in 2014. It is usually credited to four perfumers: Nathalie Lorson, Marie Salamagne, Olivier Cresp and Honorine Blanc. Despite the name, it is a separate fragrance from Opium (1977). Many flankers followed, and refill bottles are now sold.

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

The coffee-and-vanilla pairing makes it a natural choice for gourmand fans, and it wears dense rather than airy. It is noticeably sweet. The bitter coffee edge stops it from being pure sugar, though people who dislike vanilla should look elsewhere.

Related scents

• Yves Saint Laurent Opium
• YSL Black Opium Le Parfum
• YSL Black Opium Extreme

Notes of the original fragrance, as listed in fragrance references.

Top notes: Pink Pepper, Orange Blossom, Pear

Heart notes: Coffee, Jasmine

Base notes: Vanilla, Patchouli, Cedarwood

Pear and pink pepper come first, one juicy and one peppery.

Orange blossom bridges into the heart, where coffee and jasmine take over.

Vanilla rises in the drydown with patchouli, and cedarwood keeps the base from going flat.

Is Black Opium the same as YSL Opium?

No. Opium (1977) is a separate, older fragrance that shares part of the name. We make both.

Which Black Opium is this based on?

The original 2014 Eau de Parfum, not one of the later flankers such as Black Opium Le Parfum.

Does it really smell of coffee?

Yes. Coffee is one of the clearest notes, sitting with jasmine in the heart and over vanilla later.

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.