Fragrance: YSL Black Opium

Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) Black Opium is dangerously seductive, she knows who she is and what she wants. Dramatic, restless, she’s a complex intermix of darkness and light; feminine sensuality; playful but serious at the same time. The scent is strong, unique and intense pay-off with rock chic concept. 

YSL Black Opium first there is the wake-up call. The coffee bean note hits you hard, jolting the senses. Next, it becomes softer and more feminine with the white flowers of jasmine sambac and absolu of fleur d’oranger to finish incredibly addictive and emboldened by the ambrosial appeal of vanilla and the woody notes of cedar and patchouli, giving a roundness, depth, and mysterious elegance.

Driven by desire, free from the social constraints that pin others down, she is singular in her approach to life. Captivated by indie rock music, experimental art, and the kind of esoteric conversations with like-minded spirits that both those worlds inspire, she lives her life with passion, making destiny her playground.

Black Opium is created by 4 perfumers Nathalie Lorson, Marie Salamagne, Honorine Blanc and Olivier Cresp, each of them bring their different strengths to Black Opium with intense pay-off.

Nathalie Lorson creates the black and intense coffee accord. Marie Salamagne’s idea of “rock” revolves around the crisp notes of pear, and the electric pink pepper; Olivier Cresp’s vision focuses on the addictive nature of fragrance - what will lure the wearer to keep coming back for more? - while Honorine Blanc, based in New York, looks for light in everything, working in particular in this instance with white flowers.

YSL BLACK OPIUM edp notes

Top notes: mandarin essence, pink pepper essence, pear accord.

Middle notes: orange blossom absolute, jasmine absolute, floral solar accord.

Base notes: coffee accord, patchouli essence, cedarwood essence, vanilla pot absolute.

With a contemporary sense of danger, the name BLACK OPIUM is at once about risk-taking, seeking out the forbidden, doing something you shouldn’t be doing; as it is about the feeling of desire, of always wanting more, never quite having enough. Together they are both modern and enduring of the moment and elegant.