My New Addiction | Black Opium by YSL

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Black Opium, announced as a rock’n’roll interpretation of the classic to highlight the dark, mysterious side of the YSL brand, has me hooked. A lot of you might think otherwise because you remember that heavy, oriental, spicy scent that you used to smell on your mom or gran. Give me a chance to describe to you just how absolutely incredible the new Black Opium is.

The original Opium, launched in 1977, is an Oriental Spicy fragrance. Top notes include coriander, plum, mandarin orange, pepper, cloves, west indian bay and bergamot, middle notes incorporate carnation, sandalwood, patchouli and cinnamon, and base notes include tolu balsam, sandalwood, musk, coconut, vanilla, benzoin, vetiver, incense, cedar, myrrh and amber.

Black Opium, launched in September 2014, is the first Café Floral (Floral Coffee) by Yves Saint Laurent and has top notes of pink pepper and orange blossom, middle notes of jasmine and coffee and base notes of vanilla, patchouli and cedarwood,

As you can see, the only notes that these two fragrances have in common are the notes of vanilla, patchouli and cedarwood. And three notes do not a perfume make.

Black opium 4

the bottle

The glittering matte black bottle is a reworked version of the original Opium bottle, but is far edgier and has a rock-chic twist. The gently sparkling flacon is the perfect vessel to contain the mysterious, gold juice.

the scent

Described as a new-generation oriental gourmand, the juice does not feature a traditional olfactory structure, according to the brand, but was inspired by “chiaroscuro” (Italian for light-dark), where the emphasis is on the contrast and tension between light and dark.

The instant you spritz the gold juice, the coffee bean note hits you, jolting the senses. Next, it becomes more feminine with with the white flowers of jasmine and orange blossom. It finishes off with the incredibly addictive sensual appeal of vanilla and the woody notes of cedar and patchouli, giving it depth, and hinting at a mysterious elegance. The fragrance caresses you every movement you wear it.

the campaign

The face of the perfume’s campaign is British model Edie Campbell, famous for her black cropped hair and indie-rock style. The advert was shot in Shanghai, and portrays Edie Campbell on a frantic quest to recover her precious fragrance from the lover who has taken it, referencing the addictive nature of the fragrance (and perhaps today’s caffeine addiction).

final thoughts

I have never witnessed such a favourable reaction to a fragrance! So many friends, and friends of friends, acquaintances and clients are dying to get their hands on a bottle. I think this is hands down the best fragrance to be released this year and I literally can’t get enough of it! When I wear another fragrance for the day, I catch myself wanting to douse myself in Black Opium – it really is that good! Told you I’m hooked.

Black Opium EDP is available in 30ml for R695, 50ml for R975 and 90ml for R1, 245.