This is one of my long-standing favourite scents after being lucky to receive a bottle on my 25th birthday - that first bottle lasted me for many, many years, largely because this (to me at least) is not a day-time scent. Instead, it's ideal for an evening out or a fancy event. I associate this scent with luxury, night time, seduction and deep conversations over wine. And frankly, I don't get much chance to do any of that! I do so love the smell though, especially the notes of jasmine, which is one of my all time favourite smells. As soon as I spray it on my wrists, I feel like going out to a swanky wine bar and listening to jazz. So if that's your vibe, then this is for you. The bottle is also beautiful, though not stand-out in the beautiful perfume bottle stakes. Nevertheless, I love the colour and the Oriental look, like sun shining through dark clouds. Finally, price-wise, I think this is very reasonable given how long it lasts and the quality of the scent: I can always still smell this the next morning.
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Yves Saint Laurent Opium Review
YSL Opium The opulent decadence of the Eau de Parfum captures the overtly sensual spirit of the original parfum designed by Yves Saint Laurent, only in a lighter spray form. Striking notes of mandarin and bergamot are made mystical with middle notes myrrh and jasmine. A final accord of deep amber laced with Opoponaux imbues the scent with its celebrated rapture. In a chic Chinoiserie-inspired flacon.
Website farmers.co.nz/ysl
Reviews
Like red wine this fragrance was an acquired taste for me. I shunned this fragrance right from the first spritz. It was a rush of pungent potpourri aftershave which gave me a headache.
I didn't revisit this perfume until I asked one of my besties what she was wearing one day, it smelled delicious. Needless to say I was gobsmacked when she pulled out the reddish brown bottle with gold lid. I couldn't believe how something so dreadful could smell so amazing.
When I spritzed it again, it wasn't as bad as the first time but I still wasn't a fan. I figured it had to be the chemistry of the skin and fragrance. This all changed when I was given this for my birthday one year and so began the journey of appreciation haha.
Over time the harsh masculine scent had turned into a spicy soapy blend of musk and jasmine. It's quite funny when I had this perfume I spritzed it for friends to smell and they had the same reaction as I did the first time!
This is one of the few perfumes that I don't get "spritz happy" with because with only 2 spritz this scent is still as fresh 9 hours later. I haven't repurchased this mainly because it's not a must-have for me but it's a lovely perfume to have in the collection - you just may not agree the first time haha.
I can see why Opium is such an iconic and well loved fragrance. My mum has loved YSL's Opium for decades and wears it on a daily basis. Its a very mature, sophisticated oriental and amber scent. Has powerful silage and great longevity. Not my cup of tea on me but love it on others, I do adore Black Opium though which is more up my alley. Opium had rightfully earned it's iconic status in the perfume world though.
Opium is a love or hate it scent. It's hard to pull off when you have a headache, can be overbearing in warmer weather and it has to suit your chemistry but it has it's place in an oriental lover's fragrance wardrobe. Best suited to cooler weather I find this to be a very warming and comforting fragrance - fans of Obsession, Samsara or Imari may well love this scent. It is loaded with sandalwood and spices. There is quite a masculine edge to this scent and it does take a while to warm up on the skin so give it a few hours before judging it and don't buy blindly! While the current edition has a magnificent bottle it has also sadly been reformulated. Personally I seek out the older glass bottles with the cinnabar-brown cap embossed with bamboo, but these are hard to find but they are available still in some places but they are probably harder to come by and have been phased out. Spray lightly and give thought to your co-workers if you work in an office, though this once would have been the normal type of scent ladies would have worn on a daily basis modern noses are easily offended by these loud orientals so may be best reserved for nights out!