Welcome to the ultimate guide to the YSL Black Opium perfume range! This guide will take you through the history and different variations of this popular fragrance. I will explore the different fragrance notes that make up each perfume, and how they compare. We will also look at how the Black Opium range has evolved over the years and how it is now one of the most popular perfumes on the market. So if you’re looking for a fragrance that is timeless, long lasting, and modern all at the same time, this is the perfect guide for you!Perfume Release Fragrance Notes Black Opium Eau de Parfum 2014 Vanilla, Coffee, Orange Blossom, Patchouli Black Opium Eau de Toilette 2015 Pear, Orange, Blackcurrant, Orange blossom, Jasmine Black Opium Intense 2019 Absinthe, Coffee Black Opium Neon 2019 Dragon Fruit, Citrus, Vanilla, Orange Blossom Black Opium Floral Shock 2017 Orange Blossom, Solar Notes, Gardenia Black Opium Nuit Blanche 2016 Caramel, Vanilla, Coffee Black Opium Extreme 2021 Coffee, Vanilla, Orange Blossom, Patchouli Black Opium Illicit Green 2021 Fig, Coffee, Vanilla, Orange Blossom, Patchouli Black Opium Le Parfum 2023 Solar Notes, Orange Blossom, Vanilla Black Opium Over Red 2024 Cherry, White Florals, Coffee, Vanilla
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YSL Black Opium Eau de Parfum
One of the top 10 best selling perfumes at the moment, YSL Black Opium is a sexy but everyday millennial fragrance. I am often asked ‘what does Black Opium smell like?’ and I have to say its hard to describe. It’s a vanilla, coffee and patchouli mix, kind of like a vanilla latte with floral undertones. Strong notes like liquorish, almond and orange blossom come through in the dry down, making this a fragrance with layers and a scent that develops over time.
YSL Black Opium Eau de Toilette
YSL Black Opium Eau de Toilette is a fresher version of the original. The vanilla sweetness of the original is removed, and instead we see a fresh pear, mandarin orange and blackcurrant in the top note, giving it a fruity feel initially. This is followed by the white florals of the original; orange blossom and jasmine. The signature coffee scent of the original is there but a bit more subtle. The lasting power isn’t as great as the original given it’s an Eau de Toilette.
Black Opium Intense
YSL Black Opium Intense is an unusual perfume. You might be forgiven for thinking this would be a stronger version of the original. Actually, this is a different scent where absinthe. The coffee and florals of the original are there but absinthe is absolutely the main note. Good for lovers of absinthe I guess!
Black Opium Neon
A newer addition to the range, Black Opium Neon is the fruitiest option. This keeps the original signature scent of Black Opium, but with a pitahaya (dragon fruit), orange and citrus notes really coming through. This makes Black Opium Neon the most summery and freshest in the range. I think this is the funnest option, and I love the pink.
Black Opium Floral Shock
YSL Black Opium Floral Shock is my personal favourite in the range (though its now discontinued!). This is a really sparkling fragrance centred on the orange blossom from the original Black Opium. The vanilla is removed so there isn’t any sweetness, instead there is a warm solar note a fresh and pretty gardenia, and these are all complimented with a fresh pear scent.
Black Opium Nuit Blanche
YSL Black Opium Nuit Blanche is probably the sweetest of the Black Opium perfume range. Along with a milky coffee scent, we see vanilla and caramel coming through. This kind of reminds me of a Toffee Nut Latte! If you love sweet caramel scents like Prada Candy and Viktor & Rolf Bon Bon then I’d recommend snapping this up – it is discontinued so won’t be around much longer!
Black Opium Extreme
The newest addition to the range Black Opium Extreme is essentially a stronger version of the original Black Opium. The coffee is more prominent than the original, with cacao added to make it warmer. The vanilla and patchouli are just as strong, as is the orange blossom. It’s a great option for date night and Valentine’s Day!
Black Opium Illicit Green
YSL Black Opium Illicit Green keeps the signature YSL Black Opium coffee scent and adds to it a warm fruity and slightly green Fig and Fig Leaf perfume notes.
Personally, I find Black Opium Illicit Green very similar to the original Black Opium. It has the same projection and lasting power, as well as the same signature scent.
The Vanilla, Coffee, Orange Blossom, Jasmine and Pear of the original are all there. As the perfume fades I do get a hint of the Fig and the Fig Leaf, but really that’s the only difference I could detect.
Black Opium Le Parfum
2023 saw the release of YSL Black Opium Le Parfum. This is the most concentrated versions of Black Opium to date.
Black Opium Le Parfum is all about a subtle and sophisticated Vanilla and as a result I think its the sexiest perfume in the range. The Coffee, Orange Blossom and Patchouli of the original remain but they’re more subtle, and warm solar notes add to the sensuality of the Vanilla.
I recommend Black Opium Le Parfum for the daytime time because it’s more subtle than the others in the range.
Black Opium Over Red
YSL Black Opium Over Red was a really hotly anticipated release due to the cherry top note listed in the fragrance notes. Personally, I don’t find the cherry to be particularly strong in this fragrance so it was a little bit of a disappointment from that perspective. Over Red definitely has the projection, longevity and signature DNA scent of the original Black Opium. The cherry note is slightly noticeable but personally I think this is very similar to the original perfume, with a slightly sweet and fruity twist.
Black Opium Limited Edition Bottles
