Black Opium By Yves Saint Laurent Perfume

Black Opium Perfume by Yves Saint Laurent, Black Opium is an Oriental vanilla women’s fragrance with vanilla, coffee, and sweet main accords. Launched in 2014, this scent was a collaboration between perfumers Nathalie Lorson, Marie Salamagne, Olivier Cresp, and Honorine Blanc. It is housed in a dark bottle with sequin decorations to present a glam rock look. Pear, pink pepper, and orange blossom make up the head notes while coffee, jasmine, bitter almond, and licorice form the heart notes. Vanilla, patchouli, cedar, and cashmere wood base notes complete this composition. Best worn during fall and winter nights, it has moderate longevity and sillage.

Yves Saint Laurent began his career at age 17 by working as Christian Dior’s assistant. At age 21, he became head of the Dior fashion house when Dior died. He lost his position, but started his fashion house after he left the service. He is known for popularizing ready-to-wear and tailoring exquisite women’s suits. The first fragrance, Y for women, was released in 1964, and the cosmetics and perfume lines remain produced by L’Oreal.