Yves Saint Laurent – Black Opium Review

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I’ve owned Black Opium by Yves Saint Laurent for a long time now, it is well overdue a review.

Typically, Black Opium is my autumn / winter scent. I mentioned it in my Top Three Winter Perfumes post last year. I think it’s also ideal for evening wear any time of year as long as it’s not too warm outside. It’s quite a heavy scent and I think in warmer climates it could be too cloying.

Firstly, can we talk about the bottle. I feel like companies put a lot of thought into perfume bottles to demonstrate what the scent inside might be like. To me, the black glitter bottle screams “I’m a bit sweet and girly, but not too much, I’ve got a dark side ok?”. It’s got quite a 70s glam rock theme going on too.

Yves Saint Laurent – Black Opium Notes

Mandarin, pink pepper, pear, orange blossom, jasmine, coffee, patchouli, cedarwood, and vanilla

My Thoughts on Black Opium by Yves Saint Laurent

On me, I really get the vanilla, coffee and pink pepper notes come through. It is sweet but that is tempered by the pink pepper and slightly bitter coffee note. It smells like a winter fruit strudel that’s just been taken out of the oven. Sweet and caramelised where the sugar has slightly burnt on the top, with just a hint of sharpness.

Black Opium by Yves Saint Laurent lasts a long time on me, over nine hours. It lingers on clothes for longer than it does on skin. I can still detect it on old jumpers I’ve worn before I put them in the machine. It also has a moderate sillage so it’s much more suited to nights out than for the office. It’s not a scent that’s worn close to the body, it’s quite statement and definitely a trademark scent people can associate with you.

Black Opium is a sexy scent that’s ideal for wearing on nights out. Sweet but smokey and oh so very assertive.

The Eau de Parfum version of Black Opium retails for £56 for 30ml. It’s pricey but I find the majority of perfumes are. The benefit is, you just need one spritz and you’re set for the evening.

What’s your signature scent for nights out?