The Birth of an Icon
Joining forces with Black Opium are master perfumers Nathalie Lorson, Marie Salamagne, Olivier Cresp, and Honorine Blanc. As such, the pair dreamt up an interpretation of the classic 1977 Opium fragrance, calling this version Opium Pour Homme. Where Opium was the bold oriental tapestry, Black Opium is the darker, more mysterious photograph fixed by a rock ‘n’ roll attitude and a whisper of enigma.
The Scented Voyage Of Black Opium
The scent of Black Opium embarks on a narrative of scents created by a blend of top notes that include the crispness of pear, pink pepper, and orange blossom. It kind of serves as a bright, zesty introduction to what will eventually bear some hefty audacity later on.
The heart of Black Opium is where it really starts to break out on its own, with a deep, intoxicating accord of coffee—a prominent note that makes this scent pulse with vitality. Following the coffee are stages of jasmine, a soft-floral; bitter almond and licorice, which lend a daring, almost ‘come-hither’ aspect to the bouquet.
Base notes of vanilla, patchouli, cashmere wood, and cedar anchor the scent with reverberating warmth that sits on your skin, enveloping you in a constant reverberation of elegance behind a veil of mystery. This base is comforting but challenging, a true luxury staple that can only come from YSL!
Definition of Olfactory Typing and Its Implications
Black Opium (also classed as an Amber Vanilla) is a member coterie characterized by rich, powdery, sometimes balsamic family often paired with sweet, warm spices. A category previously synonymous with voluptuous, luxurious sexuality, this sensibility is inherent within Black Opium.