Honorine Blanc129 fragrancesPortrait →
Marie Salamagne198 fragrancesPortrait →
Nathalie Lorson186 fragrancesPortrait →Will you like it? Mark a few fragrances you own or love and we'll tell you.
Yves Saint Laurent · Sold as feminine
Black Opium
The moment you step into a bustling city, where the aroma of fresh espresso mingles with the sweetness of vanilla — a scent that captures both the energy and sophistication of urban life.
Full bottle: Premium tier, typically $100–250. Links open each seller's own page. We may earn a commission; it never changes the order.
Black OpiumPremium · $100–250
78%Similar accords, often for lessAmbery Vanilla · DossierBudget tier, under $40 · shares 6 of its 10 notes8 matches →How it wears
From community votes · bars are each option's shareComposition & Character
Notes Pyramid
TopOpening
HeartThe Soul
BaseFoundation
Main Accords
When to Wear
Who Wears It
The story behind the bottle.
Launched in 2014 by Yves Saint Laurent and crafted by perfumers Nathalie Lorson, Marie Salamagne, Olivier Cresp, and Honorine Blanc, Black Opium is a daring Oriental Vanilla fragrance that blends the rich warmth of coffee with the sweetness of vanilla. The composition opens with pear and pink pepper before diving into an aromatic heart of orange blossom, jasmine, and bitter almond. The base notes of licorice, patchouli, cashmere wood, and cedar create a warm, spicy finish that is both comforting and provocative.
Black Opium has become iconic for its bold and addictive character, setting the tone for modern women who embrace their contradictions — strong yet seductive, confident yet mysterious. It's a fragrance that feels as much at home in an office as it does on a night out.
Apply this fragrance to pulse points for maximum warmth and longevity. It's best worn in layers, allowing each note to unfold gradually throughout the day. Black Opium has a strong presence but wears best close to skin rather than projecting loudly across a room.
Fig. 01 — Black Opium, Yves Saint Laurent
Where to buy.
Wear it for a week first
A decant costs a fraction of a bottle and tells you how it lasts on your skin.
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Honorine Blanc
The quiet revolutionaryHonorine Blanc is a perfumer at Firmenich who has quickly established herself as one of the most talented noses of the newer generation.
Co-created with Marie Salamagne, Nathalie Lorson and Olivier Cresp
The Black Opium line
30 fragrances, compared side by side
Designer Yves Saint Laurent
More from the house · founded 1961 · France
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Chosen from what wearers say it smells like, what its fans also love, and its notes
Love it, not the $100–250 price?
Matched by accords and notes. Sample first, then decide.
The originalBlack OpiumYves Saint Laurent · Premium · $100–250Dossier · 2022Ambery VanillaShares 6 of its 10 notesunder $40★ 4.10 (629)50%Match
AjmalVanille CelesteShares 5 of its 6 notesunder $40★ 3.95 (168)53%Match
Swiss Arabian · 2018AnsamShares 6 of its 10 notesunder $40★ 3.56 (9)
With Parfums de Marly Hamdani
Adds amber, leather and animalic; shares four accords.
Suggested from accords and notes · not yet tried by wearers
What people
are saying.
Respected, if divisive: loved by 39%, disliked or hated by 16%.