Opium Yves Saint Laurent for women

gorgeous deep red roses and incense.

This perfume is an expensive copy of Tabu. It is heavenly. My father brought a bottle back from a business trip to Paris. The perfume had just debuted and Mom loved it. So much that she wouldn't share it with me! LOL.
Opium is a rich Oriental that is perfect for night activities like nightclubs.

Pure smokey Myrrh with an amber base. It does conjour what I would imagine is the scent of an opium den. This is a very grown up intense smell. It brings out a feeling of mystery and intensity that I haven't smelled in any of the current fruitbombs an fruitchulis that I normally go ape for. Based in the review I wish I might have a chance to smell the original at some point in my life. For me, it does fill that need to a dark sultry amber scent... No fruit, no flowers, no pretty girl pink stuff here. It is a great addition to my collection.

Was in a Perfumery yesterday and tried both the EDP and the EDT!!!
OMG! It has NOTHING to do with what Opium used to be. A silly watered down something that doesn?`t know if it should turn sour,or just stay plain boring, shallow and cheap.

Nice, lady like sophisticated perfume. Amazing longevity. I have a new 50 ml edp for sale or swap.

this is my signature scent. i love any fragrance that is dark, smoky-incensy smelling. i like to be noticed when walking into a room. opium will do that for you. its very dark, daring, strong and confident-and you have to be that to wear this.. reminds me of campfires and gypsies. each body chemistry is different and it smells different on everyone. i tend to draw alot of smokey amber from it. LOVE.

Sorry, folks. I hate to be the bearer of bad news to all of you who want to believe that the "Opium" you can buy now is the same stuff of the Opium legends, but everything the naysayers have stated is the absolute truth, unfortunately.

No matter what the bottle says, this is NOT Opium; not by a longshot. And it never will be. This is a feculent stain on Opium's name.

It's sad but it's true. This isn't even a shadow of the original Opium. This is what a really bad facelift, in bottle design and most certainly in the fragrance inside.

I pity the future generations that won't get to experience the masterpiece that was Opium. It infuriates me that they've given such a phenomenal scent a crappy olfactory facelift and dumbed it down to appeal to today's idiotic masses. Everything that made it so special, noteworthy, fantastic, and downright sensational is gone. It smells plain and cheap, cheap, cheap. Not worth the money. You could get one of Chanel's masterpieces or an enchanting Thierry Mugler for the price of this drugstore sugar water they have the nerve to call Opium. Yves Saint Laurent would spin in his grave.

RIP Opium.

heavy incense, cinnamon, smoke and powder. to me it smells very bold, yet classy and sophisticated. i would imagine only confident women using it.
i do not know if i like this on me or not, but it is what my favorite aunt used .. so regardless it suits me or not, i do like to smell it alot as it reminds me of her.

I was smell YSL Belle d'Opium and I was disappointed, then I was thinking that all those Opium perfumes are nothing special. But one day suddenly I was get this to try. This is perfect! So sexy, smoky and dark! I was surprised! Very good!

This was my late great grandma's signature scent. I have a little sample that I got from Macy's and every time I smell it, it reminds me of her. Cigarettes, whiskey, mah jong and all..

This version of Opium performs a weird balancing act between church incense and cherry cola. It's reminscent of Tabu, but with less of a honk. Interesting, but I wouldn't wear it myself.

Right now I´m testing this version in EDP with the original EDT (soapy resinous myrrh) and Opium Secret de Parfum (balmy sweet mandarin and marigold)
The new EDP version is SO potent, but only in gaps, for a couple of minutes.
The first half hour isn´t worth sniffing, then it beats the EDT for a short moment, then the pleasure is killed by some kind of chemical wood. After that it has like 15 mitutes of bliss, similar to Secret de parfum. And then the wood comes back and stays for good. Too bad.
I still like it, it is beautiful, just different... but I also hope I will never run out of the old stuff:)

shame this perfume has the same name of the legendary Opium! they should call it something else and leave the original mighty formula alone! this will always be compared to that 1977 juice, for me, as I own the original opium, i find this less interesting, tamed, shy interpretation of the original intoxicating juice. this perfume, itself, is not worth it, the counterpart for today's bubble gym perfumes, and like-wise, tasteless.

I've only become interested in perfume in the last year, and as such, I have no idea what the original EDP smelled like. I went to a perfume shop yesterday and smelled what seemed like every perfume they had (after many breaks and coffee bean inhaling), and this is the one I kept on going back to. I had the EDP sprayed on me, and I left the store with the intention of seeing how the scent developed on me over the course of a few hours. I went back and purchased it thirty minutes later.

It smells like warm, spiced milk when mixed with my body chemistry. It's very comforting, and warm. It makes me want a nice chai latte, a fuzzy blanket and a good book.

The sillage is a little much for me. I'm not the type of person who wants to shout their arrival with their perfume (I'd rather do that with a solid hairstyle and some bold lipstick ;) ), so less is definitely more with this one. Longevity is absoloutely crazy. I put it on yesterday at one in the afternoon, and at ten in the morning the next day I can still smell it on me.

LATER EDIT:

Just for fun I decided to layer it with Dior Pondichery. Talk about yummy! Pondichery gives it some brightness and makes it far more suitable for day if you apply only a small amount of Opium.

i have now idea how old version smells, but for me this one is perfect blend for oriental parfume.Not too sweet,not to much vanilla or heavy spices. perfect!

it's no longer a secret that opium has been tampered with, reformulated and is simply a different scent than it used to be. vintage opium is by far the most opulent fragrance ever created, smelled it once on a woman years ago and it's haunting. a cloud of spice, orange, heavy incense and all things sensual.
the new opium, without comparison, is a very good perfume. the EDP especially is a beauty; balmy, smoky, woody with beautiful orange and myrrh. it projects well, lasts long enough... but even so it's still quieter, softer than the original juice. but it's a perfume that i wear regularly. if u want to have a better idea of how vintage opium smelled like try estee lauder's cinnabar.
5 stars.

I finally tried the reformulation EDT and EDP today- the EDT is an abomination, the EDP is *ok* but, not my beloved Opium.... I'm so incredibly disappointed! I've worn Opium on a daily basis for years so, I'll have to stockpile the vintage I can get my hands on. Sadly, that will eventually run out!

I quite like heavy, smoky fragrances but Opium does not get along with my chemistry. It can turn very sharp and acrid. Have some friends who've told me Opium outright burns their nose.
I can see how one could also find this fragrance "dated". Perhaps it's the carnation note? I find that it's often listed in fragrances I find a bit too "old school" for me.
I love Opium Pour Homme & Belle D'Opium though. Go figure.

My mom wore this when I was little. It really brings back memories. I tried this today and the first spray I smelled cinnamon gum and incense. After a few minutes it smelled like incense, smokey sandalwood ashes, and amber. A bit sickeningly sweet and strong, but interesting and very unique. This is pretty much the opposite of everything else popular, all those fruity florals out there. l like it, but it calls for the appropriate occasion. I think it's sexy!

Snowbunny007 : I have the reformulation edp and it is as disappointing as the edt. There is absolutely no comparison to the original as far as depth and spiciness and longevity are concerned.

This perfume works on me. It smells like toast and sex when i wear it and I can still smell it after I bathe. It was my ex's fave

I was not happy with this. I have worn the original, and now I have been through a bottle of the reformulation. They are similar, but the reformulation is lacking in some areas.

It still retains the original idea of opium. But, the original has a much stronger base, a more masculine edge, a warmer aura, a greater sillage, a more developed and blended set of florals, and far more staying power. This new version could even drop the original name and be called something like "opium eau fraiche" or "leau d'opium". The florals burn my nose they are so sharp. The spices are watered down. And, worst of all- there is a strong, masculine accord in the original, which is missing in this featured version, that could give you this sensual, love/hate (gosh, I'm wearing something really naughty, teehee) sort of feeling. It was frankly sexual!!!

This new version is a bit dated. The original was timeless...so well blended and sensual.

I hear the EDP is a bit better. This is for the EDT. I am curious to try the EDP.

I'm currently wearing a sample, the EDT I think, and I've got a question: Do the EDT and EDP smell different? What I'm seeing here is a bit confusing and I can't remember which bottle the gal at the store decanted from. I'm so in love with this fragrance and don't want to purchase the wrong one if they smell different!

EDIT: I received a bottle of the EDP today as a gift, and there is no difference between the EDT and EDP in terms of fragrance notes. The EDP is more intense, but they are otherwise nearly indistinguishable. I am so very pleased! This fragrance is a heady, exotic, dark rapture in a bottle. Very aptly titled, too. I'm a recent Opium fan, so I never did get to smell the original, but I'm honestly not sure what all the fuss about the 'reformulation' is about. The 'new' fragrance is divine!

I have both, pure perfume and EDT in the original formula. While this is not my absolute favourite fragrance, it is definitely something I enjoy wearing. Makes me feel exotic and mysterious femme fatale. In a pale skin, red lip kind of way....

Today I decided to try the reformulated version and the dry down made me nauseous. Literally. There is a note that is absolutely revolting to my nose. I don't have a proper terminology to describe it. Benzene, rubber, sorbitol and cinnamon. I scrubbed my wrist with soap and mouth wash, but the smell does not come off. :( it does have an amazing staying power! This one isn't for me. Pity... Once my original is gone, Opium would no longer be part o my collection.

This is my review for the new formula EDT

First off, this smells like the original's long lost cousin... There is something in the original that I just couldn't wear, civet, incense, not quite sure. Anyhow, this stripped down version, on me, wears so much better. Again this is only my take on it and I'm sure I'll get flamed for saying that I like this half @ssed, stripped down, poor excuse of a reformulation better than the wonderful, perfect, crown jewel from Yves! LOL

So, my whole purpose for this review is to reach out to those of you who find the original a little to "much" and let you know that this is a great option and stilll yet a beautiful fragrance! It does have a slight masculine base to it, like the vintage, but not nearly as strong.

Go get it, try it, wear it... This absolutely works and fits me, I am so glad I found this and hope that others find this useful!

I love this smell, sexy and intoxicating... reminds me of Estee Lauder Cinnabar that I used to wear about 10 years ago. I recently smelled it again at Christmas time and didn't care for the smell. I tried Opium and became "hooked"...... addicted !!! like it so much better!!

Okay, when I first tried this months ago, it was on a paper strip. I smelt and recoiled. I thought it was medicinal, masculine and way too smoky for me.

But in the store today, I decided to give it another ago, this time on my skin. WOW, I thought. This is one seriously dark, mysterious, captivating little siren. Don't use a paper strip for this one, its completely different on the skin.
I got strong incense, myhrr, spice, cinnamon... very deep and delicious.

HOWEVER, I'm disappointed now because two hours after application, I'm getting a very prominent, powdery "grandma" smell, which is a shame cos I was so close to buying it. My sister smelt my wrist when I asked for her opinion and she immediately wrinkled her nose and said "old lady".
I do actually smell like someone 70+ and not 25!
Damn.

Now I'm torn...to buy or not to buy... the opening is so lovely. Why the powder YSL? WHY??

it would be nice if fragrantica had a page for the new packaging of the EdT, which looks exactly like the packaging of the new "despised" EdP but without the dark tube inside the bottle.

This is way too confusing and I almost didn't buy the EdT in the new bottle because I thought it would be awful. But it turned out it is amazingly beautiful!

Oh! this one is Hippie scent! I sprayed today in Boots and Iv got an awesome aura! I smelled like ancient asian temple .Very very oriental and beautiful fragrance. Different from any of mass market fragrances. I could think of Lush ,they do parfums similar to opium style) Nice smell of Hippie(in a good way) on me) Interesting,but on my cousin smells very different with lots of fruity berry notes.

I LOVE the new Opium! I wore the old one back in the 90's and, although I loved the smell I couldn't bear to wear it too much as it was far far too strong. The new EDP smells like the old one but is much softer and easier to wear. I can definitely wear this day and night and I don't feel like people are gagging around me, whereas the old one could only be worn at night and people could smell you coming, and I hate that in a perfume. Perfume should be something you wear, not which wears you. I wore Poison in the 1990's as well and the smell of it makes me wince now. Heavy, eye-watering perfumes are so dated now. All those people who don't like it, we know, we get it, you can stop going on about it now. No it's not the same, it's better.

I'm so sick of people saying: 'shame on you ysl, it is not the same as the original'. Come one, like there is such a difference. There ISN'T!! People just love to idealize the original. There is no difference!

chi ha amato la formula originale di opium negli anni 80 sicuramente adesso rimarra' disgustato da questa nuova formula. io ho ancora un opium di quelli vecchi e non c'e' veramente paragone.
quello nuovo si apre con note graffianti e stridule, poche e sintetiche, assomiglia acoca cola. poi vola via veloce saltando tutto il bouquet e si ferma su una nota monotona che assomiglia al borotalco. un vero profumo che e' stato rovinato, non c'e' piu niente di opium in questo.

I finally got a sniff of the new 'Opium' today. This is NOT Opium and should not share the name with the original. After it had dried, I could only smell it by shoving my nose on my skin; with the original you could smell it a room width away. I'm sure people new to the fragrance will like this but those of us who cherished the original 70s classic will mourn the loss. Shame on you YSL.

Just.. wow. I just tried on Opium today and it smells DIVINE ! It works so great on my skin and I just love the woody/oriental smell. And it doesn't smells like "smoke" on my skin compared to Shalimar by Guerlain or Obsession by CK.

I'm in love it with and I'm DEFINITLY buying the biggest bottle of this perfume this week ! Unfortunatly, I didn't had the occasion to smell the old formula of Opium, and I wish I had. But anyway, this one smells truly amazing.

Ahhhh Opium! First bought this in 1977..it's 'addictive' one of my staples and all time favourites. A splendiforous blend of mandarin, patchouli, frankincense, cinnamon, ylang ylang and fireworks! A no-holds-barred adventure, poised, intoxicating and yet sophisticated - a sheer tigress. Beautiful in winter and amazing on a warm summer night.

This new EDP is horrible. It immediately reminded me of a masculine scent that I once owned. Then I realized what it was. It has something in it that my bottles of the current Giorgio Beverly Hills and Quorom had. They all had the same synthetic "generic/oriental" fragrance smell. It seems like the factory uses the same generic formula for anything Oriental or Spicy...male or female.


It seems like a lot of the cheaper scents have lots in common with each other. I assume that they are made in the same factories.

Opium should reek of goodness and sillage should be a monster. This doesn't have either one in the current formulation.

Priced at roughly $106 for a 90ml EDP it can't be all that good and it wasn't.

A friend gave it to me as a Christmas gift. I want the old version but only the new version is available in Manila.

I have tried the old Opium EDT, months ago. Comparing my experience with old EDT version versus my current EDP in a new bottle... the old version is spicier and smells like barbershop cologne with very soft animalic notes. The new version is sweeter and more floral, but still it is very good. Guys can easily wear this. It is so spicy and rich that an amateur nose will not be able to tell you (if you are guy) that you are wearing ladies perfume.

I my vote goes to the old version, but this new EDP is also very good. The silage is enormous, and one of few perfumes that last more than 8 hours on skin...

I love this.

Fantastic on my skin and lasts forever. I sprayed it in the department store and everyone who walked by commented on my lovely scent. Lovely!

This was the first time I sniffed any perfume labeled with 'opium'.
I liked it on a piece of paper, but didn't have the courage to try it on my skin. At first it smelled like a fizzing glass of coca-cola, and then the warm spices appeared. A pleasant scent, that i will try on later.

Opium 2009...it,s the "light" version of the Vintage one.
More easy to wear, not so strong, very warm ,velvety oriental .
Can be worn day or night.
I really like this "modernised" Opium a lot.The bottle is very nice too.
As i already said in my other review, the vintage is so strong that i feel sick, so this is the right alternative for me ;))

Deep and warm. I feel like I will be wear it if I'm about 40, but not now. This is for a woman, a madam, not for a mademoiselle.

smells similer too Cinnabar but i perfer cinnabar!

I found a sample of this in EDT concentration at the back of my bedside table and thought of giving it a chance.
What can I say this is very pleasant, deep and spicy big sillage and longevity if I did not know how tha pre-reformulated one smelled like I would probably love this and make it mine.
The thing is in comparison to the old Opium this one is like tab water

Mystica, thank you for your review ! The majority of Original Formula Opium fans agree with you on this one. We are lucky to have been able to experience the unique Original formula in our lifetimes. Many of us refuse to spend exhorbitant prices chasing vintage bottles of perfumes. With the IFRA rules, it is impossible to recreate the original Opium formula. Unfortunately, other fabulous classic perfumes have met the same fate, bowed to IFRA rules, and disappeared. Sad but true.

As for this version of Opium, it lacks many many natural ingredients and spices found in the original. Comparatively, this version is a "nice" oriental floral, just "OK", no longer special or unique like the original.

This is really strange. When I sprayed it on my wrist, I couldn't stand this smell. I left it in my drawer and today, I was in a good mood, and I wanted to try something different. I sprayed OPIUM and went out to work. I think I fallen in love with this fragrance.
I was feeling strong, confident and strong again.
I have just half of 30 ml bottle, but will definitely try to find bigger vintage bottle.
I think it's good to layer it with something.

I haven't known the old one, but I definatly love this! For me it is wintertime fragrance, especially for cristhmas. Very balmy,smoky and heavy but on my skin is comfortable, warm, and kind. Not seductive, but the smell of a cosy, inviting home, full of special spices, shines of liqeurs in the ligth of candles, wealth and tradition. Very nice!

per me opium era il profumo. non un profumo qualsiasi. era una fragranza dolce,avvolgente, sensuale,calda... adesso e' diventata aggressiva,tossica,aspra, graffiante,sintetica.
le note si sviluppano veloci e pungenti,sono diverse dall'originale,corre rapidamente verso la fine e resta solo un vago ricordo dell'opium originale.
chi non ha provato l'opium degli anni 80 non puo capire la differenza.
questa ultima riformulazione e' oscena.

This is very very smoky and deep, it remind me of the smell of Russian church and incense. It has a great staying power, I've sprayed it hours ago and can still smell it on my skin, and this is quite rare for me because all other perfumes even with the most staying power fade quickly on me, but not this one.

I personally wouldn't wear it but it if you are into deep smoky scents this gem is for you!

I like this a lot. I sprayed it on my wrist, just to try, then I went inside a bookstore... Wow, the sillage is enormous. The scent is very captivating. If you want to be the center of attention, wear this!

this is perfect!
Very much heavy and delicious scent. I hate that talk about "buy only the vintage, this is not Opium anymore". Oh, please, this is pure histeria.

This is for the real mature woman .. Im "only" 23 , but i'll tell ya'll that I've been wearing this scent since I was 14 . (I know I was young but I couldn't resist my mothers bottle) .

I felt so different and I still do . I love Opium , it's so so .. beautiful , a true legendary perfume .

In my feeling, the new Opium is likely to be discontinued in a few years. I'm not working at the industry, nor for L'oreal, and am no way associated with the brand whatsoever. As a lover of the pre-2009 Opium, I just wonder about the sales rate of this new interpretation. Because,

1- I know, no true Opium lovers will buy it more than once, if they ever did so. (Some people say that the testers for the new Opium are the old Opium, so they fooled people. -For me it was a blind buy.- But how many times can you fool people, especially when this issue is vastly discussed on the net.)
2- In its own right, the new Opium is incredibly heavy for the younger audience, minus the distinct character of the old one.
3- It's not likely to satisfy people with rather mature noses who like orientals. They will either seek alternatives for their old beloved Opium; or if they are able to splurge on perfume (and most are) they will go for niche stuff then, -such as Montale- for the same price which is labelled on the new Opium. This way, they will not have to tolerate chemical notes in a perfume and they'll for sure be different from the crowd as they wish, and you know for the same price again...

Then really, what makes the customer profile which is targetted for the sales of new Opium; and is it sustainable enough... --or will L'oreal simply someday pull it of from the shelves?...

Just a thought.

This is one of the perfumes I get the most compliments on, young and 'old' compliment me on wearing an amazing perfume. I absolutely love it. It's balmy and sweet at the same time <3

This version of opium is TERRIBLE--nothing like the original (which I enjoy but find too strong to wear in public).

Even the summer 2004 opium had something in common with the original, though the summer version was lighter.

This newer Opium is watered down, as another reviewer said, and maybe a bit sour.

Another thing: the new Opium's bottle is just plain ugly and non-feminine: it looks like something in which cheap men's cologne would be packaged.

What are the YSL people thinking?

I'm addicted to this perfume. It makes me feel like a different person. The smell is just hypnotising.

If you really like "Opium" try to get a bottle of the original EDT or Parfum on Ebay. The reformulation has nothing to do with the original.

A little update(on these new formulations, I have not tried the old ones). The review I did, was for the EDT. Later I bought the EDP. Those two start out similar, with the tar smell on me, but while the EDT continue to be tar-ish all the way, plus alittle burning coal, the EDP loose the tar during the drydown and brings out wonderful flowers. I thought the EDP would be so much stronger and even more tar-ish, but it's of a similar strength, maybe even softer, and it came out just beautiful on my skin, with the flowers. I think the EDP is the way to go. I bought the bodylotion too.

Like I've said before, I never knew the old Opium, but this version is fine to me, especially the EDP! I guess, what you don't know ain't hurting you, eh!

Was in a Perfume Sto yesterday and tried both the EDP and the EDT!!!
OMG!
It has NOTHING to do with what Opium used to be. A silly watered down something that doesn`t know if it should turn sour,spicy,or just plain boring and shallow.
I wonder how high the Dip in Sales got since this Crap hit the Market. I just can`t imagine an Opium Lover who tried it,would actually buy it.

very good perfum. Incense + cloves + soap. Exquisite, special, oriental!

it is "castrate" of the original formula ! shame on YSL! they removed 22 ingredients from the original Opium and selling this one now as OPIUM and for the same price!))) the most horrible thing is - testers of Opium in the perfume stores are the old Opium! people try tester and buy this one !! when I told an assistant about it she didn't want to discuss this issue! horrible! fooling us, as we are idiots, and capitalise on this famous name! crooks!

After reading so many negatives about this perfume, I never in my life thought I would buy it. Well, I did and I don't regret it. Having tried so many perfumes over the years and so many out there smells similar, I felt I wanted something really different and also "offensive". Something that would really wack me in the head, if you know what I mean. Opium is all that. It's "kaboom". Unique and different. I've not smelled the original, but I like this one. I have the edt and it's amazingly strong for an edt. I wonder if I would even dare try the edp. I think the scent reminds me of tar. It smells alot like tar to me. It's also surprisingly fresh, which I could never imagine. I think it's the tar smell that makes it fresh, 'cause tar is kind of fresh. It's summertime and around 25-26 celsius outside, but I wear Opium despite that. I think it works even in hot weather. First time I used it, I oversprayed it, 'cause I felt it was mild and fresh on the first few sprays, so I sprayed some more. Then 7-8 hours later, I felt nauseus. So you gotta be careful when spraying. Don't let the initial mild and fresh scent fool you. The fresh scent of tar stays with me almost all day. After maybe 7-8 hours later, the myrhh takes control.

I had a tar schampoo in my teens and Opium smells just like it. I really like Opium because it's so unique and daring, a bit offensive, a bit "kaboom".

i can say that the edt on my clothes reminds me of the vintage opium that i adore....but on my skin it spicy oriental but with a rubber edge

This is the reformulation of Opium. Most of the spices and several other ingredients have been removed in this version, so it's not exotic or unique like the original formula. The bottle was changed to this style, but they didn't tell customers that the original formula had also changed. They sold a lot of Opium in this bottle, but when customers discovered the juice inside was different from the original formula, most refuse to buy Opium ever again.

Now, this current version of Opium is OK, but it's just another well blended nice rich floral scent, and yes, it lasts a long long time on skin. However, compared to the original formula, this frag is no longer appealing to me.

I will not buy Opium ever again. I refuse to pay exhorbitant prices for discontinued vintage Opium.

Luckily, reading reviews on this website, I've been able to find other strong spicy frags that I love just as much as I loved the original Opium formula.

Whether you like or dislike a frag, your opinions are very educational and extremely helpful. Thank you ALL so very much for your reviews !

I have no idea about the original 1977, I wear new EDT, the opening is with a strong scent of aldehyde like fire which continues through the heart of the perfume with smell of bay leaf, in the middle tones the carnation, coriander and peper is very strong, the bottom notes are not strong it smells like a soft woody incense at the end at least in my skin

It's not often I use the word horrible in terms of a perfume, but it is the only word I can think of when I smell this. It smells like toilet cleanser.There is not one shred of similarity with the Opium vintage. They are light years apart in my opinion.

I know not many women like this scent but if my girl wore Opium I would be obsessed!

Oh, I love the reformulated EDP...

It`s one of the VERY few perfumes nowadays that actually lasts for days, and has sillage that REALLY can knock you over. You get real value for your money.

Spicy, balmy, warm, erotic... smells like christmas in a bottle.
No nasty/sharp/bitter/sour notes, just smooth, magical roundness.

Sex in a bottle.

A scent of carnation,with spice and balsams...wonderful fragrance,without other words!!

An uncompromising portrait of "fuck you, I'm rich as hell and I dont give a shit if you ever like me, but you aren't allowed to forget me!"

No no no NO! What is happening? This is NOT the Opium, I adore. What is wrong with L'oreal? They should be banned! The Original Opium in edt formulation is the best, ever. It seems like, I can't get my hands on it anywhere. At the shops, where I live, only have the edp formula, it this boring bottle :/ I need to go search on the net, to find the beautiful edt, which I miss so much. The edt is the most amazing, mystique and bewitching scent. Ever. And the bottle for that, is just amazing. This bottle looks boring and not classy at all. PLEASE YSL, do bring back the original edt in the original bottle. Thanks.

Wuufff; it's so sturdy like a volcano.
Who knows Indian (India) perfumery agrees that this is entirely based on oriental air, especially immensely resinous theme which's routine among Indian people.
Its beginning is so powerful like a heavy cloud of perfume running toward your face.
Today, wearing it may be critical and aggressive and depends to age but its splendor is not fading never ever. Remember it was top seller for times (it's not apart from the original one) and one of the most famous ones which challenged many huge perfumeries like Guerlain seriously; hit the market and broke so many top sellers. Still, when you go and scout around the wardrobes, this mesmerizing idol shines among the bottles.

Dreadful would be an understatement. Hideous would describe this reformulated atrocity perfectly. What happened to Yves St. Laurent's iconic fragrance that broke ground when it was introduced in 1977?
I visited an in town ULTA store yesterday to see what perfumistas had been talking about for some time. What I found made me want to burst into tears: A sour smelling concoction with some cheap spice thrown in that is identical to the scent given off by those gas station bathrooms that you really don't want to use, but nature just won't let you hang in there until you find more suitable accomodations.
If you really want to do justice to this legendary perfume, PLEASE choose vintage.

I had it, i give it away, first spay is good, after a half hour, í'll get a rubber/plastic smell, really unplessant, on my skin a no go! i have never known the old version, i believe that one was so much better, al the reformulated one's are never good.

Smells very nice (EDT). I really like it, it's different yet classy. Smells like a sexy vampiress, very seductive. It can be a bit old fashioned, but today I was in the mood for a heavy oriental.

Starts of very old fashioned, very citrusy and green, I never like that. But that fades away after about an hour on my skin. Then I get the soft rose and the heavy incense, like entering a church. I kinda like that. I don't get the reviews saying this has no staying power, because on my skin it really lasts a long time and I do have difficult chemistry, I need heavy fragrances otherwise I don't smell them.

I was very worried about ordering this product after getting a bottle from a local store which smelled nothing like my favorite perfume, and I returned it and they gave me another bottle, and again, it was not Opium. I ordered from e-bay, and waited anxiously, while reading all your comments about how the formula has changed. I received my order today, and it is wonderful! It is exactly the fragrence I remembered, and can't stop sniffing and smelling:) I am a very happy shopper, and am so glad I found it!

There is NO WAY this is the same fragrance. In 1977 I began wearing Opium. It was the most delicious perfume ever. I loved it so much I used to order it from Herrods in London because EVERYTHING smells better when it comes from outside the US...especially Opium. I still wear it and I am heart broken by the new version. YSL needs a lesson in brand loyalty... We should all email YSL corporate offices! YSL does this with popular lipsticks as well. #22

My take on the new version is they had leftovers from a bunch of unsuccessful cheep perfumes and they tossed them all together. The new one is disgusting!

If you think the new one smells like the old one you either have a deviated septum or the flu!

Opium original was more complex than a Tolstoy novel. It was a symphony...Franz Liszt, Chopin and Bach in a bottle.

The new version is like being in a distorted reality...it's like having Tilda Svenson as the new Kate Moss.
This is the biggest blunder since M & M's didn't choose to be in a little blockbuster called ET.

YSL take a lesson from Chanel..."Market Research". Change your spokes person...not your fragrence. You had the biggest hit in the perfume industry next to Chanel No 9...what is your problem.

You can still get the original version on line in the original packaging. Just put it in your frig and it will last...hopefully until they come to their senses( pun intended)

YSL...you are off my Christmas list!

Wonderful. I love it.

Oh, Yves! Why do you try so hard to make me dislike you?!! All I wanna do is love you, but I just can't stand to be around you when all you do is smell like Tiger Balm and old, funky incense! :P

I'll say the same thing here as on the "original" opium page. It's just as relevant.

This sure was a refreshingly unique, distinctive fragrance to me after smelling fruity-floral after fruity-floral (many I can be vaguely fond of or even like, and some are actually original and distinctive - but rarely enough to dish money out for) to the point of numbed scent-reception, nausea and frustration. I'm sure the reformulation may be a bastardization of the original but among the fragrances that major dept stores (at least in the U.S.) are buffet-feeding us...this is still a classic, original, interesting, beautiful fragrance with character, strength, sillage, original composition - things people have become deathly afraid of, it seems. I don't detect any one note but rather...a bunch of notes come together to create a new scent all together. Stop complaining about the reformulation or I'll hand you the Ed Hardy and Juicy Couture and you can hand me the "ruined" Opium and I'll happily be on my way.


Note: I've smelled the two side by side...yes, they're different. The new one is, as expected, less "potent". I still stand by what I said - put the reformulated version up against - say - Wonderstruck, Viva La Juicy, or Chance and try to say it's a disaster with a straight face. Depleted resources are a major reason for a lot of reformulations. Not a whole lot we can do about that, can we? Enjoy a gem when it's sitting right in front of you, not when you're looking back on it after it has kicked the bucket, so to speak.

Note 2: I definitely didn't smell the bug spray anyone else is talking about, either. Perhaps a bad batch or tester? I don't know...but yes...the original is better but this one is great in it's own right.

Opium was for several years my signature perfume. I still remember that rich spicy perfume, lingering for hours. The exotic mixture of incense, cinnamon, amber, sandalwood etc. made me think of a fairytale from "One Thousand and One Nights".

I tested the new so called Opium recently because I liked the new bottle. I couldn't believe my nose. Opium has been diluted! The scent was still there, somewhere in the background, but only as a faint echo of what it used to be. Most prominent note was a loud and awful chemical note, like burned rubber or motor oil (that I by the way also detected in the reformulated Obsession). Is it some sort of fixative that they use in the new/reformulated perfumes or are the "noses" of today robots, who like the smell of oil and chemicals??

So sad to see how you can trick the customers by "stealing" the name from an old classic gem, put it on a low quality product and sell it at a high price.

Another masterpiece gone forever.

In 3 words (addressed to L'Oreal):

SHAME ON YOU!

This new version is so awful, I don't have words for it. It smells like bug spray, at least like bug spray my grandma used in the early 80s in Germany to get rid of mosquitos (you remember the time, when we all believed in the chemical industry?).

I mean, c'mon: Who on earth wants to smell like this? It is not worthy the tag "Opium" and Yves Saint Laurent will haunt us all for that dreck, I promise you.

Rude and aggressive, nothing in common with the real vintage stuff!

I took me a while to write a proper review about this fragrance.I was on the fence about buying this.I was undecided about if I should buy Rihanna fragrance which I really liked or Opium.One spray of Opium and it literally blew all the others including Rihannas away.It is so rich elegant spicy sexy oriental in short amazing.Most of all it lasted and lasted.And the funny thing is when I tried to use other perfumes it just was not the same as Opium.I am under its spell.So I will be buying it as soon as I can.

I have already made lots of comments to this perfume, but I still have to say that it has a legendary longevity on my skin and clothes, even in EDT concentration. It holds like a limpet to my jackets and shirts. I am a sillage monsters fan, because I have a special skin, that doesn't hold perfumes easily. Thus, I have to wear intense perfumes like Angel, Jungle, Dior Intense, Alien and Terre d'Hermés, but I have never seen a stuff like this...even after 2 days, I still can smeel its smoky and balmy smell on my clothes...fantastic!!!

I really tried to like this scent but I just don't.
I love the new bottle and I love its name and I love Yves Saint Laurent (Mostly the hand bag lines) But I just can't like the smell of this.I smelled it years ago when I was a child and thought...YUCK!!! So a few weeks ago I sprayed some to give it another chance thinking that maybe my taste had matured (which it has) But this smells like Perfume when its gone bad.Like an old fashioned perfume that has turned.
Sorry to all you Opium fans..I did try though :)

LOREAL....ASSASSIN...YOUVE KILLED HER!

Opium, the original version. I had it in the late 1970s/early1980s. Opium was THE fragrance to wear. At that time, if you entered a discotheque or any trendy place the air was filled with a mysterious heavy cloud of Opium. I was 18, 19 years old. I was involved in a love affair with a somewhat older man who had seen the world. To him I symbolized the young, exotic, femme fatale. To me he represented so many fantasies, I cannot even start to describe it. Our passionate, destructive love affair evolved around opium. He had an affair with the real stuff (O) and I was hooked on the perfume. I loved the bottle, the smell, the mystery, the exoticism. My lover showed his passionate love for me by buying me the largest bottle of Opium, time and time again. I was never without. One day I dropped my huge, fresh bottle on the bathroomfloor, it slipped out of my hand. For months the bathroom smelled like Opium. It couldn't be washed away. It was too much, like our love was too much. The love-affair ended, and I never used Opium again. After the overdose in the bathroom, I disliked the scent very much. Two years ago, I wanted to try it again, remembering how I used to adore and love my Opium, before the bathroom-incident. I got a sample of the new edition. I tried it for a couple of days. Compared to the Opium I remember the new edition seems like a thin, girly, watery smell. Nothing at all like the mysterious, exotic scent of a femme fatale that could bring back memories of passion and destruction.

Go ahead...criticize the reformulation, but its earthy, exotic, arid, resinous quality is still seductive. I imagine Cleopatra could have seduced Julius Ceasar wearing this, except in today's version, the dress would be synthetic. So what if it's not the same as the original, this is still sexy without being skanky.

I see "citrus" in the notes, but do not smell it at all...nor does it smell "sweet" to me. I get a woodsy, smoky, incensy feel of mystery. Sillage and holding power are fabulous. I am talking two days later I can still smell it fabulous - so wear sparingly not to overwhelm or offend.

I love oriental fragrances. I tried the original Opium once many years ago, but I can't remember why I never purchased it nor what it smelled like compared to the new version. The new reformulated Opium is a scent that needs time to develop on the skin so that it reacts to your chemistry and have the heart of the fragrance come out. I recently received a sample of the EDT version of Opium. When I first spray it on, it smells very strong and almost repulsive. It has a smoky smell to it which conjures up warm feelings of snuggling up in front of the fireplace on a cold evening. Once it develops, the lovely spicy and floral notes come out. Opium is a fragrance that grows on me. It is a bit addictive because the more I wear it, the more I love it. I would only wear it on cold winter nights.

The original EDT is less sweet, softer and more natural than the new EDP, but to be honest, i am satisfied with the new version as far as the smell goes (don't have to cry for not being able to buy Opium again) i did not find any drastical reformulation, like i wouldn't recognize it's Opium.
It reminds me of Opium Secret de parfum even more, it's rounder, with less spices and resin and more sweet myrhh - beautiful, velvety... I like the flacon too.
The original is spicy/soapy resin, this new one is balmy resin.

I didn't know that it has been reformulated because it smells the same way to me. Granted I never owned it, only tested it but appears to be the same scent.
When I first smelled Opium, it was 1989 and i was a teenager. A relative bought it and sprayed half a bottle on herself and I just thought it was the most disgusting thing ever. Fast forward couple of years-I've been wearing Samsara for a while and developing interest in fragrance, when I smelled it on someone-very spicy slightly smoky scent that reminded me of Middle Eastern bazaar. I thought it was very unique and interesting but not quite my cup of tea.
I tested it recently and just a whiff of it brought so many memories back from the time I was younger. Its very spicy and cinnamony(if there is such a word). This is kind of like walking into spice shop and smelling all the spice essences in the air. I don't detect any sweetness in this whatsoever, its its smoke and spice all the way. Very unique and unforgettable. I don't think I can wear it myself but I always recognize it on other women and find it quite beautiful on others.
Lasting power is fantastic-one spray on the card lasted couple of days.

The bottle is very attractive and this makes me want to test the reformulated Opium bcz i might just like it !
The original one was too much for me to take : strong, in you're face, so old fashion !
This one could be more rounded, less strong and of course less dated , just like Poison, i like the reformulation more than the vintage so go figure !

What's pictured above and what's being reviewed on this particular page is NOT the real Opium. It's been surgically altered to be more acceptable to the dumb masses. Don't be fooled by YSL's slick, new packaging.

Seek out the original if you want to experience the real thing. Buying this stuff is akin to buying Versace at H&M - it may have the name and look superficially nice, but it's a cheapened, dumbed-down facsimile. Don't be fooled by the reviews of this new crap - only those who've never experienced the original and those with "blind" noses will tell you that it's good.

Ugh. YSL is making me really sick these days. Thank God for eBay and new old stock.

the new commercial for Opium it's just asome <3
oooh how i love this scent, it's just perfect

For the ultimate oriental, look no further than Opium. Sniffing it today, it's utterly plausible to suppose that this was what Marlene Dietrich's Magdalen wore while blowing smoke across silk-lined train cars in the movie Shanghai Express. Decadent myrrh, nutmeg, opoponax, and amber fill the composition to a bursting point, saved only by its deliberate exoticism and natural volume. This fragrance is full-figured, and accepting of herself. It could make a fine masculine these days, although only if applied very lightly and in social settings. If I were to be totally frank, I'd consult younger men to explore other orientals before Opium. Old Spice would be a safer alternative, and there's no shame in wearing it. I must admit though that the prospect of meeting a woman who wears Opium fills me with desire, followed by a little fear, followed by desire again and again. A masterpiece.

I hear so many people with either negtive responses twords this beutiful perfume or the ''when I'm older....maybe then'' response.

When I was 20 (roughly 10 years ago 'cough cough') I instantly liked this, if overspryed it's cloying, but if handled responsibly it's a very classy alluring sexy fragrance.

Reminds me of CoCo Chanel but with spice (maybe coco chanel mixed with Givenchy's Organza Idencence, minus the rose)...but it's not a loud spice it's a very smooth creamy spice. very wearable and dare I say it, as much as I love CoCo Chanel (minus the rose and plus the extra spice)...this sometimes is a bit more interesting.. I would switch back and forth....because after wearing opium consistantly....(as with anything else) I need to switch things up and the spices after weeks of wearing do grow tiresome, but take a break for a few weeks and wham, smells new again :)

----to comment below .. I find the term ''Harlem Hussy'' highly offensive. You should choose your words wisely

And I've never heard anyone refer to Yves Opium as ''candy''. I'm almost questioning if you've actually sniffed this, lol

This new reformulation isn't Opium. But never mind, its an immodest seductive harlem hussy, and there's incensy oriental mystery going on. It has lotsa nerve, NO class. Lovely! No matter that it has "synthetic" written all over it.. We have to be glad even for new Opium, because at least it's a proper strong brassy perfume of distinction, in these days of bland and unmemorable fruity and candy juices.

I guess I'm grown old enough for this now :) While so far I always thought this is a big stinky fragrance I find myself with a sample this winter and am wondering whether I still dislike it or like it now. It is definitely not for young girls and it's best worn in winter seasons. I like a scent like Habanita and Opium seems to be in the same line - but without the sweet edge. I still have to test my sample more, but I like the strong myrrh in it, while the opening is still a strong blast. It's like you have to survive the first few minutes and then the scent grows on me :)

I've recently fallen for this one, after finding it 'difficult' in the past. It was my mums signature in the 70's-80's, and I still remember the little red opaque bottle with the tiny window in and the tassle on the neck (must have been a limited edition or something). The new bottle is reminiscent of that one, and I find the scent to be the same, I can usually tell reformulations but this must be a good one if it's been fiddled with. Another for my list, sigh....
I must revise the statement above and add that the new version doesn't have the immense sillage and longevity of the older version, it also has a rather nasty plasticky note in the drydown. What a shame :(

I used to wear Opium EdP in the 70s when I was in my thirties. Now that I'm that
much older (but still craving an identifiable scent) I find I can't bear the
Opium Parfum I was given recently. It's just too strong, and smells over sweet!

It clings to clothes like a limpet. I would actually PAY someone to come and take
it away!

So I just tested this; I've always turned my shoulder at it but I've been interested lately due to the season and the wonderful reviews here. The initial blast was bitter and hard to take, but after 20 minutes it's dried down to a very soft, powder and woody base. I like it.

Yesterday, I went to a Perfume store with 2 friends, One of them put Poeme...and It didn't last long on her. It smelled weak and blended. What a shame, I tought that poeme was a strong perfume, with an extraordinary sillage...but I was wrong. I put my beloved OPIUM in that perfume store, and in comparison with Poême, Opium lasts longer and has a much more better longevity. My friend said...I put Poême, but I can only smell your OPIUM, LOLOLOOL. Kudos to OPIUM!!!

unique, strong,long lasting, sex in a bottle...This is what I call a PERFUME.

Smoky, sexy, and hot! Sexy fragrance that envelopes you like a cloud of smoke. There's no tabacco listed as one of the notes but this does very much indeed smell like smoke. Sexy smoke, if you will. :)

Sillage and lasting power is good. Definitely a night fragrance. Like this one a lot.

A mature musk smell with immense projection which floods the room..

0-8 Hours - Immense Projection, 5-6 feet around. The scent is very mature, musky to the point of smelling like damp

8 - 10 hours - The damp smell is less prominent and a spicy dry down occurs

Projection amazing, scent is foul for me, sorry not my cup of tea

My Husband bought me a bottle of eau de parfum, and I was thrilled to recieve the new flacon. I love the neat, elegant design, although as some have said it is somewhat awkward to use grace concerning its design! Although I love and appreciate a wide variety of categories, this particular Oriental couldn't have been more made for my chemistry if I paid a genius nose to create my perfect signature scent. The first application of the sweet spicy entrance and my mouth starts watering. It reminds me of delectible Indian desserts or creamy, sweet Indian Lassi. Once the perfume settles down into my skin,the new scent becomes absolutely seamless, as the combination smells in no way sour or off as it continues to have an intimate duet with my skin. With every other fragrance, I notice a funny moment when the scent is not in total harmony as if there is a sour note or something when it smells a bit akward. I do notice that the staying power seems to have decreased since my last encounter with Opium. It used to be a couple of short spritzes was plenty, now my chemistry seems to just gobble the stuff up, more than a couple times a day perhaps. My husband, who is crazy about Opium, tried some on and found the same thing. Mabee to do with the cheaper synthetic ingredients YSL is using now.

This is heresy! I can't even look at the new bottle without tears in my eyes. Poor Yves must be turning in his grave :( So sad...

I had a very bad experience with this new bottle. I was in Macy's and I wanted to spray it on a paper strip. I mistake the atomizer for the cap, remove it and find there's no sprayer, so I place the "cap" back on, mash down, and SPRITZ! RIGHT IN MY EYEBALLS! OMG I was so embarrassed, I had to press my fingertips to my eyes for, I don't know it felt like forever to promote tear production, all the while praying to God that no one saw me MACE MYSELF AT MACY'S!

THIS IS JUST THE MOST EROTIC PARFUM EVER!!
i'm so in love with this scent, it makes me feel like, i dunno, like, mmmmm xd ajajaja u get me xd ajajaja, it's just beautiful, full of mistery, and sex.

i have both, opium before 2009, and new opium, and i love both
but it's lastlonging, powerful the new one
the bottle, it's just beautiful, magic
the last bottle, was awful, almost cheap fragance bottle :S i hate it, it's just horrible, as the opium pour homme bottle :( just a shame
new bottle it's b e a u t i f u l
and the "new smell of opium" it's not a new smell
it's just a slightly change in the top notes, not that sweet and lighter as before
now, it's more "masculine" and powerful than ever, i love both, but i rather this one
it last days on my skin

A very key ingredient which makes the Opium Opium so far (till 2009 at least) is missing in this perfume.

I try hard to appreciate the reasons for a reformulation, but I just cannot tolerate YSL's trying to fool their customers saying this is the same "elixir" in a new bottle. I feel scammed really, and I am angry. (and there are many many loyal customers feeling like me.) let me rephrase why:

1- I have lost my Opium till the end of my life. I am now going to stock as much pre-2009 Opium as I can, I will spend a lot of money and as perfumes have a shelf-life this will satisfy me for let's say a maximum of 5 years. I will be Opium-less, whatever I do.

2- I have unknowingly already spent a lot on a bottle of this new Opium.

3- And what I have is -something which mimics the original Opium but not Opium, that is- nothing.

These "Femme Fatale" scents are definitely not for me , i try hard, i can't love them !
One thing about the staying power , i think it is really good , because my sister is working in a perfume factory , and a colleague smashed an Opium bottle next to her , and even after washing her clothes , the smell of it stayed and stayed !

Opium is a thing of beauty. Smoky, sexy and oh so mysterious. Very unique and sophisticated. Unlike the 80s, you will no longer find everyone wearing it. Now, you know that it is a more unique fragrance that will set you apart from all the other sugar drenched fragrance wearers. A true masterpiece

- C xx

I love the old and the new OPIUM, but I think, that the last one has a better sillage and longevity than the original...it lasts DAYS!! It is incredible even for me, a fan of strong fragrances...

I agree with ANSD Fantastic FRAGANCE !!!

For EDP:

In this reformulation, the myrrh which gives Opium its smooth sweetness is nearly hardly recognizable in comparison to the *original* EDT.

Opium 2009 smells HEMP, motor oil, and leather to my nose in its heart notes. At the dry down, this very successfully synthetic but nevertheless synthetic combination takes even a stranger turn and smells like sweat to my nose.

The original EDT is what real Opium smells like to me, and you'll understand particularly at the dry downs that Opium 2009 has certainly nothing to do with it.

As for the flacon:

Though it looks good, it's quite anti-functional. I have hardships in spraying this one (especially when I put some lotion into my hands) as the ball shaped stopper is hard to grasp with my slim fingertips and annoyingly slippery. Once when I was trying to spritz some perfume behind my knees my finger briefly get pinched between the ball-stopper and the bottle neck, ouch, and damn!

Also, in reply to a point in a previous review I must add: I checked, and the spray pipe does perfectly reach the bottom of the bottle. Just have a look at the bottle under some strong light source, and you will be able to discern that though not the black spiral cover but the pipe itself touches well bottom of the container, hence there is no risk of wasting the product this way; it will anyway be wasted enough due to the stupid stopper:)

Sum: I adore the original Opium. This one leaves me confused.

I am a long-time devotee to Opium EdT; personally, I suspect Opium EdT was reformulated a few times prior to the new packaging. I think that the circa 2009 EdT has a better opening but, well... a worse drydown. Sure, the old Opium was better. Okay, much better. But what are you gonna do? Anyway, my "old" EdT bottles would turn pretty quickly, regardless of careful storage.

P.S. (24May13) I used to run through bottles of Opium EdT. Since version 2009, I've barely touched the stuff. I'm pretty much an Opium apostate.

When I first smelled it, I thought "hmmm, interesting". It smelled like pepper and spices to me.

But then, the Mister smelled it and said it stank like cockroach spray. Now I can't get it out of my mind.

Maybe a bit dated for 2010.

Initially I loved it for the oriental feel in it! I was already thinking about buying it.
After smelling some other scents in between I came back to it and didn't like it at all. It smelled totally different! I think I smelled some ylang ylang I've always associated with parfumes for old ladies.

I think I'll go smell it one more time as I really loved it the first time. I'm hoping to like it again.

Compared to the one manufactured by PPR, the previous licensee of YSL, this version is what can be called a failed blend - this is, a blend failing at conveying any sense of harmony.

As per news published in the media, the actual manufacturer - L'Oreal - wanted to modernize it but in the effort, they negatively affected the blend: top notes smell harsh maybe due to the presence of synthetic floral notes, a feeling that is amped up by the presence of synthetics; mid and base notes feel pungent to the nose, sharing the same notes with other classics that have been reformulated - maybe the presence of an aromachemical used in lieu of some essential oil/s, a note that smells like regurgitated baby's milk. In this sense, the base notes smell quite similar to that of the reformulated Magie Noire. Interesting enough, this accord in the base notes contributes at making both new versions scents that could be easily be worn by men. They are femenine scents in their top notes, but if "feminine" is a synonym for "delicate", both have lost this attribute, for wearers won't find any delicacy at all: harshness in all its development is what one feels to the nose.

One more word of caution: if you are among the ones thinking that Opium does share mid and base notes in common with Arami's JHL, I am sorry to inform you that this is not anymore so: there is a general feeling lurking around this concept, but similarities end there, so just don't think it could be a replacement for JHL. Better stick to the original, now that Estee Lauder decided to relaunch it.

In summary, an olfactory mess, in the same line L'Oreal did with Ralph Lauren's Polo (green). Scents gone-by that forces any good-hearted perfume aficionado taking the trouble of finding either a replacement (in the case of Polo, some knock-ofs are more honest to the original formula) or securing whichever vintage bottle is available in the market. And, in the case of plain customers, forcing them to overcome the feeling L'Oreal is playing a joke at them when in the revamped version of the box they state "... para las mujeres que no se resisten a Opium, un nuevo frasco para su Eau de Toilette de siempre" ("For women that cannot resist the temptation of Opium, a new presentation for the Eau de Toilette they have always cherished").

OPIUM - EAU DE PARFUM

Natural Spray PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Discover the myth of OPIUM reinvented.

A perfume of an outrageous and evocative name, Opium is a gate open on a fantasy world, a trip to the unknown, to an extraordinary elsewhere, mysterious, full of sensations and emotions.

Back to the roots of Opium, the new aesthetic of the Eau de Parfum bottle refers to the original inrö.

It glorifies mystery, voluptuousness and modernity of the item.

Size: 30 ml , 50 ml

به نقل از سایت تولید کننده

The new flagon for Opium has a design fault, i.e. the perfume that remains at the end of the bottle which is about 2 centimetres can't be reached by the spray, so how are you supposed to use it?

if the original opium is heroin, the new version is the methadone, which tricks your body and tells your receptors that "it's the same" but doesn't get you HIGH.

this one (new edt) is not even worth mentioning, awfully synthetic, it has lost the exoticness, complexity, intensity, incense and wood vibe.

and most importantly, it has TOTALLY lost the addictiveness of the original opium(the heroin!!).
that's why i call this the methadone

RIP Opium(1977-2009)

I own and love the old formula, but the new formula is really nice! I definitely pick up other notes very clearly such as incense, woods, cinnamon, pepper, and maybe even the teenciest hint of smoke. It makes me fantasize about riding a camel to an oasis in Morocco where I would spend my days lounging around smoking a hookah, eating chevre stuffed dates, and drinking mint tea.

COMPARISON WITH OLD: This new version seems a tad modernized. I can see how they kept the original essence but revamped it to appeal to and blend in better with the current market. The opening is fresher, a bit more floral and citrusy, slightly less shocking to the senses. The drydowns after 15 minutes are identical (I sprayed the new version on one wrist and the old version on the other wrist). I daresay that the reformulation is a beautiful take on a classic fragrance, but I can certainly understand how those who have loved Opium for many years would be upset at the changes, especially if they were not aware that the new packaging meant a new formula. Give the new one time to dry down on your skin, and maybe you will grow to treasure this new varietal as well.

My number one perfume. I have been wearing Opium for years. I didn't notice a huge change with my current bottle. It's not too flowery or sweet. It has a warm aspect and it works perfectly with my chemistry. I imagine that it smells exotic and slightly mysterious on me. Someone once said that it smelled like cinnamon. I don't get that...then again, cinnamon believe it or not is a sexy smell...APPARENTLY, cinnamon triggers a sexual response. I heard about that from Dr. Amen. Again, it doesn't smell like cinnamon to me. Although a man could never wear it, there is too much floral for that, it is a more masculine (think men's cologne) or I should say gender neutral scent. As for me I wear makeup and dresses and high heels daily and I love perfumes. But, I don't like too floral or sweet. It seems that my favorite perfumes are not the most popular and other women either really like or really dislike them.

OMG, what a huge disappointment! Another blind purchase, I was thinking of the clasic Opium, the one which I used to love when I was younger, and then I got this...
Absolutely awful. It's so masculine I gave it to my husband. It smells like man aftershave, nothing feminine, nothing like the old Opium. Shame on you, L'Oreal! You manage to ruin something good.
But you can use it as air freshner. Works pretty good in bathroom, after you know what...

e.e The new regulations, restricting of ingredients.. whatever cause for reformulating old perfumes... Is bad! First time in my mind crept in idea about what if the good scents are gone and we will be stuck with all these pink toilet waters? Fragrances don't even have note pyramids anymore in most cases [might spotted that notes are in line now mostly?]. Still, there's niche, but anyways D: Cause, to be honest, I kept every review at positive level, this time I'll say it - its disappointing. Chanel could reformulate their fragrances and new ones are respectable. Why others can't ? n.n
Start is nice - old fashioned, fancy, interesting. ...until you end up with spicy old soap on your wrist. Flat and uninteresting, no depth whatsoever. I like Belle version though. I tried an older Opium flanker and it was good as well. -This- is just sad.

P.S. At whoever listed chemical ingredients as notes - O.o I thought they keep parfum ingredients a secret.
+ btw who's the Nose?

I do really like it, I like the old one, I like the new one, they are different, but have the similar character - strong, warming, making you feel safe and calm.

Hmmm, it's really not that bad. Not on me anyways.

I'm not a fan of L'ORÉAL... thanks for killing M. YSL HARD WORK of his love for the art of beauty in all clothing/perfumes etc...and turning it to....dust!

They should of called it another name and not use Opium.

The true Opium, was a knockout.
This will easily be forgotten.

I've been in love with Opium for many, many years (aprox.10) and currently I wear the "new" one (which means in a new bottle - not Belle d'Opium: that one seems... let's say in polite way: unispiring, flat and boring). Yes, I agree that Opium has been changed a little (or reformulated to be precise), but I don't think it spoilt the potion at all. It's still Opium in all its beauty and glory! The new mixture seems to be more rounded and slightly sweeter (at least EDP). However it doesn't mean worse and less mysterious or even vulgar. I still love it and feel the urge to defend the "new" one - it doesn't deserve all the attacks.
And I don't think it was changed due to attract younger generation but formal/legal restrictions demanded intervention to the juice.
Last but not least - in comparison to the "old" Opium, the "new" one has worse initial blast but better drydown - on me at least.

Horrific. Nothing more than a drop of tobacco cologne. Ughh..

I tried this new version of it and it starts nice and promising but soon it turns into smokey soapy old lady smell. I remember the original version being more sweet, insency and rich. But maybe it was me then, being overwhelmed in the 90th with something that strange and different and they just repackaged it but it's the exact same scent? I don't know ...

Opium is the most iconic and well-known fragrance in the world right after Chanel No 5!
Can you imagine Chanel changing the formula (and the package drastically) of No 5? No way, because Chanel is led by smart people.
Stupid, stupid people at YSL! Shame on you! You should have made a modern version of Opium (and keep the original) like they did with Chanel No 5 Eau Premiere!

I'm glad I didn't spray this on myself. I heard of the legend that is Opium, so I was curious as to what it smelled like. Sprayed it on paper and brought it home. It smells old lady-ish, I handed it to my dad and he agreed. It smells skunky, if occasionaly fresh. Bleh. Surely the original doesn't smell this way?

Now I hope you all know that L'Oreal have bought (Destroyed) the brand YSL???
According to the "Sales Rep" I deal with... They (L'Oreal) re-vamped the old Opium due to falling sales. The "NEW" fragrance was re-vamped a hint more Jasmine and less of the woody/spice tones. As a business owner, in the perfume industry in Australia for 20yrs, I bought some stock as the price was great thinking that is was the old version. I bought my usual 50/20/10 of Eau De Toilette/Parfum/Body Cream, which would sell well before 6months... 13months later I have 45/19/10 and have had all my usual customers abuse me for L’Oreal’s deception/destruction/screw up of a much loved fragrance. The majority of my new customer are disgusted by the so called “NEW” smell... one comment is its shit!! Another was I wouldn’t put that crap on if you payed me!!!
I have sent all the remaining stock back to the twits/idiots/ @ L’Oreal, along with a petition that I got everyone who uses/tried the “NEW” Opium in the store over the last 6months(over 4739 signatures...) all saying it’s crap.... I have lost all my regular Opium customers and have not sold a single unit in 12months... I will not be stocking "Opium" any more.

I have worn Opium for years and just received the "new" today. IT IS NOT OPIUM! It is not even close. It has no mystery or depth. It is like a very sad and cheap imitation. Now what do I do? Grocery store perfume has to be better than this.

Just look at the notes compared to the old Opium. They took out 27 notes and left us with just 4. There is no more incense. What's going on? This can't possibly smell exactly like the old Opium. Are they still going to make the old formula? I noticed that there are several perfumes with Opium in the name, so is this one of them, just a version?

I don't understand if the previous reviewer is saying this is a new scent, somehow reformulated, or just in a new bottle? Or if they are talking about Belle di Opium.. which is the new scent in a blue bottle. Opium is not new. It smells the same to me, the way it always has to my nose. If you want a stronger version then you need the parfum. This is so sensual and I love it in the Winter or evenings. It's so alluring that only a light amount gets attention. I do like the new bottle. I think it looks more luxe than the original. A slight difference is expected. Brands have to change some scents over time in order to stay modern and make a profit. I know that people don't want their perfume to change, but the YSL brand suffers if Opium isn't selling. This is a hard perfume to sell to most people who are used to squeaky clean florals or fruit punch perfumes. They also stand to gain more attention to the scent from a younger consumer, and in statistics they shop more and do buy more products. There are not just four notes in this perfume. This bottle comes in an EDT and EDP version. I'm going to compare them and update soon.

i bought the new opium- because the package only indicates it is a new bottle-
good luck to ysl with this new fragrance- not only is it false advertising but, the scent is awful.
you know who is rolling over in his grave!

I love love love it!!!
I always like the old opium but I alwys had to spay it like 3 hours before I left because it was so strong. the new opium is much softer

I dislake "old" Opium because of my trauma that a woman had taken a bath in it and sat next to me in a bus. But oh boy, this even WORSE. At least the "old one" had a bouqet, classyness, power, this is just vile. Mettalic, bitter and vile.

Please, if you want to wear "Opium" - fine, but do wear the old version, not this disaster.

Another great perfume gone. Thank god I bought a nice vintage 60ml bottle... Go buy youselves old Opium because you'll miss it...

Yesterday I saw the tester for this in Macy's and wanted to give it a whirl, so I could compare it to my vintage bottle at home. The new bottle looks like a a splash, so I preceded to pull off the top, only to discover that this was indeed a spray. Whoops. Put the top back on the best I could and left.

Some did spill/leak onto my hands and it smells so-so, I wouldn't go out of my way to buy it. It does not have the same intoxicating, headiness and rich as the original-the new struck me as being sweet, why does everything today have to be sweet?!!

the scent is not identical to former opium :((( So disapointing - my best perfume ever gone...

I was "lucky" to get in hands the new designed bottle of legendary Opium. What a disappointment! :(((
Although the design is not that ugly but the quailty is sooooo cheap that it hurts!
It feels so light and the spray is unstable like a very cheap fake product. Terrible!

i actually went out and purchased the new bottled opium edt yesterday. i havent worn opium since 6yrs ago so to be honest cant personaly remember what it smelt like. i do remember the reaction it had on men. had 5 guys fighting over me while wearing this!. my son smelt this on me while testing he could prodimatly smell cinnamon. i smell cinnamon with citrusy undertones it def also has a slight smokey wood effectmaybe patchouli mixed with myrrh. im not getting any hint of floral in it. maybe its my chemistry as perfume smells different on different people.

the bottle is much more modern and beautiful than the old one. I used to dislike this scent as my mum wore it to death in the 80's but I blasted myself with it yesterday and really enjoyed wearing it; though its lack of evolution bothered me more than the smell itself, which is wonderfully baroque. It makes you feel as though it should be midnight whatever time it is!

When this first went on it smelled spicy, sultry, & sexy but alas, that element took a backseat to the powder that blankets it :(
Strong and long lasting, just wish they could do away with the powder element.

I was gifted the new EdP. I never had Opium before, so I cannot compare, but I think this is a fragrance that you receive as a gift and want to sell the bottle the second after trying it and you cannot, not even for 20 bucks, then you offer it to a friend or colleague and their reaction is to sell it or to offer it. Terrible, smells like an old dirty sofa, and also floral in an old fashion way, in the tuberose register. Compared to this, fragrances from the 40ies seem young and avangardist.It has a cinnamon drydown, in fact cinnamon is its dominant note. Reading the ingredients on the box we can detect more notes: cinnamyl alcohol, benzyl cinnamate, amyl cinnamal, among others. It would be correct to list that on this site. The cinnamyl alcohol is has the odor of hyacinth. The benzyl cinnamate can be obtained from Styrax (or storax). The amyl cinnamal smells like jasmine.
Any other defect of Opium? well, it smels very cheap.

Buy as many bottles of the old Opium as you can! The juice that is sold in this new bottle is NOT Opium anymore. The EdT has a weak, watery and cola like scent. And the EdP is even more faint and smells inharmonic and bitter. Why, Yves Saint Laurent? WHY?

reformulated, just to modernize it. They changed an ingredient not sure which one it is...I smelled it yesterday it seemed altered and that's what the YSL representative said: modernized.

I recently purchased the perfume in its red lacquer bottle. I had forgotten how much fun it is. At the height of its popularity Opium was very familiar and almost ubiquitous - it was done to death. Also I don't believe the EDT did justice to the original jus as it could be a little strident.
It fell of my radar.

Decades later, I experience warm citrus and spice overtones that dry to a honeyed myrrh. It is without a hint of wood or leather, no hint of unisex appeal.

I find it a mood enhancer. I truly hope YSL have merely repackaged and not played with the composition.

If they changed only the falcon, then the scent is identical to the one filled into the original flacon. It's the same then, isn't it?