Opium Yves Saint Laurent for women

Powerhouse, spice, sillage monster of all powerhouse, spice, sillage monsters! Think of heavy artillery, Opium could take out anyone within a six mile radius. Are you one of the very few on the planet, in this day of lighter fragrances, brave enough to actually wear this one? I, myself need to be in a very special mood about once a month and no, I don’t smoke, my nostrils are in great working order.

Even though spice isn’t displayed in the data base, be aware that it’s hidden within the sweet myrrh in spades. There’s no shortage of resin depth, to be sure. In fact, depth may be all you’ll find in this eau de parfum for base notes burst forth from beginning to end.

I see other notes listed, but all I can detect are spiced resins. Again, one who wears this must love heavily spiced myrrh and opoponax (sweet myrrh). I would only apply this with the utmost expertise, and certainly wouldn’t recommended this winter “Spice King” for the office. The oriental designed, burnt orange, gold, and red bottle is gorgeous and the longevity is off the charts. Perfect for Christmas, just add pine cones and plenty of rum.

opium is clearly a masterpiece (albeit one that was recently ruined by reformulation). there’s a challenge to giving opium a fair review that goes beyond its over-familiarity: when and where can you give a full wearing to the olfactory equivalent of a shiny black viscose shirt, tight red leather pants, and an ostrich feather hat? for all that it smells terrific (and it does), opium broadcasts an emphatic sense of costume party excess.

i can’t identify any particular component in the composition that offends; in fact the entire arrangement reads as an indivisible block of scent. sure, if i concentrate, i can make out opoponax, cinnamon, cloves, rose, carnation, and star anise immersed in Opium’s sweet, dark amber, but they don’t want to be pried apart.

although i do agree that the old formulation was rounder and more exquisite, i still do like this 2009 reformulation. it is a toned down version that i will use in broad day light and even to office :-)

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 nicer, deeper and more outstanding, 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 be able to recognize it's Opium:) Sillage is not so good though, even with EDP.
It reminds me of Opium Secret de parfum even more, it's rounder, with less spices and myrhh. It kind of skips the original citrusy/bitter/sharp opening and smells like the delicious base from the beginning. Don't need to mention that the flacon looks much much nicer than the old one.

I love this perfume. At first it is strong and floral, but after a while, turns into something sweet, wonderful. It's not the kind of sweet vanilla. Finally, it is worth buying. Positive vote.

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 of OPIUM is simply AWESOME. Emily Blunt is very beautiful and sexy...

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

I never smelled the 'original' opium, but today I sprayed this on my hand and I must be honest, I quite like it now. I didn't at first, bit 'old lady like' but after half an hour it becomes sweet and very oriental. I love the incense. I have too many perfumes, but when I finish one, I will add this to my collection. Perfect for winter and evening out.

And what an amazing commercial! Love it!
One of my favorites, since the original Poison one.

I read that this perfume is forbidden in China since 2000. Come on...

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.

FRAGRANTICA, why didn't you classify this perfume in a group? why didn't you put the pictures of the new OPIUM's campaign with Emily Blunt??!! Please, leave those prejudices and inform people in an objective way...

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 love this fragrance!! My mother used to wear it, so I can recognise it anywhere. It is a mystic and complex fragrance, it smells like a blend of indian incense, woods and cedar...Fantastic!! I think that the fragrance remains the same, despite the new flacon, because I have a bottle of old OPIUM and a bottle of new OPIUM...and there is no difference between them!!

I have the EDT; honestly, the EDT had been reformulated prior to the new packaging. I think that the circa 2009 EDT has a better opening but worse drydown. I love Opium, new or old, it's better than a lot of the stuff on the market- 'niche' or mass-market. An aside- the "old" EDT would turn pretty quickly, regardless of careful storage.

I used to wear Opium in the eighties and I LOVED it. It was such a masterpiece! Deep and strong, almost a magic potion...
Well, some weeks ago I decided to purchase a new bottle. I was so excited about it, but as soon as I smelled it I thought I had been scammed. Was it a fake?

No.

Sadly, Opium has been reformulated. Actually it isn´t bad, but not anymore so enchanting, not even half as beautiful as it used to be.
I can´t understand why for God´s sake they have committed such a crime.

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?

i love your review oyster-horace. i must admit i'm not a fan of opium and never have been. ( old or new). but, what an awesome way to describe the 2. kudos.

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 lounge around eating chevre stuffed dates, drinking mint tea, and smoking a hookah all day.

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. I'd like to own both.

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.

of course this has not only 4 notes left in it, EVERY parfume has at least about 30 notes in it but rarely they tell all their secrets! think twice before posting dear.

about opium i can t tell so mutch, i ever disliked it and oi took a whim in a perfumestore of the new reformulated version and i could't tell the difference, just as awful as always. maybe little less heavy.

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?

I purchased it like tow houers ago,will take a shower and wear it,so exited

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?