Yves Saint Laurent Opium (Original)
4.0
Overall
Accords
warm spicy
amber
woody
smoky
sweet
Notes Pyramid
Top
ClovesPepperCorianderWest Indian BayPlumJasmineMandarin OrangeBergamotCitruses
Heart
CarnationCinnamonSandalwoodPatchouliOrris RootRosePeachLily-of-the-Valley
Base
IncenseMyrrhSandalwoodTolu BalsamAmberOpoponaxBenzoinLabdanumVanillaMuskCastoreumCedarVetiverCoconut
Community Verdict
Pros & Cons
- ✅ The spice hits like nothing else, clove and carnation, unapologetic
- ✅ Incense and myrrh drydown that stays until you wash it off
- ✅ Strangers notice it. Nobody ignores it.
- ✅ Lasts a full workday and then some on most skin
- ✅ The plum underneath the spice is the secret nobody talks about
- ✅ Exceptional longevity and sillage
- ✅ Rich, complex, and unique composition
- ✅ Iconic and instantly recognizable
- ✅ Excellent value for the price
- ❌ The 1977 reformulation isn't the original. Nobody agrees by how much.
- ❌ Projector who? Some find it overwhelms small spaces
- ❌ Too dated for some tastes, too aggressive for others
- ❌ The clove can read medicinal, not everyone gets past the first hour
- ❌ Polarizing in the truest sense: love it or walk away
- ❌ Can be overwhelming in warm weather
- ❌ Harsh opening that may be off‑putting
- ❌ Not versatile for all occasions (e.g., office, daytime)
- ❌ Batch variation between vintage and modern formulations
