Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Le Parfum: Entranced by A Seductive Elixir
Yves Saint Laurent is no stranger to controversial branding, but no one can deny the success of their Black Opium line. It’s a line with a lot of flankers, that somehow doesn’t even seem tired like other lines (*cough* Cool Water *Cough*). Here we have a brand-new version of the seductive coffee-laden potion, which follows the trends of other designers creating denser versions of their most successful scents.
The original Black Opium is already an alluringly dark and dense scent, so how can they make it even darker? More coffee, of course! That and a mélange of 4 different vanillas because why not? Vanilla is awesome and it’s also an aphrodisiac for many people. There is much more to it, so let’s go over each note individually.
Vanilla Planifolia Absolute – Warm, silky, and chock-full o’ rum-infused goodness. This isn’t the powdered vanilla accord that your grandmother wore. Don’t get me wrong, I love Guerlain too, but this isn’t it.
Vanilla Pod Absolute – It’s not the most beautiful vanilla on the list, but it’s the selfless heroine that makes the others look good with its sweet balsamic facets.
Vanilla Bourbon Infusion – More rum? Sure, why not? Spiced sweet rum at that. Add vanilla into it and I will be coming back for more.
Vanilla Tahitensis SFE Absolute – I am not even going to pretend that I know what this one is, but according to the site it has an almondy facet, so sign me up for that!
Black Coffee – Plunge your nose into a fresh cup of pitch-black espresso, Like a stunning black nightgown, it’s dark, classy, and irresistible.
Green Mandarin – Bolstered by a crispy pear with warming cinnamon to create an enveloping fruity kiss upon this gourmand creation.
A Floral Dream – Beautiful jasmine sambac is paid with orange blossom the enshroud the moonlight that will grace your figure as you don this magical concoction.
Patchouli – A gently spiced woody kiss from the shadows which leaves you in bewilderment as the night ends.
I am not a fan of Twilight and glittering vampires (it’s only a joke), but I can get down with that time of glitter. I would rock this stuff up and down the runway in NYC. However, that is only because no one would be there to see it. No one wants to see me in a glittery outfit. It would probably even scare my faithful dog away! In all seriousness, the presentation is top-notch.
A glossy black bottle with the signature Black Opium circle in the middle with plenty of sparkles of glitter. The bottle simply states what it is made for, a rich and seductive scent for urban women. However, that doesn’t mean a small-town guy like me cannot test the waters as well. It can be purchased at the Neiman Marcus site for $179 for 3oz/90ml.
I have worn the original Black Opium and I quite like it, but honestly, Black Opium Le Parfum sounds like it could be much better. Vanilla and more vanilla, with a grand shot of expresso that would make even the most prudish coffee shop patron grin ear-to-ear. Top that off with some patchouli, a bit of fruitiness, and a handful of flowers…and that sounds like a good time to me.
Happy holidays, Folks! I hope you all have a safe and wonderful time if you celebrate. What will you be rocking for the festivities? I might go with an old favorite – Calvin Klein’s Obsession for Men. What do you think? Maybe I will change my scent to your suggestion!
