Opium
A landmark spicy oriental built on a warm tapestry of clove, carnation, myrrh, and balsamic resins. One of the most influential and recognisable fragrances ever made, defining the opulent oriental genre.
Opium opens on Clove and Pepper, moves through Carnation and Myrrh, and dries down to Labdanum and Benzoin. At $70 - $120 it is which sits at fair mid-range value, with long lasting (8h - 10h) on skin. Sample before you commit — it is loud and polarising rather than crowd-safe.
ADEGBE ANALYSIS SCORES
Scores are AdeGbe's editorial analysis based on composition, concentration and community-reported performance — not a single personal wear test.
Approx. $0.70/ml — Based on the lowest street price ($70) over an assumed 100ml bottle for this concentration.
OLFACTORY PYRAMID BREAKDOWN
- Clove
- Pepper
- Bay Leaf
- Mandarin
- Carnation
- Myrrh
- Cinnamon
- Jasmine
- Labdanum
- Benzoin
- Patchouli
- Vanilla
EXPERT ANALYSIS — COMPOSITION & PERFORMANCE
Opium by Yves Saint Laurent is a bright citrus-leaning eau de toilette released in 1977, composed by Jean Amic, Jean-Louis Sieuzac. This is our research team's structured analysis of how it is built, how it performs, and who it suits — based on its composition, community-aggregated performance data, and the AdeGbe scoring model.
The Opening
It opens on Clove, Pepper, Bay Leaf, a bright citrus and warm spice introduction that sets expectations before the heart emerges.
The Heart
Beneath the opening, a floral and warm spice heart of Carnation, Myrrh, Cinnamon forms the signature most people will recognise.
The Dry-Down
The dry-down anchors on a golden amber and sweet gourmand base of Labdanum, Benzoin, Patchouli, the phase that clings closest to skin and lasts longest.
Who Should Buy Opium
Opium leans feminine but is wearable by anyone who enjoys the style. Its season vector points strongest to winter, and its day/night balance makes it best suited to evening wear and going out. If you gravitate toward bright citrus and floral compositions and want strong longevity, it belongs on your shortlist.
Performance and quality are not in question here. The honest caveat is ubiquity: Opium is widely worn, so if smelling distinctive matters more to you than smelling excellent, factor that in.
PERFORMANCE INDEX & SUITABILITY VECTORS
PROJECTED PERFORMANCE TIMELINE
Projected from this fragrance's concentration, note structure and reported longevity — an analysis, not a single personal wear test.
Clove and Pepper lead the opening before the volatile top notes burn off.
Carnation and Myrrh take over as the core character of the fragrance.
Labdanum and Benzoin anchor the scent close to the skin.
A skin-scent of Labdanum and Benzoin is what typically remains by now.
Wear It
- ✓Winter (45% seasonal fit)
- ✓Autumn / Fall (40% seasonal fit)
- ✓Evenings, dinners and going out
Skip It
- ✗Spring — it underperforms here (10%)
- ✗Summer — it underperforms here (5%)
- ✗Enclosed offices, lifts and meeting rooms
- ✗Go easy: 1–2 sprays is plenty
- ✗Hot daytime errands — it can read too heavy
Blind-Buy Risk
- • Balanced, conventional profile with no major red flags
- • Nothing in the published notes suggests an unusually divisive scent.
INGREDIENT SAFETY SNAPSHOT
Common EU-declarable allergens; can oxidise and irritate sensitive skin.
Spice aldehydes are EU-declarable and among the more common skin sensitisers.
White-floral declarables; usually well tolerated but listed under EU rules.
Generally well-tolerated base/fixative materials with low sensitiser risk.
This snapshot is based on the published note list, not a full INCI ingredient breakdown. Always check the box for the official allergen declaration and patch-test if you have sensitive skin. See full ingredient-safety guides →
MOST COMPARED WITH
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What does YSL Opium smell like?
Has Opium been reformulated?
When is the best time to wear Opium?
Is Opium worth buying?
Can I wear Opium to the office?
Is Opium good for summer?
How many sprays of Opium should I use?
Is Opium safe for sensitive skin?
INTERACTIVE FRAGRANCE TOOLS
Personalised calculators and scanners specific to Opium.
INTERACTIVE FRAGRANCE TOOLS
Personalised calculators and scanners specific to Opium.
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