Opium 2009 Eau de Parfum

Version from 2009
Opium (2009) (Eau de Parfum) by Yves Saint Laurent
Bottle Design:
Fabien Baron, Stefano Pilati
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7.7 / 10 237 Ratings
A popular perfume by Yves Saint Laurent for women, released in 2009. The scent is oriental-spicy. Projection and longevity are above-average. It is being marketed by L'Oréal.
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Main accords

Oriental
Spicy
Smoky
Resinous
Floral

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes Top Notes
BergamotBergamot Mandarin orangeMandarin orange
Heart Notes Heart Notes
MyrrhMyrrh JasmineJasmine
Base Notes Base Notes
OpoponaxOpoponax AmberAmber

Perfumer

Videos
Ratings
Scent
7.7237 Ratings
Longevity
8.6192 Ratings
Sillage
8.3198 Ratings
Bottle
8.1195 Ratings
Value for money
7.687 Ratings
Submitted by MiaTrost, last update on 03/27/2025.

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to
Opium (2009) (Eau de Toilette) by Yves Saint Laurent
Opium (2009) Eau de Toilette
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Opium (2009) Parfum
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Reviews

13 in-depth fragrance descriptions
4
Pricing
10
Bottle
5
Sillage
5
Longevity
9
Scent
Elysium

887 Reviews
Elysium
Elysium
8  
Ineffable
Sometimes words can't express such a feeling. If the memory is necessarily inexpressible, then it would be called ineffable or incapable of being depicted or described in terms; inexpressible. It was the winter of 1985, and I will never forget it. I was 21yo, in my sophomore year of college, and I was still exploring my sexual tastes. Both sexes attracted me; today, they would classify me as pansexual or fluid. One night I was having dinner at a classmate's house, and my ways impressed his elder sister. She brazenly asked me out, and we started a brief relationship that lasted all winter. I still did not have a license to drive. So it was always she who came to pick me up with her Renault 4 car to go downtown in old Milan. Frequently, to one of those romantic places where you could listen to a singer performing live country music like Simon & Garfunkel, for example, warm up with an Irish Coffee. Winter nights were icy and foggy in those years.
At the carnival party, I remember we danced a slow "Say you, say me" by Lionel Richie, and the scent of her was all around me. My mind has that memory still imprinted; after over thirty years, I still smell that opulent perfume that impregnated the car, her coat, her hair, and stayed on my clothes for several days. It was the impeccable go-to fragrance for the colder night months. How can I forget that oriental masterpiece that had such a provocative name? Opium. It was unmistakable, and it was recognizable on any woman who wore it. No dupes or clones were present at that time.
Opium was born in 1977 and got its name because its scent is narcotic and addictive, just like the deep reddish-brown colored drug whose scent is addictive, and not because it contains notes of opiates. And today, in 2021, it has remained practically the same, maybe tamed down for the modern generation, but at least the vibe is still present, despite a slight reformulation. Opium is Opium, deep, sensual, and emotional, and from today it is also my Opium.

We now come to the olfactory notes. If you are familiar with historical scents like Shalimar and Youth Dew, Opium is in some ways the perfect blend, likewise layering the two, but it is more than just a blend. Honestly, I have to say that I don't understand how anyone can't like this perfume! It's been a while since I tried smelling the vintage Opium, so I forgot some things about it, but I have some of the latest one sprayed on my wrist right now, so I can review it properly! A journey into the world of dreams that awaits us accompanied by an abundant and inimitable trail. An ethereal, idyllic and elegant perfume that conveys calm and serenity. I define Opium as a spicy oriental, so the spicy component is very profound and present from start to finish. The keynote is natural cinnamon, which becomes one of the most sensual scents in existence in high doses. In the beginning, I feel a mix of citrus fruits with hesperidic notes of bergamot and mandarin. It contrasts this tart aspect with a more floral one, and there is a very perceptible note of the lily-of-the-valley. There is a morsel of aldehydic notes, which create a fresh and powdery accord.

The heart comes denser and oily, with the dark and spicy notes of carnation that stress the spiciness, the brighter ones of jasmine, softened by the softer and warmer notes of resinous myrrh. Although the recent version does not feature the iris, I still perceive a strong dusty and powdery accord.

The more it approaches the dry down, the more it turns mellifluous and balsamic, overflowing with greedy vanilla balanced by dirtier patchouli. It added to this combination the shades of amber mixed with aromatic, smokey, powdery, and resinous opoponax. If you have a trained nose, you will catch the smokiness of the olibanum, which permeates and refreshes every part of this perfume. When I smell this scent, I think about church service on holidays because it has that spicy incense aroma. It is because of the presence of myrrh, amber, and opoponax, which to me are very overbearing.

A perfume that you can smell, and that does not go unnoticed, to be avoided when you are in a small and closed environment, or you have to spend many hours in contact with other people, not suitable for a day in the office. I consider it a winter scent for social evenings and captivating nights. From a longevity point of view, this perfume is damn great because it lasted so many hours! It stays on the clothes, and when I smelled my wrist at the end of the day, it still felt great! I think it's so gorgeous and perfect that I want to go on smelling it all day! Probably most of you know Opium, but for younger readers, if you've never tried it, I think you should! It's just an admirable classic perfume that doesn't have the same sweet, gourmand feeling as modern creations.

-Elysium
1 Comment
10
Bottle
10
Sillage
10
Longevity
9
Scent
Daisyvision

90 Reviews
Daisyvision
Daisyvision
Helpful Review 3  
Earth Lore.
Judging by the name and gorgeous bottle design, Opium is exactly what I expected it to be: Deep and smoky, ancient and exotic... It immediately evokes imagery of ancient Egypt, Myrrh and Frankincense. Even though I've only just tried Opium for the first time, it's extremely nostalgic for me. It smells exactly like 'Earth Lore' - The smoky, incense-laden shop I frequented as a curious teenager, which was stocked with small Egyptian & Buddhist trinkets, crystals, and books on witchcraft. Opium has the same mystical elements, and is an utterly phenomenal aromatic experience.
0 Comments
9
Pricing
10
Bottle
7
Sillage
9
Longevity
8
Scent
Elijahrb67

110 Reviews
Elijahrb67
Elijahrb67
5  
Opium, still the greatest
Being a massive fan of the original Opium EDT, curiosity nearly drove me up the wall when it came to smelling the current iteration. Although by no means a 100% match to the original version, I can wholeheartedly say that this version of Opium is still great. The opening here is where the majority of the differences take place. In this version, the opening is very straightforward, fruity and floral. It's very clear and vibrant, with very little spice or smoke compared to the original. The dry down here is really amazing though, and almost exactly like the original. You get the classic Opium DNA of smoke, incense, spice and animalic notes in the dry down, like it walked right out of 1977. Although this version is not the exact same as the original, it is still Opium at it's core. There is still a level of complexity and beauty to this scent that very few have been able to replicate since the inception of the original iteration. It may not be Opium exactly as we remember it, but it's certainly still a great fragrance.

I'm glad to have this iteration of Opium in my collection. Even with it's differences, I still feel like I'm wearing Opium when I wear this, as it doesn't feel like a crazy different fragrance from the original. The bonus here is that you can spray with wild abandon and not have to worry about finding another bottle for a decent price like you do with the original.
0 Comments
8
Pricing
8
Bottle
9
Sillage
9
Longevity
9
Scent
Tzapan

21 Reviews
Tzapan
Tzapan
Helpful Review 3  
Even more addictive than the 1978 edp.
Maybe I am not the most suitable person to write a review on this eau de parfum 'cause I love the stuff so much, I even have an older bottle of the edt which I bought from ebay . It is definitely unisex and opulent, not sweet in any case amber fragrance. I keep thinking of vanilla nuances in here, but it is not in the list of notes, so maybe is a vanilla facet from opoponax or benzoin. This is so close to the original, initial 1878 edp and perhaps even tighter anf more rounded.
What you get: a freshness of the citrusy fruits and gorgeous resins that match the amber beautifully like a work of great art! Myrr, Sweet Myrr, olibanum and benzoin give the parfum this sensual, woody oriental character you either adore or hate. I adore the longevity of this parfum, the authenticity of it and it's austere nature. I mean Barbie would not wear Opium. Opium is a trip to spirituality and acceptance of the sensual wotld. Opium is a scent that touches so much your inner world that it becomes what it says and you cannot live your life without wearing Opium!
Only for authentic, not compromising people is this fragrance sent straight to them by the gods.
2 Comments
8
Pricing
10
Bottle
9
Sillage
9
Longevity
10
Scent
Ineed1936

36 Reviews
Ineed1936
Ineed1936
4  
Opium, just Opium
Myrrh and indolic flowers, along with other resins and amber, are the key to this legendary perfume! It is among the most funeral perfumes that I had the opportunity to test. The image opium edp gives me is clear: The funeral ritual in the Orthodox religion, from beginning to end. The natural wax candles that burn at the end of the deceased person, the coffin with the deceased person, the flower crowns and the flowers brought, which are almost withered and which mingle with the sharp smell of formalin, the freshly dug grave pit, and the burnt resins from the famous church censer . This is Opium, a pleasure to wear, in key moments.
1 Comment
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Statements

6 short views on the fragrance
LieselotteLieselotte 2 years ago
8
Bottle
7
Sillage
7
Longevity
9
Scent
Sensuality in a bottle. Powdery, oriental, spicy and balsamic. Nothing about this is crowd pleasing but it certainly pleases me.
0 Comments
KuraiKurai 3 years ago
6
Sillage
8
Longevity
7
Scent
Yesteryear's Orientalism. Way out of my comfort zone. But today, a cold winter day and outdoors, it wears like a charm.
0 Comments
TheDunkPapaTheDunkPapa 9 months ago
8
Bottle
7
Sillage
8
Longevity
9
Scent
As long as you love the classics, this is pure class. Oriental, spicy goodness, very clearly tamed for modern times, sadly, but still great.
0 Comments
FenfawnFenfawn 4 months ago
3
Bottle
2
Scent
took this from my grandma's house after she passed & i literally returned it to her vanity bc it was so nauseating & strong it wouldn't scrub off
0 Comments
GrandNezGrandNez 10 months ago
8
Bottle
7
Sillage
7
Longevity
3.5
Scent
Grandma wardrobe, gen x vibe, nucleus tractus solitarius gets messed up after this, screams harshness and heaviness, oud-lover go for it.
0 Comments
PolarrfoxPolarrfox 6 years ago
10
Bottle
10
Sillage
10
Longevity
10
Scent
Absolutely BEST spicy, oriental perfume for women. It IS true. It is real opium. Spicy, maybe heavy, and playing with your senses. Amazing!
0 Comments
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