This question has certainly been asked more than once.
What a big outcry went around the world at that time when in 1977 the "real and only" opium was launched on the market. Loved, demonised and cursed, to the point of a huge uproar over the name. Allegations of drug abuse, a committee called the "American Coalition Against Opium and Drug Abuse" was called in to change the name or even prohibit the sale.
However, in most cases such campaigns are more conducive to marketing and push sales figures to undreamt-of heights. And opium became a huge success over many years, albeit with sometimes quite provocative advertising campaigns that also caused controversy.
But those who don't stay in the conversation, will be forgotten at some point.
Opium was the second signature scent of my aunt who died much too early, a fitting antipole to the calm and gentle Musk Oil, which she also loved very much.
He also fitted in very well with her lively and spirited nature. This opulent spicy splendour, straight from 1001 Nights, almost a magic elixir, which one could fall for. Intoxicating, almost addictive.
So the name was probably not so unwise chosen after all.
And then, around 2009, this unique fragrance was suddenly replaced by this version.
Again an outcry went through the fragrance world, the followers were disappointed, the opponents certainly less so.
I dismissed the topic of opium, the new version I did not want to get to know, püüh, not with me. Surely this can't be anything, as slimmed down as the scent comes along, there is almost nothing left in it that once made the scent. No, you can keep it!
But you should always remember that everything is in flux and everything is evolving. Due to many regulations, which are in the meantime inscrutable for us and which are always newly created, some fragrances can no longer be produced in the original recipes. And some raw materials are simply no longer available. As unfortunate as that is
Now I am a happier owner of the original opium than EdT and guard it like the crown jewels. From time to time I enjoy this wonderful scent, which even as EdT has a radiance from which many a scent can cut a thick slice.
And as chance would have it, some time ago I came across a sample of the current Opium EdT. Well, give it a chance, it can't be more than stupid
But what was that? It's not that bad a smell... Oh, it smells nice, doesn't it?
Comparisons can sometimes be pointless and do not really lead anywhere. That's why I don't want to compare too much Opium 2009, which is what this is about, and Opium 1977 with each other.
I see it as a fragrance in its own right, modernised and brought into the present day. And in my opinion, it's very successful.
In more than 40 years, views, tastes, scent preferences, zeitgeist, fashion and so much more have changed. One must not forget that.
Opium 2009 opens with rich citrus fruits and a distinct dryness, which is certainly due to the myrrh, which can also be perceived early, and which does not appear tart and bitter or even "myrrhic" here, but rather gives a nice strong spice. Jasmine contributes a few floral aspects, but does not appear pompous or overloaded. In the further course of the album, amber and opoponax add warm and slightly smoky notes.
The whole thing doesn't seem overly sweet but nicely balanced.
There is a warming fire in the heart of the fragrance, not on a giant flame but still clear enough, the fragrance has an enormous shelf life of at least 10 hours, one is very well perceived with the fragrance, dosage should not be exaggerated.
The right season is clearly the colder one and in the evening the fragrance is certainly better than in the office.
Since tastes and perceptions of fragrances have changed, men could also try this version.
Recently I got hold of the EdT in the 30 ml size for quite little money in a drugstore, I had to take it with me. And I have not regretted the purchase. And the prejudices have been removed.
My conclusion: With the current version, Antoine Maisondieu has succeeded in creating a beautiful transformation of opium, which has lost some of the content and expression of the original version, but when viewed as a fragrance in its own right, it is very beautiful and wearable and might even appeal more to the opponents of the earlier opium. The less lavish composition does this version quite well and one has created a very expressive and long-lasting scent, which is certainly more accessible than the earlier version.
I, for one, am glad to have both opium variants with me. Even though the original version is ahead of the others.
Top Notes 
Bergamot
Mandarin orange
Heart Notes 
Myrrh
Jasmine
Base Notes 
Opoponax
Amber
Bistdumeine
Bottlefinder
Saradonin
T3lk4
