Opium (1977) (Parfum)
Perfumer: Jean-Louis Sieuzac
496 ratings
From your scent profile
Yves Saint Laurent Opium (Parfum) is a rich, heavy oriental for women, floral, sweet and spicy, and best suited to evenings and the colder months. It has been discontinued.
Skunky's take: The flowers do the talking, the rest listens.
How does it perform?
From 363 community ratings, all out of 10.
Sprayed at breakfast, still around at dinner.
You will be noticed when you walk into a room.
Sits nicely on a shelf.
Most people feel it is worth the price.
Blind buy risk
82% of votes are positive and opinions barely differ.
Notes
They open one after another, from the first spray into the evening.
Top notesfirst 15 minutes
Heart notesfirst few hours
Accords
From most dominant to most subtle.
- Floral
- Sweet
- Spicy
- Woody
- Oriental
- Animal
- Powdery
- Resinous
Floral
Sweet
Spicy
Woody
Oriental
Animal
Powdery
ResinousWhat does Opium (1977) (Parfum) smell like?
It opens with coriander, bergamot and clove, which give it a bright, spicy start. Cinnamon, rose and sandalwood lead the heart, and the base of vanilla, amber, myrrh and benzoin turns sweet, resinous and smoky. Powdery and animal tones darken the whole further.
Most voters wear it in winter and fall, in the evening or on a night out. Its longevity and sillage are rated very strong, so a little goes a long way. Most voters call it feminine and classic.
How it changes through the day
First minutes
- Coriander
- Citrus fruits
- Bergamot
First hours
- Cinnamon
- Lily of the valley
- Peach
Towards evening
- Vetiver
- Opoponax
- Sandalwood
When to wear it?
Seasons and occasions, by user votes.
- 44%Winter
- 38%Autumn
- 11%Spring
- 7%Summer
Winter
Autumn
Spring
Summer- Evening40%
- Nighttime37%
- Casual13%
- Daytime7%
- Office4%
Go easy on it for the office: the sillage is strong.
Smells like this
The closest scents by notes and accords.
81% matchPapaver
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68% matchDangerZone
Linn Young
62% matchObsession (Eau de Parfum)
Calvin Klein · 1985
61% matchRoter Mohn
Harry Lehmann
61% matchCinnabar (1978) (Eau de Parfum)
Estēe Lauder · 1978
61% matchHascish Lady / Hascish (Eau de Toilette)
Veejaga · 1983
59% matchParfum Sacré (1990) (Eau de Parfum)
Caron · 1990
55% matchFate Woman (Eau de Parfum)
Amouage · 2013
Comparisons
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Last updated: October 26, 2026