Index: /llms.txt

# Black Opium Dupes 2026: 6 Clones vs the Original

Six Black Opium dupes compared on notes, named sources and price, with where each parts from the original. 10ML sells the original YSL Black Opium as a 3ml or 10ml decant to wear first.

By [Antoine Mercier](https://10ml.com/authors/antoine-mercier) · Updated: 8 November 2026 · 9 min read

<https://10ml.com/guides/black-opium-dupes>

**We sell only the originals.** Every perfume we sell is the authentic original, decanted from the perfume house’s own bottle. We buy our bottles from authorized EU distributors and directly from the brands, and 10ML decants every perfume itself. We never sell dupes, clones or inspired-by perfumes. This guide compares the dupes other houses make of Black Opium, so you can choose, or wear the original first.

[Or try the original from €8.91](https://10ml.com/perfumes/yves-saint-laurent-black-opium)

## Quick answer

The best Black Opium dupe overall is Ambery Vanilla by Dossier, whose published notes keep the pink pepper, pear, licorice, coffee and vanilla of the original. Opera Noir by Maison Alhambra has a dry-down two Fragrantica members find very close to the original, and the lowest price belongs to Touch of Woman by La Rive. Want the real thing? Black Opium is €25.74 for a 10ml decant at 10ML.

You can try the original, [Black Opium](https://10ml.com/perfumes/yves-saint-laurent-black-opium), at 10ML as a 10 ml decant, before you choose a dupe.

## Prefer the original?

**Black Opium** · Yves Saint Laurent · Decanted from the original bottle

- [3ml €8.91 · €2.97/ml](https://10ml.com/perfumes/yves-saint-laurent-black-opium?size=3ml)
- [10ml €25.74 · €2.57/ml](https://10ml.com/perfumes/yves-saint-laurent-black-opium?size=10ml)

The alternatives: €0.06–€0.58/ml in other shops, checked 28 September 2026

## What does Black Opium smell like?

[Black Opium](https://10ml.com/perfumes/yves-saint-laurent-black-opium) by [Yves Saint Laurent](https://10ml.com/brands/yves-saint-laurent) launched in 2014. It starts bright and a little prickly, with pear, pink pepper and [orange blossom](https://10ml.com/notes/orange-blossom). Coffee takes over in the heart, held in [jasmine](https://10ml.com/notes/jasmine), bitter almond and licorice, which gives the sweetness a roasted, faintly dark edge. The base settles on [vanilla](https://10ml.com/notes/vanilla) and patchouli, laid over cashmere wood and cedar. Its listed accords put vanilla and coffee first, then sweet, white floral and warm spice. Put simply, it is a coffee-and-vanilla scent that white flowers and a woody floor keep from sliding into pure dessert. Black Opium belongs to the coffee-woven-through-flowers group in our [coffee perfume guide](https://10ml.com/guides/coffee-perfume), alongside Intense Cafe and Ristretto Intense Café by Montale.

That coffee is the part every clone below is judged on, and the part most of them handle differently.

## Black Opium Le Parfum, Over Red and Pink Glaze

The house has built several versions on the same idea, and they are not simply stronger or lighter sprays. [Black Opium Le Parfum](https://10ml.com/perfumes/yves-saint-laurent-black-opium-le-parfum), from 2022, opens on cinnamon, pear and green mandarin and moves coffee into a base of Madagascar, Bourbon and absolute vanilla. [Black Opium Over Red](https://10ml.com/perfumes/yves-saint-laurent-black-opium-over-red), from 2024, leads with cherry and adds black tea to the heart. [Black Opium Pink Glaze](https://10ml.com/perfumes/yves-saint-laurent-black-opium-pink-glaze), from 2026 and credited to Nathalie Lorson, puts strawberry and bergamot on top and amber and benzoin under the coffee. Every source cited for the clones in this guide compares them with the Eau de Parfum, so that is the version to hold them against.

**The Black Opium versions by their notes**

| Version | Launched | Opens on | What changes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Eau de Parfum | 2014 | Described above | The reference point for every clone in this guide |
| Le Parfum | 2022 | Cinnamon, pear, green mandarin | Coffee sits in a base of several vanillas |
| Over Red | 2024 | Cherry, green mandarin | Black tea in the heart, coffee in the base |
| Pink Glaze | 2026 | Bergamot, green mandarin, strawberry | Amber and benzoin join the coffee base |

## Black Opium alternatives compared

Bottle prices in other shops, as checked 28 September 2026

Perfumes made and sold by other houses. 10ML does not sell them.

| # | Alternative | Role | Basis of comparison | Source | Bottle price | Per ml |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Ambery Vanilla (Dossier) | Best overall | Named source | [Source](https://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Dossier/Ambery-Vanilla-73737.html) | €29.00 (50 ml) | €0.58/ml |
| 2 | Fleur Noir (Câline) | Darker take | Named source | [Source](https://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Caline/Fleur-Noir-72921.html) | €5.75 (60 ml) | €0.10/ml |
| 3 | Opera Noir (Maison Alhambra) | Closest on the dry-down | Named source | [Source](https://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Maison-Alhambra/Opera-Noir-92625.html) | No EU price | — |
| 4 | Touch of Woman (La Rive) | Lowest price | Named source | [Source](https://www.parfumo.com/Perfumes/La_Rive/Touch_of_Woman) | €4.99 (90 ml) | €0.06/ml |
| 5 | Gardenia (Zara) | Softer take | Named source | [Source](https://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Zara/Gardenia-68682.html) | No EU price | — |
| 6 | London Destination (Alexandria Fragrances) | Sweeter take | Named source | [Source](https://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Alexandria-Fragrances/London-Destination-52007.html) | No EU price | — |

## Best overall: Ambery Vanilla

Ambery Vanilla by Dossier follows the published outline of Black Opium closely. Its [Fragrantica listing](https://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Dossier/Ambery-Vanilla-73737.html) gives pink pepper, licorice, pear and mandarin on top, orange blossom and jasmine in the heart, and vanilla, coffee, patchouli and cedar in the base. That covers the pepper, the pear, the licorice, the coffee and the vanilla-patchouli close of the original.

Set the two lists next to each other and the main difference is plain. Bitter almond and cashmere wood are missing from Dossier's list, and mandarin joins the top. Coffee also moves down from the heart into the base.

It suits someone who wants the whole shape of Black Opium in a larger bottle and can do without the almond. Basis: named sources. Dossier's [own page](https://www.dossier.co/products/ambery-vanilla) describes it as inspired by YSL's Black Opium, [its Parfumo page](https://www.parfumo.com/Perfumes/dossier/ambery-vanilla/prices) names Black Opium Eau de Parfum on the community 'Smells similar' list, and one Fragrantica member writes that someone in a room asked whether she was wearing Black Opium.

## Darker take: Fleur Noir

Fleur Noir by Câline shares a core of six notes with the original. [Parfumo's comparison page](https://www.parfumo.de/compare/caline/fleur-noir/vs/Yves_Saint_Laurent/Black_Opium) shows both listing pink pepper, coffee, orange blossom, jasmine, vanilla and patchouli. Members on [Fragrantica](https://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Caline/Fleur-Noir-72921.html) find it very close to Black Opium.

The main difference is the balance between sugar and bitterness. One Fragrantica member finds it less sweet, with more bitter coffee, while another finds the vanilla-coffee toned down. A [Parfumo member](https://www.parfumo.de/Parfums/caline/fleur-noir/statements/2668446) finds it really close to the original, though it soon sits close to the skin.

It suits someone who finds Black Opium too sugary and would like the coffee to come through more bitter. Basis: named sources, the Parfumo comparison and the member comments above.

## Closest on the dry-down: Opera Noir

Opera Noir by Maison Alhambra earns its place on the later stage of the wear. Two members on [Fragrantica](https://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Maison-Alhambra/Opera-Noir-92625.html) find its dry-down very close to Black Opium, and [its Parfumo page](https://www.parfumo.com/Perfumes/maison-alhambra/opera-noir/prices) names Black Opium Eau de Parfum on the community 'Smells similar' list.

The main difference is the opening. Those two members find the start fruitier, with less coffee, so the likeness takes a while to show. Opinion is far from settled: other Fragrantica members say a new bottle needs months of rest, and some find no resemblance at all.

It suits someone who judges a scent by where it ends up and does not mind a fruitier start. Basis: named sources, with a split reception on Fragrantica.

## Lowest price: Touch of Woman

Touch of Woman by La Rive is the lowest-priced clone in the comparison table, both per bottle and per ml. Parfumo links the two in both directions: [its own page](https://www.parfumo.com/Perfumes/La_Rive/Touch_of_Woman) lists Black Opium Eau de Parfum first under 'Smells similar', and [Black Opium's Parfumo page](https://www.parfumo.com/Perfumes/Yves_Saint_Laurent/Black_Opium) lists Touch of Woman in turn.

The main difference is the coffee. A [Parfumo member](https://www.parfumo.com/Perfumes/La_Rive/Touch_of_Woman/reviews/110547) calls it an affordable alternative to Black Opium with sweet, creamy vanilla, but finds the coffee missing. That is the note that gives the original its darker edge.

It suits someone who mainly loves the vanilla side of Black Opium and wants the smallest outlay. Basis: named sources, Parfumo's two similar lists and a member's write-up.

## Softer take: Gardenia

Gardenia by Zara is the gentler route to the same mood. Owners of both on [Fragrantica](https://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Zara/Gardenia-68682.html) describe it as softer, lighter and more floral than Black Opium, and less bold.

The main difference is, once again, the coffee: several of those owners cannot find it, and the flowers come further forward. One member also finds it sweeter than the original, so softer here does not mean drier.

It suits someone who finds Black Opium too bold for every day and prefers its floral side. Basis: a named source, the comments of owners on Fragrantica.

## Sweeter take: London Destination

London Destination by Alexandria Fragrances is described on the [house's own page](https://alexandriafragrances.com/products/london-destination) as inspired by YSL Black Opium, and [its Parfumo page](https://www.parfumo.com/Perfumes/Alexandria_Fragrances/London_Destination/prices) names Black Opium Eau de Parfum on the community 'Smells similar' list.

The main difference is pear. Members on [Fragrantica](https://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Alexandria-Fragrances/London-Destination-52007.html) find more of it than in Black Opium and less bitter coffee, with the pear and vanilla sweetness out in front and fewer florals behind it.

It suits someone who likes the fruity, sugared start of Black Opium best and could do without the bitter edge. Basis: named sources, the house's description, Parfumo's similar list and Fragrantica comments.

## Similar original perfumes we stock

Original perfumes that share part of the coffee, vanilla and white-flower mix, each as a decant filled from the original bottle.

| # | Perfume | Main notes | 3 ml | 10 ml |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | [Carolina Herrera Good Girl](https://10ml.com/perfumes/carolina-herrera-good-girl) | Almond and coffee over tuberose, jasmine sambac and orange blossom, with tonka, cacao and praline: a sweet white floral. | €8.91 (€2.97/ml) | €25.74 (€2.57/ml) |
| 2 | [Mancera Feminity](https://10ml.com/perfumes/mancera-feminity) | Leather, coffee and pink pepper, then violet and heliotrope over caramel, white musk and vanilla pod: powdery and soft. | €6.57 (€2.19/ml) | €18.18 (€1.82/ml) |
| 3 | [Maison Margiela Coffee Break](https://10ml.com/perfumes/maison-margiela-coffee-break) | Coffee with milk, lavender and tonka bean over cedar, vanilla and vetiver: a unisex coffee scent. | €8.01 (€2.67/ml) | €25.11 (€2.51/ml) |

## What every clone gets wrong

Read the sources together and one pattern stands out: the coffee. One owner finds it missing in Touch of Woman, several cannot find it in Gardenia, and members describe less of it in Opera Noir's opening and less bitterness in London Destination. Fleur Noir goes the other way for one member, with more bitter coffee and less sugar. The original holds sweetness and roast in balance, and most clones lean to one side.

The second gap is agreement. Even the pick with the strongest backing has members with other views, and Opera Noir has a camp that finds no likeness at all. A clone that one person finds close can read quite differently on another person's skin.

## Should you buy a clone or a Black Opium decant?

Going by the dated prices in the table, Ambery Vanilla, Fleur Noir and Touch of Woman all cost far less per ml than the original. Opera Noir, Gardenia and London Destination have an empty price cell, as none of the three had an EU list price when we checked. Black Opium itself runs to €25.74 as a 10ml decant, or €2.57/ml; at 30ml, around 600 sprays, it is see the product page. For someone who already reaches for a coffee-vanilla scent every day, a big clone bottle stretches further.

If the real question is which one to commit to, start smaller. The original in 3ml costs €8.91 and gives around 60 sprays: a week of wear, then you choose between Black Opium, a clone or neither. Le Parfum is €9.45 for 3ml and Over Red is €7.29, if you would rather compare versions first. Our guide to [how long a 10ml perfume lasts](https://10ml.com/guides/how-long-does-a-10ml-perfume-last) explains how far each size goes, and [what a perfume decant is](https://10ml.com/guides/what-is-a-perfume-decant) explains how each one is filled from the original bottle.

## Authentic perfumes with the same coffee and vanilla

Prefer another house altogether? Three originals share part of the coffee, vanilla and white-flower mix. [Good Girl](https://10ml.com/perfumes/carolina-herrera-good-girl) by Carolina Herrera, from 2016, opens on almond, coffee, bergamot and lemon, then tuberose, jasmine sambac and orange blossom, over tonka bean, cacao, praline and vanilla. [Feminity](https://10ml.com/perfumes/mancera-feminity) by Mancera, from 2020, starts with leather, tangerine, coffee and pink pepper, turns powdery with violet and heliotrope, and closes on caramel, white musk and vanilla pod. [Coffee Break](https://10ml.com/perfumes/maison-margiela-coffee-break) by Maison Margiela, from 2019, sets coffee beside milk, lavender and tonka bean over cedar, vanilla and vetiver, a unisex take. All three are sold as decants, which lets you try a couple over one week and then pick.

For more in this direction, see [the best gourmand perfumes](https://10ml.com/guides/best-gourmand-perfumes) and [the best vanilla perfumes](https://10ml.com/guides/best-vanilla-perfumes). Kayali Vanilla 28 is a unisex vanilla that starts on vanilla orchid and jasmine and settles on amber and musk. Our [Kayali Vanilla 28 dupes](https://10ml.com/guides/kayali-vanilla-28-dupes) guide compares seven clones with the original.

## How to test a dupe

Paper strips mostly show you the opening, so judge a clone on skin. Wear the original one day and the clone on another, so one does not colour your nose for the other. Check each at the same moments: the first minutes, the heart, and again later in the day once it has settled. With Black Opium, pay attention to the coffee in the heart, since that is where the sources above most often see a gap. Black Opium is one of five practice perfumes for learning to [test perfume in store](https://10ml.com/guides/how-to-test-perfume-in-store-without-pressure), from labelled strips to the coffee heart and vanilla base on skin.

A 3ml of [Black Opium](https://10ml.com/perfumes/yves-saint-laurent-black-opium) lets you wear it against a clone for about a week. If the original wins, a 10ml decant holds around 200 sprays, which means weeks of daily wear before you think about a full bottle. For where and how much to spray while you compare, read [where to spray perfume](https://10ml.com/guides/where-to-spray-perfume); for how strengths differ across versions, our guide to [eau de parfum vs eau de toilette](https://10ml.com/guides/eau-de-parfum-vs-eau-de-toilette); and for the wider habit, [how to avoid a blind buy](https://10ml.com/guides/blind-buy-alternative). The house's men's perfume Y has its own comparison in [YSL Y dupes](https://10ml.com/guides/ysl-y-dupes). To choose from the house itself, our guide to the [YSL perfume to try first](https://10ml.com/guides/ysl-perfumes) covers ten Yves Saint Laurent scents and names Libre as the place to begin.

## Clone or original? What to know first

### Can I try Black Opium in 3ml before settling on a dupe?

10ML sells Black Opium as a 3ml, 10ml or 30ml decant filled from the original bottle. The 3ml holds around 60 sprays, so you can wear the original for about a week alongside whichever clone you are considering.

### Which Black Opium dupe is our first choice?

Ambery Vanilla by Dossier is the best overall pick in this guide: its published notes keep the pink pepper, pear, licorice, coffee, vanilla and patchouli of Black Opium, though bitter almond and cashmere wood are not on its list.

### Does Fleur Noir come close to Black Opium?

Members on Fragrantica find it very close, and Parfumo's comparison page shows both listing pink pepper, coffee, orange blossom, jasmine, vanilla and patchouli. One Fragrantica member finds it less sweet with more bitter coffee, and a Parfumo member notes it soon sits close to the skin.

### Are Black Opium dupes aimed at the Eau de Parfum or Le Parfum?

Every source behind the clones in this guide compares them with the Eau de Parfum. Le Parfum has a different note list, with cinnamon on top and several vanillas around the coffee, so wear both if you are unsure which you prefer.

### Per ml, how do the clones compare with Black Opium?

Per ml, each clone with a listed price costs well under the original. A 10ml decant of Black Opium is €25.74, and a 3ml is €8.91 if you want to wear the original before choosing.

### How long will Black Opium last on me?

That depends on your skin and the weather more than on the bottle. The simplest way to find out is to wear a 3ml for a few days and see how it behaves on you.

### Which perfumes are tied to Black Opium by their fans?

Ambery Vanilla, Fleur Noir, Opera Noir, Touch of Woman, Gardenia and London Destination are each tied to Black Opium by a named source such as Parfumo or Fragrantica. Among authentic perfumes, Good Girl, Feminity and Coffee Break share its coffee, vanilla or white flowers.

### What is the closest Black Opium dupe?

Opera Noir by Maison Alhambra, on the dry-down. Two Fragrantica members find that part very close to Black Opium, and its Parfumo page lists Black Opium Eau de Parfum on the community similar list. Opinion is split, and its opening is fruitier with less coffee.

### Does 10ML sell dupes?

No. 10ML sells only original perfumes. We buy our bottles from authorized EU distributors and directly from the brands, and 10ML decants every perfume itself. The dupes in this guide are other houses’ perfumes, and we don’t sell them. You can wear the original first from €8.91.

## Sources

- [Ambery Vanilla by Dossier (Fragrantica)](https://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Dossier/Ambery-Vanilla-73737.html)
- [Ambery Vanilla (Dossier)](https://www.dossier.co/products/ambery-vanilla)
- [Fleur Noir by Câline (Fragrantica)](https://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Caline/Fleur-Noir-72921.html)
- [Fleur Noir vs Black Opium (Parfumo comparison)](https://www.parfumo.de/compare/caline/fleur-noir/vs/Yves_Saint_Laurent/Black_Opium)
- [Fleur Noir, member statement (Parfumo)](https://www.parfumo.de/Parfums/caline/fleur-noir/statements/2668446)
- [Opera Noir by Maison Alhambra (Fragrantica)](https://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Maison-Alhambra/Opera-Noir-92625.html)
- [Touch of Woman by La Rive (Parfumo)](https://www.parfumo.com/Perfumes/La_Rive/Touch_of_Woman)
- [Black Opium Eau de Parfum (Parfumo)](https://www.parfumo.com/Perfumes/Yves_Saint_Laurent/Black_Opium)
- [Touch of Woman, member write-up (Parfumo)](https://www.parfumo.com/Perfumes/La_Rive/Touch_of_Woman/reviews/110547)
- [Gardenia by Zara (Fragrantica)](https://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Zara/Gardenia-68682.html)
- [London Destination by Alexandria Fragrances (Fragrantica)](https://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Alexandria-Fragrances/London-Destination-52007.html)
- [London Destination (Alexandria Fragrances)](https://alexandriafragrances.com/products/london-destination)

## How we compared

Each alternative is ranked by how closely it follows the notes and dry-down of Black Opium, on the basis shown for it in the table. Prices in other shops are as checked on 28 September 2026 and change often; the 10ML prices on this page are live.

10ML is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Yves Saint Laurent or by the houses of the alternatives named here. Their names are used only to identify the perfumes compared.