Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium, hour by hour

How it opens, settles and lingers on skin.

Espresso cups and vanilla pods on a hotel bar at night.

Main accordsvanilla, coffee, sweet, white floral, warm spicy

Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium beside a 10ML travel atomiser on a black plinth
Black Opium by Yves Saint Laurent, bottle pictured with its key notes: Pear, Pink Pepper and Coffee
  1. First spray0–15 min

  2. Heart15 min – 2 h

  3. Dry-down2 h – 3–6 h

Lasts
3–6 h
Moderate
Sillage
Moderate, 2 of 4
When to wear

SeasonWinter

Time of dayNight out

Best forWork

What wearers say

Votes from fragrance communities, most-voted answers first.

  • Longevity

    Most voted: 49%Moderate

  • Sillage

    Most voted: 52%Moderate

  • Season

    Most voted: 55%Winter

  • Time of day

    Most voted: 50%Night out

See all votesHide votes

Longevity, 13,400 votes

  • Very weak3%350 votes
  • Weak5%642 votes
  • Moderate (Most voted)49%6,631 votes
  • Long lasting34%4,567 votes
  • Eternal9%1,210 votes

Sillage, 14,097 votes

  • Intimate11%1,568 votes
  • Moderate (Most voted)52%7,331 votes
  • Strong29%4,149 votes
  • Enormous7%1,049 votes

Season, 13,400 votes

  • Spring12%1,608 votes
  • Summer3%402 votes
  • Autumn30%4,020 votes
  • Winter (Most voted)55%7,370 votes

Time of day, 13,400 votes

  • Daytime12%1,608 votes
  • Office3%402 votes
  • Evening35%4,690 votes
  • Night out (Most voted)50%6,700 votes

Which size is right for you?

Every size is decanted from the same original bottle.

  • 3ml

    To discover it

    Price: Now €8.91Was €13.90SAVE 36%
    • Per ml: €2.97/ml
    • ≈60 sprays
    • 20 days of wear
  • 30ml

    To keep it

    • ≈600 sprays
    • 200 days of wear
10 ml decant of Black Opium by Yves Saint Laurent next to the original bottle

Your 10 ml decant, next to the original bottle

Every perfume we sell is the authentic original, decanted from the perfume house’s own bottle.

Key notes
Decant sizes

We buy our bottles from authorized EU distributors and directly from the brands, and 10ML decants every perfume itself.

Choose 10ml

Loved by 50,000+

Why scent lovers try it with us before they buy the bottle.

10ML decants in glass vials and a travel atomiser

10ML vs a blind buy

What a decant gives you that a bottle bought unsmelled can’t.

Why 10ML?
Blind buy
Authentic original perfume
Yes
Yes
Smell it on your skin before you buy
Yes
No
Try several scents for one bottle’s price
Yes
No
Travel-ready atomiser
Yes
No
No full bottle wasted if it’s not for you
Yes
No

If you like Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium

Perfumes that share its most characteristic notes.

  • Save 36%
    Lancôme Idôle decant

    Lancôme

    Idôle

    3ml: was €10.90, now €7.02

    Shares pear · pink pepper

  • Save 36%
    Carolina Herrera Good Girl decant

    Carolina Herrera

    Good Girl

    3ml: was €13.90, now €8.91

    Shares cashmere wood · coffee

  • Save 37%
    Xerjoff Elle Anniversary decant

    Xerjoff

    Elle Anniversary

    3ml: was €25.90, now €16.29

    Shares licorice · cashmere wood

  • Save 37%
    Dolce&Gabbana The Only One decant

    Dolce&Gabbana

    The Only One

    3ml: was €12.90, now €8.10

    Shares coffee · patchouli

  • Save 37%
    Carolina Herrera Good Girl Blush decant

    Carolina Herrera

    Good Girl Blush

    3ml: was €14.90, now €9.45

    Shares bitter almond · vanilla

  • Save 36%
    Givenchy L'Interdit Eau de Parfum decant

    Givenchy

    L'Interdit Eau de Parfum

    3ml: was €11.90, now €7.65

    Shares pear · orange blossom

  • Save 35%
    Giorgio Armani My Way Nectar decant

    Giorgio Armani

    My Way Nectar

    3ml: was €12.90, now €8.37

    Shares pear · orange blossom

  • Save 37%
    Lancôme La Nuit Trésor decant

    Lancôme

    La Nuit Trésor

    3ml: was €12.90, now €8.10

    Shares licorice · coffee

Layer it with

Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium + one of these

  • Save 30%
    Lalique L'Amour decant

    Lalique

    L'Amour

    3ml: was €9.90, now €6.90

    Adds bergamot · sandalwood

  • Save 35%
    Chloé Le Nectar decant

    Chloé

    Chloé Le Nectar

    3ml: was €15.90, now €10.26

    Adds bergamot · rose

  • Save 35%
    Acqua di Parma Sandalo decant

    Acqua di Parma

    Sandalo

    3ml: was €18.90, now €12.24

    Adds bergamot · cardamom

  • Save 37%
    Goldfield & Banks Bohemian Lime decant

    Goldfield & Banks

    Bohemian Lime

    3ml: was €15.90, now €10.08

    Adds vetiver · bergamot

More from Yves Saint Laurent

Yves Saint Laurent opened as a French couture house in 1961 and added perfume to its work in 1964.

Discover Yves Saint Laurent (29)
  • Yves Saint Laurent Y Eau de Parfum decant

    Yves Saint Laurent

    Y Eau de Parfum

    3ml: was €11.90, now €7.65

  • Yves Saint Laurent Libre decant

    Yves Saint Laurent

    Libre

    3ml: was €12.90, now €8.37

  • Yves Saint Laurent Libre Intense decant

    Yves Saint Laurent

    Libre Intense

    3ml: was €13.90, now €8.91

  • Yves Saint Laurent Mon Paris decant

    Yves Saint Laurent

    Mon Paris

    3ml: was €15.90, now €9.90

  • Yves Saint Laurent MYSLF Eau de Parfum decant

    Yves Saint Laurent

    MYSLF Eau de Parfum

    3ml: was €12.90, now €8.19

  • Yves Saint Laurent Opium Pour Homme decant

    Yves Saint Laurent

    Opium Pour Homme

    3ml: was €11.90, now €7.56

  • Yves Saint Laurent Y Le Parfum decant

    Yves Saint Laurent

    Y Le Parfum

    3ml: was €12.90, now €8.19

  • Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Pink Glaze decant

    Yves Saint Laurent

    Black Opium Pink Glaze

    3ml: was €13.90, now €8.91

Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium in plain words

What it smells like, how it wears and who it suits.

What it smells like

It begins with juicy pear and a little spice, then hot coffee comes through with white florals and a touch of almond. The base is creamy vanilla, softened by patchouli. Think sweet milky coffee with a dark edge.

How it wears

Wearers find its staying power moderate to long, with moderate to strong projection. It leaves a noticeable but easy trail rather than staying close.

When to wear it

The perfume community wears it in winter, with autumn also fitting, and mostly at night. It also gets worn at work.

Who it suits

Suits someone who loves sweet, warm gourmand scents, especially coffee and vanilla. If you prefer dry or green fragrances, the sweetness may feel too much.

Similar perfumes at 10ML

Sizes and price per ml

At 10ML, Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium comes as 3ml for €8.91 (€2.97/ml), 10ml for €25.74 (€2.57/ml) and 30ml for €66.60 (€2.22/ml).

Frequently asked questions

What does Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium smell like?

Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium opens with Orange Blossom, Pear and Pink Pepper. The heart brings Bitter Almond, Coffee, Jasmine and Licorice. It dries down to Cashmere Wood, Cedar, Patchouli and Vanilla. Shoppers on fragrance communities describe its main accords as vanilla, coffee, sweet, white floral and warm spicy.

Is Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium long lasting?

Shoppers on fragrance communities most often rate its longevity as moderate (49% of votes), and 43% rate it long lasting or eternal. They most often rate its sillage as moderate (52% of votes). How long it lasts on you also depends on your skin and how much you apply.

Is Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium good for summer?

Shoppers on fragrance communities rate it mainly for winter; summer takes only 3% of season votes.

Is Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium good for winter?

Yes. Shoppers on fragrance communities vote winter its best season, with 55% of season votes.

Is Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium for day or night?

Shoppers on fragrance communities mostly wear it after dark: 85% of time-of-day votes are for evenings and nights out, 15% for daytime or the office.

Can I wear Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium to the office?

Shoppers on fragrance communities rarely pick it for the office: only 3% of time-of-day votes go to the office.

Who makes Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium?

Black Opium is made by Yves Saint Laurent. It was launched in 2014.

How many wears is a 10ml decant of Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium?

A 10ml decant of Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium holds about 200 sprays, roughly 67 days of wear. The 3ml decant holds about 60 sprays, around 20 days. The 30ml decant holds about 600 sprays, around 200 days.

Which other Yves Saint Laurent perfumes can I try?

Besides Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium, 10ML has Y Eau de Parfum, Libre and Libre Intense from Yves Saint Laurent, each decanted from the original bottle.

Is this Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium decant the original perfume?

Yes. Every Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium decant is filled by hand from an original Yves Saint Laurent bottle, with nothing added or diluted, so it opens, dries down and lasts on your skin the way the bottle does. We sell only authentic originals.

Is Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium sweet?

Yes, clearly. Vanilla and sweet coffee lead, with jasmine and almond rounding it out, so it reads warm and dessert-like.

What do people like most about Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium?

Wearers like the dark, mysterious start, the pretty vanilla and the winter feel. It is also enjoyed by anyone who likes cream in their coffee.

Where can I buy Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium as a decant?

At 10ML: Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium comes as a 3ml, 10ml and 30ml decant, filled by hand from an original bottle. The 10ml decant costs €25.74 (€2.57/ml), and 10ML ships across the EU.

What is a decant?

A small amount of a perfume, taken from its original bottle and put into a travel atomiser. You get the real fragrance in a size that lets you live with it for days before you decide on the full bottle.

How does the money-back guarantee work?

If a scent isn’t right for you, get in touch within 30 days of it arriving and we’ll arrange a refund. Terms apply. See our refund policy.