
Opium
Opium by Yves Saint Laurent was launched in 1977, an amber & resinous fragrance for women. Its accord profile is led by warm spicy, amber and balsamic. Key notes: Carnation, Cinnamon and Sandalwood.
At a glance
| Dominant accords | warm spicy, amber, balsamic |
|---|---|
| Key notes | Carnation, Cinnamon, Sandalwood, Patchouli |
| Community rating | 3.97/5 from 8,528 votes |
from 8,528 votes
Aggregated public data, not first-party reviews
Accord profile
Note pyramid
Top, heart and base notes as recorded for this composition. Each note links to every other fragrance in the database that uses it.
About this fragrance
Written from the structured record above — note pyramid, accord weights, perfumer credit and era.
Opium by Yves Saint Laurent, launched in 1977, is a landmark Oriental Spicy fragrance for women. The top notes burst with cloves, pepper, coriander, West Indian bay, plum, jasmine, mandarin orange, citruses, and bergamot—a dense, aromatic opening that immediately signals its bold character. As it settles, the heart reveals carnation, cinnamon, sandalwood, patchouli, orris root, rose, peach, and lily-of-the-valley, adding a rich, spicy-floral depth. The base is an opulent, resinous blend of incense, myrrh, sandalwood, tolu balsam, amber, opoponax, benzoin, labdanum, vanilla, musk, castoreum, cedar, vetiver, and coconut, leaving a warm, balsamic trail that lingers for hours.
Collectors prize Opium for its uncompromising intensity and vintage-era craftsmanship. The dominant warm spicy and amber accords (100% and 94% respectively) make it a statement scent, best suited for evening wear or cold weather. It appeals to those who appreciate complex, resinous orientals with a powdery finish. This is not a shy fragrance—it demands confidence and a tolerance for bold spice. A must-have for aficionados of 1970s powerhouse perfumery.
中文簡介
Yves Saint Laurent Opium(1977)係東方辛辣調嘅經典女香。前調以丁香、胡椒、芫荽、西印度月桂、李子、茉莉、柑橘同佛手柑開場,氣勢濃烈;中調有康乃馨、肉桂、檀香、廣藿香、鳶尾根、玫瑰、桃子同鈴蘭,辛辣花香交織;基調則以乳香、沒藥、檀香、吐魯香脂、琥珀、沒藥樹脂、安息香、岩薔薇、香草、麝香、海狸香、雪松、香根草同椰子收結,溫暖樹脂感持久。主要 accord 為暖辛(100%)同琥珀(94%),粉末感明顯。適合夜晚或寒冷天氣使用,對象係鍾情複雜、濃郁東方調嘅用家,唔啱鍾意清淡香氣嘅人。
Reference data
| House | Yves Saint Laurent |
|---|---|
| Name | Opium |
| Launched | 1977 |
| Marketed as | For women |
| Dominant family | Amber & Resinous |
| Notes recorded | 31 |
| Accords | 9 |
| Also known as | 红鸦, Opium, 鸦片 |
Quick answers
Short factual answers compiled from the structured record above.
What are the notes in Opium?
Opium by Yves Saint Laurent: top notes are Cloves, Pepper, Coriander, West Indian Bay, Plum, Jasmine, Mandarin Orange and Citruses; heart notes are Carnation, Cinnamon, Sandalwood, Patchouli, Orris Root, Rose, Peach and Lily-Of-The-Valley; base notes are Incense, Myrrh, Sandalwood, Tolu Balsam, Amber, Opoponax, Benzoin and Labdanum.
What accords does Opium have?
The dominant accords recorded for Opium are warm spicy (100.0%); amber (94.1%); balsamic (58.8%); woody (58.7%); aromatic (53.5%).
When was Opium launched?
Opium by Yves Saint Laurent was first released in 1977.
What does Opium smell like?
Opium is recorded as a amber & resinous fragrance, centred on Carnation, Cinnamon and Sandalwood.
Where to buy: eBay · Vestiaire · TrendyGround · more Yves Saint Laurent
Buy this fragrance
We currently hold 3 matching bottles of Yves Saint Laurent Opium in our own stock.
Also: all Yves Saint Laurent Opium listings
Same fragrance elsewhere: eBay · Vestiaire · TrendyGround · more Yves Saint Laurent (searches for the same scent — not our stock)
Market reference
Indicative pricing observed on public listings. Not an offer to sell.
| Observed range | $104 – $282 USD |
|---|---|
| Listings tracked | 12 |
| Method | Median of matched public listings; see methodology. |
Market reference & verification
Price ranges are compiled from our own recorded transactions, not from asking prices.
Methodology
Median and interquartile range of our own recorded transactions (sold orders). Asking prices are excluded from the statistics. Sample size stated per entry; entries with fewer than 3 recorded sales are not published.
Reference only. Not a valuation, an offer, or investment advice.
A batch code cannot prove authenticity on its own, but it can expose contradictions — a code that decodes to a date before the fragrance existed, or a bottle and box that disagree.
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Brand and fragrance names are the trademarks of their respective owners. Ratings are aggregated from public community data, not our own reviews.