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Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Eau de Toilette (2018) fragrance
Yves Saint Laurent

Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Eau de Toilette (2018)

EDT Feminine · 2018 · by Nathalie Lorson, Marie Salamagne, Olivier Cresp, Honorine Blanc
6.4 /10

Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Eau de Toilette (2018) scores 6/10 for longevity and performs best in Mild conditions.

Best in Mild 6/10 longevity
From USD 90–140From EUR 83–129From GBP 71–111From PKR 20,000–30,000From AED 350–500From INR 7,470–11,620From SAR 338–525
6 Longevity
6 Sillage
7 Versatility
7 Value
6.4 Climate Avg

Fragrance Notes

Coffee Vanilla White Floral Sweet
THE SCENT, LAYER BY LAYER

From the first impression to the lasting trail.

Top notes

The first impression

Heart notes

The character of the scent

Base notes

The lasting impression

Notes unfold and overlap differently on every skin.

Top Notes — first impression, 0–30 min

Heart Notes — the core, 30 min – 2 hrs

Base Notes — the foundation, 2 hrs+
Accord ProfileCoffeeVanillaWhite FloralSweetACCORDPROFILE

Occasions & Seasons

Best For
Daily Casual Dates Evenings
Seasons
Autumn Winter Spring

Climate Performance

Avg 6.4 / 10
Extreme Heat
4/10
Average
45°C and above
Riyadh, Jacobabad, Kuwait City, Phoenix
Hot & Humid
5/10
Average
Around 35°C with high humidity
Dubai, Karachi, Mumbai, Miami
Warm & Dry
7/10
Good
Around 30°C with low humidity
Lahore, Delhi, Muscat, Los Angeles
Mild
8/10
Excellent
Around 20°C
Islamabad, Bangalore, London, San Francisco
Cold
8/10
Excellent
Below 10°C
Murree, Shimla, Moscow, New York

Expert Analysis

What Makes It Unique

A brighter, fresher take on the iconic Black Opium EDP, retaining the coffee-vanilla signature with added luminosity.

How It Wears

While still sweet, the EDT is more wearable in warmer climates than the EDP, especially for daytime or milder evenings.

How It Compares

The lighter alternative to the original Black Opium EDP, appealing to those who desire the DNA but with less intensity for daily wear.

The Controversy

None, a popular flanker in a successful line.

Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Eau de Toilette (2018): A Data-Led Buyers’ Guide

Released in 2018, Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Eau de Toilette (2018) by Yves Saint Laurent has become a reference point for EDT fragrances in the Coffee, Vanilla, White Floral, Sweet family. This guide cuts through the noise: performance data across five climate zones, pricing in the currency you actually shop in, and a clear verdict on whether it belongs in your collection.

A brighter, fresher take on the iconic Black Opium EDP, retaining the coffee-vanilla signature with added luminosity.

How Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Eau de Toilette (2018) Smells: Notes & Development

Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Eau de Toilette (2018) opens with Coffee, Lemon, Pear and Black Currant — the first impression as it hits the skin. Give it twenty or thirty minutes and the middle act arrives: Orange Blossom, Jasmine and White Flowers. Hours in, what remains is the foundation: Vanilla, Musk and Patchouli.

Strip it back to the bones and the profile reads Coffee, Vanilla, White Floral, Sweet — easy to place and easy to wear.

Longevity & Projection: Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Eau de Toilette (2018) on the Clock

Longevity (6/10): Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Eau de Toilette (2018) delivers moderate longevity for EDT. On most skin types expect 5–8 hours. A midday touch-up is rarely necessary but can extend the experience on special occasions.

Sillage (6/10): Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Eau de Toilette (2018) projects at a social distance, noticeable without overwhelming. Application to pulse points — wrists, neck, and behind the ears — maximises projection without overwhelming the room.

Versatility (7/10): Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Eau de Toilette (2018) is context-aware, performing well across a range of situations without feeling mismatched. From casual daytime to formal evening, it adapts without feeling out of place.

Value (7/10): Pricing at around $90 feels appropriate for what you get — neither a bargain nor an overreach.

Climate Performance: Where Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Eau de Toilette (2018) Works Best

Of the five climate zones we score, Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Eau de Toilette (2018) does best in mild (Islamabad, San Francisco) at 8/10 — it keeps its shape there instead of turning sharp or fading fast. The number to watch is extreme heat (Riyadh, Phoenix) at 4/10, where you are better off reaching for something else.

While still sweet, the EDT is more wearable in warmer climates than the EDP, especially for daytime or milder evenings.

Its average across all five zones is 6.4/10 — broad enough to wear most of the year without second-guessing the weather.

To see how it ranks against every other fragrance for your conditions, run the Climate Matcher.

When to Wear Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Eau de Toilette (2018)

Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Eau de Toilette (2018) is best suited to Daily, Casual, Dates, Evenings. Its projection is calibrated for the occasions listed — confident enough to register, controlled enough to remain appropriate in close quarters.

Seasonally, Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Eau de Toilette (2018) performs best in Autumn, Winter, Spring. The climate data supports this range, though performance at the extremes — deep cold or intense heat — may vary.

The lighter alternative to the original Black Opium EDP, appealing to those who desire the DNA but with less intensity for daily wear.

Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Eau de Toilette (2018) Price Guide

Internationally, Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Eau de Toilette (2018) sits at $90–$140. That is mainstream designer territory — an accessible price for a fragrance intended for regular rotation.

Regional pricing: PKR 20,000–30,000 in Pakistan, AED 350–500 in the UAE. The currency switcher at the top of this page converts every price on the site — EUR, GBP, SAR and more — using current rates.

Where to buy: Internationally: Sephora, Macy's, Department stores. GCC/UAE: Sephora, Faces, Harvey Nichols. Pakistan: Scentsation, Al-Fatah, Online discounters.

Verdict

Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Eau de Toilette (2018) earns its place in the conversation through consistent performance, a clear identity, and data that backs the reputation.

An overall 6.4/10 puts Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Eau de Toilette (2018) in solid-but-situational territory: strong where it is strong, ordinary elsewhere. Match it to the right season and occasion and it pays off.

None, a popular flanker in a successful line.

Still deciding? Put it head-to-head against anything else in the database — scores, notes and prices side by side.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Eau de Toilette (2018) last?

Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Eau de Toilette (2018) has a longevity score of 6/10. On average skin, expect 5–8 hours. Performance can vary with skin type, application method, and ambient temperature — heat accelerates diffusion while dry skin absorbs fragrance faster.

Is Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Eau de Toilette (2018) worth the price?

At around $90, Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Eau de Toilette (2018) by Yves Saint Laurent is fairly priced for what it delivers. Its performance scores, climate range, and composition quality make it a strong value proposition.

What does Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Eau de Toilette (2018) smell like?

Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Eau de Toilette (2018) is characterised by Coffee, Vanilla, White Floral, Sweet accords. Opening with Coffee and Lemon, the heart revolves around Orange Blossom and Jasmine, settling into a base of Vanilla and Musk.

Is Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Eau de Toilette (2018) good for hot or humid weather?

Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Eau de Toilette (2018) was not designed for extreme heat (score: 5/10). In genuinely hot climates, reserve it for cooled indoor environments or evening wear.

Is Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Eau de Toilette (2018) for men or women?

Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Eau de Toilette (2018) is marketed as a Feminine fragrance. The composition, while marketed to women, has qualities that cross traditional boundaries — nuance and restraint rather than sweetness and convention.