YSL Opium was launched in 1978, well before my time as well, and caused a bit of a stir at that time. The hoopla was caused by the shock of a perfume being named after a drug (imagine a new scent released now being called “Meth” or “Coke”). Further sensation was caused by the juice itself which was spicy and heady (and it still is), the YSL couture collection was created to back up the scent (this is the norm now, especially for Chanel who has even in all subtlety featured a large perfume bottle in the center of a runway), and there was of course, a ton of marketing to back up the perfume including a disco party, and a launch at an actual opium den.
Belle d’Opium is to be an update of the original. Something that younger audiences can relate to. If you weren’t alive when the original Opium came out, perhaps you’ll take notice of Belle d’Opium. YSL says that this isn’t a flanker, but after smelling it, I have to say that it is. It keeps the same feel as the original Opium but updates it with a few different notes, and that’s what a flanker is.
Having worn Opium for some time which I was younger, I have to say that I do like this version better. I’m sure that it’s partly because I am the intended audience for it. The only reason that I stopped wearing Opium was that it did start to feel a little too much for me, and I thought that it was a little too mature.
But the Belle d’Opium feels like me. I think it’s because it combines 2 of my favourite kinds of notes: big white florals and incense. The drydown is quite spicy and peppery and has notes of patchouli, amber, and sandalwood. Thus, it is a long-lasting scent, and for me the top and middles notes barely lasted, and I was left with mostly patchouli and amber which is just fine with me.
