Friday 25 May 2012

Fragrance Friday: YSL Opium Vapeurs de Parfum

Yves Saint Laurent Opium is one of those fragrances I've never understood.
The original Opium
A cult 1980's classic, it's heavy and sickeningly intoxicating. I'm pretty sure I'm not alone in having sprayed it on myself in a perfume hall and spent the next 3 hours feeling queasy and wishing I hadn't. As much as I wanted to like this sophisticated perfume, the scent itself just doesnt't appeal to me in the slightest.

2009 Opium
I didn't even like the more modern take on the fragrance 'Belle de Opium' that came out a few years back. As beautiful as the packaging and ad campaign are, I found it to be rather unremarkable and still slightly sickly.
2010 Belle D'Opium

I was therefore bowled over to find that their new version of the fragrance 'Vapeurs de Parfum' is really rather wonderful. It's light, balmy and totally wearable with top notes of mandarin orange and pink pepper. It still retains a tiny hint of the original spicy amber and incense notes of the original that add sophistication, but it's just so much more likeable.
Opium Vapeurs de Parfum
The wear time is great, I find it lasts a good 5 hours on my skin. The frosted peach bottle is gorgeous and the fragrance itself makes me feel just a little sophisticated. Although I've read some negative reviews of this online from people who are angered at the original being altered to appeal to a larger market, I totally disagree. I love the fact that they've brought a classic scent into modern day, enabling it to appeal to a different generation of women.

YSL Opium Vapeurs de Parfum is available now, from £46.
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26 comments

  1. I really want to try that now!! :)

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    http://missjammyxo.blogspot.co.uk/

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  2. excited to try this! thanks for the review :) x

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  3. I love new perfumes! Might have to try this.

    thebeautymist.blogspot.co.uk

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  4. The new bottles look stunning! xo

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  5. Interested to try this out now, totally agree about the original opium-very sickening! x

    http://ally947.blogspot.com/

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  6. Really? The new one is as good as you say???
    I still remember the classic Opium, my roommate had it and wore it often. It remained in our bedroom for hours and hours!! O_o
    I like spicy perfumes but this one was too strong for my taste!
    Have a great day
    xoxo

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  7. I can't wait to spray the new one on! The original Opium is so sickening, I just can't bear it anywhere near me.
    Take care,
    xoxo

    Visit: thereviewella.blogspot.com

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  8. Ooo! I love the new bottle, I'll give it a sniff when I see it! x

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  9. Gorgeous bottle! I'll have to go out and smell it :)

    http://look-inthe-mirror.blogspot.ca

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  10. this bottle for belle d'opium is beautiful, i've never snffed any of the opium scents but i'll remeber to do that next time i'm shopping and i see it!
    http://cloudsandcuticleoil.blogspot.co.uk/
    xx

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  11. That bottle is stunning, which makes it worthy enough for a sniff next time I pass it :) Laura x

    http://secrets-de-beaut.blogspot.co.uk/

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  12. the woman at the counter told me that the three opium-scents have almost nothing to do with each other beside the name. I like both belle d'opium and the Opium vapeaur

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  13. Want to try this now!
    www.lucymylovee.blogspot.com

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  14. I like the packaging, very pretty first impression! Sounds like it's a very nice scent as well.

    Check out my blog, I'm doing a giveaway when I reach 100 followers!
    just-another-day1.blogspot.ca

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  15. I can't wait to smell this new version! My mom wore the original my entire childhood and while it is not a scent for me I am fond of the memories it brings.
    xo,
    www.abitofsass.blogspot.com

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  16. Ooh, I'll definitely give this a spritz next time I'm in John Lewis :-)

    www.katie-matey.blospot.com
    The diary entries of a 90's teen...and more!

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  17. I agree the original Opium is very hard to wear without killing everyone in the nearby surrounding with its potency. This sounds very interesting. I will have to check this out.

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  18. thanks for the recommendations, i'll be definitely tying some of them out!

    xx
    http://nm-clindoeil.blogspot.com/

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  19. The original is awful. I can remember being in the same car for 3 hours with someone wearing the original, I was ready to claw my own eyes out and felt so sick even hours later.
    xo

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  20. Personally I think the orgiinal smells different on everyone. My mam always wore it and it had a very nice strong smell that i grew up with. But a few weeks ago my mams friend had it on and it was awful, so strange! But everyone has different opinions :D

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  21. Opium to me is my grandmother is a bottle. She has worn the original since I was a baby and I wall forever associate the smell with her. I love it. Even if I don't love it on me, I love the perfume itself.

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  22. I love the Belle d'Opium version, how would you compare it with the Opium Vapeurs? Loved the ad with Emily Blunt though! x

    http://ravesndramblings.blogspot.nl/

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  23. I love new perfumes! Interested to try this out now.

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