Black or green coffee notes? (tell us & win YSL) One of the big fragrance successes of the past two years has been YSL’s Black Opium fragrance. It was an instant sensation in France when it debuted landing at the number one position at launch. This success quickly spread throughout Europe and now North American fragrance enthusiasts are discovering the unique scent. It is the first floral coffee scent with a high percentage of coffee bean notes. The original eau de parfum was the creation of no less than four master perfumers. Nathalie Lorson, Marie Salamagne, Olivier Cresp and Honorine Blanc. (Fragrance houses will often use more than one perfumer to create a scent because each has his or her own specialty and mastery over certain notes)
YSL Black Opium eau de parfum
The original Black Opium launched in an eau de parfum version with notes of black coffee beans, pink pepper, orange blossom, jasmine, vanilla, patchouli and cedar. It was meant to have a dark, mysterious mood but I find the coffee notes give it a comforting and uplifting feeling.
YSL Black Opium eau de toilette
In August 2015, YSL unveiled a new interpretion of Black Opium in an eau de toilette version. The new version arrived in the same flacon shape as the original but this time featured green coffee bean notes for a brighter effect. The perfumers used fresher, greener shades of flowers, tea and fruit for an energizing feel. The notes in the eau de toilette include: black currant, pear zest, citrus, green mandarin bark, green coffee beans, jasmine tea, sweet orange blossom, white musk, and white woods.
Edie Campbell
The face of both scents is British model Edie Campbell. She has also appeared in YSL Beaute makeup collection ads.
The Giveaway: I gave away both scents to one lucky reader. Brenda S from Canada told us her favourite. We drew her name at random from all the entries. Congrats Brenda!
747 Comments
Kimberly
December 30, 2015 at 1:41 pmBoth sound very intriguing, but I’d say the YSL Black Opium eau de toilette with the green Coffee notes is most appealing. ☕
@kstar0330_
Brenda Stygall
December 30, 2015 at 1:41 pmBlack coffee! I love, love, love the original Opium! Would love to try! @BStygall
ROULA
December 30, 2015 at 1:41 pmlove black Opium!!!!
rloukk@gmail.com
Wendy
December 30, 2015 at 1:36 pmLove both but black coffee sounds more intriguing. @weeendiful
Eileen Ong
December 30, 2015 at 1:28 pmGreen coffee
sporterapn@gmail.com
December 30, 2015 at 1:27 pmBLack.
Amy
December 30, 2015 at 1:26 pmgreen coffee sounds intriguing
@amyslayer
Anna Y
December 30, 2015 at 1:24 pmBlack coffee! @ainacakes
bn100
December 30, 2015 at 1:22 pmeau de toilette
diane
December 30, 2015 at 1:21 pmi would love too try this in winning this bottle of perfum….
Denisa Ivascu
December 30, 2015 at 1:19 pmblack coffee @Denisa4d
Nicole Anderson
December 30, 2015 at 1:11 pmI’ve tried the black and I love it, but the notes in the green sound amazing, I’m a coffee nut so I would love to try the green
@mythreehgb
Jennifer Phillips
December 30, 2015 at 1:11 pmI would have to say the green beans because it also has jasmine tea in it and I love jasmine!!! I love the original too though and always have, so it is a very hard choice, I do like patchouli in moderation and the original has that in it so I think the original would be great for going out at night and the new with green coffee and jasmine is wonderful for days and casual outings!! I need them both!!! @jenni104
eleni ioannidou
December 30, 2015 at 1:10 pmΗi Dave,i like black opium.Happy New year,@lenaki321(twitter)
Sunitha
December 30, 2015 at 1:05 pmI love YSL Black Opium eau de parfum 🙂 !!!! Twitter – @brightsunshin18
sheetal
December 30, 2015 at 1:03 pmI like black coffee so black one
Karen Ali
December 30, 2015 at 1:03 pmHi Dave! Black opium for sure!
@KarenAli11
Bashayer
December 30, 2015 at 1:03 pmBlack coffee note is moody, I’ll go for it!
@Bashayerbebita xo
Alexandra
December 30, 2015 at 1:02 pmI love Black Opium !! ?
sassy
December 30, 2015 at 1:02 pmGreen coffee notes for me
@sassypout
Anastasia K.
December 30, 2015 at 12:59 pmgreen!
Dar
December 30, 2015 at 12:59 pmThe green coffee sounds more interesting to me! @informaltravelr
SweetPanda
December 30, 2015 at 12:59 pmI like Black Coffee
Shelley N
December 30, 2015 at 12:58 pmI tend to like a lighter fragrance so probably YSL Black Opium eau de toilette would be the most appealing. @Shellbran3 I have however never tried either or even smelt them in the bottle. will have to get to a store and see I guess.
Annette
December 30, 2015 at 12:51 pmBlack coffee sounds appealing to me.