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
Kris
January 4, 2016 at 10:01 pmBlack coffee beans
Sandra Tillman
January 4, 2016 at 8:54 pmI prefer the Original Black Opium!
Janet Ferro
January 4, 2016 at 8:31 pmI would love the original YSL Black Opium eau de parfum-it may be more mature but it is still fantastic! @fawngreyhound
Jennifer Donohue
January 4, 2016 at 5:44 pmThe original black coffee! @Skippy_02
Julie
January 4, 2016 at 5:33 pmI think the original Black Opium appeals to me just a bit more.
Corissa
January 4, 2016 at 5:11 pmThe black coffee bean.
@cmcoopee
Terri
January 4, 2016 at 4:48 pmYSL Black Opium eau de parfum @tigerlily636
Corinne Magdelon
January 4, 2016 at 4:19 pmJe suis absolument seduite par YSL Opium Noir eau de parfum !! Magnifique
Corinne
Twitter : @magdeloncorinne
Tyneisha
January 4, 2016 at 3:08 pmThe newer version with the green coffee bean notes sounds most appealing to me! @luvmyhubz
Vaso F
January 4, 2016 at 2:20 pmI prefer the eau de parfume version!
Richard
January 4, 2016 at 12:15 pmgreen coffee notes
Dreena
January 4, 2016 at 9:48 amBlack Coffee notes appeal to me more!
This scent is amazing. I have a sample of it.
Cheers. @Alexandrina_M
Chantal Hercules
January 4, 2016 at 9:44 amGreen coffee notes @HerculesChantal 🙂
Lara Grum
January 4, 2016 at 8:28 amYSL Black Opium eau de toilette !
@Lara_Grum
VASILIKI KLAPAKI
January 4, 2016 at 5:18 amThe YSL Black Opium eau de toilette version !!!
Twitter : @vasiliki2kl
Dimitris
January 4, 2016 at 4:47 amBlack Coffee
@DimitrisZafe
Chaitali Das
January 4, 2016 at 4:33 amBlack coffee is the one I like @pimniindia
Alex Hoe
January 4, 2016 at 4:12 amThe Original black Opium
@alexanderhoe
Riekie Bos
January 4, 2016 at 4:10 ami prefer the one with black coffee!
XOXO
@RiekieBos from the Netherlands
Eleftheria Val
January 4, 2016 at 3:51 amI prefer the one with black coffee!!
Twitter name: @BarbaraWalecki
Lorraine Squires
January 4, 2016 at 3:03 amI would prefer the eau de toilette. @squirescave
Patsy
January 3, 2016 at 10:59 pmI haven’t tried either yet,but I think I’d prefer the green :).Thanks!
Linda Meyers-Gabbard
January 3, 2016 at 10:55 pmThe original Black Opium
eevon khoo
January 3, 2016 at 10:28 pmI think i’d love the one with green coffee bean notes for a fresher feel
Twitter: @eevongelic
Raven Staley
January 3, 2016 at 8:25 pmLove the original! It’s very dark and romantic.
@blackedraven