Opium Parfum Yves Saint Laurent

For Women
Parfum
Year: 1977
Enormous
Sillage
Excellent
Longevity
Fall, Winter
Best Season
Evening, Special Occasion
Best For

Fragrance Story

Opium Parfum by Yves Saint Laurent is a Oriental fragrance for women. Opium Parfum was launched in 1977. Opium Parfum was created by Jean Amic and Jean-Louis Sieuzac. Top notes are Cloves, Pepper, Mandarin Orange, Coriander, Plum, West Indian Bay, Citruses, Jasmine and Bergamot; middle notes are Carnation, Cinnamon, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Rose, Orris Root, Peach and Lily-of-the-Valley; base notes are Myrrh, Incense, Amber, Tolu Balsam, Vanilla, Opoponax, Castoreum, Benzoin, Sandalwood, Labdanum, Cedar, Musk, Vetyver and Coconut.

Composition Profile

amber 100%
warm spicy 85%
woody 70%
balsamic 60%
aromatic 50%
powdery 40%
sweet 35%
citrus 30%
smoky 25%
fresh spicy 20%

About the Perfumer

Jean Amic

Jean Amic

Jean Amic is a perfumer best known for his work on Yves Saint Laurent's Opium, launched in 1977. He contributed to multiple versions of the fragrance, including the 2008 Collector Edition and the Parfum concentration. His legacy is tied to this iconic oriental scent.

Fragrance Notes

Top Notes

First impression · 15-30 min

Cloves Cloves
Pepper Pepper
Mandarin Orange Mandarin Orange
Coriander Coriander
Plum Plum
West Indian Bay West Indian Bay
Citruses Citruses
Jasmine Jasmine
Bergamot Bergamot

Heart Notes

Core character · 2-4 hours

Carnation Carnation
Cinnamon Cinnamon
Patchouli Patchouli
Sandalwood Sandalwood
Rose Rose
Orris Root Orris Root
Peach Peach
Lily-of-the-Valley Lily-of-the-Valley

Base Notes

Lasting impression · 4+ hours

Myrrh Myrrh
Incense Incense
Amber Amber
Tolu Balsam Tolu Balsam
Vanilla Vanilla
Opoponax Opoponax
Castoreum Castoreum
Benzoin Benzoin
Sandalwood Sandalwood
Labdanum Labdanum
Cedar Cedar
Musk Musk
Vetyver Vetyver
Coconut Coconut

Character Profile

The Mystic Archetype: Portrait of Opium Parfum Yves Saint Laurent

Essence

The Mystic archetype seeks the sacred within the profane. Opium Parfum is a fragrance of deep contemplation and spiritual intensity, where incense and spices evoke ancient temples and hidden rituals. The wearer is a seeker of hidden truths, someone who finds the divine in the darkness. This scent is a prayer in liquid form, a bridge between the earthly and the transcendent. It is for those who walk the path of inner discovery.

Style & Aesthetic

The Mystic's style is ethereal and timeless. They favor flowing fabrics, earthy tones, and layers that suggest depth. Their aesthetic is influenced by the spiritual traditions of the East and the West, blending symbols and textures from both. They wear amulets and stones, each with meaning. Their appearance is an expression of their inner journey, a visual mantra.

Philosophy & Values

Transcendence and inner truth are the Mystic's guiding lights. They believe that the material world is a veil, and that true reality lies beyond. They value silence, meditation, and the wisdom of the ages. Their philosophy is one of surrender and acceptance, of finding peace in the midst of chaos. They seek to dissolve the ego, to merge with the infinite.

Relationships

The Mystic's relationships are soulful and deep. They are drawn to kindred spirits, those who also seek the unseen. Romantic connections are spiritual unions, often marked by a sense of destiny. They are loyal but require solitude for their practices. Friends are fellow travelers on the path, sharing in the search for meaning. They offer wisdom and compassion, but rarely judgment.

Lifestyle

The Mystic's life is a practice. They rise before dawn to meditate, spend time in nature, and study sacred texts. Their home is a sanctuary of incense, altars, and quiet corners. They are drawn to retreats, pilgrimages, and solitary walks. Their daily rituals are acts of devotion, from the way they prepare tea to the way they greet the moon. They live simply, but richly.

Shadow

The shadow of the Mystic is detachment. Their focus on the transcendent can lead to neglect of the material world, including relationships and responsibilities. They may become lost in abstraction, using spirituality as an escape. The fragrance's enormous sillage can be a paradox-a call to presence that also overwhelms. They must remember that the sacred is found in the ordinary, not just in the extraordinary.

Conclusion

Opium Parfum is the scent of the Mystic in deep communion-a fragrance that invites the wearer to explore the inner landscape and find the divine within. It is a reminder that the most profound mysteries are not found in distant temples, but in the quiet spaces of the heart. To wear it is to embark on a journey of the soul, guided by the light of ancient wisdom.