Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Extreme Eau de Parfum Extreme 50ml, (Pack of 1)

Product Information

NO, You certainly cannot be wearing such a bold, powerful statement scent to work, you will chase people away.

Unfortunately this fragrance is three things I dislike in one, all which are detectable: bitter/spicy, powdery and patchouli. While I consider this to be very sexy because makes me picture going for a nightcap after a date that is going so well that you don’t want it to end, I could easily picture this as a daytime scent, too. This makes them hard to review for someone like me who loves the original: They all smell pretty good, but they're not very creative and it's unnecessary to own several of them. I lightly tested this the day I got it and the scent lingered as a skin scent of vanilla and patchouli for hours after, so I was very impressed. I think I like this one better :) On my skin, the coffee and bourbon vanilla notes are most noticeable.i love patchouli when its clean or earthy, i only have a tester card here so cant say what a skin test will be like. There is still a slightly bitter note from the coffee and cacao, but everything blends nicely and helps keep this from becoming cloying.

My favorite of the Black Opium Flankers will always be the Floral Shock one (which unfortunately has been discontinued) but this comes in right behind it. Whether I like these fragrances or not, what they all have in common is a strong identity I can't seem to find in BO. To me the extreme version smells like a bar of dark chocolate with chili, warming, slightly bitter, dry and quite festive.

This flanker opens with a not too strong cacao, but it is prominent enough to be noticeable and make a difference. This is absolutely an autumnal or winter and more of a night-time perfume, I think I would suffocate my coworkers if I wore this to the office in the middle of a hot, humid July hahaha. So the predominant scent that remains on the skin is coffee beans with vanilla, while in the original it’s vanilla and notes like pear, raspberry, almond etc - at least on my skin. I let it settle and low and behold as it warmed on my skin over a few hours it did indeed become more impactful and intense.

Overall, I love this and already have it on my “next to purchase full bottle” list (unless I try and find something better before then). If the data is transferred to the US, there is a risk that your data can be processed by US authorities, for control and surveillance measures, possibly without legal remedies. I don't know why I get a huge load of a juicy pear note in the beginning, but I do, and it isn't even listed in the notes. Finally the intense and energetic base lifts through with a sensually creamy vanilla accord entwined with tonka bean.Though always grateful for a flanker that bears some resemblance to the original, I was quite surprised by how extremely similar this was to Black Opium. Great alternative to the original Black Opium if you're into chocolate and looking for something deeper. The Jasmine starts to shine through and it dries down into pure pleasure, not for the faint hearted.