Belle d'Opium

I like how many reviews state that this is nothing close to the original opium (which was far to heavy and just smelled bad to me) I absolutely ADORE this perfume! I was lucky enough to score a small bottle on sale a few years back. If I could afford it, it would be my night time signature scent, this is how much I love Belle. Exotic white lilies mixed with a delicious smokiness...this is one sizzling scent! Best for nights out on the town or in bed with your lover, hehe. In my dream world I would wear Chanel Mademoiselle during the day and Belle d'Opium at night. EDIT: I am one lucky lady. After wanting this scent back for so long, I was happily surprised when my fiancee got me a bottle for my birthday this month. If only I knew...I had, quite literally the day before, bought a huge 90ML EDP Tester on ebay! Luckily I was able to get a refund. Ahh, so I finally have Belle on my wrists once more! I am getting the lovely white pepper and sandalwood mixed with lilies, gardenia and jasmine, I always notice jasmine quite a lot with this scent, which I adore! I feel like Princess Jasmine about to be swept off a magic carpet...or at least like I have a night of music and dancing ahead of me. EDIT No. 2: I will also briefly add here that on reading paperbackheads review on their bottle being weaker and not having the full glorious incense cloud effect, with my 90ML EDP Tester bought on ebay new but the box came unsealed (it was sold as new with damaged box). I did get it at a discount only paying around £30-£35 but when I sprayed it once although it still had the florals but no incense and very light sillage and weak lasting power :( Luckily my fiancee splurged and got me a smaller 50 ML bottle that cost more but was sealed in box and I was able to compare the 2....the smaller sealed in box Belle was the gorgeous, incense filled, lush floral powerhouse perfume that lasted for hours, just as I remembered!! I am breathing a huge sigh of relief that this hasn't been reformulated, or at least not since I first experienced and fell in love with it when I first moved to London. What I conclude is my huge tester and probably paperbackhead's bottles were in all likelihood fake :/ for all those purchasing this frag, I would definatelly recommend buying it in a sealed box, either in-store or from a reputable online seller. And if it smells weak or watered-down, definitely get a refund! Otherwise with a legit bottle, this perfume is a masterpiece and remains one the favorites in my collection. Sometimes, its so bold as to be a bit intimidating. I tend to go for the fruitier gourmands for daytime, and without the right confidence this frag can "wear you" (at least for me.) But that's kinda what I love about Belle....I'm always dressed up, makeup on, smile and social ready when I reach for her. She would tolerate nothing less.

My 2nd review on Belle, just because...my first was getting quite long *whistles innocently* Thought I would add a note about the longevity of this perfume, on me I can smell this for 8 hours, maybe a bit more when it dries down to a skin scent. After you apply, there's a lovely fragrance cloud around you for 2 1/2 hours at least. Now that's the length of time for a most celeb perfumes (and "name" EDT's) to go through their stages and disappear completely! (I WISH I was being sarcastic here. Beyonce Heat Wild Orchid and Guess, I'm looking at you.) Another tip I wanted to add is how amazing this smells layered with Fame by Lady Gaga. (Please don't prejudge. I was shocked too.) Today I sprayed my wrists and neck with Belle D'Opium and headed out. I spotted a tester of Fame at a shop. I had been thinking about layering these two when I happened to notice the similar notes on here, so I sprayed a tester of Fame over Belle. As I suspected, these two smell ah-mazing together! Think the amazing creamy white florals of Belle (Jasmine, Gardenia, Lily) mixed with the Belladonna and Orchid of Fame. The best parts are the incense/smoke notes of Belle are of a higher quality to Fame, so really enhance the smoky aspect of Fame while that amazing Honey glazed Apricot of Fame is just pure olfactory enjoyment when added to Belle. As soon as I saw the notes of Fame on here and that it had a smokey incense element like Belle and shared some of the same notes, I was dying to try layering them and really glad they smelled as good together as I imagined! Fame smells stronger, Belle sweeter and smoother. I would have bought the gift set then and there, but apparently this one is not included in the £10 sale, and is £20, and I don't want to spend more than £10. So jealous of the reviewer who with the gift set costing £1.74, lucky duck! So many scents to explore, so little money. #purfumistaproblems. Tehee.

A 30ml bottle of this was listed on a local sale site for $10...it had been sprayed a few times and the lady selling it couldn't stand the smell, so after reading the very mixed reviews here, I decided to part with the 10 bucks for it. Even if I hated this, the bottle is beautiful and it still would of been a bargain. When I sprayed this on myself this afternoon...all I smelt was La Petite Robe Noire by Guerlain (one of my all time favourites). I knew this wasn't right and actually posted in the forums about it as I was absolutely puzzled as the *only* note they have in common is Patchouli!!! However...I sprayed it again tonight (it's much, much colder now, it was humid/warm this afternoon) and there is NO resemblance to La Petite Robe Noire at all other than the spicy notes. This fragrance is CLASS in a bottle. It's peppery, Amber-ish, incense-ish and very smokey...I can see why people said it reminds them of hookahs!! After a while, the Sandalwood note starts to come into play and it mixes into a creamy, delicious, oriental, mysterious scent. I have no idea whether the longevity is good or not as I haven't had it long enough but hey, at 10 bucks, who cares?! I'll be happy to reapply! This is gorgeous. I'm about to change my "like" into "love" for this. Beautiful bottle, beautiful scent, and perfect for cold Winter nights like this. YSL, as usual, haven't failed to impress. P.S. I've only ever smelled Opium a couple of times throughout my life - and from what I can recall I really liked it...but I have no idea whether this even remotely resembles Opium or not...nor do I care. Belle D'Opium seems to fit my age (30) and personality perfectly :)

By now, everything else has been said about Belle d'Opium. The smoke, the fruity notes, narcotic flowers - it's all in these perfectly detailed comments below. What I, myself, must share is this overwhelming nostalgia that just rushed over me. In the evening two spritzes of Belle, one in each wrist, and then. Then. Memories so vivid they hurt. It was winter, there was snow, evenings were dark, just dark. I had nightmares of forests I couldn't find my way out of - frequently. Cold, but there was a bonfire burning somewhere close by... if only I could get there. It was a dark phase in my life, not a period. I found my light soon enough, but for a while there I had no idea which way to go. But wearing Belle, I felt safe. Like I might have been in the dark, but would eventually be okay. I was strong and I had a purpose even if I couldn't quite grasp it yet. I was on the verge of finding out something great, nonetheless. I was a different person then, and now is now, but I do remember that time well. Wearing Belle now, I am overwhelmed both by the power of the perfume and the power of memories of a time that wasn't good but still makes a great memory. Because I was strong and I had a purpose and sometimes that is more meaningful than all encompassing happiness. Nostalgic and poetic, strong and powerful (the final form of beauty), above all else purposeful, that is Belle. And always way ahead of its time, offering you a glimpse into this... greater truth, whatever may that be for you.

This is beautiful! I initially tried it in winter and had a few sneezing fits. Have been trying it again now in summer, seems like totally the wrong time for this type of scent, but the sneezing fits are gone. So happy about that!! After the initial alcohol blast, the perfume moves quickly to an intense incence and pepper smell, followed by what seems to me to be almost over ripe fruit and later tobacco. They seem to follow quite closely on my skin. The over ripe fruit is only for a short while, by the time the tobacco / hookah notes arrive the fruit is ripe and juicy with the peach being most discernable and the incense and pepper are all well balanced. The sandalwood, amber and patchouli only become noticeable after the incense softens a bit about an hour later. These notes then seem to dance back and forth playing cat and mouse on my arm. All in all I think it is a beautifully warm fruiy spicy perfume with the florals far in the background. I get a metallic note sometimes, which I really don't enjoy, it's not every time and often only after an hour or 2 but it hangs around till the end. I suspect it may relate to something in a body lotion. I find the longevity to be good, with the incense still being noticeable by the next shower. Silage is not overpowering. Another plus is that my husband loves it on me so I am seriously considering getting a backup bottle. Oh and I love the flacon too!

I was unknowingly wise to buy a 90 ml of this supreme beauty 10 years ago, I am still saving like 8 ml on the bottle. Ok I’ll start from the bottle: A violet with lilttle red presence peacock feather as a symbol: right away reminds me Goddess Hera, feminine powerhouse, much sultry and enchanting, a bit oriental. The bottle screams balance just like the fragrance; spiritual, deep, intense violet with passionate, strong presence, sensual red. I love love love it! Aaaand the fragrance: first of all, why in this world they discontinued it? I have the theory that they realized they had created violet gold and was a magic potion too wonderful for the mainstream consumption! At least this is with what I console myself nowadays! On my skin, which does accept only the classic Opium, layered sometimes with Eternity Moment (yes, they dance wonderfully together) and Femme from Hugo Boss... Belle D’Opium is seductive, intriguing and sensual. One man once said: wow what are you doing with this perfume, I feel drunk. Yes, this one made me also feel drunk in very sexy out of this world love. It was a Goddess perfume! Stayed long, and layered itself consistently until it merged with my natural skin smell. *Perfumes depend on your skin, which depends on your blood type, archetype in combination with your overall character. If someone has some of it, please tell me!

You know when you have this fragrance you want to try and just by reading the notes you think it might suit you (and you wish very hard)? It finally happened with Yves Saint Laurent Belle d`Opium. My mom used to wear Yves Saint Laurent Opium in the 80's. It was suiting her very well and it was her favorite. My husband always liked the old version too and wanted me to try it. But, the problem is that there is this note in Opium that I cannot stand. I am really into Oriental Spicy but in Opium, mmmmhhh... I don't know. I think it might be the patchouli (too much of it), or the mix of so many notes (I am not into vintage perfumes just because of the annoying amount of numerous notes in all of them) or the lily-of-the-valley (a note I cannot stand). But, I wanted to try and love Belle d'Opium. I was at Sephora and when I saw it, I sprayed it. It was love at first sniff, passion at the second one and my husband was also thrilled by the smell of it. It has not that much in common with the original Opium except at the end when some of the notes jump out and remind you of the original. It opens with a floral-spicy note and it just gets better and richer and spicier and warmer. The lasting power is unfortunately not that great. End of the story: I am the happy owner of a beautiful bottle of Belle d'Opium!

I love this perfume!! In fact it will be my next acquisition. I tried this one and manufesto (by ysl) at the same time and compared both throughout the day. While I liked Manifesto a LOT, i found it a bit flat. it doesn't change much throughout compared to Belle. I have never tried the original Opium, so i can't compare this one to it (which I see as an advantge, so i don't let myself be fooled by the name "opium" in "belle d'opium") And I got to say that I loved it! It's so elegant, and smokey. It's rather dark but floral and sparkly at the same time. And that is a combination that I love. It smells very different from the perfumes that I have and from the perfumes that women usually wear here (I live in Argentina). So I find it quite original (as opposed to what some people have stated here). True, it doesn't have a greeat longevity but it is not bad either (on me at least). I really want this one! Can't wait to get it! EDIT 07.06.13 : I finally got it! I sooo love it. On me, it lasts 6 hours. The sillage is incredible on me. After 5 hours people tell me they keep smelling it the moment they walk into the room. I feel so lucky! =) The notes on me are the same as I smelled on the tester: sandalwood, tobacco (which smells great), gardenia, incense and pepper.

Don’t buy it, they said. It has a poor longevity, they said. This is exactly what I thought too after the first couple of times I tried it. One hour, one and a half if I was lucky - is all I could get out of Belle. I appreciated this more domesticated version of Opium, and they do have the same incense vibe to them (I must admit that being a lucky owner of the VERY first version of the original Opium I am a sinful heretic that manages to dislike it, while Belle was much more likeable for me). Yesterday I was to a picnic in the park and I could smell a gorgeous fragrance coming from someone. So gorgeous that I had to interrogate two women who were standing close by. One was wearing Wonderstruck by Taylor Swift and the other one Lovely by SJP - and I knew it wasn’t them as neither are sophisticated enough to be that fragrance. Later on in the car I realised I could still smell it, so I went to smell my wrist in disbelief... and there it was! Belle (that I applied the day before to wear for dinner) has totally upstaged Amor Amor by Cacharel that I applied in the morning (and could no longer smell, although it’s one of the most long-lasting fragrances), and was shining like it never shone before. As for me, I was hopelessly in love.

That Sunday evening I was in a certain Christmas mood -the cold, the dark, the city lights, the starry skies over me. I wanted a gift -just for myself, something special. I entered Douglas and there were many perfumes on sale. I've tried the regular opium and didn't like it, so I was a bit reserved when I saw this on the shelf "Sale". The light shining through the bottle, the mood, all that luxury in the air made me take it and try right on my skin. And there is was -the magic I was looking for. Intoxicating, oriental mysterious and changing all the time. I bought it, of course. The opening -thick white flower aroma with some pepper an a drop of honey caressing the mild, white petals, then it settles down and becomes sort of delicious because of the mild fruit notes. And then the dry down... Just makes me addict. Sensual, seducing, head turning and temptingly inviting. Overall this scent is sophisticated, spicy, warm and warming, thick and just a bit sweet. It is essential to use it carefully, otherwise this can make you feel a bit sick. One spray fills my room and my apartment as well. I guess it's better in the cold autumn or in the winter. Scent of an adult, elegant and sensual woman.

Just bought this from my local perfume shop that known for its vintage perfume collections. I have Opium EDT 2009 version and Opium Vapeurs de Parfum in my collection, so when I saw Belle D'Opium being forgotten and placed on the back of the shelf, I immediately bought it. It is a beautiful fruity-patchouli combo, but somehow it reminds me of Katy Perry Killer Queen due to some similar ingredients. They both have fruity notes, jasmine and patchouli. I know some people would say it's not similar, but for me personally, it smells really similar. At least on my body chemistry. I tested them on my wrists, and they smell pretty similar. The only difference between the two is Belle D'Opium turns into a sheer smoky incense scent, while Killer Queen turns into a praline-y scent. On the contrary, I also tested Belle D'Opium on my clothes and it smells different. The tobacco is more noticeable along with the spiciness before turning into amber-y scent. I hope the spicy tobacco phase would last longer. Do I love the scent though? Absolutely. I've been through fruity-patchouli combo perfumes, and I love them all. So sad that YSL choose to discontinue this beautiful creation.

This was one of my favourites from the early 2010s. Vampish, opulent and intoxicating, yet reserved. Ultra-femme yet with a knowingly masculine undercurrent. It could be bold and strong on one person, and mysterious and aloof on another. Expertly blended, it's a harmony of lush white florals (the lily and gardenia notes are almost a hybrid, rather than distinct from one another), ripe, nectarous fruits (I get a plum-berry accord that's difficult to discern), enveloped by a silken sandalwood. Imagine, if you can, these notes as if burned as an incense stick and then that scent bottled and given the "French perfumery treatment." Lasting power is excellent and smells incredible on clothes; a scarf, for example, as it's an autumn-winter evening scent through and through. And a very classy one at that. For me, it's a classic "little black dress" date night scent. However, I think a lot of men could pull this off very well, too - especially now that women's fragrance is focused very much on desserts and sugar (I must admit, I miss the days when perfume smelled like perfume). I sorely wish YSL had not discontinued this one.

I didn't like this when I first tried it about 9 years ago. However I had brief love affair with the Body Shop Red Musk (several bottles used on a daily basis until it was abruptly discontinued) and I came to realise I love spicy tobacco scents. This scent is equal parts spicy oriental, smoky and sweet it's actually too sweet for me but it's balanced out in the base with earth tobacco patchouli notes. To me it's like equal parts EL Sensuous Noir, YSL Cinema and Red Musk with a touch of Armani code and Hot Couture rolled into one. Shame it's so expensive and discontinued it's a lovely daytime femme fatale scent. Nothing like Opium which I love but the bottle is gorgeous. I can't understand why they would discontinue this classy beauty for the awful sickly sweet Black Opium. Sad but I will treasure my last 80ml of my 90ml edp. Men love this one. It's sweet tobacco (but not candy sweet), smells like an extinguished candle with some honey layered over church lillies and some resinous incense. It's quite exquisite. It's like the CSNY song Cathedral in a perfume.

Why O Why Was This Absolute Gem Ever Discontinued? A Total Disgrace That Yet Again Such A Beautiful Perfume Should Be Treated In This Way!! First It Was Elle & Now It's Belle D Opium,What Or Who Next!! Elle Was One Of My All Time Favourits & I Was Torally Devastated When I Learnt It Was Being Discontinued!! Don't Loose Heart The YSL SA On The In Store Counter Said,There's A Really Beautiful New Opium Arriving Real Soon!! Because I Know Her Very Well She Gave Me Four Samoles Of It To Try Out,& Im Glad To Say That Indeed I Really Did Like It & Got Loads Of Compliments When I Was Wearing It!! & Then Bang It's Gone!! I Honestly Think That YSL Are Following In Christian Diors Footsteps,Once There Was The Gorgeous Midnight Posion & Now There's None!! Absolutely Disgraceful What These Perfume House's are allowed To Get Away With!! They Certainly DON'T Deserve Loyal Brand customer's!! I Honestly Think It's ALL Up To Us To Voice An Opion When It Comes To These KindA Thing's!! After All These Company's Are All Pretty Good At Grabbing Our Hard Earned Money!!

I did my first review years ago, when I first blind bought it at 28. I still keep half the bottle because I absolutely loved it but I didn't think it was for me. It's a UNIQUE perfume, it smells like no other I've ever smelled before. To me it's a blend of incense, gardenia and casablanca lily. Yesterday, at 34, I was showing my collection of perfumes to my bf and he loved this one, which came as a surprise because I thought he would brush it off as "old person's perfume" (because it does smell mature imo). But there's the beauty of it, it's mature, opulent, well-rounded, but not " old smelling". My bottle has settled after years now and the scent became richer. In my mind, I picture a woman shaman wearing it (probably due to the incense note); a mystical, feminine, mysterious woman. I don't think this is a perfume for the masses, as not everyone would be able to appreciate it. It's not fruity, not "girly", not popular: it's premium, unique, sensual and memorable. I'm glad I never got rid of the bottle.

This is my favourite perfume of all time; discontinued much too soon! I have grown a stupidly and unnecessarily large perfume collection as a result of trying to find anything similar that is also still on the market or something that is as intoxicating, sensual and playful that I like equally. No luck. Warm spicy flowers on a bed of sweet deep vanillary smoke. *sigh*. I wore this when I was 21 and never thought of it as mature, though I wasn't - and still am not - super girly, innocent or ultra-feminine, and so I only found it irresistibly sexy and loved it that way. It lasted all evening, all night and into the morning on me. It was a perfect day-to-night scent with the dry down being the most sultry and delicious. Beats any niche perfume today. Clearly, I am in love with this creation and still upset about its discontinuation almost 10 years later. So I'm here looking up favourite perfumes of other disappointed super-fans of this masterpiece to try to end this endless search for a replacement 😢

Belle d'Opium Revisited. Tested is today, years after my first review. This feels much better nowdays. It is probably very suitable for autumn, mild temperatures and high humidity. I managed to get so many notes that my original "all-about-gardenia" impression had ignored. Yes, the *Casablanca lily*, a beloved yet so elusive note, missing it since the Donna Karan signature perfume, is there. And then the incense twist. And even a waxy accord (?), is it the patchouli? And later yes, some peach(!). All melting down to a *dusty* oriental. So it is somehow floral and colorful but it turns quickly into a *dry* "chypre-style" scent, even though you don't have the basic chypre notes. For instance, it resembles Panthere by Cartier after a while. I am so impressed. Yes this is a true sequel in the true Opium tradition. And it does become a skinscent. Oh, yes.

Belle D'Opium has been my favorite flanker so far. This oriental opens in an amalgam of opulent, sweet and intoxicating flowers (Casablanca lily, gardenias and jasmine) but the sweetness is offset by the bitterness of mandarin orange lightly sprinkled with spices (white pepper) wrapped in a halo of pipe tobacco very realistic, (Nargileh chord) somewhat herbaceous, warm; slightly sweet and woody with soft nuances of leather and honey, wonderfully mixed with incense smoke. There is a fruit and peach accord in the composition that gives body and sustenance to the fragrance, and then little by little melts into a background of always incensed soft woods. Creamy sandalwood and patchouli give an almost chypre connotation in this beautiful oriental. Ending in warm amber accords sweetened with vanilla. BELLE is elegant and very sophisticated.

Wow. I mean. Just. WOW. Holy cow. Belle d'Opium had been on my radar for some time solely based on the notes and reviews here. And then finally I found a big 90ml (barely used) bottle online that some older lady was selling. The package arrived and I was filled with a crazy joy after opening and spraying; This was so perfect! I couldn't believe my luck, the best blind buy ever! I personally feel like I'm too young for rocking original legendary Opium. This Belle d'Opium is sweet and deep, I love how it's fruity but with sexy smoky&spicy notes that I can't get enough of. And compared to today's perfume market this actually feels quite unique. Please grab a bottle if you can find it, GORGEOUS! This is the kind of full-bodied evening scent I have been looking for<3

I wasn't sure what to expect from this, because my experience with Opium was basically that I sprayed it on and twenty minutes later it had become so horrendous I had to scrub it off. Twice. This starts off with a huge splash of gardenia and lily, both terrible flowers on me. Oof. Luckily they fade quickly into a peach/smoke/jasmine mix that's really interesting. I've never worn anything with a smoke note before, and I expected to hate it, but the juiciness of the peach is keeping it balanced. As it dries down I get more of the pepperiness and the sandalwood, which only serves to make the peach more juicy. I don't think this is a love for me, but I definitely like it and if I ever saw a bottle somewhere I think I'd buy it. Too bad it's discontinued!