Black Opium Floral Shock

Black Opium Floral Shock is a paradoxical masterpiece. She's delicate, but empowered. Strong, but understated. Undeniably feminine, yet immensely tough. This fragrance is an opinionated, career-oriented, independent woman who is passionate and sexy, with a soft heart and a boundless capacity for kindness even if she sometimes presents a cold exterior. Floral Shock bears with it a lightness that I feel the original Black Opium lacked. Its beauty lies in its versatility - I cannot imagine a situation where this flanker would not be well-received; in the office on a summer's day, at an autumnal wedding, or a jazz club in the winter. A picnic in the park on a crisp spring afternoon. She's sophisticated without ever being pretentious, and youthful without being juvenile. She's an iced, black coffee - a cold brew sipped through a metal straw, surrounded by a blooming bouquet of white flowers, striding past a stand of candied pears and boozy vanilla syrup. She's an espresso martini on a Friday night, after an indulgent after-work treat at a local gelato joint. Black Opium Floral Shock was probably my first venture into the world of "big girl" perfumes. As a poor university student with a minimum-wage, part-time job, treating myself to a bottle of designer perfume felt like a big step - one I've never looked back from. That was years ago. To this day, this beautiful perfume remains in my top three, where I believe it will reside until something undeniably phenomenal comes along to contest it. I've repurchased multiple times (amidst rumours of this potentially being discontinued, I purchased multiple back-ups) and will be devastated if it ceases to exist. It's almost a part of my persona at this stage, and, even if my scent wardrobe as grown significantly since, so many of my nearest and dearest associate it with me. And that alone feels pretty dang special.

Been wearing this beauty now for three day's in a row (morning to night) & giving it a really good try out!! & O my goodness, I really do like/love it!! & Yes it's A Floral Shock when you first spray it on your skin!! I Have been asked now seven times by family/friends & two complete strangers what I was wearing which does make you feel very good & special!! & today while visiting my Mum & leaning over to give her her usual kiss,& she asked mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm what's that gorgeous smell your wearing today,as it's a really lovely smell!! Mother's never lie!! I deffo find this softer & more greener/fresher than the Original Black Opium,& this one has a twist of beautiful light white fluffy flowers & yet it's not over powering or over bearing with them being present!! I can deffo understand someone saying Iced Coffee type smell/aroma to this one,& let me add the word aromatic in it's structure!! "Black Opium - Fresh Ground Creamy Coffee" "Black Opium Night Blanche - Slightly more sweeter/softer/lighter/Pink Pepper & more milkier" "Black Opium Floral Shock - Iced Coffee/Greener-Fresher/Lemon/Lime Blossom/Aromatic/Soft White Floral/Velvety/Classy-Refined/& Wears Beautifully on your skin"!! So there's definitely a Black Opium for everyone!! The three New Black Opium Sister's!! I Still don't understand why that YSL decided to discontinue "Belle d Opium" (Beautiful Opium) as I honestly thought it was absolutely stunning & really did compliment the Original Opium (Warm & Spicy Yet Classy) & it would have fitted in with the New Black Opium Sister's also!! Even it's bottle was absolutely stunning!! I would have said that "Belle d Opium" was the Oriental Sister in the Opium line up!! Think of the James Bond Movie "Skyfall" where Bond is seen on a small boat going into a Gambling Den etc!!

For some reason I still haven't purchased a bottle of Black Opium. I've used up many little sample bottles of it, and I adore it. I meant to buy Black Opium, finally, after wanting it for a couple of years now, but I accidentally purchased Black Opium Floral Shock. It's a happy mistake, because this is a terrific fragrance for the incoming summer heat! Floral Shock is what I think of as Summer Black Opium. It's quite a bit lighter and less sweet the original. Black Opium Floral Shock is not what I would have named this, because it's more "fresh" than "floral". There are floral notes, but they aren't showcased, (on my skin anyways). The first impression my nose detects is an ozoney scent that reminds me of beach air and sand...NOT sunscreen in the least. It's an elemental aroma, that connotes the aura of summertime. When I concentrate after this "aura", lemon is the only concrete note I can identify. Overall, I smell Black Opium; light-lemon Black Opium. It's irresistible. The downside to Floral Shock is the lasting power, and the overall effect of the fragrance is way more subtle than Black Opium (which is rather subtle to begin with). I spray a lot of my Floral Shock, while crossing my fingers that my perception of its daintiness is not the result of an ingredient to which I am anosmatic. If this is the case, I may be asphyxiating every living thing in my neighborhood. Undeniably, Floral Shock is an offspring of the beautiful Black Opium, so if you love Black Opium, you're going to love this. Something about it reminds me of Cinema.

Where shall I start with this little black beauty? Yes,I tried original black opium,and yes I wore it and wore it to try and fall in love with it,but alas,I could not. However on first use of using floral shock I instantly loved it, and i was surprise. Then it dawned on me,this fragrance has no vanilla,where as the original has vanilla,and on me it was just way too cloying within vanilla! On first applying this I get the pear and citrus,with the freesia,wow it is quite shocking I can see why it is called shock! Then I get the coffee note with the gardenia,in the heart,and this I have to add is pure heaven......the heart lingers and lingers and the projection of that coffee note with the florals and gardenia is absolutely breathtaking....well it is for me,and I am a BIG lover of white flowers and gardenia! The base finally comes through with the woody notes and musk,however it is minimal I would say,as the florals and coffee dance all through this beauty. If you think it will be like Black opium,then think again,this is on another level and even ias a flanker I would categorise this as a separate stand alone perfume. If you love sweet florals,but delecate florals with arm length projection and a good 5 hours staying power you will love it. If you prefer the vanilla vibe with tonkabean sweetness alas you will not. For me I LOVE it,and finally can add a Black opium fragrance to my wardrobe for a day or night perfume......beautiful....

Absolutely fantastic perfume! I ventured out to find myself a winter perfume last year, thinking of going for the original BO version since it’s a well-loved classic. At the YSL section however, Floral Shock struck me as being the younger, more universal version of the original, that seemed to be one to compliment my skin better (there was an intense plum smell in the original, which was absent here) and that’s where our love story began: sweet and creamy yet far from nauseating, the smell is perfectly describable as “full”, possessing everything a perfume should. It feels as though every note has a purpose, with a sharper (sharpness from the sliiiiiiight citrus) more floral opening, it changes into a deep coffee and spice amber with time, creating a cozy and warm bubble around the wearer. Comparing it to the original, this year I decided to purchase the regular BO since it was on sale and I expected something similar, yet I was left a bit disappointed when it comes to the longevity and complexity of the smell. Both of these being bought around the same time a year apart, BO does not have the heat that the floral version and is far from lasting as long on skin (one application a day for floral shock was enough, compared to 2-3 for the OG). There is not much of a difference in the way it lays on skin, but floral shock is certainly more complex, making it’s partial namesake seem unfinished and unpolished.