1977: Yves Saint-Laurent gave birth to a landmark fragrance, named Opium and evocative of sex, drugs and transgression. 2014: appearing as the new symbol of emancipated women, Black Opium reinvents this legend and presents itself as the burning, sulfurous elixir of a new century. 2023: the sensual heroine of the house of Yves Saint-Laurent is once again in the spotlight, in an even more intense version. The sensuality of this collection reaches its peak with the release of Black Opium Le Parfum by Yves Saint-Laurent.
Yves Saint-Laurent was an atypical designer, both shy and never afraid to cause a scandal. As proof, in 1977, he conceived a fragrance with a radical name: Opium. Evoking an illicit world, this juice quickly established itself as a legend. Since 2014, it has been modernized in a collection named Black Opium. In 2023, this collection gains a new breath, more incandescent and sulfurous than ever. Black Opium Le Parfum celebrates the party until the end of the night. As for its bottle, this juice brilliantly reclaims a long-standing heritage.
The first Opium bottle
To better understand the source of inspiration for the Black Opium Le Parfum bottle, let us revisit its history. For the very first version of Opium, Yves Saint-Laurent drew inspiration from a Japanese inro. This precious case was once carried by warriors of the Far East. Yves Saint-Laurent decided to craft a more contemporary interpretation, molded in a lacquered red nylon plastic shell. At the center of this case sat a transparent, amber-colored eye. This visual was quickly perceived as a window open onto an exotic elsewhere.
The black glittering case of Black Opium by Yves Saint-Laurent
In 2014, with the release of Black Opium, the original case was transformed, without being entirely forgotten. Thus, the Black Opium bottle might seem strangely familiar. Like its predecessor, it skillfully combines a square shape with a few curves. The round porthole, meanwhile, is still present. In its first edition, this case was adorned with a matte black glittery finish, for a more urban look. Its rounded center, meanwhile, blazed with a flamboyant pink, like a glowing heart!
The new vinyl effect of the Black Opium Le Parfum bottle
Black Opium Le Parfum preserves exactly the same silhouette as Black Opium. It is still a square adorned with a few curves, split in two and fitted with a round porthole at its center. However, it is now decorated with an opaque black lacquer. Glossier than before, it has a hypnotic vinyl effect. Moreover, it recalls the black vinyl sheaths typical of Yves Saint-Laurent haute couture. In contrast, the glittering heart sparkles brightly. It evokes the shimmering lights of urban landscapes in the dead of night. The whole is also topped with a half-moon cap. The name of this fragrance appears on its circle, in pale pink lettering. The name Yves Saint-Laurent, meanwhile, sits directly on its collar.
Another novelty: the Black Opium Le Parfum bottle reaffirms the commitments of the house of Yves Saint-Laurent to protecting the environment and resources. As such, this container is now made of 15% recycled glass. In terms of sizes, Black Opium Le Parfum by Yves Saint-Laurent is available in three spray bottles, in sizes of 30, 50 or 90 ml.