Opium Eau de Toilette

Highly provocative, YSL never stopped upending already established codes. He was the first, in 1966, to offer a women's clothing collection reinventing the male wardrobe. In 1977, YSL created a sulfurous fragrance, Opium. Faced with its triumph, he decided to offer a variation with Opium, l'Eau de Toilette.

The unexpected success of the Opium Yves Saint Laurent myth

In 1977, women experienced a new lifestyle, feeling freer than before. The designer moved in the same direction with his first perfume, Rive Gauche, which was an invitation to freedom. In 1977, the sexual revolution was underway and certain minds were beginning to free themselves from convention. Yet when Yves Saint Laurent released Opium, it caused a scandal. Part of public opinion, as well as certain countries, decried it as an incitement to debauchery, and many countries banned the sale of the sulfurous fragrance. Nevertheless, Opium achieved unprecedented and unmatched success, and women around the world tried to get hold of it. Opium, l'Eau de Toilette is a fragrance that opens onto the imagination, blending the forbidden with sensation, breathing in a new wind, a wind of freedom. Regarding the choice of the perfume's name, YSL stated that if he chose Opium as the name, it was because he intensely hoped that, through all its incandescent powers, it could release divine fluids, magnetic waves, heartthrobs and the charms of seduction that give rise to mad love. Lighter and more delicate than the Eau de Parfum, Opium, l'Eau de Toilette nevertheless rides the wave of mystery and provocation.

The floral character of Opium, l'Eau de Toilette

The variation of the legendary Opium as an Eau de Toilette is marked by floral notes. Opium, l'Eau de Toilette opens on the freshness of bergamot and mandarin. These are paired with aldehydic notes. Aldehyde molecules are synthetic molecules that offer a slightly metallic facet, close to citrus. At the time, aldehydes were very little used, and YSL created a surprise. The heart of Opium, l'Eau de Toilette is ultra feminine and floral, composed of lily of the valley, carnation and jasmine. The base is warm and sensual, with the presence of amber, vanilla and patchouli. As for the bottle, it takes up the codes of its predecessor. It should be noted that the bottle is inspired by an inro, a small case with medicinal purposes that samurai wore attached to their belt. The color is the same as that of the Eau de Parfum, namely amber. Only the cord has been removed.

Buoyed by the unexpected success of Opium, YSL offers a variation with the Eau de Toilette. While the latter still represents the forbidden and freedom, Opium, l'Eau de Toilette is nevertheless more floral and lighter. The soul of Opium is resolutely well respected, and Opium, l'Eau de Toilette is intended for women who push back the boundaries of convention.