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The newest “bad boy” on the olfactory block, YSL Black Opium perfectly fulfills its mission on the planet: make women feel and look prettier, finished, feminine and sexy.

It is out to captivate you, stir you from your slumber and induce a Black Opium addiction, probably because of its ever dominating coffee note.

Although from the notes listed I expected to be greeted by a very favorite note of mine, orange blossom, to my surprise, the perfume opens with a sweet and sexy wave of jasmine and a silent whisper of lingering patchouli, which then slowly gives way to the coffee accord.

If you were wondering when the sweet gourmand tsunami is going to hit your nostrils, I say give it 15 or 20 minutes, and then just wait for the vanilla/patchouli and a hint of cedar mix.

Please do not let me be misunderstood: yes, for all intents and purposes, this is a schoolbook example of gourmand perfume, following the tracks and fulfilling the demands of the market needs for sweet, heady perfumes from the likes of Candy Prada, Viva La Juicy and La Vie Est Belle.

However, this perfume does not have the heady, headache inducing, diet breaking sweetness common for the abovementioned fragrances.

To me, Black Opium is playing on the elegance card, so I dare and say that this perfume reminds me more of Armani’s Si quality than the popular mainstream gourmand frags.

I know that the base notes: vanilla/patchouli/cedar are far too present in contemporary perfume noses notes, yet, when it comes to a greatness such as YSL, we just need to say: It’s all in the mix.