Black Opium Eau de Parfum Intense
What Does Black Opium Eau de Parfum Intense Smell Like?
Expert Rating
4.2 / 5
Scent Overview
Black Opium Eau de Parfum Intense takes the familiar coffee, white-floral and vanilla structure of Black Opium into a colder, darker direction. Blue absinthe and boysenberry create an aromatic fruity opening before orange blossom, jasmine and black coffee form the central accord.
Licorice makes the later stages more bitter and anise-like, while vanilla and sandalwood soften the base. The result is less candy-sweet than the original Eau de Parfum and can suggest dark liqueur, root beer or medicinal herbs to some wearers. YSL has now discontinued this version, which makes remaining bottles less predictable to source.
Quick Profile
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Fragrance Family |
Amber, Aromatic, Gourmand |
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Gender |
Women |
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Gender Leaning |
Feminine |
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Seasons |
Fall, Spring, Winter |
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Wear On |
Casual, Date Night, Formal, Night Out |
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Vibe |
Bitter, Dark, Seductive, Spicy, Sweet, Warm |
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Note |
Black Coffee, Blue Absinthe, Boysenberry, Jasmine Sambac, Licorice, Orange Blossom, Sandalwood, Vanilla |
Performance Ratings
Longevity
3.9 / 5
Sillage
3.8 / 5
Versatility
3.6 / 5
Opening
Black Opium Eau de Parfum Intense opens with blue absinthe and boysenberry in the launch-era pyramid. The absinthe gives the first minutes a cool herbal bitterness with an anise-like edge, while boysenberry adds dark fruity sweetness without recreating the pear-heavy brightness of the original Black Opium Eau de Parfum. The contrast can feel boozy, aromatic and slightly medicinal rather than simply fruity.
Community descriptions repeatedly mention root beer, mint, menthol or dark herbal liqueur around this opening. Those are sensory comparisons rather than official notes, but they accurately describe why Intense feels less sugary and more unusual than the original. Black coffee can also appear early, even though launch pyramids usually place it in the heart.
Heart
Jasmine sambac, orange blossom and black coffee define the launch-era heart. The florals give the composition a recognizable Black Opium smoothness, but the coffee feels darker and drier against the absinthe than it does in the sweeter original. Orange blossom adds a soft luminous sweetness while jasmine fills out the floral body without making the fragrance primarily floral.
Licorice can become noticeable before the formal base arrives, creating a bitter-sweet anise character around the coffee. This is where the fragrance often feels most distinctive: less like a vanilla latte and more like sweet coffee mixed with an herbal liqueur. Some wearers love that added depth, while others find the licorice or medicinal edge distracting.
Dry Down
Sandalwood, licorice and vanilla shape the dry down, with coffee often remaining detectable underneath. Vanilla smooths the bitterness without becoming as sugary as the original Black Opium, sandalwood adds creamy woody warmth, and licorice preserves a dark aromatic edge. The result is warm and sensual but still slightly bitter, with less of the bright fruity sweetness associated with the 2014 Eau de Parfum.
Current Parfumo aggregates rate longevity at 7.7/10 and sillage at 7.5/10, supporting good overall performance. Wearer reports remain inconsistent, however, with some describing strong all-evening wear and others finding surprisingly soft projection for an Intense concentration. YSL’s current US page marks the fragrance as discontinued, so availability is now a more practical limitation than performance alone.
Pros
- Blue absinthe and boysenberry give the opening a colder, darker and more unusual character than the original Black Opium Eau de Parfum.
- Black coffee, orange blossom and jasmine preserve the recognizable Black Opium DNA while reducing the original’s sugary fruitiness.
- Licorice and absinthe add bitter herbal depth that makes the fragrance feel more mature and less straightforwardly gourmand.
- Good longevity and noticeable sillage make it dependable for cool-weather evenings and nights out for many wearers.
- Vanilla and sandalwood smooth the dry down without completely erasing the darker coffee, licorice and herbal facets.
Cons
- The absinthe and licorice combination can smell medicinal, root-beer-like, minty or mentholated to sensitive wearers.
- Coffee is less dominant on some skin than the Black Opium name and marketing may suggest, with florals or licorice taking over instead.
- Performance reports vary considerably, and some wearers find the projection surprisingly restrained for a fragrance called Intense.
- Its bitter herbal character is less universally crowd-pleasing than the sweeter original Black Opium Eau de Parfum.
- The fragrance has been discontinued by YSL, so remaining bottles may be harder to find and prices can vary widely.
FAQ
What does YSL Black Opium Eau de Parfum Intense smell like?
YSL Black Opium Eau de Parfum Intense smells like dark coffee and white florals surrounded by blue absinthe, boysenberry, licorice and warm vanilla. Compared with the original Black Opium Eau de Parfum, it feels less sugary, more herbal and bitter, with a darker boozy-anise character.
What is the difference between Black Opium Intense and the original Black Opium?
Black Opium Intense keeps the coffee, white-floral and vanilla identity of the original but adds blue absinthe, boysenberry and licorice. It generally smells darker, more aromatic and less candy-sweet, while the original Eau de Parfum is fruitier, sweeter and more straightforwardly vanilla-gourmand.
Does Black Opium Intense smell strongly of coffee?
Coffee is an important part of Black Opium Intense and remains central to the Black Opium signature, but its strength varies by wearer. Some people get a clear dark coffee accord, while others notice licorice, absinthe, orange blossom or vanilla more strongly.
Does Black Opium Intense smell like licorice or absinthe?
Black Opium Intense can smell distinctly of licorice and absinthe. Those materials create a bitter, herbal, anise-like effect that some wearers compare with root beer, dark liqueur or a medicinal minty sensation. Those comparisons are perceptions rather than additional official notes.
How long does YSL Black Opium Eau de Parfum Intense last?
YSL Black Opium Eau de Parfum Intense has good longevity overall. Parfumo currently rates longevity at 7.7/10, supporting several hours of wear for many users. Individual reports still range from relatively soft performance to all-evening wear depending on skin, climate and application.
Does Black Opium Intense have strong projection?
Black Opium Intense has moderate-to-good projection overall. Parfumo currently rates sillage at 7.5/10. The opening can feel noticeably aromatic and dark before the fragrance settles into a smoother coffee, vanilla, sandalwood and licorice trail.
Is YSL Black Opium Eau de Parfum Intense discontinued?
Yes. YSL Beauty's current US product page explicitly marks Black Opium Eau de Parfum Intense as discontinued and states that the product is no longer available through the regular line. Remaining bottles may still appear through retailers or resale channels, but availability is no longer consistent.