Opium by Yves Saint Laurent is quite simply one of the great fragrances of recent times and most likely the first scent to come to mind when thinking of the Far East. How fitting then, as we are bathed in all things oriental and immersed in the red and golden hues of Olympic China's dragion, that we find ourselves revisiting this classic parfum in it's newest incantation, Opium and Opium pour Homme, Eau d'Orient 2008.
The passionate scents are again housed in the classic Opium bottle which this time carries graduated shading, calligraphy and poetic lines from the oldest known collection of Chinese poetry, The Book Of Odes - a tome dating back some four thousand years and containing over 300 odes, poems and hymns:She: "This sensual and beautiful woman"
He: "A charming man wishes to seduce her"
Straight forward yet sensual, both scents are from the 'Oriental Fresh' family. Opium Eau D'Orient (women's) features top notes of mandarin and Calabrian Chinotto, middle notes of Chinese magnolia, star jasmine and myrrh and bottom notes of vanilla, patchouli and amber. Exotic, erotic, Eastern. The Opium pour Homme Eau D'Orient features top notes of grapefruit, star anise, bergamot, middle notes of fresh ginger, white pepper and nutmeg and bottom notes of vetiver, Morrocan amber and sandalwood.
YSL define the seductive bottles and scent as "the Calligraphy of Desire." Sensual, seductive, desirous...the Opium of the Orient and worthy we're sure, of a gold medal.
