Reviews of Opium pour Homme (1995)
by Yves Saint Laurent

Exotic.
Heart-clenching.
Dark.
Selfish.
Menacing.

Words cannot describe how much I love this scent. It moves people. Literally. Wore this to the dentist one day, just a little on the neck, and the female hygienist said that she could not concentrate on what she was doing. It is so sultry, dignified though, dark and definitive, unapologetic, and truly unique. I cannot even use it as much as I like: I am scared that I am going to run out!

Even above Ungaro III, Narciso Rodriguez, Black Orchid, this is by far the darkest scent that I own. It made me fall in love with vanilla again. And that name... Opium... Like some other reviewer has said, the moment I take a sniff even from the bottle, my eyes get heavy and unfocused with pure and unlimited ecstasy.

In many ways, I find this scent close to Must de Cartier Pour Homme: both are somewhat sweet yet masculine, yet where Opium is dark and warm, Must is cold and hazy. Another positive thing is, YSL created gorgeous summer versions of this pantheon of scents- two of which are equally sublime.

Opium pour Homme is a statement. It creates a man - it creates 'the man'.

Everyone has already said it all. Sweet, spicy, woody, balsamic oriental goodness. If you don't like sweet, you may not like Opium PH. I love it.

I'm not crazy about Opium, yet I keep going back to it. My "mini" is a lifetime supply--if applied sparingly I get compliments. If I over do it, my girlfriend wrinkles her nose and insists I smell like her grandfather, not her boyfriend.

I had given up on this one. I tried to like it, but somehow it gave me a headache. I left the bottle untouched till my girlfriend tried it a few times and got compliments all over from other women. I was surpised, but when i smelled her i couldn't believe it. Opium pour homme was amazing on her...I guess it is a flagrance that you have to give time. Do not be turned off about the strong sharp smell right after you apply it. After some time the edges fade and then you will be rewarded. Opium pour homme still gives me some doubts when it comes out of the bottle but everybody around me seems to be crazy about it..

sweet and spicy but not enough to detract from its masculinity. its woody notes stay noticeable throughout the sweet, vanillic drydown. a good fragrance for those nights where you want to smell unique

Sweet boozy and spicy oriental. Smells so much like Paul Smith London but with a sweeter note. This stuff seems like it should be from the 80's powerhouse realm but was formulated in 1995. Reminds me a little of Tommy for Men without the synthetic fruits though it might be my nose playing tricks. This is definitive fragrance.

Very similar to a cheap bottle of Brut a relative owns (and I sampled). Sort of a cross between root beer and and minty toothpaste, possibly with some spices mixed in. Horrible stuff. It may be that on my skin, some fragrances don't seem to "progress," such as Kouros. They just get stuck in a stage that is nauseating. In any case, for vanilla, I suggest Ignition by Lomani (or Jaipur EDP if you don't mind forking over a lot more money). For an oriental that is spicy but well-blended, contains nice rosewood, a little amber, a little sweetness, and is not nauseating (unless you spray too much, of course) I suggest Carven Homme. If you want pungent spices and cedar, go with Cuba Red. The ultimate oriental for men is Witness by Bogart, though. There are just too many better choices that Opium.

Like the EdP's opening salvo, the EdT has a dark fruit hue too but it's sharpened up with star anise bringing out the blackcurrant more so. There's a dish that I like at the local Tapas joint that serves a stuffed prune with mint cream filling that reminds me of the EdT. In it's next phase, the black pepper and ginger bring the orientalness to the foreground. Each is excellently blended never tilting the balance too much over the edge. Finally, the vanilla/amber accord finishes off much like the EdP but with a lighter and slightly woody finale. Lighter and spicier than the EdP and more versatile for wearing too though I have trouble with this one in the heat.

This review is under revision.

It's horrible -- wouldn't even use it as a room spray. Comes on really harsh and synthetic with a sort of sour spice aroma, then settles into vanilla, but still the sourness persists. I suppose you could call it edgy or difficult and I'm all for that sometimes -- but it's just plain unpleasant. Could be used if dropped in hot water and inhaled when you have a cold.

From a House that brought us Live Jazz and M7 Fresh, it's hard to fathom.

This is the richest most sumptuous men's fragrance out there. Spicy, woody, fruity in turns, rich dark exotic, but somehow managing to stay fresh and powerful without being cloying. The dry-down is nothing short of intoxicating. It's so fruity, yet rich masculine and totally addictive.

I love wearing it, and every time I put it on it still feels like a "new" smell, rather than being a tired old thing.

The smell lasts all day on me, and considering that my skin usually kills off most fragrances that's very good going.

Given that I live in Australia, the winter vs summer fragrances don't have the clear climate distinction that they would in the northern hemisphere, whence people often wear the darker fragrances in summer and vice versa, so I'm often wearing this one to the office. And I always always, no matter how many times I've worn it, get the obligator "Oooh, gee, you smell nice," or "What are you wearing? It's sexy?"

another classic oriental scent! this has 2 b runner up 2 jaipur! i luv this scent. even tho im not attracted 2 smells like this. Opium has always stood out! its classy yet sophisticated. 4 those with class! 9/10

This daring oriental fragrance has one of the best mixes of sweet and spicy scents, making it very suitable for autumn and winter. It's not for everyone, as it's very different from all the classic scents, but if you are the person who doesn't want to stick with the bunch and to be "the guy who smells really interesting", this is a great choice.

My initial thought was: wow, a really strong and loud Micahel by Michael Kors but with mint and vanilla. And that is my final conclusion. I really enjoy Micheal but Opium is like a Ferrari while Micheal is a Ford Mustang. The Ferrari...I mean Opium is bright, loud, exotic, in your face. You can't miss it. Very nicely done. A bit of man musk plus a bit of slight amber, it is dark but shimmering and cozy (thanks, vanilla) yet manly as the man ,usk is not shy at all.

One are the worlds for a best man's fragrances! Bold, indecorous, and provocative, aristocratical basis, in brief phenomenal! The fragrance vibrates on the end of a day yet. The launch vigourous golden yellow sparkling, a sting is felt, the fragrance turns into a sweet, in which they vibrate in the future, strongly later then, they prick the fruity-spicy harmonies. Exceptional, lasting and strong fragrance, in this manner economical. OPIUM is the constant piece of my fragrance wardrobe.

This sillage bomb is not one of my favorites but isn't bad. There is a sort of cheap, synthetic freshness to it built on top of a sweet fruity oriental base, sort of a weird combination. The basenotes remind me of the smell of baking oatmeal raisin cookies - not a bad smell but not exactly sensual in my opinion, something M7 is much more suited for.

I am a late convert to this. I'll be honest, I don't like the topnotes at all. In fact I don't like this at all until I've worn it for an hour.

But women love it.

As I do a fair bit of acting, I have to from time to time kiss women apart from my wife. I had to kiss someone on stage recently when I was wearing this and she whispered in my ear breathily "oh my GOD you smell SO good".

I am not a guy looking for a woman (I'm happily married), but if I were, I would wear this. I get more compliments wearing this than almost anything else I wear.

Far, far preferable in its edp form. The edp is rich and sweet and truly Oriental, while the edt is more about spice and sillage and a certain dryness I can't quite put my finger on. Both are good frags; however, the edp version is a truly GREAT frag.

makes me feel dark and dirty!!!!!!

Opium Pour Homme opens up strongly with a full bodied, star anise-spicy / black current / citrus accord; very sweet, a bit exotic—definitely Oriental; in fact, it could serve as the definition for a classic Oriental. It is bright and pushy and delicious. Although the opening is dramatic and quite potent, that potency lasts for only a short time—the drama settles down to a sweet, somewhat esoteric, somewhat spicy Oriental middle. It is not a sillage monster—it pretty well stays close to the skin, but still it presents a strong character. It is its drydown that the exemplary lusciousness comes to fore: Woody, sweet, indulgently vibrant, smooth, and rich

I don’t have call to wear it often—it won’t do for the office, so each time I apply it, I’m startled by its richness and depth. It seems that I remember its exotic, edgy nature, but I tend to forget its richer qualities. This is a brightly luxurious fragrance—sumptuous, too strong for the office, but not really loud or excessive. Wearable, but serious—not laid-back.

I was surprised by how wearable Opium Pour Homme is. It's sweet for sure, but not as sweet as I would have imagined, given the reviews here. Not as sweet as say, Hanae Mori's men's fragrance, and much more natural smelling than that one. The fruit note in it was also a surprise, and to my nose, just the right touch to blend with the spices, giving it a little "lift." Overall it is exotic but familiar and comfortable, unique, and enjoyable. I was pleasantly surprised.

I actually prefer this men's opium to the women's. It is not so strong or cinnamon, clove spicy. I also very much like the addition of the cedar. I am a woman and wear mostly women's fragrances, but this one seems unisex to me.

Very powerful! only need a small amount on, but one of the sexiest smells on the planet, have had the most compliments ever when wearing this many women just love it!

I've always loved the original Opium,and even though it's for women, I've always thought there was something very sexually "male" about it. But I was too chicken-s*** to wear it. When it was announced that Yves was bringing out "Opium for Men" I was truly excited.
At last I could get my Opium mojo on and not feel like a girly-man. I even bought it blind from one of those department store bill envelope offers (without the benefit of a test strip). That's how much I wanted it. I just knew it was going to be a MANLY version of the original. And I just knew it was going to be great!
As I was eagerly awaiting the arrival of my new purchase through the mail, I was driving along in my car one day when a bus pulled up next to me. I turned and who was pouting out at me from the ad on the side of the bus but a naked and coy Rupert Everett. Eccch!
And OHMIGOD he's pushing opium--I mean Opium for Men. Now I was worried. This was not a good omen. I mean, who could be more insincere and full of themselves than him. Who could be more of a girlyman? This did not bode well for the cologne.
My Opium for Men finally arrived and now, with some reservation, I opened the box. I smelled the juice. "Gee," I thought, "This doesn't smell anything like the original." It wasn't bad though. I decided to give it a go. And at first I really liked it. But as the minutes progressed into hours and the hours turned into an evening, I began to hate it. I mean, I could tell what they were going for but...Gadzooks it was sweet! And nothing to temper that sweetness. I used to work next to a candy factory and you could tell what they were making on certain days because the smell would envelope the neighborhood like an atomic cloud. Opium for Men smelled like the candy factory was making Tofifay or one of those other candies that old people love (even though they usually pour them into a candy dish and then never touch them for a couple of years until they have to chisel the candy out and throw it away...but I digress).
Suffice to say, my Dad, who was 3000 miles away at the time, got an entire 3.3 ounce bottle of cologne for his birthday. And I bought a mini of Opium for Women and started wearing it around the house. Maybe someday this girlyman will grow a pair and take it outside.

Not strong but too classy and old-school.But anyway it is much fresher than the feminine edition.Even though i like fresh vanilla, this one is truly disapppointing.

I was very curious about Opium pour Homme when I first smelled Opium pour Femme. Both are heavy oriental scents that last a very long time after spraying. OpH is very rich and spicy. I feel the vanilla and the pepper the most. This scent is not for everyday wear. It calls for a night at the opera or at the theatre with someone u would like to spend the night with. It's very sensual and mysterious but at the same time gives the wearer respect from the others. Sophistication and warmness are at their best here.

First off, I can see why some would think that this is too sweet/heady/strong. This IS a very powerful, opulent offering by YSL.

I wasn't sure myself in the beginning, I didn't think I could pull it off. Instead I was thinking about getting the Eau d'Orient version, which has less of the sweet base and more citrus (lighter all in all), but because of the approaching colder seasons I went with the original edt. And I don't regret it. This is a truly mouthwatering oriental because of its rather daring, fruity top and middle. It lasts very long, and progresses to a rich oriental base. Truly addicitive.

For those that would like to have more emphasis on the darker aspects, I would recommend checking the edp version.

P.S.: Don't overspray!

Most of the Yves Saint Laurent are not for me, because they are strong & old. for example:
Jazz, Kouros, Opium, etc...
Opium is spicier version of Obsession by Calvin Klein,, very ambery & very strong.
YSL is great factory but i don't like it's products.

I bought a bottle of this years ago at the duty-free shop in the Orlee airport in Paris and barely used it because -- until recently -- I did not use cologne. I have no idea why I'm interested now (middle age maybe?) I started using it out of the blue about a year ago and I have to say I really really like this scent. Warm, sweet, heady -- but not cloying at all. A very pleasant dulcent but manly scent that I can imagine wearing for years and not tiring of it. It seems to be the antithesis of strong woody scents like Hugo, but very similar to Hugo No. 6 which I think is quite comparable. You really can't go wrong with this fragrance.

It's defnitely not for everyone. And you have to be the type who don't give a damn about what people think about you to carry it aroud, because a vast majority will hate it.
For me, I must admit, the name plays a significant role in it's charisma. It's one of those fragrances you keep among many, for those few days when you KNOW exactly what you want to wear.

was dissapointed by this one a bit, heavy on the vanilla and sweetness, predictable spices... not that there is anything wrong with it, just nothing particularily astounding here... still willing to try the EDP tho

The great thing about this is that it really lasts all day. Even after a shower, there's still a hint of the vanilla on your skin. The bad thing is that it's an utterly disgusting stench, and I can't get rid it!

It smells really interesting in the bottle, and when you spray it on, there are all kinds of crazy spices in the air for a few seconds. Then as it settles, it's just this sickeningly sweet nastiness that haunts you and makes you feel like a drag queen all day long. At least it does on my skin. After an hour or more, when it really fades it becomes tolerable and even nice - a more "manly" and mysterious kind of aroma, but otherwise it's just very feminine.

It's a very good idea, very badly executed. I'm sure there's some other fragrance out there that is strong and spicy and wild like this, but in a good way...

Also I wasn't impressed with all the sodium benzoate and other preservatives and chemicals listed in the ingredients. Those things accumulate in your body if you wear cologne every day, and it's particularly bad if you put it on after shaving when it gets quickly into your blood.

A unique and wonderful blend, and a powerhouse in sillage and longevity (especially for an EdT). The blackcurrant note is wonderful and at once avoids the citrus notes we are all used to smelling in nearly every fragrance, yet isn't at all out of place. The spices are strong yet lovely, and the basenotes are subtle yet supply a sturdy foundation. Truly a classic, just don't overdo it!

One of the best YSL fragrances. Women I know get crazy about this scent. Sweet, stronge, confident and long lasting!

This is another great one from the house of Yves Saint Laurent!!! Now I don't know why but when I spray this one the initial smell reminds me of a carbonated soda or something like that, that's kinnda stupid but it's the truth. It does smell great sweet and spicey like moms apple pie!

I agree with "nearfantastica" - this is not for the timid and those who play it safe! This was one of my first purchases(30ml - very safe!) and couldn't get enough of it. Sad to say, perfume prices here went up rapidly mid to late nineties and I had to make do without. Rediscovered it again and am on my 3rd 100ml! The only thing now is that I can't wait for the Opium EdP on order which receives even better reviews!!

Not a fragrance for the weak of heart. Very spicy, very assertive and very powerful oriental scent that is warm and strong. It's almost as though somebody took Obsession for Men and loaded it with a mysterious and pungent blend of herbs.. almost gypsy-like in its playful but dangerous nature. Nice smell, just wish it was a little more dillute than it is. It also contains a very synthetic quality that puts me off. That being said, there are days..though few and far between... that I really love this fragrance. And this scent deserves its "props" in sillage and longevity.. Can't think of another single fragrances with better lasting power.

As much as I wanted to understand Zino and I couldn't for the longest time, I knew I liked this but was plain afraid of uncorking the bottle of this genie. I first discovered Opium PH in 1995, when it was launched, and when I was in Gibraltar. As soon as I smelled it I knew I had to approach this mysterious and addictive concoction with caution and respect. I was in an environment that supported a strange mood. Gibraltar has a mix of all people from Europe and Africa; shoppers, hagglers, drug pushers, etc. like a scene from the movie Algiers. After that, I smelled it a couple of times until recently (yes, 10 years later), I finally gave in. The opening fruit and spice is unsurpassed. Brief pepper is next and then the vanilla and cedar (which I'm usually not a big fan of). It works and does not quit. Like most other YSL's this is sheer luxury to me. Better for more mature persons IMO.

The initial blast is like a mix between, let's see... a mix between rootbeer and pine needles. Don't worry, it does get a little better as it dries down. Well, sometimes. The drydown is quite inconsistent to me. Sometimes I dig the dirty yet sweety oriental nature of this frag, and sometimes I wonder if it really makes sense to smell like I've hidden spice bags in all of my pockets. The latter feeling tends to win out because of an really annoying citrus note that stands out and provides a clashing bitterness. Overall not horrible, I just don't think it is that great either. This is definately not a safe blind buy! Based on the opinions on this site, the EPD sounds MUCH better, perhaps lacking the annoying citrus note. I'd like to try that out sometime and see if it delivers where this one falls short

The female version is considered by some women repulsive, while very few daring ones actually use it. But the male version is better than i expected- truly an Oriental classic , intoxicating, addictive like its name. Interesting spicy and woody notes, besides this unique fruity touch reminding of berries also to be found in the female version.
Inimitable French style, sesuality and romance.

A bit too sweet for me, with a bit too much pepper. Still, it's a great compostion and does smell wonderful...just not on me.

Although it's not as rich as the EDP, I find this one more versatile during warmer nights. There's a fresh note that smells minty, which is absent in the EDP version. It's long-lasting and has plenty of sillage to boot. Although amber isn't listed as one of the notes, I swear I detect it in the drydown. It starts off a little synthetic smelling, but later develops into a very sophisticated scent. I believe all fans of the oriental scent category should try Opium PH at least once in their lifetime.

Far too sweet. I sprayed some on once and consequently had hungry ants following me around all day.

Not for the faint hearted. A lush mix of spice, pepper and sweet edible fragrance. Sillage factor is great. EDP preferrable.

Oh - I remember this one, must get a bottle soon.
it was vanilla with all hints of sweet Japanese Temple incense and flowers , but spicy enough for
the intended male market. Stable through the whole
6/8/10 hour life but moody , sultry , opulent -
perhaps a hint of aloes wood. Great night scent.

Opium pour Homme makes me go weak in the knees. I take a deep whiff and my eyes practically cross in ecstasy. It's both spicy and sweet, and so long lasting. Smooth, but not "boring smooth." Very exotic and sensual. And there's something ... dense about it. Forgive my choice of words, "dense." Maybe a better way of putting it is that it has a tremendous integrity to it. It's formidable.

Sweet, peppery, positively smoldering with spices. One of the most uncompromising male orientals out there. The staying power is insane, probably weeks if you don't shower. The supporting products are top notch as well (like always from YSL) and the deo-stick is probably enough for those who want to keep it light. Did I mention it comes in a concentrated version as well? =)

Compared to the original Opium, I consider this a failure. This is a very sweet Oriental. It’s well made, but it’s just not of the same caliber as the Original, but that’s not a huge issue. The EdT of OpH is a bit linear and flat; it lacks the depth that made opium what it should have been. The EdP, however, is worlds better; it’s richer, thicker, and evolves much better on the skin. If this is your thing, I seriously recommend the EdP!

I really, really tried to like this one but it just didn't work out. This was the first oriental type cologne I have ever tried. From what I had read it was the best, so perhaps I just don't like orientals and that is why I don't like opium, who knows. Anyway, Opium was a very strong nearly cloying on my skin. I only had a tester vial of Opium and after a week of trying to like and washing it off everyday, I tossed what remained. Perhaps worth a try if you want a heavy oriental but it just wasnt for me.

It last very very long, and have a very consistent scent, it wont change since first you spray it until 3 hour, 6 hour, 12 hour, even after 24 hour. That's why if you wear it for sport activity the odor will remain unchanged & able to cover body odor.

This stuff is menacingly dark, broody, and eroticly charged, with a touch of a sweltering parisian street at 4am after a thunderstorm thrown in. ban it I say. (Im buying my fourth bottle soon)

Smells like a middle eastern or Indian bazaar, full of spices and very woody. Not for everyone.

Opium pour Homme is definitely a fragrance for the fan of the spicy oriental family of scents. It starts off as strikingly sweet, which is perfect for those morning blues. It soon calms down to a very spicy yet subtly sweet fragrance that continues throughout the day without fail. The bonus is, if sprayed onto pulse points, as your blood pumps faster and hotter, the fragrance kicks up again, and this time it comes back in a spicy-sweet aura. Its lovely how the ingredients manage to mix into another burst of scent, and the girls often wonder where that sweetness is coming from. Definitely one to try, and if it works for you, keep at it!