SMEL. EDP

U £ Statement

Black Opium

Share
Card A shareable image of this fragrance - its verdict, notes and profile. Save or copy it to post anywhere.

SMEL. Black Opium is an Eau de Parfum. Black Opium opens with Orange Blossom, Pink Pepper, and Coffee, settles into a heart of Jasmine and Vanilla, and dries down to a base of Cedar and Patchouli. SMEL.'s Black Opium carries a Statement verdict, a woody-led wear.

Black Opium leans on YSL's coffee-vanilla signature and gets the instantly recognisable opening right - but the original's white florals and cedar-patchouli base give it a smoky, addictive depth over eight-plus hours that this dupe trades for a much simpler, faster-fading sweetness.
What our verdicts mean →
  • Addictive
  • Rebellious
  • Sensual
  • Bold
Check price on → Check prices ↓
Black Opium Eau de Parfum bottle
Inspired by
Black Opium by Yves Saint Laurent
4%
Compare these two →

Our estimate of scent similarity, calculated from published notes. How we score it

See how they compare
Black Opium the original Black Opium inspired by

Scent Profile

Composition

Timeline

Showing: Overall Blend

Top, heart and base are the brand's own listing, not a timing claim - the industry classifies a note by its character as much as by how fast it fades. Each curve here is modelled from that material's own volatility, so groups can overlap when a house lists long-lasting materials in its heart.

ScentArt

ScentArt Gallery What is ScentArt?

Performance & Mood

Performance

Longevity
Short (2-4h)
Projection
Moderate
Intensity
Moderate

Mood

Mood Energising
Calming
Character Playful
Serious
Sentiment Uplifting
Brooding

When To Wear

Best Seasons

Best For:
Fall Winter

The sweet coffee-vanilla base is a cold-weather, evening scent that feels too heavy and sugary in hot summer conditions.

Best Occasions

Best For:
Date
Also Works:
Casual

Bold and sensual enough for a date or a night out; too sweet and attention-seeking for a conservative office environment.

Ingredients and allergens

We don't have this fragrance's ingredient list yet.

Ethics and formulation

We report other people's certifications, never our own. Every claim links to its source.

  • Cruelty-free Brand-declared SMEL. says so · no third-party certification found · Read the claim
  • Vegan Brand-declared SMEL. says so · no third-party certification found · Read the claim

Certification covers a brand's whole range. Part-range claims show on the brand page.

About

YSL's Black Opium built its huge popularity on a genuinely novel idea: pairing bitter espresso with sweet vanilla and white florals for a scent that feels both edgy and irresistibly gourmand, all sitting on a cedar-patchouli base that keeps the fragrance projecting for most of the day. Copycat's Black Opium gets the headline right - the coffee-vanilla opening is close and immediately identifiable, which matters because that combination is exactly what people are shopping for when they look for a Black Opium dupe. The pink pepper and orange blossom top notes add a believable touch of the original's spicier, more rebellious edge too. The heart and base are where it thins out: Black Opium's jasmine is smoky and slightly boozy rather than simply sweet, and the cedarwood-patchouli base gives real structure and longevity, while this version's vanilla leans sweeter and simpler throughout, fading into an unremarkable sugary musk within a few hours instead of the original's night-long, coffee-shop-meets-nightclub trail. As a cheap way to enjoy the coffee-vanilla combination that made Black Opium a bestseller, it's a fun option; as an all-night substitute, it falls short.

Similar

More from SMEL.

See all 55 SMEL. perfumes

Compare & Pair

Layer

Wear two at once: the blends worth trying, how each one scores and where to spray See what layers well

Complement

Two people, two scents: what sits well beside it when you each wear your own See what pairs well

Where to buy

Prices for the United States ·

ScentVerdict earns a commission from purchases - this doesn't affect our verdicts.

Drawn from community reviews and editor-reviewed before publishing on . See our methodology and disclosure policy.