The 10 Best YSL Black Opium Dupes
The 10 Best YSL Black Opium Dupes
April 18, 2024Sensual, mysterious, and intoxicating, Yves Saint Laurent’s iconic Black Opium Perfume is a timeless and popular fragrance that's taken the fragrance world by storm since it launched in 2014.
The amber gourmand fragrance comes in a gorgeous black bottle with subtle glitter and a ball stopper with glam rocker vibes.
Opening notes include a dash of pear, orange blossom, and pink pepper, overtaken by dry hints of rich coffee and aromatic almond that fade into soft, floral, feminine jasmine, patchouli, and sweet vanilla.
The scent is young, edgy, and modern, with a chic complexity that makes it a bestseller. It’s a lingering fragrance that transforms well from day to night.
If you’re looking for an alluring, rocker chic scent without the hefty designer price tag, hit up our list of 10 favorite Black Opium dupes that offer similar vibes and note blends or take inspiration from the original Black Opium fragrance.
Instyle Fragrance Inspired by Yves Saint Laurent’s Black Opium Eau de Toilette
Our first dupe is directly inspired by YSL’s Black Opium perfume. The name says it all before you open the bottle and get hints of similar pear, orange flower, and almond blossom. Finish up with a decadent blend of vanilla bean, cedarwood, and cashmere wood for a high-end experience without the price tag.
Pros
- Notes pyramid inspired by YSL Black Opium
- Vegan formula
- Paraben-free
- Cruelty-free
Cons
- Few reviews
- Doesn’t contain a coffee note
Brittany Spears Prerogative Eau de Parfum
Who knew that Brittany Spears made a Black Opium dupe? This unexpected fragrance matches many of YSL’s top notes, like pink pepper, adding a burst of apricot with hints of sandalwood and coffee.
Just like the title, this spicy oriental scent is a great way to mark your place. The bottle has a bold and modern shape with a playful streak. It’s the kind of scent that lets people know who you are and what you want.
Pros
- Modern bottle design
- Complex, multilayered fragrance
- Suits any gender
- Contains many spot-on notes for a similar Black Opium effect
Cons
- Some reviewers considered it a more mature scent
Zara Gardenia
An initial application of Zara Gardenia brings a burst of fresh, sweet, and creamy gardenia notes. The effect is opulent, sophisticated, and complimented by hints of white flowers, jasmine, and tuberose.
It’s a versatile and voluptuous fragrance that brings in coffee notes to mimic Black Opium’s multi-dimensional drydown.
Pros
- Features some similar notes like jasmine and coffee
- Moderately long-lasting
Cons
- Some reviewers thought it has a more generic smell than other YSL Black Opium dupes
Alexandria Fragrances London Destination
Take a magic carpet to a new destination with this luscious and enticing Black Opium dupe. The Alexandria Fragrances version offers the same pear and pink pepper top notes with a dash of licorice. It also contains soft jasmine heart notes and a vanilla and coffee base, creating a close impression of YSL’s signature scent.
Overall, the effect is subtle, slightly gourmand, and features a hint of masculinity in the drydown that offsets the feminine floral notes.
Pros
- Inspired by YSL Black Opium
- Unisex scent that leans toward masculine
- Long-lasting
- Similar note pyramid
Cons
- Some prefer a true unisex scent
Fleur Noir (Black Flower)
This statement perfume captures inspiration from Black Opium with its top notes of pink pepper, pear, and orange blossom. The rest of the scent pyramid creates a perfect blend of jasmine, black coffee, and bitter almond that finishes up with a dry down of cashmere wood, vanilla, cedar, and patchouli that offers a similar invigorating and seductive scent.
Pros
- Affordable option
- Clean beauty choice
- Vegan-friendly perfume
- Cruelty-free
- Similar notes and fragrance effect
Cons
- None
Ambery Vanilla by Dossier
If you're looking for a warm and seductive sillage with a hint of spice that matches the coveted Black Opium perfume, look no further than this inspired dupe by Dossier.
The captivating blend opens with similar pear and pink pepper notes layered with mandarin and licorice. Heart notes awaken visions of white jasmine and orange blossoms, while the base notes of vanilla, coffee, patchouli, and cedarwood dry down into a deep and indulgent experience.
Pros
- Vegan formula
- Fragrance-free
- Cruelty-free
- Similar notes pyramid
Cons
- Some reviewers claimed that the preservative base smelled strong
Kayali Vanilla 28
While it offers a simpler scent, Kayali Vanilla 28 creates an effect that mimics Black Opium Le Parfum. Opening notes of brown sugar and Tonka Bean match Black Opium’s initial sweetness. Just like Le Parfum, Kayali offers a delicious mix of amber, vanilla, jasmine, and vanilla orchid notes.
Pros
- Affordable dupe
- Contains similar notes
Cons
- Less complex
Dior Poison Girl
Poison Girl replicates some Black Opium notes, but it’s an enchanting perfume that stands on its own.
Both sensual and sophisticated, this gourmand scent is lively, warm, and spicy. The sparkling citrus, warm rose, icy orange, and sweet fruity notes evoke the sunny outdoors, while a vanilla and Tonka Bean base offer a bittersweet finish.
Pros
- A warm, sweet, spicy, and complex fragrance
- Contains some Black Opium notes
Cons
- Same price as Black Opium
- Brighter and fresher fragrance
Oil Perfumery Impression of YSL's Black Opium
Experience the luxury of YSL's Black Opium without breaking the bank, and let this scent become your new signature.
With top notes of pear, pink pepper, and orange blossom, heart notes of coffee, jasmine, bitter almond, and licorice, plus base notes of vanilla, patchouli, cedar, and cashmere wood, this scent is a luxurious blend that's both intoxicating and long-lasting.
Pros
- Compact and portable 10 ml size, perfect for traveling
- Complex and long-lasting scent with a rich blend of notes
- Stainless steel roller ball for a smooth application
Cons
- Smaller size might require more frequent purchases for daily users
Taboo Green Opium
This sensual fragrance was created by YSL as a lighter and more affordable dupe for Black Opium. These contrasting and complimentary scents are like the dark and light sides of the moon.
The scent contains glorious layers of pear, orange blossom, green mandarin, fig, and jasmine that contrast against rich coffee, patchouli, and bourbon vanilla. If Black Opium evokes velvety night, then Green Opium has a brighter daytime vibe. It’s a warm, fruity scent that’s an addictive alternative to its more expensive sibling.
Pros
- Fruity and spicy scent by YSL
- Contains many of the same notes
Cons
- None
Choosing the Best YSL Black Opium Alternative
This high-end perfume is known for its great quality, fine craftsmanship, and unique scent. If you’re seeking a special scent and don’t mind shelling out the money for it, Black Opium is a good investment for your signature scent.
Black Opium’s heart notes include a rich and intoxicating coffee and jasmine blend, while the cedarwood, patchouli, and vanilla base notes offer a sweet and complex woodiness that lingers on the skin. Its fruity, spicy, and sophisticated notes create a warm, refreshing, and alluring aroma.
If you’re looking for a perfect Black Opium dupe, you may want to consider a fragrance that’s directly inspired by YSL’s best-selling scent. Key notes to look for include woody, spicy, aromatic, and sweet scents such as coffee, vanilla, cedar, and jasmine. Some of the dupes on this list aren’t directly inspired by Black Opium, but they offer a similar chic and edgy sillage.
The Most Affordable YSL Black Opium Alternative
While Brittany Spears’ Prerogative is the absolute most affordable dupe on the list, we love how well ALT Fragrance’s Fleur Noir mimics the signature Black Opium effect. If you’re looking for something a little more sophisticated and complex that’s supremely affordable, we recommend this Black Flower fragrance.
Our Favorite YSL Black Opium Dupe
We appreciate how Oakcha Midnight Nymph wraps pear, pink pepper, orange blossoms, pear, coffee, patchouli, and cashmere woods into a single effortless and intoxicating scent. The note pyramid, lingering sillage, and mysterious midnight-black perfume bottle conjure up a similar Black Opium effect.