Yves Saint Laurent is a name that needs no introduction. According to Vogue magazine, he completely changed the image of a woman in the 1960s. A bold combination of male and female images played into the hands of the weaker sex: the women's wardrobe was replenished with a tuxedo and trouser suits and enriched with military uniforms. When models in safari jackets and sheer dresses first appeared on the catwalk, a woman was able to take a fresh look at her sexuality. Literally everything that the brilliant fashion designer touched became notorious. Eau de toilette "Opium" was no exception. You can read the history of this fragrance in our article.
Successful dismissal
The world might never know Laurent as an independent fashion designer, if not for one not very beautiful story. In 1955 he was invited by Christian Dior as his assistant. Two years after his death, Yves became the artistic director of the famous fashion house. But his extravagant experiments frightened the owners of the Dior brand, and they, taking advantage of the fact that in 1960 Yves Saint Laurent was taken toarmy, hastened to remove him from the post of director. The fashion designer did not repay his debt to his homeland for long - only 20 days. Upon learning of the wrongful dismissal, Laurent filed a lawsuit against the company and received compensation. This money, as well as those promised to him by billionaire Mark Robinson, was enough for him to open his own business. And already in 1961 he showed his first collection.
World Workshop
Almost every item released under the Yves Saint Laurent label became a new fashion canon. Men's double-breasted jackets, vinyl raincoats, women's two-piece suits, vest dresses and much more instantly became the most desirable things in the wardrobe of a self-respecting fashionista. The famous logo, consisting of the golden letters L and Y, intertwined with the letter S, as if hinting at the sign of a dollar bill, raised the status of the owner to sky-high heights. This sign began to literally spread all over the world: it could be found on glasses, jewelry, bags and even on beach towels. And of course, Yves Saint Laurent launched his own perfume line.
Eau de toilette "Opium" (Yves Saint Laurent)
Despite the numerous indignant responses to his work, the fashion designer did not stop at nothing to once again shock the public. The release of the new fragrance is no exception. Eau de toilette "Opium" appeared in 1977 and for many decades has remained one of the most discussed and controversial perfumes. Its launch provoked a series of scandals. What was the value of the slogan alone, which addressed it to thosewho is dependent on YSL. Opium got its name for a reason: even its bottle looked like a lacquered box in which medicines, or rather opium, are stored in Japan. Yves Saint Laurent was accused of promoting drugs, and in America, activists even called for a boycott of perfume. But none of this confused the creator of the provocative perfume. Moreover, he even organized an "opium" party on the ship "Peking". The interior was decorated in the fragrance's traditional colors of red, gold and purple.
YSL Opium: for those who are not shy about their sensuality
The fragrance has proved so popular that new versions are released almost every year. And even in our far from puritanical time, his advertising campaigns manage to cause heated discussion in society. In 2000, a nude poster of Sophie Dahl, as if contorted at the peak of pleasure, was recognized as the most frank and provocative in the last 50 years. The following year, a video featuring French actress Melanie Thierry was banned in the UK. In her frantic dance, the vigilant British saw movements imitating the introduction of drugs.
Description of aromatic composition
Eau de toilette "Opium" - rich oriental aroma. Oriental motifs appear already in the bottle - red and gold are the traditional colors of the sensual East. The perfume is based on notes of carnation, rose and sandalwood. Interestingly, in the East itself (in particular, in China), Opium toilet water is prohibited. Everythingbecause some experts found in its composition a musk kiton, which they considered dangerous to he alth. No matter how ridiculous it may sound, there have been cases when entire batches of bottles of these perfumes were not allowed through customs because of the name. However, all this only fueled the already hot interest in the fragrance.
"Opium" today: a new understanding of the legendary fragrance
For decades, the aromatic composition of this perfume has hardly changed. Eau de toilette "Opium" for women received its first major re-release in 2009: it has become more modern and lighter. In the new version, the subtle sourness of bergamot and citrus blends gently with notes of jasmine and rose, and the final trail of amber, vanilla and patchouli gives the fragrance an exquisite finish. After experimenting with the bottle in 2009, its original version also returned slightly modified. It became translucent, and the famous window was located in the center of the vessel.
Absolutely new and unexpected was the release by the company of the youth version of Opium toilet water. The bottle's purple glass and gilded details were as different from the original as the contents. Peach in the base of the Belle d'Opium fragrance adds tenderness, which is so suitable for young creatures, and white pepper, Casablanca lily and incense add a slight piquancy to it. A little later, the brand released a version of "Opium" for men.
Contradictory opinions
Perhaps in the past, women's tastes and smells were different, like the sky above their heads and the grass under their feet. Today, even the legendary "Chanel No. 5" receive a negative response from some users. Some call them laundry soap. So is Opium toilet water: reviews in which the epithets "terrible", "heavy" and even "nauseous" appear next to the name of this perfume are not so rare. Many note its allergenicity, specificity, for some it is associated with a padlock. Even those who perceive it positively note its clearly evening destination. On the other hand, eau de toilette and eau de parfum "Opium" have different concentrations of the aromatic substance. And for those who find the second option too heavy, we can advise you to use the first one.
Eau de toilette Opium - for women who know their worth well. Self-confident, mature and courageous, capable of taming a tiger with their beauty and strength. For women who have found themselves and are not afraid to confess their deepest desires. Moreover, they are loudly announced without hesitation. The best outfit for them is their own body, wrapped in an exciting, sensual scent. The name of this fragrance is "Opium" by Yves Saint Laurent.