In an attempt to democratize fashion, YSL began producing ready-to-wear in 1966, with its launch of Rive Gauche, and is considered to be the first to popularize the concept. Orange blossom is also the most prominent note from beginning to end of the perfume lifecycle with dragon fruit supporting that soapy sweetness.

I still smelled it as a skin scent during the night but then just sprayed more on me as I am going to bed now. On my skin it can start to lean towards an almost anise like scent, which usually would put me off but I don't seem to mind it as much here in combination with the other notes as it works quite well all together. There were moments that the whiffs I got felt remarkably similar to Pièce Unique by Maison Grès, which happens to be one of my favourite fragrances. The whiffs I get change all the time though, which makes me think that this might actually smell quite interesting on me. ALCOHOL, PARFUM / FRAGRANCE, AQUA / WATER, LINALOOL , BENZYL SALICYLATE, LIMONENE, BENZYL ALCOHOL, HEXYL CINNAMAL, HYDROXYCITRONELLAL, BUTYL METHOXYDIBENZOYLMETHANE, METHYL ANTHRANILATE, GERANIOL, CITRONELLOL, CITRAL, CINNAMYL ALCOHOL, AMYL CINNAMAL, ISOEUGENOL, FARNESOL, BENZYL BENZOATE, COUMARIN, EUGENOL, CI 17200 / RED 33, CI 60730 / EXT.

To conclude this is nice, but other than the gorgeous orange blossom note, this fragrance doesn’t have an awful lot going for it, at least not in winter. This fragrance is a perfect balance of daring and feminine, leaving a lasting impression on anyone who wears it. However if someone likes Black Opium but feels it is too sweet or overwhelming might want to give this one a try as it is a little bit less loud. Many vanilla fragrances are very cloudy and sickening, but this perfume is clear and distinct smelling. Scarves: for lighter fragrance, spray a scarf and wrap the scarf around your neck to transfer fragrance onto yourself gently.

The opening was too perfumey and generic for me but this quickly settled into such a beautiful drydown. To my nose, Black Opium Neon opens with a strong pink pepper top note, which isn't included in the notes pyramid but *is* listed for the original Black Opium. The orange blossom dominates this fragrance on my body chemistry then the faint coffee / vanilla note.The opening is very light, fruity, bubble-gummy, with florals in the background, not as dark as the absinthe boysenberry Intense. Like in couture tailoring, the signature BLACK OPIUM bottle is re-visited and given a silhouette with the contemporary woman in mind. I loved the original BO, but got tired of it quick because i kept smelling it on everyone and in every single perfume out there. I dont get much of the coffee in this version and Im glad because Im allergic to caffeine and I cannot stand the smell of coffee, well unless its Greek/turkish coffee. The adrenaline-rich coffee gives way to a heart of jasmine and orange blossom, teamed with juicy dragon fruit tingling with radiance, and enveloped by vanilla and white musk, making for a women’s perfume that is both couture and edgy.

This sits underneath an invigorating fruity top note of Dragon Fruit and Mandarin with an almost aromatic addition of Cedrat. The difference is that this is slightly sweeter and headier than the original because of the dragon fruit and lasts marginally longer although both last 6-7 hrs on my skin. Some would probably judge this as being basic, and TBH they wouldn't be entirely wrong -- for better or for worse, it has a palpable "Sephora" energy. While creating Black Opium, Yves Saint Laurent Beauty opened a new way in perfumery with a daring coffee accord; an ingredient never used in such great quantity in a feminine fragrance. Unaware of her lightly squinting blue eyes leaving a trail of sparkles every time it looks like she winks, causing this.I have never experienced the first iteration of Black Opium, so I can only speculate that this pink pepper blast at the beginning is evocative of the original BO.

But others have other things added and with time it turns into a more well rounded whole, with this one it's ALL I can smell.Neon is very similar to the original Black Opium, imagine BO opening mixed with coffee, sharp lemon citrus and bubble-gum sweet fruit notes. At the base, the signature black coffee accord is paired with liquorice, sandalwood and creamy vanilla for a women�s perfume that is electric yet smooth and unashamedly seductive. Being an opium flanker, I would’ve expected an indolic orange blossom, heavily supported by intoxicating (skanky) jasmine, but that’s absolutely not the case.