Yves Saint Laurent will launch Belle d’Opium, the “next-generation” version of the brand’s iconic Opium fragrance, in August. Belle d’Opium is fronted by actress Mélanie Thierry.
Belle d’Opium is an oriental developed by perfumers Honorine Blanc and Alberto Morillas; it is described as having “less of an amber-like effect” than the original. The notes include Casablanca lily, sandalwood, gardenia, white pepper, jasmine and narguile accord.
Yves Saint Laurent Belle d’Opium will be available in 30, 50 and 90 ml Eau de Parfum. In the US, it will launch in September. (via wwd)
Update: see a review of Yves Saint Laurent Belle d’Opium.
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Narguilé = bongwater?
LOL…probably more like Hermes Ambre Narguile.
Is that the French word for it?? In Hebrew it’s “nargila”. How funny!
The word comes from the Arabic, I think. If you click on the word in the article above you’ll go to the French wikipedia page.
Hope this is a lighter version of Opium which is as well as “iconic” as the original!
Do not like the add – light coming out between her legs?!
I’m guessing they did this at the same time as the new Opium ad:
http://www.nstperfume.com/2010/01/13/new-packaging-yves-saint-laurent-paul-joe-christian-dior/
And no, I don’t love either of them.
So slutty!
But isn’t “slutty” the new “sexy-in-a-classy-glamorous-way”?
I like the photograph of the new Opium ad.
But this one is certainly not subtle.
I learned in a course long time ago, that whenever you see something in print, there is very very slim chances that what you see is not intentional, or that the effect it provokes is not intentional. This things go through endless focus groups and testing sessions.
The fragrance intrigues me as Opium is one of those scents that smells heavenly on some people and headache inducing on others.
Alas, I’ve never encountered the heavenly variety… merely the headache-inducing.
Oh, but they exist!
After a lot of thought on the matter I came to the conclusion that only a very small percentage of the population pull it off.
And they either have wonderfull body chemistry or they are cleverly spraying the S*** on their clothes! Hahahahahaha!
Yep. That’s light *and* smoke. Light & smoke emanating from one’s private parts does *not* make a good impression. LOL
LOL! makes me wanna call the fire brigade!
Well the look certainly *is* smoldering!
Call the doctor!!
Doctor, shmoctor – I want the hunky fire department!
You can have them, Ann.
That look on her face tells me it’s gas.
Snort!
Like a mysterious cloud of angels radiating from her holiest of holies….
Dear, save that line for next year’s prix eau faux.. I think you have a winner!
Agree.
I think they had a ritual for that in ancient Greece.
I’ll have to revisit the original. Its been a long time since Ive smelled it. I dont remember it at all. Im really loving the bottle. I look forward to trying this. : )
O gosh coming from the same perfumer who made Couture Couture! Now Im scared. LOL! I still want to try it. Nothing can be as bad as CC. : )
And the team together made Cacharel Scarlett — I have never smelled it but have heard it was awful. Still, they’re good perfumers (Alberto Morillas is a genius), we’ll just have to wait & see.
A boring flanker again after “La Nuit de l’Homme” & “Parisienne”, I miss Yves Saint Laurent and his incredible creativity.
I just watched the documentary about YSL (“His Life & Times) — he really was an amazing man. Highly recommend the movie to anyone who hasn’t seen it, esp. the special features which are fascinating.
I recommend an excellent companion documentary, “Yves Saint Laurent: 5 Ave Marceau 75116 Paris”, which focuses on the design process and collaboration between YSL and the atelier team.
Oh thank you — I did not know about that one! Off to see if Netflix has it…
The ad looks like a bad America’s Next Top Model photoshoot. And who asked for “less of an amber-like effect”??? Not me!
The next generation, presumably
My thirteen year old son and I watch that show and laugh hysterically! I could not figure out the leg thing in this photo – my eyes was drawn there in a most unsatisfactory way. My sister used to wear Opium in the 80′s (well who didn’t?) and now has a terrible allergy to fragrances (hmmm). I am a bit curious to try this but it is not numero uno on my list.
I didn’t wear Opium in the 80′s–I wore Poison! Those two, along with Giorgio, are probably responsible for inspiring more perfume hatred than everything else combined.
yes, I always have a spot light shining on (out of?) my crotch, doesn’t everyone?
Ha ha ha! You crack me up, Daisy.
Hey at least she has her clothes on, technically, and is not all oiled up!! But I think I need a drink: between this, the playboy, and the Kezno Wood, well, this morning NST is a little sexy for coffee!
I’m really curious to try this as I never liked the original Opium.
And I’m curious because I loved the original!
Moi aussi!
Original Opium asphyxiates me. I might try to get a sniff of this, in the hope of pushing my boundaries a little.
Glad they’re not releasing it until the end of summer/ onset of fall.
I wore Opium to bed the other night, in the vain hope that despite the 90+ degree weather, it would fare well in air-conditioning. It did not, and turned sickly-sour, all-hot-and-bothered (and not in a good way) – so then I wished for something lighter, and voila!
One can only hope it doesn’t deviate so far from the original that it is impossible to corealate the two…like when two sisters have not even silly faces or gestures in common.
Oh I LOVE the ad!!! Is that Sasha??
I checked it for you. It is Mélanie Thierry.
I wore Opium once upon a time (it was a gift from a gentleman friend) and wouldn’t mind trying this when it comes out – if only for old times sake! I don’t care for these very slutty ads we’ve seen so much of lately, but I may just be getting old and crabby….
Opium was Mom’s fragrance when I was growing up. I love it, but I can’t wear it. How can a girl wear her mother’s fragrance?
Did I mention I LOVE Opium? Had my mother chosen something else, Opium would have been my HG. Smoky, incensy, leathery, peppery, obnoxious but in a diva-fasion, just plain naughty, naughty girl with very rich parents, and maybe a title too. But naughty in a smart, grown-up, way. No member of any royal family comes to mind, I keep thinking Clara Bow and maybe that’s not spot on but am desperate to prevent readers from thinking Paris Hilton, OK? She marries someone equally rich and well-bred who would not think of cheating on her, and she becomes a famous film producer. That’s Opium for me.
Something equally naughty but more modern would be oh-so-welcome. Unfortunately since Opium, YSL faded into focus-grouped – not banality exactly, but nothing ground-breaking.
The bottle looks great and I’ll try anything Opium, let’s wait and see … (double eyebrow twitch)
Oh, go ahead and wear it! You love it so. Just think of yourself as inheriting your mother’s beauty.
I may, but let’s wait for the fall. Not that we’re having much of a summer here, but still … Opium is a hot scent for cold nights
My Mom wore Joy when I was growing up and I have worn it for years.
Does your Mom still wear Joy?
Mine feels she “grew out of Opium” and now wears Rive Gauche.
So in theory I could wear it, except – I’d instantly feel 25 years older…
This ad is even less appealing than the Fan di Fendi ad, but there, at least the model looked like she was loving the perfume…
The ad looks like a bad ‘shopping job. Wonder if it’ll be featured on PSD?
I was so disturbed by the angle of her left leg that I didn’t even notice the smoke until I read the comments. After looking closer, I can see that it’s because she’s wearing super-high platform heels, but it still disturbs me.
The feminine response to Marc Jacobs’ Bang….
Oh my God!
Is this a joke???
“Belle” d’Opium? This is the stupidest idea I heard recently!
Opium is the epitome of oriental, mystical, mature perfumes! Making a girly, young version for it is like making a joke of it!
And Honorine Blance… Look at her portfolio. None great perfume, only generic fragrances.
Alberto Morillas may save the composition but I really doubt that this will be an iconic scent as it’s predecessor.
(Anyhow, the bottle should have been rather PURPLE -as the original is red/orange -, or transparent orange. But his blue bottle is a mistake. Blue is flacon with the yellow hole in the centre doesn’t suggest oriental mystery, seduction, it looks rather cool and fresh.)
For what I understood from the press, OPIUM was a dream imagination of the Oriental Asian countries (Japan, China even Afganistan (biggest world opium provider) mixed with the daring and sophisticated image of YSL.
This new version is an interpretation of that same sophistication transposed in Middle East Countries (Persian hammam… Babylon…) and therefore this nightblue shade is relevant for me. The “narghile” accord at the center of the fragrance, mixed with incense and Casablanca lily in order to create a new oriental with a moist sensuality, is something that a found extremely appealing.
Now… for sure it will smell different from the original (there is no point for a brand to launch a flanker similar to the original since the aim of it is to capture new consumers and keeping the addicts of the original on the first one)
This is an old thread, but I gotta add my 2 cents. The print and TV ad are ridiculous, yes, but the bottle’s got some gorgeousness in it. I tried the juice last week, and was surprised at how much I liked it. I was meh to okay with Opium original, but I prefer this: white flowers, tobacco, sweet sandalwood, and frankincense? Holy cow, what’s not to like? As long as it doesn’t ever make me break out twitch-dancing like that blonde chick in the TV ad, it’s all good.
I dislike these ads too and find the above poster ad borderline vulgar. The bottle is so pretty though and I’d love to try it. The notes sound promising.
I haven’t heard the best of things about Belle. I’m still hoping it will wow me but I really don’t know. I have to go try it this weekend. : )
So I got to try Belle 2day and having never smelled the original I really can’t compare the two so sorry everyone. I can only assume this is lighter than the original cuz I heard the original is pretty powerful stuff. There is a sweetness in the beginning but I can’t decide what it is. I can’t wait for you to smell and review it Robin so u can help me out w/ what I’m smelling. It’s nice. I like it. It reminds me of something though but it’s been bugging me all day cuz I can’t figure it out. I don’t know it’s like it has David Yurmans opening. It doesn’t have the most personality but it isn’t faceless. Or maybe it is. LOL! I can’t describe scents! That was the best I could think of. LOL! I’m so off! : )
Angie is going to review this one soon, I think