The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
The 2013 Collector's Edition is YSL's love letter to a legend. In 1977, Opium arrived with a name that divided opinion and a scent that split perception across continents. When the house reformulated Opium in 2009, critics and devoted fans took notice. The 2013 edition houses that reformulation in a redesigned gold flacon whose facets catch light differently from its predecessors, giving the bottle a warm, almost luminous presence. This isn't a reimagining. It is a continuation, a careful preservation of a scent that still commands attention. The limited run in autumn 2013 was intended to give the 2009 Opium a moment of its own, wrapped in the brand's signature gold and presented as a collector's piece.
What sets this iteration apart from the 2009 original is the presentation, not the formula. But that matters more than it sounds. The gold bottle changes how you store it, how you display it, how it feels in your hand. The 50 ml format keeps it intimate. Jasmine Sambac anchors the heart with a creamy, almost indolic warmth that doesn't apologize for being floral in a composition built on resin and spice. Cloves add a dry, aromatic edge that prevents sweetness from becoming syrupy. Opoponax, sometimes called sweet myrrh, softens the transition into the base without diluting its warmth. This is Opium without apology, presented as the statement it always intended to be.
The evolution
The opening hits with Mandarin Orange and Bergamot, a citrus brightness that reads almost sharp against what follows. Within minutes the delicate Lily of the Valley recedes and the heart takes over: Jasmine Sambac blooms into the composition with a lush, slightly animalic presence, while Cloves and Myrrh add spice and resin in equal measure. The drydown is where Opium earns its name. Amber, Opoponax, Patchouli, and Vanilla create a warm, slightly smoky base that settles close to the skin and remains perceptible for hours, slowly shifting from bright citrus to a quiet, resinous finish. As the fragrance develops, the spice of cloves warms the floral richness of jasmine, and the resinous myrrh adds depth that lingers beneath the surface. The overall effect is a smooth transition from crisp opening to a lingering, intimate trail that feels both modern and timeless.
Cultural impact
The original Opium (1977) was a cultural lightning rod. Its name alone prompted protests in some markets, yet it became one of the best-selling fragrances of the 20th century. The 2013 Collector's Edition arrives as a celebration of that legacy, acknowledging that the 2009 reformulation deserved its own moment of recognition. Limited production and the redesigned gold bottle position this as a collector's item from launch, appealing to both devoted Opium wearers and those who missed the original moment.
