The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
When Yves Saint Laurent reintroduced Opium in 2009, the house handed the work to Antoine Maisondieu, trusting him to carry forward a composition that had been a landmark in the oriental category. The task required respect for what came before without slavish imitation, a balance between preservation and renewal. Maisondieu built this 2009 Eau de Parfum around a structure that feels distinctly its own, with bergamot and mandarin opening the door before myrrh, jasmine, opoponax, and amber take over the room. The listed notes frame a composition that leans on resin as its anchor, letting the balsamic materials carry weight through the drydown rather than relying on a sprawling top-to-base arc.
What makes this 2009 iteration worth examining is the perfumer's choice to lead with resin. Myrrh and opoponax, two related but distinct balsamic materials, do the heavy lifting in the base. Myrrh contributes a dry, slightly bitter quality that reads almost mineral against the skin. Opoponax deepens the picture with sweetness and a faint animal warmth that feels lived-in rather than perfumed. The amber accord underneath ties them to the citrus opening without ever fully announcing itself, a quiet connective tissue that keeps the composition unified from first spray to final trace.
The evolution
The first minutes are deceptive. Bergamot and mandarin flash bright, almost cheerful, and it's easy to think you've reached for something lighter than the bottle suggests. That brightness doesn't last long. The myrrh arrives with a quiet authority, and the citrus stops performing. The jasmine in the heart is subtle, more about texture than presence, and it serves as a bridge between the opening brightness and the resinous gravity below. From the middle of the wear onward, this is an opoponax and amber composition, and the smoke is real smoke, not a suggestion of it. It hangs in the air around the wearer with a density that rewards close attention. The longevity is well-documented by the community, and the fragrance has a way of announcing itself to anyone who steps within range.
Cultural impact
This 2009 reissue occupies a distinct position in fragrance culture. It exists as a touchstone for collectors who followed the original closely, and it introduced itself to a new generation of wearers discovering the oriental category for the first time. The fragrance has earned a strong longevity rating within the community, and its smoky, resinous character draws comparisons to other modern incense-driven compositions. Reviews consistently highlight the depth and projection as standout qualities, with the myrrh-opoponax-amber base earning particular praise for its warmth and complexity.
