The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Opium has been YSL's most provocative name since 1977. The 2009 Eau de Toilette takes that legacy in a different direction, softening the edges while keeping the spirit alive. Bergamot and mandarin orange open the door, but myrrh and jasmine are already waiting inside. The bright citrus spark gives way to a resinous warmth, with the myrrh adding a smoky, slightly sweet depth that anchors the composition. Jasmine brings its creamy floral presence to the heart, creating a bridge between the crisp opening and the warmer drydown. The overall effect is one of controlled richness, something that feels intimate rather than shouty, drawing people in rather than demanding attention.
Myrrh is the engine here. In most oriental fragrances it's a supporting note, buried in the base. In Opium 2009, it anchors the heart, giving the jasmine something warm to lean against instead of float above. The result is less flash, more depth. Amber and myrrh trading notes for hours until you forget where one ends and the other begins. That balance is what makes this work on skin instead of just announcing itself from the bottle.
The evolution
The bergamot opens bright, bergamot and mandarin orange catching light like the first sip of something warm. Then the hand-off: myrrh and jasmine take over, and the temperature rises. Amber builds beneath like a slow exhale. Three hours in, it settles into opoponax, that warm, powdery-resinous note that makes this feel less like a fragrance and more like skin, like warmth, like the kind of memory that follows you into the next room. On good skin, it lasts through dinner and well past midnight.
Cultural impact
The 2009 Opium EDT occupies a specific space, warm enough for evening, restrained enough for day, and rich enough in myrrh and amber to stand out in a crowded oriental category. Launched in 2009, it brings a particular character to the Opium lineage, one that favors depth over declaration. The myrrh provides an earthy, slightly medicinal sweetness that grounds the composition, while amber adds warmth and a golden glow that rounds the edges. The fragrance opens with crisp citrus before settling into this richer heart, and the progression feels natural rather than jarring.
