Head to head
Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium and Givenchy L'Interdit are often compared by people choosing between the two. Black Opium is a gourmand fragrance and L'Interdit a floral one, and they share pear, orange blossom, jasmine and vanilla. They are close in style: much of the character of one is also in the other.
Black Opium stands apart with pink pepper, coffee and cedar, while L'Interdit brings bergamot, tuberose and vetiver. They are rated the same for longevity (long-lasting), and they project about the same (strong). Both have a typical price of $130.
How we picked. We put the two fragrances side by side using the data in our catalog: notes, olfactory family, longevity, projection, the seasons and occasions each one suits and its typical price. A fragrance smells different on each person, so try both on skin if you can. Prices are typical US retail prices and may differ at checkout.
| Black OpiumYves Saint Laurent | L'InterditGivenchy | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical price | $130 · 3.0 oz | $130 · 2.7 oz |
| Concentration | Eau de Parfum | Eau de Parfum |
| Launched | 2014 | 2018 |
| Family | Gourmand, Amber | Floral, Amber |
| Top notes | Pear, Pink pepper, Orange blossom | Pear, Bergamot |
| Heart notes | Coffee, Jasmine | Tuberose, Orange blossom, Jasmine |
| Base notes | Vanilla, Patchouli, Cedar | Patchouli, Vetiver, Vanilla, Ambroxan |
| Longevity | Long-lasting | Long-lasting |
| Projection | Strong | Strong |
| Best seasons | Fall, Winter | Spring, Fall, Winter |
| Occasions | Date, Formal event | Date, Formal event |
| Style | Seductive, Mysterious | Seductive, Elegant, Mysterious |
Yves Saint Laurent
$130 · 3.0 oz · EDP · Women · Gourmand
Black coffee, vanilla and white flowers: a shot of night-time adrenaline, sweet and addictive.
Choose Black Opium if its notes appeal to you more: on paper the two are very evenly matched.
Givenchy
$130 · 2.7 oz · EDP · Women · Floral
Luminous white flowers against a dark base of patchouli and vetiver. The thrill of the forbidden.
Choose L'Interdit if you want something better suited to warm weather and a more elegant character.
Answer 7 quick questions about the person and the occasion, and we will match the fragrances that fit best.
Take the quizThey are rated the same for longevity (long-lasting), and they project about the same (strong). Longevity also depends on your skin and on how much you apply.
Both have a typical price of $130. These are typical US retail prices for a standard bottle and change often, so check the current price before buying.
They share pear, orange blossom, jasmine, vanilla and patchouli. They are close in style: much of the character of one is also in the other.
For spring and summer, L'Interdit is the better fit. For fall and winter they are about equally suited. Black Opium is at its best in fall and winter, and L'Interdit in spring, fall and winter.
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