Head to head
Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium and Yves Saint Laurent Libre are often compared by people choosing between the two. Black Opium is a gourmand fragrance and Libre a floral one, and they share orange blossom, jasmine, vanilla and cedar. They are quite different fragrances that happen to be compared because they compete for the same buyer.
Black Opium stands apart with pear, pink pepper and coffee, while Libre brings lavender, mandarin and blackcurrant. Libre lasts longer (very long-lasting against long-lasting), and they project about the same (strong). Black Opium is the cheaper one: about $130 against $145 for a standard bottle.
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 | LibreYves Saint Laurent | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical price | $130 · 3.0 oz | $145 · 3.0 oz |
| Concentration | Eau de Parfum | Eau de Parfum |
| Launched | 2014 | 2019 |
| Family | Gourmand, Amber | Floral, Fougère |
| Top notes | Pear, Pink pepper, Orange blossom | Lavender, Mandarin, Blackcurrant |
| Heart notes | Coffee, Jasmine | Orange blossom, Jasmine |
| Base notes | Vanilla, Patchouli, Cedar | Vanilla, Musk, Cedar, Ambergris |
| Longevity | Long-lasting | Very long-lasting |
| Projection | Strong | Strong |
| Best seasons | Fall, Winter | Spring, Fall, Winter |
| Occasions | Date, Formal event | Office, Date, Formal event |
| Style | Seductive, Mysterious | Seductive, Elegant, Urban |
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 you want a lower price and a more mysterious character.
Yves Saint Laurent
$145 · 3.0 oz · EDP · Women · Floral
French lavender and Moroccan orange blossom with vanilla. A floral with a masculine structure: free, powerful and sensual.
Choose Libre if you want longer wear, something better suited to warm weather and a fragrance that covers more occasions.
Answer 7 quick questions about the person and the occasion, and we will match the fragrances that fit best.
Take the quizLibre lasts longer (very long-lasting against long-lasting), and they project about the same (strong). Longevity also depends on your skin and on how much you apply.
Black Opium is the cheaper one: about $130 against $145 for a standard bottle. These are typical US retail prices for a standard bottle and change often, so check the current price before buying.
They share orange blossom, jasmine, vanilla and cedar. They are quite different fragrances that happen to be compared because they compete for the same buyer.
For spring and summer, Libre is the better fit. For fall and winter they are about equally suited. Black Opium is at its best in fall and winter, and Libre in spring, fall and winter.
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