Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Crowned Best Perfume Ever by Marie Claire

The women's magazine Marie Claire completed a multi‑year, multi‑month study of hundreds of fragrances, testing each for projection, development on the skin and longevity. After the extensive evaluation, the panel declared Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium the best perfume of all time in 2024. The scent is described as opening with an intense black‑coffee accord, softened by orange‑flower, and developing warm cedarwood, patchouli and vanilla notes that linger for hours. The perfume’s iconic black, glittering bottle and its modern reinterpretation of the 1977 Opium legacy were also highlighted. Four perfumers—Nathalie Lorson, Marie Salamagne, Olivier Cresp and Honorine Blanc—collaborated on the formulation, creating a fragrance that appeals to multiple generations of women worldwide.