Yves Saint Laurent

YSL Libre vs. Coco Mademoiselle

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Coco Mademoiselle has been a best seller for a long long time and is still sticking around as a great perfume. Libre EDP from YSL, has become a very popular option since its release some years back.

This popularity and somewhat similar styles often leads to questioning as to which one is better to buy? Which lasts longer? Etc. In this post, I want to break down my experience with these fragrances and declare my winner, in this battle.

Tale of the Tape: Libre vs. Coco Mademoiselle

Libre EDP

Notes include: lavender, white musks, orange flower, vanilla, orchid

Click here to try: Yves Saint Laurent Libre Eau De Parfum Spray for Women 90ml/3oz, clear

Read my review: Libre EDP

Coco Mademoiselle

Notes include: orange, neroli, may rose, patchouli, vetiver, jasmine

Click here to try: Coco Mademoiselle

Read my full review: Coco Mademoiselle EDP

Opening

Coco Mademoiselle opens up with a bold blend of orange and neroli, along with a solid amount of the patchouli note. That’s the very opening phase, that is joined in rapid succession by the other floral notes.

In this case, it’s mostly jasmine, but a bit of rose starts peaking through too.

Libre opts to go with the orange blossom and a lighter use of actual citrus fruits. This YSL starts out with a soapier aroma and a bit of creaminess. Lavender is the major player and there is more musk, as things move along.

Which do I like better? While Libre is pretty nice in the beginning, I still prefer the Chanel to the newer release. It stands out strong and brings a beautiful warmth that only develops further.

Edge: Mademoiselle

Projection

No worries, as either one of these fragrances will bring the power. So, unless you need an absolute bomb, it probably won’t be the deciding factor.

Libre is in the upper end of the moderate range, if not the lower end of the definitively strong end of the spectrum. It brings it.

However, Coco Mademoiselle has a better ability to project, in my experience. It’s not a massive difference, but it is noticeable.

Edge: Coco Mademoiselle

Longevity

Again, this is another category where Libre is no slouch, but comes up short in comparison. 8-9 hours is what it seems to go, on my skin. Very good and not much to complain about.

Coco Mademoiselle lasts at least 10 hours for me. It can tack on hours even beyond that.

Edge: Mademoiselle

Versatility

To me, they’re pretty evenly split. Both the Chanel and YSL scent can work in a variety of climates, if you’re avoiding the height of summer.

Also, they can fit into a casual daily wear, work, or even out on the town for an evening. Though, they’re not specifically nighttime scents.

Very versatile and great options for a perfume that can do almost anything.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

I think that Libre is a nice perfume, that definitely has its strengths, and will be a good option for many women. It’s not too complex, mostly its going to be about the lavender and orange blossom, which may or not be a selling point for you personally.

If you’re a bigtime lavender fan, it might be the one to go with here.

For me, Coco Mademoiselle is a classic and still has its charm after two decades. Not only does it have better performance, I also think that it just smells better.

I enjoy the opening act more, the floral notes are more appealing to my nose, and I like the way that vanilla and musk is used in this composition versus Libre EDP.

Update: The Libre line has been expanded to include better entries like Libre Intense and Le Parfum. Le Parfum might be one that I might choose over Coco Mademoiselle, but I think that the Chanel is more versatile and it would be a closer contest.

So, go with Coco versus the original Libre, but I’d consider checking out Le Parfum as a potential alternative.

Winner: Coco Mademoiselle

Black Opium Intense by YSL

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Black Opium Intense is yet another flanker from the Black Opium line released by Saint Laurent in 2019. An intense version of the popular fragrance was intriguing to me, so, I grabbed some to test it out for review. What does it smell like? How long does it last? Is it a better version of Black Opium?

What does Black Opium Intense Smell Like?

Notes include: coffee, licorice absolute, vanilla, blue absinthe essence

My Full Review

Here’s how YSL describes this fragrance: The sensuality of coffee is surrounded by the aura of the magnetizing note of blue absinthe. The thrill of a mysterious and daring addiction electrifies the new Black Opium Eau de Parfum Intense.

The original Black Opium EDP is a pretty powerful perfume, on my skin. As such, I was expecting Intense to be an absolute bomb, but it isn’t.

It is a pretty different fragrance from the others, but I was looking forward to a powerhouse. It opens up with a blend of the blue absinthe and licorice accord. It is an interesting pairing because the anise found in absinthe can often come across like licorice, in terms of smell.

That’s the top of the scent, with the usual coffee fragrance coming underneath. It isn’t a ‘boozy’ smell, if you’re thinking of the usual mixed drink style of perfumes. Just a smooth, slightly sweet, coffee aroma with a hint of vanilla.

The next phase, there does seem to be the jasmine floral note coming through. I know, that and orange blossom have been heavily featured in this series, but I don’t get any orange blossom in this one.

As it dries down, Black Opium Intense does get a bit powdery for a while. It isn’t a super baby powder experience or anything, but you do get a sensation of powder. It’s mostly about the coffee, licorice, slight vanilla, and jasmine. Most of the absinthe, has gone out the window.

That’s about what I get for the rest of the wear.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage is pretty moderate at its peak. That’s about up until the one hour mark and then it is pretty much a skin scent. Don’t expect a heavy projection bomb, this ain’t it. Not nearly as strong as the original.

The longevity is actually pretty good though, as a skin scent. It sticks around for 7-8 hours of wear. It’d be a lot better with some power behind it, but it didn’t just disappear entirely.

Seasonally, this is another autumn and winter wear. If it were stronger, I’d say it’d mostly be for the nightlife. But, as is, you’re not really going to choke out a room and can probably get away with wearing it in a variety of daytime situations.

To me, it’s not what I would consider a sexy smell. It’s all just fine, never really wowing me.

Overall Impressions of Black Opium Intense

Do I like this perfume? I mean, I don’t hate it. I think it is better than Nuit Blanche (maybe?), but worse than both Black Opium and Neon.

The absinthe and licorice pairing is interesting, just not incredible. The strength of the scent is a major miss for me. Although, a heavy licorice note tends to give me a headache.

There really just isn’t much here to praise, it’s mostly just saying to yourself, ‘well, that’s pretty good, I guess’. Licorice, coffee, absinthe, some vanilla/jasmine, and a slight powdery feel at times. If that’s enough for you, go ahead and give this YSL scent a try.

Black Opium Nuit Blanche by YSL

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Nuit Blanche was one of the flanker perfumes of Black Opium. It was released back in 2016, after the immediate success of the original. This one never got the same level of attention, but I was interested to see what it’s all about. How it smells, how long it lasts, and if it was an underrated gem?

 

What does Black Opium Nuit Blanche Smell Like?

Notes include: coffee, sandalwood, orange blossom, white musk, rice, caramel

Click here to try: Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Nuit Blanche Eau De Parfum Spray, 3 oz.

My Full Review

Here’s how YSL, describes this fragrance: A luminous trail journeys to the end of the night. The energy of black coffee embraces a vibrant orange blossom, enlightened by white musk. An electrifying thrill of femininity.

Nuit Blanche opens up on my skin with some of the familiar Black Opium DNA, though a bit sweeter, and quite a bit muted.

I get a good amount of coffee here, but a vanilla and caramel blend that comes across as milky. However, what really comes across on my skin is sandalwood. It becomes more prominent, after a few minutes, but it really pops on my skin.

I don’t think many other people had the same experience with this one, but Nuit Blanche is all about coffee and sandalwood, with the other notes playing bit parts.

So, at first it’s more of a spiciness (with vanilla and caramel) on top of those two notes. Then, it’s the orange blossom (which isn’t a strong here as it is in Black Opium Neon). Finally, it is the remnants of caramel with sandalwood and coffee. Not much musk comes through on me.

Each phase is actually pretty short lived, as the performance isn’t all that amazing with Nuit Blanche. It’s a bit weird because, I can recognize these sweeter notes, but they just don’t come across as sugary…maybe being suppressed by the purported rice note.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

This is the weakest of the Black Opium scents. I can get maybe up to an hour of it being a moderate scent and then it’s close to the skin. Seriously, not much projection or heaviness here. 

The longevity isn’t much better. It’s pretty much gone after four hours, on my skin. It’s not a bad journey, but it is a short one, and really lacks the performance of the others in the series (which aren’t all that elite).

Seasonally, it’s an autumn and winter wear, just like the original. Though, it wouldn’t be awful in warmer temperatures.

To me, this came across as more of a nightlife scent. But, it’s also really weak…soooo what’s the point? I suppose you could wear this during the daytime, since it’s not in your face. Maybe others will get better wear from Nuit Blanche.

 

 

Overall Impressions of Black Opium Nuit Blanche

Overall, do I like this scent? I mean, I like the smell well enough. I don’t think it’s amazing and I like the others from this line better, but it’s not a terrible smell.

I actually do like the fairly unique sandalwood and coffee that comes across on my skin. Throw in some caramel and vanilla, it’ll make for a good smelling latte. 

The performance is rather terrible, however. That may be a reason why this one never caught on and I’m pretty sure has been discontinued. It’s no longer available on the YSL website.

Really, I cannot recommend Nuit Blanche, unless you absolutely have to have every Black Opium perfume. Or maybe, if you find a dirt cheap bottle to try. 

Black Opium Neon by YSL

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Black Opium Neon is one of the flankers from the best selling Saint Laurent line. I’m making my way through the perfumes from this line, in order to catch up on the reviews. Today’s entry was released by YSL in 2019. How does Neon Smell? Does it last long? What are the differences? Is it worth a buy?

What does Black Opium Neon Smell Like?

Notes include: coffee, dragon fruit, mandarin essence, orange blossom, jasmine

Click here to try: Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Neon EDP 2.5 oz 75 ml Women NEW

My Full Review

Let’s see how YSL describes this perfume: When dark coffee meets the vivid & audacious dragon fruit. A vibrant & luminous addiction flashes through the new Eau de Parfum Neon.

Upon first spraying, Neon is noticeably different from the original Black Opium EDP, but you can still pick up the DNA of the original. After all, they still share coffee, orange blossom, and vanilla notes.

However, the weighting is completely different, as the coffee and especially vanilla are toned way down. The opening gives you a very citrusy smelling blend of dragon fruit and mandarin orange. I like it, as it gives Neon a nice burst of energy and a fairly tropical vibe.

That’s another aspect of this one that I like, Black Opium Neon is ultimately a lighter fragrance without the heavy embrace that the original could have.

To me, the opening act is mostly the fruit notes sitting on top of a prominent orange blossom with some jasmine thrown in. It feels sweet in more of a candy-like way for a gourmand. Like, more bubble gum and Starburst versus a baked goods gourmand.

During the dry down, is when I really start to get the original Black Opium vibes. I can pick up more of the coffee and vanilla notes, but really it becomes about the floral notes. Like a softer version of the original, with the fruit remnants still lingering.

Then, the very end of the road is a pretty faint by this point, coffee accord. A little orange blossom, still in the mix. It’s kind of surprising that the coffee is really the last one standing, but that’s just what it is.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

This isn’t a heavy fragrance, nor does it have a crazy amount of projection. Actually, it’s pretty moderate as a whole. From the description, I was expecting more of a loud club banger, but Neon doesn’t fit that bill.

I mean, you could wear it out in the nightlife, it’s just not going to fill a room. Spraying it on a t-shirt, I could pick it up from about 6 feet away, at its max. On the skin, it seems to be around that same level.

This one has a bit better staying power than Illicit Green, but not too much. On me, it’ll go just over six hours, maybe getting close to seven. However, it’s not going to be a massive double digit hour perfume, on skin.

Seasonally, it isn’t limited to the autumn and winter like the original. But also, it isn’t one for the summer months. Depending on where you live, it’s probably good through late springtime.

Neon feels more well put together than the original, with a somewhat more mature vibe. Not to say it’s old lady-ish, but the heavier coffee and vanilla gourmand features aren’t popping out as much.

This can be worn in a variety of situations, day or into the nightlife. You’ll probably just have to reapply if you’re making that transition. Neon isn’t a formal fragrance.

Overall Impressions of Black Opium Neon

Overall, do I like Neon? I do. In terms of how it smells, I like it slightly better than the original. It has more balance, is lighter, and I enjoy the fruity top notes. Dragon fruit is a nice touch.

The performance and sillage isn’t as good. Not terribly bad wear, but it doesn’t hit the same level as its predecessor.

If you didn’t like the original Black Opium, I doubt that this would change your mind. If you already own Black Opium, you probably don’t need this, unless you want to round out your collection.

For those who are just in the market for a Black Opium fragrance…it’s worth a shot to see if you prefer this edition. It’s not way better, but I have a bit of a preference for how Neon comes across.

Neon is one of the better releases from this line, but not the best of them.

Black Opium vs Poison Girl Perfume Comparison

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For this fragrance comparison, we are going to take a closer look at to women’s eau de parfums, Black Opium by YSL vs. Poison Girl by Christian Dior. Which of these perfumes smells the best? They share a lot of similarities, have lots of sweetness, are gourmand, but which one is a better buy? As usual, I’m going to break down each by different metrics, and then declare a winner. I’ve also linked my original reviews of each scent below.

Tale of the Tape: Black Opium vs. Poison Girl

Black Opium

black opium perfume review

Notes include: coffee, vanilla, patchouli, pink pepper, orange blossom, cedar

Click here to try: Yves Saint Laurent Eau De Parfum Spray for Women, Black Opium, 3 Ounce

Read my original review: Black Opium

Poison Girl

Notes include: Damascus rose, tonka bean, bitter orange, vanilla, almond, sandalwood

Click here to try: Christian Dior Poison Girl Women’s Eau de Parfum Spray, 3.4 Ounce

Read my original review: Poison Girl

Opening

I’m not too much of a fan with the way that Black Opium opens up. The first ten minutes or so are pretty jumbled, and honestly not that great, but it gets better. It’s a lot of orange blossom, cedar, and vanilla at the top. It’s loud and not very cohesive yet.

It’s strange, because I do really love orange blossom and vanilla. But for some reason, it just doesn’t click in the beginning.

Poison Girl, hits first with the Damascus rose note, tonka bean, and bitter orange. It’s creamy and smooth and actually feels quite close to how Black Opium ultimately smells.

At the start, the Dior fragrance, takes the edge.

Edge: Poison Girl 

Projection

Ok, Black Opium is a bold fragrance. The sillage is quite loud and it has the ability to project far and wide. Really, that’s one of the perfume’s major strengths. As such, Poison Girl is going to have to match that at least, does it? It doesn’t.

The Dior starts off strong but never reaches the same level as does the YSL. Later, it fades more into a moderate perfume while Black Opium keeps going strong. Poison Girl isn’t bad at all, it just doesn’t meet the pure power that Black Opium displays.

Edge: Black Opium

Longevity

Actually, this category might be a tie. Black Opium goes on and on, but I also got double digit hours out of Poison Girl. I mean, if you want to keep going into the deep hours, maybe there is a clear winner but not in normal situations.

Edge: Push

Versatility

Two cold weather fragrances. Poison Girl can be worn at the office, casually, or out on a date. Black Opium can do the same, although, in confined spaces its best to go lighter.

I’d say Poison Girl is a tad bit sexier to my nose and is subtle enough to wear anywhere. So, I’ll give the Dior the slight edge here.

Edge: Poison Girl

Overall Scent

So, these two perfumes are very close in how they stack up against one another. They share many elements and this close competition is to be expected.

Black Opium EDP turns into a vanilla and coffee mix as it moves along to go with an orange blossom note playing the support role. It’s very warm and super sweet. The pink pepper note and the patchouli, give it a cozy spice to sit underneath the sweetness, and create that enveloping feel.

Poison Girl is also quite sweet but has a creamier aroma, thanks to tonka bean and the almond note. The rose, vanilla, and tonka bean notes make for a formidable trio that lead the way. The bitter orange note supplies the citrus and sort of gives a similar vibe to Black Opium.

Ultimately, though, I think that I prefer Poison Girl. It’s smoother. Almond, sandalwood, and tonka make sure of that. It’s sweet, creamy, and smooth. It’s not as bold as Black Opium, but performs just as well. It’s difficult to pick a winner in this contest, but Poison Girl just strikes me as a tad more interesting.

Winner: Poison Girl