Y EDP vs Opium (1977)

Bergamot hits first — bright, slightly tart, gone within minutes. The heart is where it earns its reputation: sage and geranium lock into the amberwood base early, creating a clean-but-substantial green-woody accord that smells polished without being stiff. Ginger adds a faint sharpness that keeps it from going sweet. Cedar grounds the dry-down into something dry and skin-close. Projection is moderate, sillage stays tasteful — present without announcing itself across the room. — A reliable everyday wear for spring and fall, built for the office or a first date.

Opens with a sharp bite of clove and mandarin that softens quickly into a dense, resinous heart where carnation and cinnamon push against smoky myrrh and sweet opoponax. The amber and patchouli anchor the dry-down into something almost edible but never lightweight — vanilla rounds the edges without tipping into dessert territory. Projection is loud for the first two hours, then sillage settles into a warm, incense-kissed skin scent that clings for hours. — Cold-weather evenings, confident wearers who want a fragrance that announces itself before they enter the room.