We list it as a match for one original, Yves Saint Laurent Opium (1977). Owners score it 7 for accuracy and 8 for longevity, from $75. It is The Scent File Pick among the 2 we list for Opium (1977).
Two separate scores, never averaged: how close it smells, and how long it lasts.
Against Yves Saint Laurent Opium (1977), Estée Lauder Cinnabar scores accuracy 7 — recognizable but not identical. A strong buy if you want the vibe cheaply; if that scent is a daily signature, the original keeps a real edge on precision.
Every pairing shows where it comes from and how far we trust it.
Repeatedly cited as the closest still-in-production cousin to vintage Opium — a spicy carnation-clove-amber oriental.
“Estee Lauder Cinnabar (the current formula) smells pretty close to the original formula of YSL Opium.”
Wear Cinnabar or Opium (1977)? Tell us how they compare. Reports like yours are what move a match up a level.
The other match we list for Yves Saint Laurent Opium (1977), in our ranking.
Thirteen reviewers who know the original Opium place Tabu in the same vintage spiced-amber family rather than as a copy: about half find it similar, one owner of a 1984 Opium bottle calling it close to the old Opium, and the rest find it dirtier, more animalic and less sweet. Wear time is reported unevenly — strong on vintage bottles but modest on the current formula, with several owners getting only three to six hours and one gone within the hour.
The 30 best-tested dupes under $40, as a PDF. You join our email list too: rare emails, no spam.
