If you’ve ever wondered what YSL Beauty’s Black Opium Eau de Parfum smells like, the answer is definitely yes. Zoë Kravitz–who you may recognize from Big Little Lies, High Fidelity, and your dreams–has been a longtime collaborator with the French company. “I like collaborating with YSL,” Kravitz recently told. “Working with them is always a pleasure since they’ve become like family to me.”
And that family continues to grow. YSL’s Black Opium perfume, a cult classic, has a new member: Black Opium Extreme Eau de Parfum. This new version retains the luxurious elements of coffee, vanilla bourbon, and jasmine that consumers adore, but adds a strong twist that elevates it to new heights of decadence.
“It has a somewhat richer aroma,” Zoë Kravitz explains. “These coffee tones are stunning and perhaps a little more earthy and manly, which I believe makes them even more seductive.” A small mood booster is precisely what we require in the aftermath of the last year’s mayhem. Kravitz credits a spritz of Black Opium Extreme for making the previous year livable. “I feel as though I lacked the mental fortitude to wear much makeup, but the fragrance is an integral component of my regimen. It felt refreshing to smell like myself.” She quips, “Oh, I did it. I took a shower and applied deodorant and perfume. I am a human being.”
Reestablishing a scent regimen also assisted Kravitz in reviving joyful memories. “I believe that every smell is associated with a memory,” she told. “Whenever I visit my mother, the kitchen smells a specific way.” Perfume is the final step in Kravitz’s regimen. “It has the sensation of a beautiful little finishing touch,” she explains. “It’s similar to a period. You’re done, boop.”
With the globe reviving, there has never been a better opportunity to discover a new everyday smell with which to create pleasant memories. And why not opt for something a little sexier? As Zoë Kravitz puts it, “we might all benefit from a little sensuous perfume.”