YSL Black Opium Eau de Parfum

Common questions

Is YSL Black Opium Eau de Parfum healthy?

YSL Black Opium Eau de Parfum scores 12/100 on Scout's independent analysis of ingredients, additives, and lab results — one of the lower scores in Scout's catalog. YSL Black Opium Eau de Parfum scores 12/100.

How does YSL Black Opium Eau de Parfum compare to other fragrances?

YSL Black Opium Eau de Parfum ranks #24 of 44 fragrances in Scout's independent rankings. The current top score in the category is Rosy & Earnest Be Earnest Eau de Parfum at 85/100.

Which ingredients drive YSL Black Opium Eau de Parfum's score?

In Scout's ingredient-by-ingredient analysis, Parfum (Fragrance), Benzyl Salicylate, Benzyl Alcohol are flagged as ingredients of concern. The full breakdown, with why each one matters, is in the Key ingredients section on this page.

Healthy alternatives

See more

YSL Black Opium Eau de Parfum

Yves Saint Laurent
12 Poor

At a glance

Beneficial ingredients 0
Harmful ingredients 17
Category Fragrances
Summary

YSL Black Opium Eau de Parfum scores 12/100. A women's coffee-vanilla gourmand. Issues: (1) undisclosed 'Parfum' trade-secret blend that legally hides synthetic polycyclic musks (Galaxolide/Tonalide — endocrine disruptors and bioaccumulators), Ambroxan, and Iso E Super; (2) fourteen IFRA / EU-declared dermal sensitizers — one of the highest declared-allergen counts in the women's designer market — including hydroxycitronellal (a top-strength sensitizer in the same class as the EU-banned HICC), amyl cinnamal, hexyl cinnamal, benzyl salicylate, benzyl benzoate, benzyl alcohol, limonene, linalool, geraniol, citronellol, cinnamyl alcohol, citral, and coumarin; (3) two coal-tar synthetic dyes (Yellow 6, Red 33) for the dark bottle tint; (4) avobenzone added to stabilize bottle color. No banned ingredients (no Lilial, no HICC, no oxybenzone, no octinoxate).

Key ingredients 20

Parfum (Fragrance)
Very Bad

Trade-secret blanket term that legally conceals dozens to hundreds of individual aromachemicals. Designer fragrance blends almost always contain synthetic polycyclic musks (Galaxolide, Tonalide) — endocrine disruptors that bioaccumulate in human fat tissue, breast milk, and wastewater — alongside Ambroxan, Iso E Super, and historically DEP phthalate solvents. No disclosure obligation in the US.

See more about Parfum (Fragrance) →
Hydroxycitronellal
Very Bad

EU 26 fragrance allergen and well-documented strong dermal sensitizer. The closely related Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde (HICC / Lyral) was banned by the EU in 2021 for the same class of sensitization issues; hydroxycitronellal itself remains restricted but is repeatedly cited in patch-test registries as a top fragrance allergen.

See more about Hydroxycitronellal →
Benzyl Salicylate
Bad

IFRA / EU-declared fragrance allergen and weak photoallergen. Recent SCCS reviews have raised concerns about possible endocrine activity at typical fine-fragrance use levels.

See more about Benzyl Salicylate →
Benzyl Alcohol
Bad

IFRA / EU-declared fragrance allergen with mild preservative function; contact dermatitis is documented in spray fragrances.

See more about Benzyl Alcohol →
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane (Avobenzone)
Bad

Chemical UV filter added to prevent fragrance discoloration in clear bottles. Documented photoallergen; mild estrogenic activity in cell and animal studies. Unnecessary in a product that isn't a sunscreen.

See more about Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane (Avobenzone) →
Hexyl Cinnamal
Bad

IFRA / EU-declared fragrance allergen. Synthetic jasmine-floral aromachemical; cinnamate-class compounds are a recognized contact-sensitizer family.

See more about Hexyl Cinnamal →
Limonene
Bad

IFRA / EU-declared fragrance allergen. Oxidizes on skin and in the bottle into stronger sensitizers; one of the top causes of fragrance contact dermatitis. Required label disclosure means it is present above 0.001% in this leave-on product.

See more about Limonene →
Linalool
Bad

IFRA / EU-declared fragrance allergen. Air-oxidized linalool hydroperoxides are confirmed contact sensitizers — exposure is high in spray-on fragrance.

See more about Linalool →
Geraniol
Bad

IFRA / EU-declared fragrance allergen with rose-like odor. Documented skin sensitizer; oxidation products are even more reactive.

See more about Geraniol →
Citronellol
Bad

IFRA / EU-declared fragrance allergen. Recognized dermal sensitizer; one of the most frequently cited fragrance allergens in patch-test studies.

See more about Citronellol →
Cinnamyl Alcohol
Bad

IFRA / EU-declared fragrance allergen; oxidizes in air to cinnamaldehyde, a strong contact sensitizer.

See more about Cinnamyl Alcohol →
Amyl Cinnamal
Bad

IFRA / EU-declared fragrance allergen; cinnamate-class contact sensitizer.

See more about Amyl Cinnamal →
Citral
Bad

IFRA / EU-declared fragrance allergen with strong sensitizing potential — IFRA restricts maximum use levels in leave-on products specifically because of its high contact-allergy rate.

See more about Citral →
Coumarin
Bad

IFRA / EU-declared fragrance allergen. Category 2 skin sensitizer; the EU SCCS has flagged it for cumulative exposure risk across multiple fragranced products.

See more about Coumarin →
Benzyl Benzoate
Bad

IFRA / EU-declared fragrance allergen and known dermal sensitizer; SCCS has flagged repeated leave-on exposure as a concern.

See more about Benzyl Benzoate →
CI 15985 (FD&C Yellow 6)
Bad

Coal-tar azo dye added for bottle color. Frequent contact-sensitizer in topical products; aesthetic-only addition with no consumer benefit.

See more about CI 15985 (FD&C Yellow 6) →
CI 17200 (Red 33)
Bad

Coal-tar xanthene dye added for bottle color. Listed irritant and possible contact sensitizer in topical use per published cosmetic-safety panels. Aesthetic-only.

See more about CI 17200 (Red 33) →
Alcohol
Neutral

Ethanol-based solvent carrier (~80% of formula). Drying to skin but otherwise inert.

See more about Alcohol →
Aqua (Water)
Neutral
Methyl Anthranilate
Neutral

Synthetic floral aromachemical (grape-like). Not on the EU 26 allergen list but mild photo-sensitizing potential is reported. Benign at fine-fragrance levels.

See more about Methyl Anthranilate →

Get the full breakdown in the Scout appTake Scout shopping

Scan any product to see lab results, healthy alternatives, and your personalized analysis.

Download on theApp Store GET IT ONGoogle Play
Amazon pricing & content

Amazon price as of . Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME.