If you're a fan of YSL Black Opium then you'll *love* these seriously musky and floral swaps—all for under $30

These coffee and vanilla-centric scents are just as intoxicating as the OG, but for a much more tempting price point...

A bottle of Black Opium by YSL on a pink and cream marbled template
(Image credit: YSL)

YSL's Black Opium is widely regarded as one of the best perfumes for women, but with such widespread acclaim also comes a rather hefty price tag—which is where these Black Opium dupes come in.

The scent itself is the perfect fall perfume thanks to its rich and warm notes of coffee, vanilla and white florals that deliver the dreamiest musky but sweet aroma that truly captivates the senses. And while that's nice and all, one fluid-ounce bottle will set you back $95 (we know, ouch).

So, if you love Black Opium but aren't so fond of the price tag, these three sweet and sultry fragrances smell just like the OG, but all for under $30!

The 3 best Black Opium dupes

Before we discuss the merits of these Black Opium alternatives, let's first deconstruct the OG, iconic scent itself. The fragrance features a soft but complex mix of black coffee, white flowers and vanilla, which give the wearer a very sensual and hypnotic scent that truly lasts. It's perfect as an office scent or just as an everyday signature, though it is definitely an investment purchase.

Luckily though, there are a few similar perfumes on the market, from the likes of ZARA, Sol De Janeiro and Dossier that offer a similar gourmand vibe...

Starting off strong, Sol De Janeiro's After Hours scent is a very close replica of Black Opium (as well as Victor & Rolf's Flowerbomb, if you're into that), with its blend of blackcurrant, pear nectar, midnight jasmine, patchouli and amber woods. Though it does miss those coffee and vanilla hints, I can confirm—having spritzed it—that the dry down is very reminiscent of Opium.

Perfume lovers over on TikTok have also named ZARA's perfume, Gardenia as a close match, with its notes of white flowers, orange blossom and coffee—along with fruity bursts of peach and raspberry. 

@glowglamglorie

♬ THIS AND THIS DUPES - Sean Anthony

Dossier's offering was actually inspired by the OG itself, with musky top notes of pink pepper, followed by jasmine and orange blossom which then make way for the base note of vanilla, coffee and the addition of cedarwood.

The reviews prove that it definitely stands up to its designer counterpart, with one shopper saying: "Smells almost identical to YSL Black Opium at a fraction of the cost," though the general consensus is that it doesn't last as long—but many do state their happy to reapply when the perfume costs $30.

Naomi Jamieson
Lifestyle News Writer

Naomi is a Lifestyle News Writer with the Women's Lifestyle team, where she covers everything from entertainment to fashion and beauty, as well as TikTok trends for Woman&Home, after previously writing for My Imperfect Life and GoodTo. Interestingly though, Naomi actually has a background in design, having studied illustration at Plymouth University but lept into the media world in 2020, after always having a passion for writing and earned her Gold Standard diploma in Journalism with the NCTJ.

Before working for Future Publishing’s Lifestyle News team, she worked in the Ad production team. Here she wrote and designed adverts on all sorts of things, which then went into print magazines across all genres. Now, when she isn’t writing articles on celebs, fashion trends, or the newest shows on Netflix, you can find her drinking copious cups of coffee, drawing and probably online shopping.